Charlotte Beadle  - Chair of Governors

Co-opted Governor

Responsibilities / Committees: Chair of Governing Body & EYFS / Curriculum & Finance

Date Appointed: 06/07/2018

Term of Office: Start & End Date: 06/07/2018 to 06/07/2021

Business, Personal & Pecuniary Interests: None

Governance roles in other educational institutions: None

Charlotte has been a parent governor since July 2014 and, in February 2019, was elected as Chair of Governors. Her children have been attending Whitchurch Combined School since 2012 when she and the Beadle family moved to the Aylesbury area, and Charlotte became a governor when her youngest started at the school in September 2014. Charlotte runs her own company providing compliance consultancy to the pharmaceutical industry, and as there are similarities in the governance of all organisations Charlotte felt she could help provide her experience to the school. The key role that all governors provide is to be a ‘critical friend’ to the school and given this is about the welfare and education of children Charlotte wanted to contribute her support to this. Charlotte is a member of the Finance and Management Committee and has governor responsibilities for Early Years Foundations Stage (EYFS).

Rachel Mobbs - Headteacher

Headteacher

Responsibilities / Committees: Safeguarding / Curriculum & Finance

Date Appointed: 01/09/2020

Term of Office: Start & End Date: 01/09/2020 to 01/09/2024

Business, Personal & Pecuniary Interests: None

Governance roles in other educational institutions: None

Rachel has been Headteacher at Whitchurch since September 2016. Before that, Rachel worked at a number of Buckinghamshire School's as a Deputy Head Teacher, Advanced Skills Teacher for English and as a Class Teacher. Rachel loves being the Head Teacher at Whitchurch and can still often be found in classrooms whether that is 'playing shops' with the Reception children or helping the Year 6s with their arithmetic skills! In her spare time, Rachel enjoys socialising with her friends and has recently got married!

Joanne Dallas

Co-opted Governor

Responsibilities / Committees: Development Governor 

Date Appointed: 10/02/2022 

Term of Office: Start & End Date: 10/02/2022 – 09/02/2026 

Business, Personal & Pecuniary Interests: None 

Governance roles in other educational institutions: None 

Joanne joined the Board of Governors in February 2022. She lives with her husband and two daughters in Hardwick, her eldest daughter is currently at Whitchurch School with her youngest due to start later this year. Prior to starting her family, Joanne worked in IT Sales managing a number of global accounts. She hopes to bring these skills of setting goals and developing plans to execute them, for both performance and financial gain, to the role of a Governor. Joanne has not had any previous experience in the education sector, however, is passionate about children's physical and mental health and is keen to support the school and its children in its mission to be 'Ready for Tomorrow'. In her spare time Joanne enjoys running and spending time with her family and beloved dog, Molly.

Michael Roberts

Parent Governor

Responsibilities / Committees: Equality / Vice Chair Finance & Staff Dismissals & Pay Appeals

Date Appointed: 18/06/2019

Term of Office: Start & End Date: 18/06/2019 - 17/06/2023

Business, Personal & Pecuniary Interests: None

Governance roles in other educational institutions: None

Michael has been a parent governor since June 2019.  He and his wife have lived happily in Whitchurch since 2011, and both their children attend the school.  Michael has worked on behalf of business for 30 years on a range of public policy and reputational issues, most recently as Chief Executive of two trade associations.  He enjoys sport and is interested in architecture, history and the environment.  As governor, he aims to work with his fellow governors, the highly dedicated team at WCS and the wider community to promote the continuous improvement of the school.

Janet Sampson

Co-opted Governor

Responsibilities / Committees: Safeguarding, SEND / Curriculum Chair & Staff Dismissals & Staff Pay Appeals and Pupil Discipline

Date Appointed: 09/02/2019

Term of Office: Start & End Date: 09/02/2019 - 07/02/2023

Business, Personal & Pecuniary Interests: None

Governance roles in other educational institutions: None

Janet has been a Local Authority/co-opted governor for 7 years and is Chair of the Curriculum Committee. She is also currently responsible for safeguarding, SEN and gifted/talented provision. Her two children attended Whitchurch Combined School from 2003 to 2013. Why did she become a governor?  Having been an active member of the Whitchurch School Association and a parent volunteer when her own children were at Whitchurch, becoming involved on the governing body was another practical way to support and 'give something back' to the school and all its students - a worthwhile and hugely rewarding experience.  All schools face significant challenge and change in the current climate: being a governor helps you appreciate and understand the key role of education. Janet lives in Whitchurch and works full time as a Teacher of English at Aylesbury Grammar School.

Jane Holliday

Co-opted Governor

Responsibilities / Committees: Pupil Premium, Safeguarding, PSHE & HT Performance Management / Finance & Staff Dismissal & Pupil Discipline

Date Appointed: 31/10/2018

Term of Office: Start & End Date: 31/10/2018 - 31/10/2022

Business, Personal & Pecuniary Interests: None

Governance roles in other educational institutions: Trustee of Secondary School MAT

Jane joined the Board of Governors in November 2019.  Jane lives in the village and both her children previously attended Whitchurch School in the late 1990s.  At that time Jane worked full time and had little involvement with the School and, now that she has retired (early!), she saw the vacancy for a Governor as the opportunity to contribute back into the school.  In Jane’s former career she was an HR Director for a global fmcg business and also ran her own consultancy for a number of years, and so she brings a knowledge of general management and a commercial perspective to her new role. Jane is a member of the Finance and Management Committee and her first impression of being a Governor is just how much reporting and data is involved in running a school!

Simon Patrick

Parent Governor

Responsibilities / Committees: Finance Chair

Date Appointed: 27/02/2017

Term of Office: Start & End Date: 27/02/2017 - 27/02/2021

Business, Personal & Pecuniary Interests: None

Governance roles in other educational institutions: None

Simon has been a parent governor since 2016 and is the vice chair of the finance committee. Simon is a Chartered Surveyor specialising in commercial property and has two children, Rory and Maisie, who are both at Whitchurch Combined School.

Simon became a school governor to help support the school, to understand the education system better and to assist in making the school a better place for our children. Outside of his day to day work, Simon is involved in the Bucks County Show and enjoys spending time with his family and his dog, Betsy.

Sam Rider

Co-opted Governor

Responsibilities / Committees: Curriculum

Date Appointed: 08/02/2022

Term of Office: Start & End Date: 08/02/2022 - 08/02/2026

Business, Personal & Pecuniary Interests: None

Governance roles in other educational institutions: None

Sam (for over 50 years, officially Simon) had two daughters at WCS from April 1997- December 1998 before relocating them, their younger brother and his wife to The Hague for 4 years for his work as European CEO of a global US sports retailer. While in Holland, he spent 3 years as parent governor of the British School of the Netherlands, contributing to the committee responsible for the building of the extension to the senior school site as well as coaching rugby to the ‘Benjamins’ (as the 5-7 year olds were called). Returning to Whitchurch almost 20 years ago, Sam continued in international sports and fashion retail until retiring from corporate life in 2020. He continues to provide consultancy services to the sector and for the past 3 years has worked on a not-for-profit project which looks to raise funds for mental health improvements for emergency responders. He became a school governor to add his experiences to those of the current team and to provide support where appropriate in making the local school a better place for the whole community.

Emma Lawes

Co-opted Governor 

Responsibilities / Committees:  

Date Appointed: 10/02/2022 

Term of Office: Start & End Date: 10/02/2022 – 09/02/2026 

Business, Personal & Pecuniary Interests: None 

Governance roles in other educational institutions: None 

Emma joined the Board of Governors in February 2022 and has recently moved to Whitchurch, having previously lived and worked in London. Her experience covers not-for-profit funding in a range of sectors including education, healthcare and local authority, with a focus on energy efficiency and climate change. More recently she has worked as a Grants Manager in a well-known scientific organisation supporting international research. Emma is keen to bring this experience to the governing body, while supporting the school and local community. Outside of work she enjoys exploring the local area, baking and travelling. 

Mark Soar

Staff Governor

Responsibilities / Committees: Deputy Headteacher / Curriculum

Date Appointed: 09/10/2017

Term of Office: Start & End Date: 09/10/2017 - 08/10/2021

Business, Personal & Pecuniary Interests: None

Governance roles in other educational institutions: None

Mark is the Deputy Head at Whitchurch Combined School and has been a Governor here since September 2017 upon his arrival at the school. He has worked as a teacher and governor across Buckinghamshire for the last 15 years. As part of his role as Governor, he enjoys supporting other colleagues in developing a strategic vision for the school. Outside of school, Mark runs a local Junior football team and enjoys spending time with his wife and two children.

Helen Armour

Co-opted Governor

Responsibilities / Committees:  HT Performance management / Vice Chair, Finance & Staff Dismissal

Date Appointed: 03/03/2020

Term of Office: Start & End Date:  03/03/2020 - 03/03/2024

Business, Personal & Pecuniary Interests: None

Governance roles in other educational institutions: None

Helen joined the Board of Governors in February 2020 having moved to Whitchurch in 2016 from St Albans. Helen worked in the retail industry for many years in senior head office roles before moving into university teaching thirteen years ago and is now a Principal Lecturer teaching UG and PG students on applied business courses relating to her industry expertise. In addition to her teaching duties Helen is also one of the university's International Directors, responsible for establishing and building active relationships around the world. She has been a governor previously at a junior school in Harpenden and has also been a trustee for a local bereavement charity. Helen and her family have settled very happily in Whitchurch with both her grown up children living locally and she is keen to contribute to the life of the community and the school in particular. Helen is a member of the Finance and Management Committee and looks forward to utilising her business and education experience to the benefit of the school.

Gemma Cooling

Co-opted Governor

Responsibilities / Committees: Literacy Governor / Curriculum & Pupil Discipline

Date Appointed: 03/03/2020

Term of Office: Start & End Date: 03/03/2020 - 03/03/2024

Business, Personal & Pecuniary Interests: None

Governance roles in other educational institutions: None

Gemma joined the Board of Governors in March 2020. She lives in Oving with her husband and two young children. She is a qualified secondary English teacher and taught in schools across the country for ten years. As part of this role she managed a busy English department; giving her managerial experience as well as involvement in developing and executing strategic plans in an educational setting. These are skills that she hopes to bring to her role as Governor. Since starting her family Gemma has been self-employed running her own private tutoring business. Gemma hope that through her role she will be able to contribute positively to the school and the local community.

Kate Webster

Co-opted Governor

Responsibilities/Committees: Pupil Premium & SEND Governor / Curriculum

Date Appointed: 15/06/21

Term of Office: Start & End Date: 15/06/21 – 14/06/25

Business, Personal & Pecuniary Interests: None

Governance roles in other educational institutions: Governor of a Local Authority Primary School in Kent

Kate joined the Board of Governors in June 2021, having moved to the local area from Kent earlier in the year.  Having been involved in Governance in two schools in Kent for over 8 years and with time on her hands, she was keen to continue in this voluntary role and share her expertise with a local Primary school.  Her granddaughter has recently started at Whitchurch Combined School so this is the ideal school to support.  Prior to retirement, Kate taught in a Primary School for 14 years, with Science and school productions being her specialisms. She enjoys exploring the Buckinghamshire countryside when not looking after her grandchildren and hopes to resume travelling abroad when restrictions allow this.

Mark Leeder 

Co-opted Governor

Responsibilities / Committees: Data Protection, Able Gifted and Talented/Curriculum 

Date Appointed: 6/10/2020

Term of Office: Start & End Date: 6/10/2020 to 6/10/2024

Business, Personal & Pecuniary Interests: None

Governance roles in other educational institutions: None

Mark joined the Board of Governors in October 2020.  He has lived in Whitchurch since 2014 when he and his family moved back to you UK having spent 4 years as an ex-pat working in senior finance roles for a global automotive retailer.  Mark is a qualified accountant with experience in several areas of commercial finance and investor relations. He currently has two daughters in Whitchurch School.  This is Marks first Governor position, he decided to become a Governor in order to give something back to the school, learn more about the educational system and use that experience to support the school, staff and children.  Outside of work Mark enjoys spending time with his family and running in the Chilterns.