Governing Body

Who are we?

Governors come from all walks of life and bring a wide range of experience and expertise to the role. At Stoke Park we are actively involved in the life of the school and share many responsibilities. We are volunteers and are appointed initially to serve on the governing body for four years. At Stoke Park we have a good mix of long serving governors, governors appointed during the last twelve months and some new governors. A third of our governors are parents and other governors represent the local authority, the community and the staff of the school.

The Clerk to the Governing Body is Judith Young

If you would like to find out more about Hampshire Governor Services please click here.

What do we do?

The Governing Body works in close partnership with the Headteacher to ensure that the school is well run and promotes high standards of achievement for all children. It has a strategic role as well as statutory responsibilities for example setting the priorities of the school budget and agreeing school annual targets for the end of Key Stage 2 SATs in English and mathematics and also for attendance. We are a ‘critical friend’ to the school and are there to support, ask questions, challenge and monitor all aspects of school life. We have two Full Governing Body Meetings each term and the Resources and Curriculum Committees also meet at least termly.

Allison Jenkins, Headteacher

Judith Young, Clerk to the Governing Body

Business Manager. No Pecuniary Interests.

Steve Wood, Co-Opted Governor

No Pecuniary Interests

A bit about Steve: My career has been in electronic materials and technology related manufacturing industries and I have a lifelong interest in science and technology. Outside work I enjoy being outdoors, and also sing in a choir. I'm keen to learn about history, both local and the wider world.

Why I chose to be Governor: I was encouraged by the then Head Teacher to become a Governor when my son started at the school - that was over 15 years ago. Both my children had an excellent education at the school and I wanted to see if I could make a contribution to help the school continue to develop. It took an academic year to understand how the school works and what I could do to support its success.

Main responsibilities: Chair of the Governing Body and member of the Resources Committee. Link Governor for Science with additional interest in Maths and IT. Support to Leadership Team in my role as Chair.

What I love about the school: The children and the enthusiasm of all the staff. The school has always been a friendly and supportive environment, and this along with the excellent outdoor opportunities, give so many opportunities for different ways to learn.

Vicky Painter, LA Governor

No Pecuniary Interests

A bit about Vicky: I work as a Registered Manager of a local Nursing Home and have 25 years' experience working in healthcare. In my spare time I am the Group Scout Leader of the local Sea Scouts; I enjoy reading, history, art and taking woodland walks with my husband and cheeky Basset Hound, Bertie.

Why I chose to be a Governor: To support my local community and to give back to the school that once (a while ago now gave me amazing learning opportunities and guidance.

Main Responsibilities: Attending Governors meetings, member of both resources and performance management committees. Curriculum Governor for History.

What I love about the school: The children and staff are enthusiastic in striving to achieve their goals and they have created a friendly, supportive, and caring environment for learning.

Kila Barber, Co-opted Governor

A bit about Kila: From a young age I wanted to be a teacher. My whole teaching career has been working in Primary schools. I have been a headteacher both in Hampshire and abroad. Now I work for Hampshire County Council as a Primary Phase Inspector supporting headteachers and their staff to provide the very best for the children in Hampshire. In my spare time, I love the theatre, gardening and walking. I feel very fortunate to have Stoke Park woods and the River Itchen on our doorstep.

Why I chose to be a Governor: Ilive in Bishopstoke and wanted to make a useful contribution to the community. hope my role as governor will enable me to do that.

Main responsibilities: I am linked to the curriculum development of the school and support the school leaders with their self-evaluation.

What I love most about the school: I enjoy being part of the school community. There is always a warm reception when I visit. I particularly enjoy seeing how children are given a range of opportunities which they enjoy during their time at school but also helps prepare them as they move onto secondary school and to make a positive contribution to the wider world.

Jason Langdon, Co-opted Governor

A bit about Jason: I work as an Operations Manager at a University and have lived in Southampton since moving here for my studies. Outside of work I enjoy music - and have been in a few bands across the years.

Why I chose to be a Governor: I work in tertiary education and have always had an interest in education as a whole. At one point in time, I was considering going into teaching, and very well could have been one if things had played out slightly differently. I also feel passionate about giving back to the local community.

Main responsibilities: Chair of Resources Committee, Health & Safety, GDPR and link in with Arts.

What I love most about the school: There is a strong sense of community, and all the pupils I have met have been enthusiastic about their experience. There also seems to be a lot of opportunity for pupils and support afforded to them.

Julie Smith, Governor Category: Co-Opted

No Pecuniary Interests

A bit about Julie: I am a retired teacher whose career started at Stoke Park Infant School as a parent volunteer, which led to being appointed as a teaching assistant. After 2 years I went on to train as a primary school teacher at the University of Winchester, specialising in the early years which had been my passion. I have a wide range of experiences in state, private and international education, spending 3 years in the Middle East as Head of Pre Prep. Outside of work, since | retired, I have my very own 'early years department' looking after 8 grandchildren which keeps me on my toes! I love to swim and enjoy daily walks with my husband, travel, reading and socialising with family and friends.

Why I chose to be a Governor: I have lived in the Bishopstoke area for 40 years and my 3 children attended the school. I now have a grandson who is at Stoke Park Infant School. I have missed the buzz of school life and wanted to give something back to a school that nurtured my family. I look forward to learning more and to see education from a different perspective.

Main responsibilities: As well as attending FGB meetings I am responsible for safer recruitment, pupil premium and a member of the performance management committee.

What I love most about the school: My first impressions as a new Governor when coming into school was a warm sense of community and enthusiastic staff and children. I look forward to getting to know then, supporting the school in my Governor role and contributing to its success.