The governing body of any school exists to provide strategic leadership and accountability and plays a crucial role in making sure every child gets the best possible education. Governors are volunteers who oversee the success of schools by agreeing priorities and monitoring progress towards them. All governors at St Peter's are committed to supporting and challenging leaders and managers to enable them to do their job to the best of their ability.
School's full governing body (FGB) meets once a term. Additionally, sub-committees look in detail at particular aspects of the school such as the curriculum, finance, staffing and premises. Individual governors are also linked to specific subjects, pupil groups or policies. You can find out more about all members of the FGB, and what they do, below. You can contact the governors via the governor postbox in the school foyer, or by emailing the chair of governors at [email protected]. Additionally, our co-vice chair Amanda Jackson can be emailed at [email protected]. All governors are happy to receive questions or comments from parents and carers of St Peter's children.
The government requires governors to declare any business and pecuniary interests which may be relevant to their role. Declarations are listed below and can also be seen here.
Jayne Robertson
Co-opted governor and Chair of Governors
Jayne became a co-opted governor in November 2019 and, whilst this is her first time as a school governor, she brought a great deal of enthusiasm as well as extensive professional experience to help support the school.
Jayne's background is in private wealth management where she has held a variety of roles, including statutory director, head of operations and head of quality assurance. She is very much used to a corporate governance framework and prides herself on her ability to problem solve and get things done.
Jayne has lived in Feering for the last 36 years, and has a daughter and two granddaughters. She has a passion for cookery, travel and cycling and often looks to combine them wherever possible.
Jane's term of office is four years. Jayne is also the link governor for training.
Amanda Jackson
Co-opted governor and Vice Chair
Amanda was appointed as a Parent Governor at the end of 2016. She trained as a teacher and currently works as a school improvement adviser for a local authority team in London. She specialises in whole school improvement and computing, supporting primary and secondary schools across London and Essex. Amanda aims to work in partnership with parents, staff and other governors to help drive the improvement of the school to provide our children with the best possible education.
Amanda is Vice Chair of Governors and also sits on the curriculum and pay committees. Amanda was appointed as a Co-opted Governor in December 2020 for a four year term.
Caroline Bolton
Staff Governor
Caroline joined the governing body in September 2023 and her term of office is four years. She has worked as a teacher at the school for many years and holds several leadership roles within the school including Key Stage 1 Phase Lead as well as Phonics Lead.
Caroline's experience and knowledge in teaching and learning is a real an asset to the Governing Body team.
Louise Cowan
Parent Governor
Louise joined the governing body in January 2024. She has lived in Coggeshall since 2021 and has two children at the school.
Louise's background is in retail and marketing which gives her a wealth of experence in areas of strategy, budgeting, planning and inplementing. She is curently on a career break and is able to dedicate and offer a great deal of time and energy to supporting the school in her role as governor. Louise is also an active member of Friends of St Peter's (FOSP).
Louise's term of office is four years.
Sam Wilding
Headteacher
Sam joined the school in September 2023. She has in excess of eighteen years teaching experience, eleven of those being as a senior leadership in a range of different schools: an outstanding school in an affluent area; a coastal school in a deprived area; a new school; a Church of England school. This is Sam's second headship. She views it is as a privelage to be entrusted with the education of children and works tirelessly to ensure the best opportunities are provided for all children.
In this ex-officio capacity Sam attends all full governing body and committee meetings.
Dan Greenwood
Co-opted Governor
Dan moved to Coggeshall with his family in 2021 and wanted to get involved in, and give something back to, the community.
Dan's background is in Finance and he is currently Head of Finance at a wine distributor based in London. He is experienced in project and people management as well as senior decison making. He understands the importance of school governance and is well placed to provide extra scrutiny on the financial figures.
He has previously been a school governor in a large inner London primary school, so has some useful experience to bring to the school.
Dan joined the governing body in November 2021 and his term of office is four years.
Leanne Horcox
Co-opted Governor
Dominic Irwin
Co-opted governor
Both Dominic's children started at St Peters school in 2018 after they had all returned from a period working and living overseas. Once settled back in the UK, Dominic wanted to explore ways that he could be involved in his and other children’s education. He joined the governing body in December 2020.
Dominic has worked in a project environment for most of his career and now heads up a Project Delivery Team for an asset management firm. His role requires financial budgeting, resource management, planning, delivery and managing stakeholders, skills which he looks to use wherever he can in his role as governor.
Dominic was re-appointed as a co-opted governor in November 2024 for a four year term. Dominic is the chair of the Resource Committee.
Chris Lamb
Co-opted Governor
Chris is a retired Headteacher who moved to Coggeshall in 2021. She is passionate about providing the best educational experience for all children and has a wealth of experience that that she brings to the governing body. Chris has previously been a governor prior to moving to Coggeshall, delivering strategic support for the headteacher and school team. Since retiring, she has worked part-time for a teacher training provider, supporting the trainee teachers in their development.
Chris has three young grandchildren who take up quite a bit of her time, but is enjoying the freedom to take up new hobbies now that she has retired.
Chris joined the governing body in October 2022. Her term of office is 4 years. Chris is also chair of the Curriculum Committee with effect from Summer 2023..
Brian Meads
Local Authority Governor
Brian has lived in Coggeshall since 1989 and since then has been actively involved in the local community, particularly at St Peter’s Church. Having gained a degree in Biochemistry from Cambridge University he worked as a production manager until the 1990s, when he retrained into his second passion – woodworking. Since then he has been self-employed in the boatbuilding, general joinery, shop fitting and exhibition stand sectors before retiring in 2022.
Brian's increasing sense of Christian vocation culminated in being licensed as a Church of England Lay Minister in 2020. As the Chelmsford Diocesan Board of Education Foundation Governor, Brian seeks to maintain and further develop the already strong links between the school, the church and the wider community. He pledges to promote, to the very best of his ability, the core values of St Peter’s – Aspire, Care and Enjoy
Foundation DBE Governor - officially appointed by Diocese on 3 May 2022.
Revd Heike Prentice
Foundation PCC governor
Rev'd Heike Prentice joined the governing body in November 2021 and her term of office is four years.
Vanessa Sullivan
Deputy headteacher / Staff governor
Vanessa joined the school as Deputy Headteacher in April 2018,. She has taught for more than twenty years across different schools and contexts and has enjoyed getting to know the community here at St Peter's. She enjoys the variety of her job, as she has the opportunity to teach in class and work on strategic leadership and management. In addition to her teaching role, Vanessa has taken on extensive leadership and pastoral roles within the school, positively impacting on staff, children and their families.
Vanessa is an observer on the Governing Body.
Kathryn Worvell
Co-opted Governor
Kathryn joined the governing body in March 2024. She has lived in Coggeshall since 2014 and has two little boys - the eldest of whom attends the School.