Meet The Governors

Jim Hazlewood - Parent Governor and Chair of Governors

Term of office: 27.11.19 - 26.11.23

Health and Safety, SEND/ELSA, Design and Technology

My daughters have attended the school since we moved to the village in 2017.  I joined the Governing Board in 2019 as a Parent Governor and Health & Safety lead and took the role of Chair from 2021. 

My professional background is in local government, and I currently work in the strategic management and operational support of public libraries in Oxfordshire.                                                                                                                                                                               

Jeanne Lapsley - Co-opted Governor and Vice Chair of Governors

Term of office 25.11.19 - 24.11.23

Art and Design

I am currently Vice Chairman of Governors and Chair of the Resources Committee. I have significant experience of Education as in my professional career I worked as a senior education manager in a local authority with responsibility for Governance in schools, School Contracts, professional Staff Training, Headteacher Support, Parent Partnership Service, Equalities, Complaint resolution, among other areas of responsibility.

I have been a school governor for over 20 years, and have also been a member of an IEB moving a school from special measures to good within a year. I have considerable knowledge of school funding, staffing curriculum and special needs and I am currently a member of the Oxfordshire Schools Funding Forum and am also a Governor at a local Special Needs School.

Debbie Munday - Acting Headteacher - Ex officio

Lisa Higgins - Staff Governor

Term of office: 18.11.22 - 17.11.26

Since moving to Great Shefford in 2012, I have taught across both schools, mainly in the EYFS, Year 1 and 2 classes and have wide experience including leading EYFS, Music, Languages and Phonics.  In both my teaching and leadership roles I have the children's and their family’s best interests at heart and I wanted to share these at a Governance level, ensuring continuous improvement for the benefit of all members of the school community. Having been elected as Staff Governor, my roles as a teacher, a member of the Senior Leadership Team, a Deputy Safeguarding Lead and Senior Mental Health Lead, complement my ambition to be an effective voice for all staff at the Schools.

Rev. Mike Griffiths - Foundation - Chaddleworth

Term of office: 11.03.24 -10.03.25

RE and Collective Worship, SIAMS, Mathematics, Music, Staff Wellbeing

Emma Stone - Foundation Governor (East Garston)

Term of office: 13.10.21 - 11.10.25

Safeguarding, GDPR, Early Years, Phonics, English (including Reading and Writing)

Polly Capron - Local Authority Governor

Term of office: 27.01.21 - 26.01.25

Geography

Dr Elizabeth Bell - Co-opted Governor

Term of office: 17.03.21 - 16.03.25

Assesment, PSHE, History, Physical Education, Sport Premium, Pupil Premium/LAC

This is my second stint on the Governing Body. I joined as a Parent Governor when my daughter attended the school, had a gap of a few years serving on Great Shefford Parish Council, and returned in 2021 as a Coopted Governor.  My professional background is in policy and innovation management roles in the higher research and education sector, and in international development including serving from 1997 to 2002 as a British diplomat in Moscow. More recently I have twice been a Labour Party Parliamentary Candidate in General Elections (North West Hampshire in 2019 and Newbury in 2024). 

David Gavins - Co-opted Governor

Term of office: 20.03.24 - 19.03.24

Equalities

I have lived in Fawley, a few miles north of Great Shefford and North West of Chaddleworth, since 1989.  I joined the Governing Board in 2024  I am on St Marys Fawley Parochial Church Council as Safeguarding Officer. I am now retired and spend my time advising recent graduates on career choices, CV’s and interview technique. I have two grown up sons and a granddaughter Sasha.

 John Phelps - Co-opted Governor

Term of office: 11.09.24 - 10.09.28

Science, Computing

I’ve lived in Great Shefford since 1991 and joined the Governing Board in 2024.

I am a retired engineer and manager from the Telecommunications sector and am married with two adult children. My wife is Church Warden for Great Shefford and Shefford Woodlands and I am also involved in various (mostly musical) church activities.

 Sam Murphy - Parent Governor

 Term of office: 15.10.24 - 14.10.28

I have recently joined the Board as Parent Governor.  We moved into Great Shefford in January 2023 and have enjoyed integrating into the wonderful community that we have here.  My daughter has also recently joined Robins class which she enjoys massively. 

My professional background is in Tax Management and Consultancy; I currently work as Tax Director for a FTSE 100 global software group.

Associate Members
Bridget Goodrich

Term of office: 02.12.20 - 01.12.24

Clerk to the Governors

Cheryl Kimber

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