The Governing Body at Ashleigh Primary School and Nursery

The Governors are responsible for policy and strategy and the Headteacher is responsible for the day-to-day running of the school and ensuring that the policy and strategy agreed by the Governors is implemented. The Governing Body has a large number of legal responsibilities and amongst these are ensuring that the National Curriculum is properly delivered, arranging for religious education to be carried out, deciding how to spend the delegated budget and approving the many different school policies, such as those referring to discipline and behaviour and health and safety.

In this section of the website you can find out who the governors of our school are.

If you would like to contact the governors, please do so by phoning the school at the number on this website’s front page or by emailing the school.

Governance Statement

Ashleigh – Governance Statement 2022-23

Terms of Reference

Ashleigh – Terms of Reference for Governance 13.10.22

Governors Code of Conduct

NGA Model Code Of Conduct Agreed 6.10.21

 

Governing Body

John McConnell

Head teacher

I've been the head of Ashleigh since April 2021 and I'm delighted to be part of such a caring and skilled governing body. I've worked in lots of schools during my time as a teacher and it's an honour to lead a school that is enjoys so much support from its local community. I love being a teacher, I love sharing what I've learned during my education and my career and I'm relishing the challenge of taking Ashleigh into the future!

Danni Lacey

Co-Opted Governor - Deputy/Assistant Headteacher

It has been my privilege to have worked at Ashleigh Primary School for 17 wonderful years. During this time I have taught across several years groups, managed our maintained Nursery, led the EYFS and furthermore, have held the roles of Assistant Headteacher (Inclusion Manager), and Deputy Headteacher. From April 2020 I have shared the role of Acting Headteacher with Mrs. Greenacre. I am a co-opted Governor and have worked as part of the governing body for many years. My specialist areas being SEN, LAAC and mental health and well-being. I provide strategic direction, support and challenge to the governing body.

Sam Greenhalgh

Co-Opted Governor - Chair of Governors

I have two children at Ashleigh and became a co-opted governor in 2019 and then Chair of Governors in 2020. My role as the Chair of Governors is to lead a fantastic group of governors who provide strategic direction and act as a ‘critical friend’ to the senior leadership team and wider school. I have lived in Wymondham for the past 6 years and I am a solicitor specialising in employment law based in Norwich. I enjoy being part of the community, attending community events and giving something back.

Lucy Greenacre

I studied my PGCE at the Institute of Education, UCL and began my teaching career at a large Junior School in Edgware, North London. When I first moved to Norfolk, I worked as a Deputy Headteacher for a Partnership of small primary schools. I then joined Ashleigh as Deputy Headteacher in April 2015, just as it was about to begin its transition to become a primary school.

Gavin Tash

Co-Opted Governor - FInance

I am one of the co-opted governors and chair the Premise sub-committee which covers Safeguarding, Site and Equalities. I have worked in education since 2008 and have experience of supporting students and teaching staff as well as developing polices and regulations. I currently work for UEA supporting institutions the University jointly runs courses with. This role has given me substantial experience of education governance and quality assurance.

Hayley Dowling

Staff Governor

I was delighted to be elected staff governor in July 2018 as I am passionate about primary education and was keen to share a staff viewpoint during discussions on the strategic leadership of the school. Before training as a teacher, I worked as a teaching assistant whilst completing my degree in Early Years Education. I have taught in 3 schools across the Early Years, Key Stage One and Key Stage Two. For the last 5 years I have lead English across Ashleigh. All of these roles, alongside my current role as a class teacher, give me a good insight into the impact that strategic decisions can have on the children and staff in schools.

Carolyn Ellis-Gage

Co-opted Governor - Vice Chair of Governors Vulnerable Groups LAAC, SEND, EAL, G&T, Pupil Premium)

I live in Wymondham and have three children at Ashleigh Primary and Nursery. I joined the Governors in 2018 as I wanted the opportunity to give back to the community I lived in. I have worked in Primary Education for 15 years and I am a Deputy Head Teacher at a local Complex Needs School. I enjoy being a champion for vulnerable groups of pupils within the school.

Lis Jennings

Co-Opted Governor - Mental Health

I work at UEA as a Project Manager in the Department of Clinical Psychology; the programme I work on specifically trains therapists to work with children and young people in education settings, so the role of Governor will be interesting for me in respect of my job. Before I joined UEA, I worked for 18 years as a communications specialist in the cultural sector. I moved to Wymondham in 2016 and really love it here. I became a co-opted Governor in November 2020 and have a specific responsibility for Wellbeing.

Jennie Reavey

Co-opted Governor - Sports Premium Mental Health

In September 2019 I joined the Governing body as a co-opted governor. I have four grandchildren, one of whom is in year 1 at the school. I have worked in Education since 1987 and retired from secondary teaching five years ago. I have a keen interest in education and look forward to being actively involved in the learning of the young children at the school. My specific governor responsibilities are the Sports Premium and Wellbeing.

Sharon Hill

Co-Opted Governor - Policies Health and Safety

My name is Sharon Hill and I have lived in Wymondham since 2003. I have worked in the field of Human Resources for many years (to many to mention) and in the last 15 years have trained and undertaken formal Health & Safety Qualifications with IOSH and NEBOSH and ILM Level 5 in Coaching. I also recently undertook the GDPR Practitioner level qualifications and Mental Health First Aid in order to support my employer further having taken up a new role in March of this year. I live with my husband and we are both season ticket holders at Norwich City Football Club and enjoy cycling, both being active members of Wymondham Leisure Centre and whenever possible you will see us at local events in the town or just cycling for miles and miles taking in our beautiful City.

David Woozley

Co-opted Governor - Curriculum – Maths and English

I have lived in the Wymondham area since 2020 and have 2 children at a local school. I have been a Co-Opted Governor since Dec 2020, and my Governor responsibility is the Curriculum. I work for the Norwich-based company GovernorHub, whose website supports good governance in schools across the UK. Before I joined them, I worked in education for eighteen years, and am a strong advocate for music and the arts in schools.

Sarah Sprake

Parent Governor

Having taught at Ashleigh for almost a decade, I took the opportunity to join the governing body as a parent governor in 2022. Since qualifying as a teacher, I taught in schools in Norfolk and Suffolk across the primary age range, particularly the early years, including teaching Reception and Nursery at Ashleigh. Before training to be a teacher I worked as a Project Manager in both the private and public sectors. In 2022 I joined Norfolk County Council as an Early Years Advisor working with schools and settings across Norfolk. My children attended Ashleigh, joining the school in Nursery, so I have experienced the school’s growth from an infant to primary school as both a staff member and parent. As a premises governor it has been exciting to see the recent development of the school facilities including investment in the already wonderful resource of Ashleigh Farm, the redevelopment of outdoor learning spaces for the early years and improved play spaces for all year groups. I am committed to the continued success of Ashleigh and to supporting the governing body to deliver outstanding education and facilities for the community.

Rebecca Fletcher-Dungay

Parent Governor - Supporting premises

I have lived in Wymondham since 2016 and have 2 children at Ashleigh Primary School. I have been a Parent Governor since Dec 2020 and my Governor responsibility is Health and Safety. I have my own Business supplying Bespoke Sports Socks and other bespoke clothing to Business, Sports Clubs and Schools.