I feel very honoured to be a governor for Pirbright Village Primary school. I hope that I make a worthwhile contribution to the life and success of the school, and I know I learn a lot from being a part of it.

I recently retired from the University College London Institute of Education and I have been a primary school teacher and a then teacher of teachers for almost 40 years. For 25 of those years I was the national leader of Reading Recovery, a programme for children who find reading and writing difficult. One thing I have learned is that no two children are the same, they all think and learn in slightly different ways and there is no one size fits all way of teaching. But every child has gifts and talents and every child can be successful, we just have to find the right way to teach them. The key to that is the people around the child, their parents and family, who are their first teachers, and a committed and talented school staff who have plenty of opportunities to learn more about their craft.

I live in Pirbright and like to be involved in local events like the Scarecrow day. As a member of the church I sing in the Gospel Choir and ring the church bells (sorry about that). I also edit the village newsletter, Perinews, and try to keep that pesky Yellow Rabbit in check, probably a hopeless task.

I feel very privileged to have this opportunity to work with and get to know the children, their parents and their teachers, and to play my part in supporting them.

I first became a teacher in 2009, working and learning at Boxgrove Primary School in Guildford. As an assistant headteacher there, I also worked for the Learning Partners' central team as Primary Assessment Lead. During this time, I took a seconded role at Onslow Infants School as headteacher. In September 2023, I was seconded once again, becoming the Head of School at Pyrford Primary School. I now have a permanent "home" at Pirbright Village Primary School as headteacher, and am thoroughly enjoying working with such a dedicated and enthusiastic team.

Having worked at Pirbright in various year groups and roles for the past fifteen years (minus a couple for a travelling/working adventure) I took on the role of Deputy Head in 2016 alongside that of associate governor. In 2006 I completed my NQT year at Pirbright (having previously done two teaching placements here as a student) and other than a term of supply around Surrey, 4 months in various Vietnamese schools/universities and a year teaching English to adults in Australia, I am Pirbright through and through. I’ve been PSHE, Science and English co-ordinator, sat on the SLT, taught in various year groups, navigated the SATS, survived both Hooke Court & The Isle of Wight on too many occasions and led many projects across the school. My role as Deputy involves supporting Mr Dutton, liaising with FOPS, evaluating data & progress, working in the Safeguarding Team as a DSL, being the Pupil Premium Champion, working with the Educational Welfare Officer, analysing attendance, mentoring NQTs and new members of staff, doing lunch duty, writing policies, running the School Council, organising timetables and the running of the school, meeting with parents and, in my free time, teaching children! I can often be found in the library squirreled away looking at books!  

I live in Godalming with my furry tornado of a dog, Blueberry, my much more chilled out dog Odin and my delightful husband. Pirbright is a huge part of my life and I’d like to think I bring the everyday perspective to the governing body in ensuring teachers’ voices are heard and a realistic view of the school is presented. I’ve seen huge change at Pirbright over the years and it’s been wonderful to watch it grow and develop into such a brilliant place to work.  

My husband and I moved to the area in 2013. We both have a background in Education, so choosing a school to suit both our daughters was always a high priority. Pirbright Village School feels instinctively the right place.

I have taught in a variety of secondary schools for over 20 years and have a passion for not only my specialist subject, Sport, but also the education of the ‘whole’ child.

I hope to bring insight from my experiences as a teacher, manager, pastoral leader and parent notwithstanding my enthusiasm as a new Governor! I am looking forward to supporting the vision for the School in achieving the best for all its pupils.

I recently retired from my position in Administration at a local Primary school after 17 years. I had a long career in Banking before this as a Business Banking Manager and Customer Services Manager.

I have lived in Pirbright for many years with my husband. In my teens I belonged to the local guide company when my family lived in Bisley Camp.

My passion is Sport and I am very heavily involved with Netball both Nationally and Internationally, having travelled widely with the sport. Other interests are Sailing and Classic cars.

I feel very honoured to represent Pirbright Village School as a Governor and hope that I have attributes that I can bring to the school. 

With a passion for all things STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths), I try to take opportunities to encourage, mentor and facilitate the development of the next generation of young scientists and engineers.  This has been at all levels of education in past, from Graduate to those making GSCE and A-level option choices. Having moved to just outside of Pirbright 7 years ago and with my eldest child now attending the school and one more to follow, it felt this was the right time to change the focus to Primary level.

Over the past 17 years in my role as an chartered engineer I have worked in a number of areas and industries. In recent years this has been with a strong focus on safety.  The learning I have done along the way has given me some skills which I am hoping can be usefully transferred and applied to the role of Governor. It is a privilege to be able to support the pupils, teachers and school, helping everyone to achieve their goals in a safe, exciting and productive environment.

I joined Pirbright 9 years ago as a Newly Qualified Teacher therefore, Pirbright is all I’ve ever known in my professional teaching career. I walked through the front entrance not really knowing what I was joining and where Pirbright would take me. Now, Pirbright has given me the best job I could wish for; working with young children not only academically but socially and emotionally too, making the school the best it can be with the most amazing teachers and professionals, and, creating a safe and welcoming environment for all. Throughout my time at Pirbright, I have taught in almost all year groups with a firm passion for early years, early phonics and reading skills. It is a pleasure to teach at a school that feels like a family; where children are listened too and valued; where nurture is prioritised and not just academic achievement. Whilst I don’t live in Pirbright, I am just around the corner, where I live with my two young boys. Being a parent means that not only can I offer a teacher’s perspective to the governing body but also a parent view too.

Before moving to Woking in 2021, I lived in Portsmouth, where I taught in a one form entry school for six years. I have been teaching at Pirbright Village Primary School for a year and a half now and have been amazed by the endless opportunities which are provided for the children to thrive upon. I feel grateful and proud to be able to work here and be part of such a supportive, creative and adventurous team. 

In my spare time I enjoy seeing my friends and family, taking trips to the theatre to watch musicals and spending time with animals! I have been known to enjoy a goga session (yoga with goats) and spend my free time walking alpacas around the woods.  I look forward to becoming a governor and bringing my proactive approach and positive outlook to the team. 

My wife and I have two children at the moment at Pirbright village school and enjoy the ethos, enthusiasm, and overall approach. The animals also make the school special! 

Having worked in finance and the charity sector, I now specialise in sustainability and believe in helping to create a sustainable world where all children can thrive and live healthy and happy lives. 

Education and the wider world are changing rapidly, and I look forward to getting stuck in with my fellow school governors in ensuring the school can continue to be a fantastic place to learn and grow. 

As a serving Officer, finding the right school that understood the needs and nuances of children from Service Families was key for me, and Pirbright Village Primary School provided just that. The school ethos combined with the numerous events the families are invited to, make the school feel like an extended family, not dissimilar to how the military operates. With the school having a significant number of Service children, this approach is key and something I am passionate about so I applied to become Governor. Whether a child is transitioning in or out of the school during what can be a very tumultuous period or dealing with long periods of parental absence, it is important to me that the school continues to understand and support our Service Children. Throughout my career I have worked a large proportion of the time training our soldiers of the future. I am qualified in Organisational Change, Executive Workforce Management and Leadership and Management, all at the Strategic level; I am also a qualified coach and mentor. These combined with my experience have hopefully given me skills that can be transferred to this new role for the benefit of the school.

I am a Lieutenant Colonel in the British Army having served for 20 years. I have lived in Pirbright for six years with my family and my daughter has attended the school since reception. When out of uniform, I enjoy running and keeping fit and also spending time with my partner and daughter enjoying everything this lovely village has to offer.

I’m a finance professional, specialising in building Finance functions and the development of Executive Information. I’m also a mother to two young children, who both attend Pirbright Primary School.

I have been very involved with the PTA since we moved to the area in 2020, and I am very much looking forward to having the opportunity to continue to provide support to the school as Finance Governor. It is a fantastic school and it is an honour to be part of the team.

I have been part of the school community since September 2021 and now have two children at the school. My ambition as a parent governor is grounded in the mental health of SEND (Special Education Needs & Disabilities) families and the teaching staff who endeavour to support them.

My profession is as a counsellor and psychotherapist and I wholeheartedly believe that the primary school years are an opportunity for children to learn and receive empathy and understanding to develop a positive sense of self that can be taken forward into secondary school and beyond.

I’m passionate about normalising SEND and promoting a sense of belonging for all kids in school and I believe this aligns perfectly with the existing and wonderful values of PVPS.