The School Governors - Who’s Who
Please contact the School Office with any queries
01903 873072, office@st-john-baptist.w-sussex.sch.uk
John Roche - Chairman
Foundation Governor appointed by
the Parochial Church Council
Premises Committee Chair
Finance & Staffing Committee
Pastoral Committee
Appointed: September 1995
Mandy Baker
Parent Governor
John is a telecommunications specialist working
in product regulatory affairs. He runs the UK
end of a small consultancy that enables its
clients to enter telecoms markets around the
world. John also participates in industry
associations that campaign on regulation in the
telecoms industry.
John is Chairman of the Governing Body and
chairs the Premises committee. He is also the
Governor Representative on the Findon Pool
Committee. Both of John’s children are ex-pupils
of the school and he still has family connections
with children and parents at the school. John
enjoys bike riding, hiking and is a member of a
local book club.
Mandy and her husband Mark have their own
financial services business, dealing mainly in
mortgage advice, which they have run together
for the last 15 years.
Appointed: September 2013
They have two children, a daughter in Year 3
and a son who has just started in Reception at
Findon. The Bakers have lived in the village for
13 years. Mandy has spent the last 2 years as
‘Chairlady’ for the school PTA and will continue
as an active member for the time being. Her
spare time is spent enjoying her young family.
She also enjoys gardening and a spot of retail
therepy!
Kathryn Cole
Foundation Governor
Pastoral Committee
Premises Committee
Finance & Staffing Committee
Appointed: February 2008
Kathryn works at Northbrook College in the
Exams Office. In the past she has worked as a
Project Manager in the IT industry and is also a
qualified Sports Therapist and NLP practitioner.
She is married to David, a Software Consultant,
and they have two daughters, one in Year 8 at
Angmering School and one in Year 5 at Findon.
The Coles have lived in the village for 15 years.
Kathryn has spent many years helping with the
PTA and Findon Pool, currently on the rota of
water testers. Her spare time is spent with her
family and menagerie of chickens, cats, gerbils,
and fish. She also enjoys gardening and
unwinding with a good book.
John Fullbrook
Parent Governor
Appointed: September 2013
A varied job history includes 12 years as a
leisure centre manager (5 sites), two and a half
years as a Business Manager at a private
school in Brighton and two years at Polesden
Lacey – A National Trust mansion and estate in
Surrey. Currently John resides as Operations
Manager at Fontwell Park racecourse.
John is married to Lucy, the Exams Coordinator
at Brighton University, and has two children,
both of whom attend Findon; Daniel in Year 3
and Oliver in Year 5.
When he isn’t renovating his house and garden
John attempts to keep his young at heart and
over friendly Boxer dog (beano) in check and
would like to one day resume a social life!
Jacqui Greaney
Foundation Governor appointed by
the Diocesan Board of Education
Finance & Staffing Committee
Pastoral Committee
Premises Committee
Appointed: September 2011
Jacqui’s background is in orchestral marketing
and arts administration after studying Music at
the University of Durham. She now works from
home as a freelance Administrator, and recently
spent three years as a registered childminder.
She is also the Administrative Assistant at
Findon Rectory. Jacqui is the Secretary of
Findon Swimming Pool, and is a member of the
Findon Church Family Service Team and music
group. She also volunteers for the school PTA
helping with publicity.
Jacqui is married to Ricardo Engineer Adrian
and they have two daughters: one in Year 7 at
Angmering and one at this school in Year 4. In
her spare time Jacqui enjoys music-making with
friends and family bike rides.
Elisabeth Hobden
Foundation Governor appointed by
the Parochial Church Council
Standards & Curriculum Committee
Appointed: September 2010
After several years spent teaching juniors, Lis
was for many years a classical singer, working
as a soloist and with professional groups in
London, notably with the BBC Singers, of which
she was a full time member for seven years.
She is married to Chris, and they have three
children now in their early twenties who spent
their pre-teen years in Findon, during which time
Lis taught music at Findon school and was
Director of Music at Findon Church. Now she
heads up the Messy Church team, co-ordinates
the music group and helps lead family service.
As well as her family and her Christian faith, art
and craft feature large in her life, so she does
not really have such a thing as 'spare time'!
Claire Kersley
Foundation Governor appointed by
the Parochial Church Council
Finance & Staffing Committee
Pastoral Committee Chair
Premises Committee
Claire has lived in the Worthing area since 1980
and attended Vale Primary School, Davison CE
High School and Worthing Sixth Form College
before studying for a degree in Geology at
Plymouth Polytechnic which led to employment
as a science laboratory technician at various
establishments before her daughter was born.
She currently works as a secondary school
science technician in Horsham.
Appointed: September 2005
Claire is married and has one child who is an
ex-pupil of Findon school. Her husband Tim is a
Civil Engineer.
In her spare time Claire enjoys keeping in touch
with the school and the children through helping
with various church events such as Messy
Church. She likes to cycle and loves reading
and socialising with friends. Claire has a
particular interest in the physical, emotional and
spiritual well-being of the pupils and staff.
Anne Prior
Appointed by the Local Education
Authority
Pastoral Committee
Premises Committee
Appointed: January 1981
Ian Swales – Vice-Chairman
Foundation Governor appointed by
the Parochial Church Council
Finance & Staffing Committee Chair
Premises Committee
Ian is retired after a career first in production
management and, subsequently, in Financial
Services, latterly as an IFA with the Argyll Group
in Worthing. He spent his childhood in Yorkshire
and was educated at Haileybury. He did two
years’ National Service in the Navy before going
up to Clare College, Cambridge, where he
obtained a degree in history.
Appointed: May 2007
He has been a Rotarian since 1984, was Rotary
District Governor in 2005/6, and is Secretary of
the Findon, Clapham & Patching Parochial
Church Council.
Ian is married to Jan, who is also a Governor at
the school. They have three children and seven
grandchildren.
Jan Swales
Foundation Governor appointed by
the Parochial Church Council
Standards & Curriculum Committee
Appointed: September 2005
Jan taught at Our Lady of Sion School for 25
years before retirement in 2001. She taught
Home Economics, English and Communication
Studies. Jan was Examinations Officer for 15
years, dealing with all public examinations, and
Senior Mistress for seven years.
For several years, Jan also taught English as a
Foreign Language to Italian students during
summer holidays. Jan enjoyed her years of
teaching, despite all the changes, feeling that
she was still learning even at the end.
Jan has three children and seven grandchildren.
They keep her fairly busy! She enjoys walking,
aerobics, aqua gym and is a member of a book
club consisting of former colleagues.
Jennie Teakle
Teacher Governor
Standards & Curriculum Committee
Appointed: 2007
Jennie is a qualified primary school teacher with
experience of working with classes from
Reception to Year 7 in four different West
Sussex schools. She has a Masters degree in
Education with a focus on Children’s Writing.
Jennie was appointed to a part-time post
covering class teachers’ PPA release at St John
the Baptist School in September 2006. Jennie
has subsequently worked full time in Rowan
Class and now shares class teaching
responsibilities in Rowan Class with Kate Lax.
Jennie’s areas of specialism are Literacy and
Modern Foreign Languages. She has been
Teacher Governor since 2007.
She is married with two children who attend
primary school in Worthing.
Jill van Zanten
Teaching Assistant
Pastoral Committee
Appointed: October 2006
Richard Yelland
Headteacher
Finance & Staffing Committee
Pastoral Committee
Premises Committee
Standards & Curriculum Committee
Appointed: September 2001
Evelyn Stanford – Clerk to the Governors, Appointed: September 1995