AMBERLEY C.E. FIRST SCHOOL GOVERNORS
Mrs Carolyn Shaw
Co-opted Governor (Chairperson)
Register of Business Interests: None declared
I joined the Governing Body in 2009 and have been Chairman since 2010. Before I retired I
was a teacher of English and the last 12 years of my career was as a head teacher. Thus I
have a useful background in education and schools and I much enjoy the strategic
responsibility of my Chairman's role. I live in Houghton with my husband and my other
interests are music, reading and the garden. Both our children went to the village school
where we lived so the ethos and community of Amberley School are familiar to me.
Mr Patrick Crowther
Co-opted Governor
Register of Business Interests:
I joined the Governing Body in 2015. In my working life I am a chartered surveyor and I run a
small building surveying practice based in West Sussex. I have extensive experience of the
management, maintenance, repair and alteration of buildings including schools and colleges.
My primary role as a governor is therefore in these areas. I have two children, the eldest of
whom is at Amberley School with my other child due to start in 2015.
Mrs Penny Spokes
Local Authority Governor
Register of Business Interests: Tiptop Tutors
I joined Amberley as a Local Authority Governor in September 2014. My responsibilities are
as Link Governor, which means that I help to organise and record training courses and visits
to school.
My background is in teaching and training, specialising in KS1. I have worked for over 20
years in a mixture of state, special and independent schools, and since 2008 have worked in
the Learning Support Department of a local independent prep school. I also run my own
after-school Tuition Centre, Tiptop Tutors. I previously worked an Employment Adviser.
In recent years, I have specialised in helping children with dyslexia and other associated
problems, after my own son went undiagnosed for many years. I offered my time to become
a Governor of a school last year, when I took semi- retirement, as I wanted to give
something back to the local community.
Mrs Sue Webb
Staff Governor
Register of Business Interests: None declared
I joined the Governing Body as Staff Governor in Autumn 2014. I have been a part-time
teacher at the school since September 2004 and I have a job share in the reception and year
one class. Since 2006 I have been responsible for coordinating PE throughout the school and
in Autumn 2014 I took on the role of Literacy Coordinator as well as a shared senior teacher
role. I enjoy being the link between the school staff and the governors as I feel this serves to
support the good relationship which already exists between the school, its parents and the
community.
Ms Coralie Abbott
Parent Governor
Register of Business Interests: None declared
I became a governor in February 2013 and have taken on particular responsibility for child
protection and safeguarding at Amberley School. Before having children, I worked on social
and environmental issues with a range of companies, NGOs and government bodies. This
was often in the role of a 'critical friend', which is what is required of school governors - i.e.
supporting the school and recognising achievement, whilst seeking to challenge and drive
continuous improvement. I have three children, two of whom are at Amberley School; the
third will join in September 2016. I believe that our school can and should achieve
excellence, to benefit all the children in our community.
Mr Jeff Feakins
Co-opted Governor
Register of Business Interests: None declared
I joined the Governing Body in 2014 and have specific responsibility for Finance. Before I
retired I had roles as an IT Director and was responsible for large IT programmes of change.
Through this experience, I have a background in managing budgets and spend and an
interest in the application of IT. My wife and I have lived in Amberley for 21 years and we
have 3 children who were all educated locally. My other interests are sports and music.
Mrs Justine Green
Co-opted Governor
Register of Business Interests: None declared
I have been a parent at Amberley First School since 2005 and have had three children
benefit from attending our lovely village school. During my time at Amberley I have enjoyed
supporting the school in a variety of ways including running baby/toddler group sessions
and after school clubs, supporting reading, co-running FASA and organising fundraising and
social events. In September 2012 I joined the governing body as a parent governor where I
share a responsibility for curriculum and pay. Professionally I am a fully qualified primary
school teacher with a varied and extensive experience in education which I hope has proved
useful in my role.
With the last of my children moving on from Amberley in 2015 I am pleased to
Mrs Vicky Ferris
continue
as a community governor where I hope that my long standing connection
Parent Governor
with
the
school
andInterests:
my knowledge
of education will prove to be beneficial to the
Register of Business
None declared
governing body as we look to the future.
I became a parent governor in May 2014 and have particular responsibility for Safeguarding,
Fasa (Friends of Amberley School Association), School Council and the Enrichment Fund at
Amberley School.
I have three children who attend Amberley School. Before I became a full-time parent I was
a Senior Financial Consultant with a large corporate company with a degree and special
interest in Psychology.
I have also been instrumental in creating an extensive timetable of after school activities at
Amberley School and I am very keen of all areas of fitness, in particular helping children
keep active and have a sense of well being.
Mrs Glenys Rowe
Foundation Governor
Register of Business Interests: None declared
I joined the Governing Body in 2013 as a Foundation Governor. A Foundation Governor is
appointed by the Diocese to support and develop the Christian Ethos in school.
Early in my career I was a Senior Lecturer in a Further Education College with responsibility
for courses in Early Years Education and Special Needs Education.
As a Governor I have a role in Special Needs Education. Recently I was elected as Vice
Chairman of the Governing Body. My husband and I have lived locally for the past 30 years
and we both have a commitment to community involvement.
Reverend Alison Pattenden
Foundation Governor
Register of Business Interests:
I re-joined the governing body in 2015.
I have been an ordained minister for 9 years but previously I was a teacher. Initially I taught
science in Comprehensive Schools in Eastbourne moving to North Croydon and then
Crawley. I finished my teaching career teaching mostly teenagers who for a variety of
reasons were no longer in full-time education.
The School Church link is very important to me and I have enjoyed the challenge of the
various services we have undertaken and hope these can be developed further in the future.
My 5 grandchildren try to keep me in touch with what younger children like today.
Mr Jon Gilbert
Staff Governor (Head Teacher)
Register of Business Interests: None declared
I began my teaching career in 1987 having graduated from Warwick University after a four
year teaching degree course. I have taught in six schools of various sizes in East and West
Sussex and Brighton and Hove before taking up my current position of Head at both
Amberley and St. James’ church schools. I also worked as a teacher trainer for a year in the
Maldives.
I live in Shoreham-By-Sea with my wife and two daughters, one aged 15 and one aged 12.
Mrs Liz Taylor Stoakes
Clerk to the Governors
Register of Business Interests:
I was employed as Clerk to the Governors in February 2015. I was brought up in the locality
and after graduating from university worked in accounting and finance, which I continue to
do on a part time basis. I have one child currently attending Amberley School.
ASSOCIATE MEMBERS
Mrs Susan-Ann Dowle
Associate Member (no commitees, no voting rights)
Register of Business Interests:
I was a Governor from 2012 to 2014 and am now an Associate Member of the Governing
Body, which enables me to continue to support the school with my local knowledge and
contacts now that I cannot attend so many meetings. My family have lived Amberley for
three generations; my uncle taught at Rydon when it was a Secondary Modern School.
I am a self-employed chiropodist and have looked after the foot care of people from Stately
Homes to Alms Houses since 1960. I have a range of responsibilities and interests which have
included board positions on several clubs and the Nursing Memorial Appeal, and I currently
own a shop in Petworth. I am a great believer that a good education is the best present we
can give our children.
Mrs Ros Simpson
Associate Member (no committees, no voting rights)
Register of Business Interests: None declared