Who are the Governors?

What is the role of the Governing Body?

The Governing Body at Western Road Community Primary School works in partnership with the staff to promote high quality education for pupils.  We appoint the head teacher & work closely with them to make decisions that directly affect the education & well-being of all children.

Part of a school's governing body's responsibilities are to:

  • Promote high standards of educational attainment
  • Set an annual budget detailing planned spending
  • Make decisions on matters such as performance, targets, school policies & school development plans
  • Draw up an action plan following inspection reports
  • Appoint staff, ensuring implementation of a range of personnel procedures
  • Ensure health & safety of pupils & staff

 

The Governing Body is a 'critical friend', challenging & supporting the Senior Leadership Team, monitoring the outcome of policies & ensuring accountability

Our school governors are very supportive & actively take part in all areas of the school curriculum by visiting the school & attending regular governor meetings.  If you would like to meet with any governors, please make contact with the school office office@westernroad.e-sussex.sch.uk

  • Mrs Gabbie Jerrit

    Chair of Governors, Co-Opted Governor

    I am originally from Surrey and have lived all over the UK, but have had the privilege of living in Sussex since 2015. I joined Western Road as a Governor in 2021, became Vice-Chair in 2022 and became Chair in early 2024.
    After doing a biology degree at St Hilda's College, Oxford and having a brief early career in the Department of Health, I did a PCGE and spent ten good years as a biology teacher in three different secondary schools, with some time in between spent having a family. Unfortunately, after developing kyphosis (a variation of scoliosis), I had to have a lot of my vertebrate fused together, and I still struggle too much with back pain to return to classroom teaching.
    Instead, I still tutor online and have also volunteered for the NHS with adults who have chronic health issues, helping them to learn to effectively manage their conditions. I am also a parent to two teenagers and, having volunteered at their primary schools and been a Parent Governor elsewhere, have developed a great respect for the difficult but vital job done by primary teachers. I am particularly interested in the curriculum and in the whole community's mental wellbeing, and am keen for society at large to better appreciate that not all disabilities are visible.

    In my spare time, I am an inexpert but keen gardener, an avid reader and a regular walker of my Shih-Tzu, Toby.

  • Ms Hilary Turner

    Vice chair, Co-opted Governor

    hilaryturner@westernroad.e-sussex.sch.uk

    I have been delighted to serve as a governor at Western Road Community Primary School since 2018. My particular focus has been on the crucial aspect of Safeguarding and I have thoroughly enjoyed working closely with the school on this very important area during a particularly challenging time. I am delighted that Western Road continues to flourish and provide a sound, caring environment for all its pupils due to the dedication and tireless enthusiasm of the leadership and teaching staff.

    I bring experience of teaching both in Primary and Secondary schools and management in a Local Authority Music Service. As a musician, I believe the creative aspects of education are crucial for a child’s development, and I am pleased to see the many opportunities for creativity regularly encouraged in life at Western Road.

  • Mrs Rea Hamilton

    Deputy Headteacher and Year 5 Class Teacher

    reahamilton@westernroad.e-sussex.sch.uk

    I am Deputy Headteacher at Western Road and Year Five Class Teacher. I have been teaching since 2005, and began my career teaching English in Taiwan, and later in Brighton. Since becoming a primary school teacher, I have mainly taught in Upper Key Stage Two, but have also spent several years teaching in Key Stage One.


    My BSc in Geography and early career working in the water industry has left me with a passion for the outdoors and I strive to encourage my classes to be curious about, and engaged with, the natural world around them. My years teaching EFL have instilled a love of language, which I also enjoy sharing. I want all of the children I work with to achieve their potential and acquire all the skills they need to be enthusiastic, curious lifelong learners.


    I believe it is vital that there are strong links between the local community and Western Road School, and my role as Deputy Headteacher and governor has allowed me to further strengthen these links and enrich the educational experiences offered to our children.


    I am also a parent of two young children and have lived in Lewes for just over three years, but have worked locally for over ten years. I enjoy hiking in my spare time, and going for long walks on the Downs and surrounding countryside with my family.

  • Mrs Janine Bishop

    Staff Governor

    I am currently the Year 1 teacher at Western Road and joint Maths lead. I qualified as a teacher at Brighton University in 2009 and began my career as a Reception teacher working at a school in Shoreham. My degree specialism was Early Years and I have worked mainly in Early Years and KS1 in my teaching career.

    I began working at Western Road in December 2017 covering maternity leave as a part time Reception teacher. The role was made permanent in July 2017. I thoroughly enjoy being a part of Western Road and its community. The values of the school are important to me and I believe we all play an important part in ensuring all children at Western road are well-rounded, resilient, courageous, have a voice, are skilled and are aware of and interested in the wider world beyond Lewes.

    I am a parent of two young children, a son in Year 4 and daughter in Year 1 who attend a local academy school. Alongside my husband we run a football coaching session for Newhaven Football club for under 5’s each Saturday morning. As a family we love going for long walks with our dog Gus and have got a kayak so, when the sun is out, we are often paddling on the Cuckmere.

  • Ms Eleanor Murphy

    Foundation Governor

    Eleanor joined the governing body in October 2018. She knows Lewes well, with family having lived in the town for over forty years. A student at Priory School in the 1980s, Eleanor returned here in late 2013 after almost a decade spent living and working in the Latin American region.

    A qualified teacher of modern languages, Eleanor has taught in secondary and further education institutions, and delivered training for teachers at university level. Prior to teaching, she worked in various senior management positions in third sector organisations focused on educational and international development initiatives in the UK and overseas. She has also worked as a researcher and analyst covering global issues such as climate change, energy and security.

    With wide ranging experience and skills, Eleanor is delighted to draw on these in her role as a Co-opted Governor. She aims to give her time to support continued success at Western Road.

  • Mr Roy Watkinson

    Foundation Governor

    I have been a Governor at Western Road since 2010, firstly as a Local Authority appointed Governor becoming a Foundation Governor when the Lewes Cooperative Learning Partnership was established.

    My career has mostly been concerned with environmental protection in the public sector at local (Lewes District and East Sussex) and national level in a number of specialist roles involving both management of people and projects. The last twenty five or so years included a considerable amount of foreign travel, representing the UK and assisting developing countries. Since 2008 I have been running a small independent business and have been able to commit more of my time and energy to assisting with the development of education in schools that I believe is particularly important for both the individual’s future and society as a whole.

    I have lived in Lewes since 1975 and all three of my daughters have attended primary schools in the town, two at Western Road and one at St Pancras. Two of my granddaughters have also attended Western Road.

    I was appointed MBE for my services to waste management in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List in 2008.

  • Mr Tom Jeffery

    Co-Opted Governor

    tomjeffery@westernroad.e-sussex.sch.uk

    I joined the Governing Body in July 2017. I was brought up in Lewes and, returning as an adult, have lived here for the last twenty-nine years. My mother, who was a primary school head teacher in East Sussex and also taught at Lewes Prison, went to the County Grammar School on the Western Road site in the 1920s.

    I am a retired civil servant, having worked for many years for the Department for Education and the Department of Health. In my working life, I concentrated on children’s services, the early years and special educational needs. I remain committed to helping children secure the best possible outcomes and life chances.

    I was Vice-Chair of Governors in 2018-19 and Chair of Governors from 2019-20 to 2021-22. It is a privilege to work with fellow Governors and with Irèna Wooler and her colleagues. I shall continue to do my best to help Western Road remain a happy and successful school for all our children.

  • Mr Ian Sandbrook

    Local Authority Governor

    My wife and I moved to Lewes in December 2020 to be nearer to our primary-school aged grandchildren, who live in Brighton and Tottenham. We had lived the previous 10 years in North Cornwall where I had spent much of my time setting up an arts charity to complement the classical music festivals at St Endellion, with which I have been associated as a musician and as an administrator for over 50 years.

    Prior to my retirement from paid work in 2010, I had been a secondary and a primary teacher, a primary headteacher, and a schools inspector with the Inner London Education Authority, Hampshire County Council and Ofsted. In 1997, I became responsible for setting up the school improvement team in the new unitary authority of Southampton, where I subsequently became Director of Education. Working freelance between 2005 and 2010, I served as interim director of children’ services for the Isle of Wight, Portsmouth and Slough local authorities, and I also served as manager of the National Academy for Parenting Practitioners.

    Things are somewhat different in primary schools compared to when I left headship in 1985. However, the fundamentals of how children learn remain the same; I feel that I can still make a contribution by being a governor at Western Road Primary School and I very much hope that proves to be the case.

  • Mr Hamish Gale

    Co-Opted Governor

  • Ms Karen Wallis

    Co-Opted Governor

  • Ms Holly Atkins

    Parent Governor

    hollyatkins@westernroad.e-sussex.sch.uk

    I am a parent of two children, my 11-year-old spent 7 happy years at WRCPS and is now in year 7 at Priory. My youngest is currently in Year 2 here. I was born and brought up in London but have spent a lot of my life in East Sussex as both of my parents and all four of my Grandparents grew up here. I moved to Lewes in 2013, not long after my eldest was born.

    I am an actor and a communication skills coach and trainer.
    As an actor I’ve worked extensively in television drama for the BBC, ITV, Channel4, Paramount and Sky. And in theatre, including leading roles at the Royal Court, Bridge Theatre, Shakespeare's Globe and the West-End.

    As a trainer and coach I’ve worked across industry sectors: In the public sector clients have included NHS, Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, the Cabinet Office, HM treasury, Yorkshire Forward, The Royal Navy and the Ministry of Defence.

    In the private sector clients have included many global law firms and investment banks, the Victoria and Albert Museum, BBC, BP, Tideway, Keller, Siemens, BAFTA.

    As part of the Save Lewes Schools campaign in 2018 I learnt a lot about the impact of government cuts on schools, and the increasingly tough challenges they face. It was that campaign that led to me standing for election onto the school’s governing board. I commit to supporting the Head Teacher of our wonderful school in whatever ways I can, and to helping keep parents abreast of key developments.

    As a school governor I have a particular interest in Behaviour and Attendance and Equality, Diversity and Inclusivity.

  • Mr Patrick Mulhern

    Parent Governor

Western Road Community Primary School

Current Governors and Details of Appointments

 September 2024

Governor Name

Start  Date

End Date

Type of Governor

Voting

Rights

 Positions

Roy Watkinson

26th September 2022

25th September 2026

Foundation

Yes

 

Rea Hamilton

17th October 2019

16th October 2023

Associate

No

Deputy Head Teacher

Tom Jeffery

19th November 2021

18th November 2025

Co-opted

Yes

 

Ian Sandbrook

 

 

LA Governor (Pending)

Yes

 

Irena Wooler

5th Sept 2019

4th Sept 2044

Ex Officio

Yes

Head Teacher

Eleanor Murphy

22nd Nov 2021

21st Nov 2025

Foundation

Yes

Also Trustee on the LCLP

Hilary Turner

26th September 2022

25th Septemver 2026

Co-opted

Yes

Vice-Chair of Governors

Holly Atkins

11th March 2023

10th March 2027

Parent

Yes

 

Karen Wallis

1st October 2023

30th November 2027

Co-Opted

Yes

 

Janine Bishop

5th Jan 2021

4th Jan 2025

Staff

Yes

 

Gabbie Jerrit

27th September 2021

26th September 2025

Co-opted

Yes

 Chair of Governors

Patrick Mulhern

29th Novemver 2021

 18th November 2025

Parent

Yes

 

Hamish Gale

7th October2021

6th October 2025

Co-opted

Yes

 

Attendance Totals for FGB Meetings – 2023 to 2024 

Western Road Community Primary School 

Governor  

9/10/2023 

27/11/2023 

5/02/2024 

18/03/2024 

13/05/2024 

15/07/2024 

Total 

Hilary Turner

Yes 

Yes 

Yes 

Yes 

Yes

Yes 

6/6 

Gabby Jerrit  

Yes 

Yes 

Yes 

Yes 

Yes 

Yes 

6/6 

Irena Wooler

Yes 

Yes

Yes

Yes 

 Yes

 Yes

 6/6

Holly Atkins 

Yes 

Yes 

Apologies 

Yes 

Apologies 

Apologies 

3/6 

Janine Bishop  

Yes 

Yes 

Apologies 

Apologies 

 Yes

 Yes

4/6 

Hamish Gale  

Apologies 

Apologies 

Apologies 

Apologies 

 Apologies

Yes 

1/6 

Rea Hamilton 

Yes 

Yes 

Yes

Yes 

Yes

Yes 

6/6 

Tom Jeffry  

Yes 

Yes

Yes 

Yes 

Yes

Yes 

6/6 

Antonia Jewels 

Yes 

Term Ended 

N/A 

N/A 

N/A 

N/a 

1/1 

Patrick Mulhern  

Apologies 

Apologies

Yes 

Apologies 

Apologies 

Apologies

6/6 

Eleanor Murphy 

Apologies 

Apologies 

Yes 

Yes 

Apologies 

Yes 

3/6 

Luke Palmer  

Yes 

Term Ended 

N/A 

N/A 

N/A 

N/A 

1/1 

Ian Sandbrook  

Yes 

Yes

Yes 

Yes 

Yes

Yes 

6/6 

Karen Wallis 

Yes 

Yes 

Yes 

Yes 

Yes 

 Yes

 6/6

Roy Watkinson 

Yes 

Yes 

Yes 

Apologies 

Apologies

Apologies

3/6 

 Bridget Flowers

N/A

N/A 

N/A

N/A

N/A

Yes

1/1

 Register of Pecuniary or Business Interests  

Western Road Community Primary School 2023/2024 

Governor   

Date Interest/s Declared 

Interest/s 

Irena Wooler  

27th Sept 2021 

None 

Tom Jeffery  

13th Sept 2021 

I am a board member of the National Development Team for Inclusion.  My wife, Alison Jeffery, is the Director of Children’s Services at East Sussex County Council 

 

Hilary Turner  

13th Sept 2021 

None 

Janine Bishop  

27th Sept 2021 

None 

Holly Atkins  

13th Sept 2021 

None 

Ian Sandbrook 

 

 

Karen Wallis  

 

 

Rea Hamilton  

13th Sept 2021 

None 

 Hamish Gale 

4th Oct 2021 

I am an employee of East Sussex County Council working with children, families and schools.  There has been communication between the Chair of Governors and my line manager regarding avoiding any future conflict of interest that may arise in my role as governor, and this has been confirmed in writing by the Chair. 

Gabbie Jerrit 

8th August 2021 

None