Meet the Governing Body

Please find below details of how our Governing body is structured, including the names, categories, responsibilities and terms of appointment for each Governor.

The Governing Body provides strategic leadership of our school and has a vital role to play in making sure every child gets the best possible education.

 

The Governing Body provides a strong focus on three core strategic functions for our school:

• setting the strategic direction
• holding the executive headteacher to account for the educational performance of the school
• ensuring financial health, probity and value for money

The Governing Body is made up of a group of volunteers and includes staff, parents, and members from the local community and church. We have set very high standards for the school and our job is to provide enough support and enough challenge to drive constant improvement.

Meetings are lively, engaging, and challenging; there is always much to celebrate and plenty to discuss.

Our role is strategic – we do not run the school from day to day – and we are very thankful to the school leadership and staff for their dedication and talent. It is an immense privilege to be involved with such hard working staff, with skilled leadership, in this rural setting, and most of all, brought to life by the enthusiasm, energy and capacity for learning of the wonderful pupils at all of our schools. THANK YOU!

If you are thinking of becoming a Governor, would like more information, or have any questions – then please do get in touch with us via the admin office. We regularly have a Governor on the Gate available after school and we are always interested in hearing your views.

Paul Millard, Local Authority Governor - Chair

I have lived in the area for over thirty-five years and all my children attended Breamore School. I have a broad range of business skills having worked for a major global communications company in a senior role. I have served on the governing body for over 18 years, twice serving as Chair of Breamore School. I believe that with hard work, strong leadership and commitment for all staff, pupils, governors and all stakeholders all three schools have a great opportunity of becoming outstanding schools in the future. With good financial control and ensuring value for money in both schools we can ensure they are well resourced. We should continue to develop the team so that the schools work to have consistent levels of outstanding teaching which will enable all our pupils reach their full potential and be fully secondary ready. I believe that we should continue to have happy pupils, staff and parents where all three schools are considered first choice for all children in our catchment areas.

Richard Farr, Foundation Governor - Vice Chair

I am a founding governor of the Federation having previously served as a parent governor at Breamore school, including as the Chair of the Governing Body. My background is in communications and have been involved in youth leadership all my adult life. I take my responsibility to support the senior leadership team whilst holding them to account very seriously as I am passionate about the schools delivering their best for every child. I believe that our local rural schools are vital organisations in the community.   As a foundation governor I am appointed by our Diocese and  I am currently serving on the resources committee and manage the individual training and development of the governing body

Tracy Allen,  Interim Executive Headteacher

I feel very privileged to be interim executive headteacher of the Forest Edge Learning Federation and to be able to lead Breamore, Hale and Hyde schools. I believe in igniting a love of learning in children through a nurturing approach to enable all children to reach their full potential. I work alongside the governors to ensure the best for all children in our schools.

Reverend Luke Wickings, Foundation Governor

Katherine Gunn, Co-opted Governor

I first volunteered as a school governor in 2007, for an inner-city junior school in Southampton. After moving to Woodgreen, I became a governor at Hale School in 2012. Our daughter now attends Breamore School, so it is wonderful to be able to continue my involvement with both schools as a Co-Opted Governor for the Federation. My background is in Maths and Astrophysics research, and I now work in supercomputing. I’m therefore passionate about widening access to education, and in particular, encouraging girls and young women in science, engineering and technology. My other love is music of all sorts.

Martin Williams, Co-opted Governor

I have recently joined the governing body and am very much looking forward to supporting the federation. My wife Nicky and I moved to the area two years ago with our two boys, who are both at Hale. The positive energy at the school, the growth mindset and the focus on learning how to learn, have been inspiring for us to see as new parents.

My background is in software development and I lead a consulting business which helps companies to maximise the value and impact of IT. I’ve learned the value of good leadership, collaboration, passion, innovative thinking, attention to detail, resilience and a good sense of humour in helping organisations achieve success – experience I hope will help me to make a valuable contribution as a governor.

Tricia Goodfellow, Foundation Governor

Since moving to Hale (summer 2017) with my husband Craig and two daughters, now at university, I am delighted to be invited to join the governing body of the Forest Edge Learning Federation. Previously I was a primary practitioner for many years in Kent, Surrey and East Sussex, in both rural and urban schools, as well as teaching abroad in Norway in the 90’s. After ‘retiring’ from the classroom, I have followed my own passions and interests in horticulture and education. I am a keen member of the RHS, and on the Hale and Woodgreen Horticultural Committee, as well as doing voluntary work in education and gardening both locally and in London. For myself, it is key for children to foster a love of learning in a stimulating and supportive environment, especially through outdoor education, the arts and sport. Therefore, I hope I can make a valuable contribution to the local schools and community, as we settle in to the area.

Jean Palumbo Co-Opted Governor

I have lived in the local area for 37 years and my children attended Breamore primary School. I have been lucky enough to work there since 1996 and more recently to be a part of the Federation team. I have been a staff governor for a number of years. My interests are in all areas of the curriculum but most especially in Mathematics and Special Needs. I greatly look forward to serving the school in a different role.

Ken Rayner - Parent Governor

Our eldest child started at Hale more than 10 years ago now and currently our youngest is in key stage 2 at the school. I've previously led the PTA at Hale and, through that work, developed some understanding of the challenges that schools face, particularly small schools like those in our federation.

In my professional life I've led engineering teams and managed projects for large media organisations. I've also run my own business providing broadcast engineering services and web application development. I'm looking forward to serving on the governing body and helping out in whatever way I can to ensure the continuing success of our three schools of individual character.  

Lynda Warne - Foundation Governor

I have lived in Woodgreen since 1986. My three children attended Breamore School. During this time I became a Co-Opted Governor while working full time as a secondary school teacher of food and textiles. Two of my Grandchildren now attend Breamore school. I retired after 37 years of teaching and was soon asked to join the current team as a Foundation Governor representing Avon Valley Churches. I am also a churchwarden for Hale and Woodgreen churches. I have enjoyed supporting teachers and pupils across the federation in the delivery of food teaching. It was great to return in the Spring of 2023 to support four year 6 students who were working on a ‘social action’ project. I also sit on the learning and achievement committee.

Penny Stevenson - Co-opted Governor

I moved to the New Forest with my family in 2006 and was appointed to the board of Governors in February 2023. I have a legal and financial background and believe that I can bring my expertise and enthusiasm to the federation and help the federation to build on its achievements and support the children achieve the best possible outcomes. I have already found being a Governor to be an incredibly rewarding experience and look forward to being part of the Forest Edge community.

Annie Collins Co-opted Governor

I have recently joined as a governor to the Federation and have enjoyed touring the schools as part of my induction. I have been very impressed with the supportive environments I have seen in all 3 schools and with the knowledge and enthusiasm of all those I have met so far, on the teaching side and on the governing board. I hope to contribute to the continued development of pupils and staff, to enable all to achieve their full potential in a safe and happy setting.

We moved to Woodgreen in 2007 and 2 of my 3 children attended Breamore. My background is in chemistry and HR and I have spent nearly 40 years working for a number of multinationals in a variety of HR disciplines. I have recently retired and would now like to "give back" and help our wonderful local community, and being a governor seems a good place to start. 

Jonathan Arnott - Parent Governor

I have lived in the New Forest for 10 years and recently joined the governing body as a parent governor. Our children attend Hale and I’ve previously been on the committee for the PTA. My background is in healthcare, through which I have developed resilience and team working skills, as well as working to make sure that IT systems are being used to their full potential. I look forward to contributing to the governing body to ensure the three schools in the federation continue to deliver an excellent educational foundation for the children of the local area.

Mike Arnold - Co-opted Governor

Clare O'Keefe - Staff Governor

I am a class teacher at Hale and I am currently lucky enough to teach Year 3 and 4. I have worked here for 7 years and during that time, I have  taught Year R, 1 and 2 as well as my current class. In my previous role I was a Year 6 leader at a 3 form entry Junior School. I was also briefly a phase leader for Year 5 and 6. I love being part of the federation and the children, staff and parents are such a pleasure to work with. Being a governor is something I'm really looking forward to so that I can help with my experience of teaching here as well as at larger schools in different areas.