Meet the Governors
The Board of Governors meet every half term at our Full Governing Board meetings to discuss the school’s development plan, risk assessments, safeguarding, SEND, governance matters, policies and any other business and priorities relating to the term. Within individual Governor link roles, Governors carry out monitoring visits in their allocated school areas and provide reports at our Full Governing Board Meetings.
School Governors Biographies (in alphabetical order):
Darren Claydon - Co-opted Governor and Link Governor for Health and Safety
I first became a Governor for Gurnard Primary School in 2016 as a Co-opted Governor. Since then, I have been proud to be part of the continued development of the school and supporting the outstanding work that is achieved by the teaching staff and children along with moving from the original school building to our great new school building. I also have four girls who have either attended, are attending, or will hopefully will be attending in the future. My background may not be from an educational basis, but I certainly value the importance of outstanding education and lifelong learning. After attending Cowes schools myself, I went on to undertake the first University Degree Course in Paramedic Science at the University of Hertfordshire with the London Ambulance Service. After gaining my BSc Hon Degree in Paramedic Science, I returned to the Isle of Wight NHS Trust Ambulance Service where I am now in my 23rd year. I have undertaken various roles within the Ambulance Service, extending my clinical skills as an emergency care practitioner and specialising in Emergency Planning and Disaster Management with a Post Graduate Diploma. My current role is the Clinical Operations Manager responsible for the operations of our Frontline Ambulance Service and when required attending incidents as a Tactical Commander. I also continue to practice as a paramedic. The skills and knowledge I have gained from working within the NHS Ambulance Service, alongside leadership and management experience and various life experiences, is all very transferable and can often be relevant to my role as a Governor. I continue to be proud to be part of the Governing Board supporting the outstanding work our school achieves.
Date of appointment: 29th February 2016; re-elected 28th February 2020
Term of office: 4 years
Appointed by: The Governing Board
Business or financial interests: None
Governance roles in other schools: None
Material interests arising from relationships between governors or governors and staff: None
Meetings attended in 2020-21: 2/7 FGB meetings
David Finch – Acting Headteacher
This role involves working closely with the Governing Board and meeting regularly with the Chair of Governors. The Headteacher attends all meetings of the Full Governing Board to report to them on progress towards key objectives; provide guidance and information on initiatives and regulations; draft policies and development plans; and produce various reports to help inform their decision making. This support helps to maximise the time efficiency of the Governing Board and assist effective governance. The Headteacher is accountable to the Governing Board and a key part of the role is to bring a whole-school perspective and day-to-day context to their meetings and discussions.
Date of appointment: 25th April 2022
Term of office: Whilst in post
Appointed by: The Headteacher is automatically a member of the Governing Board
Business or financial interests: None
Governance roles in other schools: None
Material interests arising from relationships between governors or governors and staff: None
Josephine Hinson - Co-opted Governor and Link Governor for Compliance
I have lived on the Isle of Wight since 2005 following a full-time career, which took me overseas for eighteen years. I have lived in Gurnard since that time. I am very involved with a number of charities and volunteer for them. I belong to a variety of Island societies and I am active within them. I enjoy all aspects of Island life and like to find new places for walking. I bring much life and career experience to my role as Governor and regularly meet with the leaders of the school ensuring compliance is adhered to.
Date of appointment: 28th September 2011 (Governing Board reconstituted 21st April 2015). Re-elected 26th March 2019
Term of office: 4 years
Appointed by: The Governing Board
Business or financial interests: None
Governance roles in other schools: None
Material interests arising from relationships between governors or governors and staff: None
Meetings attended in 2020-21: 7/7 FGB meetings
Ben Mackett – Parent Governor and Link Governor for English and Modern Foreign Languages
I joined the Governing Board in 2018 as a Parent Governor and I currently have two children who attend Gurnard Primary School. My background is largely in financial management and risk analysis & mitigation, brought on through my role as a Commercial Manager over the last 6 years, responsible for supporting education providers, trading businesses, and property investors and developers across the South Coast. Core capabilities for the role include understanding and analysis of financial accounts; provision and ongoing monitoring of debt facilities; managing relationships; and delivering on objectives. Additionally, I consistently exercise and develop my skills in project management and delivery, stakeholder engagement, leadership and communication. I have a specific subject focus on English and Modern Foreign Languages.
Date of appointment: 26th March 2019
Term of office: 4 years
Appointed by: Parental election
Business or financial interests: None
Governance roles in other schools: None
Material interests arising from relationships between governors or governors and staff: None
Meetings attended in 2020-21: 3/7 FGB meetings
Jonathan McGouran – Parent Governor and Link Governor for Accountability
I have been a teacher for 17 years. I have been lucky enough to work in six different schools (three prep and three primary) and have therefore had good experience in both sectors. I am currently Head of Maths in the prep sector of Ryde School, a subject that I am particularly passionate about. I have three children, two of which are at Gurnard in Year 1 and Year 3.
Date of appointment: 29th September 2020
Term of office: 4 years
Appointed by: Parental election
Business or financial interests: None
Governance roles in other schools: None
Material interests arising from relationships between governors or governors and staff: None
Meetings attended in 2020-21: 5/6 FGB meetings
Emma Meek - Chair of Governors, Local Authority Governor and Link Governor for Child Protection/Safeguarding; Mental Health and Wellbeing; and Creative Arts.
I currently work for Barnardo’s children’s charity and manage the mental health and emotional wellbeing portfolio and its services for children and young people across the Isle of Wight and Hampshire. I have worked for Barnardo’s for 7 years and have focused on improving children and young people’s outcomes and harnessing an approach towards positive futures, stronger families and safer childhoods. Previously I worked in the educational sector and worked in varying roles including being a tutor, working in welfare, pre-schools, primary, secondary, and further education colleges. I am particularly passionate about children’s mental health and wellbeing and the impact this has on academic achievement. My management role has given me much experience in service delivery, recruitment, finances, complaints, health and safety, people management, performance management, annual appraisal and change management - all of which support and benefit my role as Chair of Governors. I have been a Governor at Gurnard for 6 years and, as the Local Authority Governor, I ensure the Board focuses on the leadership and management of the school, promoting high standards of educational achievement, and making sure the Full Governing Board sets a clear vision, ethos, and strategic direction. I chair the Full Governing Board meetings and within this voluntary role, I am the lead Governor for Safeguarding, mental health and emotional wellbeing and Creative Arts.
Date of appointment: Elected as Parent Governor on 11th December 2015 and as Local Authority Governor on 12th December 2019
Term of office: 4 years
Appointed by: The Local Authority
Business or financial interests: None
Governance roles in other schools: None
Material interests arising from relationships between governors or governors and staff: None
Meetings attended in 2020-21: 7/7 FGB meetings
Roger Rickman – Co-opted Governor and Link Governor for Mathematics
I was elected to the Governing Board as a Co-opted Governor in March 2019. I bring extensive knowledge and experience in education and children’s services to the Board. After a period as a teacher, I trained as an educational psychologist and became the principal educational psychologist in a local education authority. I then went on to hold senior management positions with responsibly for a wide range of education services and social care services for children and young adults. I am now retired from my local authority director position and have since undertaken consultancy and government inspection work. I aim to contribute to all aspects of planning, decision-making and problem solving as a member of the Governing Board and will be taking a special interest in mathematics within the curriculum.
Date of appointment: 26th March 2019
Term of office: 4 years
Appointed by: The Governing Board
Business or financial interests: None
Governance roles in other schools: None
Material interests arising from relationships between governors or governors and staff: None
Meetings attended in 2020-21: 5/7 FGB meetings
Liz Smith - Co-opted Governor, Deputy Chair of Governors and Link Governor for Inclusion
I have been involved in education, in one way or another, for more than 70 years and am still learning! My 30 years’ teaching experience was spent mainly in the Primary sector in Bristol where I held a number of posts of responsibility and finally, for a short while, at Solent Middle School. As my experience evolved, I was particularly drawn towards pupils with Special Educational Needs and my role on the board as SEND governor has enabled me to continue my interest in this area of education. My philosophy has always been to recognise, identify and meet the needs of every child, offering support through a rich and caring environment and one in which the partnership between home and school can flourish.
Date of appointment: Elected as Parent Governor on 12th September 2016; re-elected as co-opted governor on 9th September 2020.
Term of office: 4 years
Appointed by: The Governing Board
Business or financial interests: None
Governance roles in other schools: None
Material interests arising from relationships between governors or governors and staff: None
Meetings attended in 2020-21: 6/7 FGB meetings
Tom Speer – Staff Governor
I have been at Gurnard for the past two years and am thrilled to be going into my third year at this amazing primary school. Throughout my time in the different schools I have worked in, it has become clear that the wider school community is at the heart of all that is important in school life. Being at Gurnard, and being fortunate enough to be the staff representative on the Governing Board, has continued to show me just how vital this approach is. Getting to know and understand the children and all their wonderfully individual personalities, is my personal teaching philosophy.
Date of appointment: 25th June 2020
Term of office: 4 years
Appointed by: The Governing Board
Business or financial interests: None
Governance roles in other schools: None
Material interests arising from relationships between governors or governors and staff: Yes, related to another member of staff at the school
Meetings attended in 2020-21: 7/7 FGB meetings
Stuart Thomas – Parent Governor and Link Governor for Early Years and Science
My background is in operations management and fundraising planning having worked in these areas since 2012 for a campaigning non governmental organisation (NGO) based in London. I have experience across a number of areas, including board governance, HR, financial reporting, project management, health and safety risk assessment and strategic planning which I bring to discussions and meetings and supports the school Governing Board.
Date of appointment:
Term of office: 4 years
Appointed by: Parental election
Business or financial interests: None
Governance roles in other schools: None
Material interests arising from relationships between governors or governors and staff: None
Meetings attended in 2020-21: 7/7 FGB meetings
Doug Vincett – Parent Governor and Link Governor for Digital Learning
I have a wide and varied background from working on large yachts to holding a long-term position in the sales and marketing department of a successful Island marine manufacturer. As a Governor I bring my valuable communication skills, logistics and strategic planning experience as well as a keen drive to learn.
Date of appointment: 18th November 2020
Term of office: 4 years
Appointed by: Parental election
Business or financial interests: None
Governance roles in other schools: None
Material interests arising from relationships between governors or governors and staff: None
Meetings attended in 2020-21: 5/5 FGB meetings
Click here to see details of Governing Board members that have served during
the last 12 months but are no longer Governing Board members