Name: Tom Williams Category: Parent Governor Responsibilities: Chair of Governors Body appointed by: Oxford Diocese Buckinghamshire Schools Trustees Date Appointed: 25 November 2022 Term of Office: 4 years until 24th November 2026 Business, Personal and Pecuniary Interests: Udacity Account Director Meetings attended: 2022/2023 75%
Tom is a parent governor with three young children attending the school. Having attended a small Church of England village school himself, he is keen to do all he can to help support and foster the nurturing environment this can provide. At weekends, Tom also coaches a youth team at Buckingham Rugby Club where his two oldest children play.
In their spare time, Tom and his family can be found enjoying outdoor pursuits, often exploring the local countryside, spending time on the river, or heading to the coast to enjoy some relaxing time on the beach.
Name: Karen Howe
Category: Skills Governor Responsibilities: Vice of Governors and Health & Safety Body appointed by: Oxford Diocese Buckinghamshire Schools Trustees Date Appointed: 19th July 2023 Term of Office: 4 years until 18th July 2027 Business, Personal and Pecuniary Interests: PTFA Accounts Auditor, Company Secretary for Edward Williams Furniture Company Meetings attended: 2022/2023 100%
Karen is a Parent Governor and has a daughter at the school and an older daughter at Sir Thomas Freemantle. She is an accountant working both in an accountancy practice one day a week and working with her husband’s company (commercial joinery) where she runs the finance for the whole company. Between these two roles Karen has a varied number of financial responsibilities, as well as being involved in the general HR. At weekends she pends time with the family whether it be just time at home, in the garden or having days out. She also encourages the girls to undertake new hobbies, from swimming to dancing. They all love going on family holidays, whether it is in the sun or skiing. Karen also loves reading, typically a good romance novel.
Name: Paula Shaw
Category: Headteacher Responsibilities: Headteacher Date Appointed: 1 November 2017 on conversion to ODBST Body appointed by: Ex-Officio/Oxford Diocese Buckinghamshire Schools Trust Term of Office: until resignation Business, Personal and Pecuniary Interests: SIAMS Inspector Meetings attended 2022/2023: 100% Contact: office@ghw.odbst.org
Paula is the headteacher and governor at Great Horwood School, taking up the position in September 2014. Her teaching career has spanned 32 years in Primary Education beginning in the City of London. Paula has worked in Wiltshire, Oxfordshire and Northamptonshire and has taught in a range of schools from inner city to village, community and Church of England Schools.
Paula has completed the NPQEL (National professional qualification of executive leaders) and supports other schools where required. She is also a SIAMS inspector (Statutory inspection of Anglican and Methodist schools) which offers opportunities to visit other Church of England schools.
Name: Sarah Biswell
Category: Skills Governor Responsibilities: Headteacher performance, Governor Development Body appointed by: Oxford Diocese Buckinghamshire Schools Trustees Date Appointed: 12th October 2020 Term of Office: 11th October 2024 Business, Personal and Pecuniary Interests: Clerk to Great Horwood Parish Council Meetings attended: 2022/2023 100%
Sarah became a Parent Governor at Great Horwood School in the summer of 2017. Having lived in Great Horwood for over 20 years she has a different connection to the village and feels it is important to be part of the School that her daughter attended. Sarah has over 25 years work experience within the financial services industry and has recently taken up the post of Parish Clerk for the Great Horwood Parish Council. When not working, Sarah likes to cook, read and meet up with friends and family.
Name: Gaynor Dietsch
Category: Foundation Governor Responsibilities: SIAMS Vision and Values Body appointed by: Oxford Diocese Board of Education Date Appointed: 23rd September 2023 Term of Office: 4 years until 22nd September 2027 Business, Personal and Pecuniary Interests: None Meetings attended: 2022/2023 100%
Gaynor is a Foundation Governor and lives in a village near Great Horwood School. She worked for several years as an Learning Support Assistant supporting children who had special educational needs, stopping when she had her own children. Since then Gaynor has helped run several committees connected to her children’s education and her two daughters attended Great Horwood School before going to St Paul's School in Milton Keynes.
As a Christian, Gaynor’s faith is central to all she does and believes and she therefore sees her Foundation Governor responsibilities as a way of serving the school and helping the school maintain its Christian ethos and values in a way that benefits all the children and staff attending and working there.
Name: Danielle Evans
Category: Parent Governor Responsibilities: Safeguarding & Literacy Body appointed by: Elected by Great Horwood School Parents Date Appointed: 2nd July 2021 Term of Office: 4 years until 1st July 2021 Business, Personal and Pecuniary Interests: Great Horwood Parish Council Meetings attended: 2022/2023 83%
Danielle is a parent governor with two children currently at the school. She lives in Great Horwood with her husband, children and two dogs. Danielle is a chartered tax advisor, who spent many years lecturing for tax and accountancy exams before moving to work for a professional body, working to deliver tax exams to students all over the world.
Danielle is a keen runner and can often be found dashing off from drop off to run up and down Pilch Lane before starting work! When she's not doing this, she's often driving her boys to various swimming pools for training or galas, before curling up on the sofa for a well earned cup of tea and a bit of Netflix.
Name: Stephen Connor
Category: Foundation Ex-officio Responsibilities: Yet to be assigned Body appointed by: Oxford Diocese Board of Education Date Appointed: 11th July 2023 Term of Office: 4 years until 10th July 2027 Business, Personal and Pecuniary Interests: Trustee of Winslow Charities, Governor at Winslow CE School & Furze Down School Meetings attended: 2022/2023 N/A
Steve came to Winslow as parish priest after serving his curacy in Walmer on the Kent coast. He previously worked in banking for 7 years before going to Senegal as a short-term missionary worker at Bourofaye Christian School in the Casamance region before returning to London where he trained as a nurse. He worked in cancer and palliative care environments for the best part of 30 years, most lately as a researcher and academic before undertaking his ordination training later in life. He enjoys cooking, music, painting, reading, and spending time with his partner Pascal, Toby the cat and Ambre the Dog.
Name: Pete Telfer
Category: Parent Governor Responsibilities: None yet assigned Body appointed by: Elected by Great Horwood School Parents Date Appointed: 31st October 2023 Term of Office: 4 years until 30th October 2027 Business, Personal and Pecuniary Interests: Manager and Schools Worker for Bridgebuilder Meetings attended: 2022/2023 N/A
Pete is married to Lizzie and they have a wonderful five year old daughter. He started with Bridgebuilder (www.mkbt.org.uk) in June 2023.
He would love to ski or kayak every day but settles for walks in the countryside and playing football, whilst supporting Liverpool Football Club. He has a BA in Youth Work and Ministry (Oasis College) and an MA in Missional Leadership (Formission College).
Previously, he was a youth minister for over twenty years and has been on various church leadership teams in Kings Cross, Uxbridge, and Aylesbury. He used to work for several schools in Kings Cross, and schools’ work has always been a key part of the youth ministry. He worked for Oasis College for about ten years as a Professional Mentor, Fieldwork Tutor, and Associate Lecturer and then Reign Ministries UK for five years as their Campus Leader. He has also worked at Transforming Lives for Good.
Pete has a strong Christian faith and is passionate about helping children and young people to reach their God-given potential with a desire to encourage, empower and equip others to do the same.
Name: Kate Holland
Category: Staff Governor Responsibilities: Yet to be assigned Body appointed by: Elected by Great Horwood School Staff Date Appointed: 12th January 2024 Term of Office: 4 years until 11th January 2028 Business, Personal and Pecuniary Interests: Meetings attended: 2022/2023 N/A
Kate has recently been appointed as Acorns Class Teacher at Great Horwood teaching the Nursery and Reception children. She joined the school after Christmas in January 2024 and will soon have relocated from Rutland to Buckinghamshire. She is keen to establish roots in the local community by taking on the role of Staff Governor. In her spare time Kate enjoys time with her three grown-up daughters as well as walking and listening to Radio 4.
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