Naphill and Walters Ash School

logo
logo

Governors

Governors

Message from the Chair of Governors

A school should be an aspirational place. Welcome to Naphill and Walters Ash School. We are ambitious for every child. We value all our children and encourage them to believe in themselves and reach their full potential.

I and the rest of the Governing Body, work closely with the Head Teacher and all the staff to set high standards and expectations in teaching, learning and extracurricular activities for all our children and the highest standard of behaviour across the school.

Partnerships are vital to achieving that ambition and this is where as parents and carers you can help your child. Continued feedback from the Head Teacher, staff and from other Governing Bodies is that reading at home is absolutely vital to children’s education.

It may appear mundane, but time spent with your child reading or doing homework is never wasted. Reading is a cornerstone of education. From reading comes comprehension, not just in English, but in ALL subjects taught across the curriculum. Spend 10 to 20 minutes each day reading to or with your child, checking their understanding of what they read, and encouraging them to explore subjects more deeply.

As well as reading, helping them learn spelling and times tables will have a positive impact that will help them make steps towards their aspirations.

My ambition is that your child leaves Naphill having achieved the very best that they are able to and having enjoyed every day they are here.

Kind regards

Paul Riglar

 

Role of the Governing Body

  • To set the aims and objectives for the school
  • To define the policies for achieving those aims and objectives
  • To set the targets and plans for achieving those aims and objectives
  • To monitor the progress that the school is making
  • To be a source of support and challenge to the Head Teacher

 

Structure of the Governing Body

There are 14 governors; the Head teacher, 1 staff governor, 1 local authority governor, 4 parent governors and 7 co-opted governors.

There are two committees that meet once a term:

  • Finance & Resources
    Responsible for the school budget, staffing, premises etc.
  • Teaching & Learning
    Responsible for curriculum matters.
  • The committees make recommendations to the full Governing Body, (all 14 governors) who also meet once a term to formally adopt the policies and to approve any other decisions taken at committee.

Paul Riglar – Chair and member of the Finance and Resources Committee

Paul Riglar was elected a parent governor in October 2012. He was last appointed as a co-opted governor for a 4 year term on 1 September 2020.

He became chair of the Finance and Resources committee in May 2014 and is currently Chair of Governors.

Both of his children went to Naphill School.

He lives locally and is the school’s representative and a trustee of the Naphill Village Hall and Playing Fields Council.

He has no governance roles in other educational institutions or any material interests arising from relationships between other governors and/or the school.

Martin Burch – Co-opted Governor and Chair of the Finance and Resources Committee

 

Martin Burch was elected as a co-opted governor in February 2017 and re-elected for a further term until 2025.

He currently serves as chair of the Finance and Resources Committee.

He moved to Naphill in 2007 when his company relocated to High Wycombe. He has three adult children, none of which attended the school.

Martin retired in 2016 after a 40-year career in international marketing and business management and has several years previous experience in governance for an employer pension scheme.

He now spends a lot of time playing golf and enjoying his grandchildren.

If you don’t see him at the school you might run into him on one of his regular walks around the village.

He holds no governance roles in other educational institutions or any material interests arising from relationships with other governors and/or the school.

Dani Bowman – Co-opted Governor and member of the Teaching and Learning Committee

Dani Bowman is a co-opted governor and sits on the Teaching & Learning committee, she also is the designated governor for Child Protection/Safeguarding, Early Years, SEN, Pupil Premium and Pay review and liaises between the school and the RAF.

Dani has been involved with the school since 2009 when she and her daughter moved to Walter’s Ash as the RAF High Wycombe Community Development Officer.  She has four children and has been a foster carer, she travelled around with the army, her sons attended a total of 19 schools during this time so she is very aware of the military lifestyle and the positives and negatives this can bring. Dani is a qualified youth worker and has a second degree in play work and has sat on governing boards at several schools while moving around.

When not at work Dani enjoys live music, festivals, camping, reading and spending time with her family

Shelley Bowyer –  Co-opted Governor

Shelley Bowyer is a co-opted School governor who was elected in October 2018 and is a member of the Finance and Resources Committee.

She and her family live locally in Walters Ash, and her son currently attends the school, which he loves and enthusiastically tells his friends that his mum talks to Miss Gwynn in her governor capacity.

Shelley is an Applications Team manager at Buckinghamshire Council, working in IT dealing with contract and supplier management.  She has extensive experience in Adults and Children’s Social care and working knowledge of SEN and Admissions.

In her free time Shelley enjoys reading and crafting, although the latter does not always go to plan!

Jennifer Kate Mitchell – Co-opted

Governor / Development Governor

 

Jennifer was elected as a Co-opted Governor in June 2021 and took on the role of Community Governor.  Jennifer was appointed in January 2022 as the Development Governor on a 4 year term.  Jennifer is a member of the Finance and Resources committee and has no governance roles in other educational institutions or any material interests arising from relationship with other Governors and/or the school.

 Jennifer was born in South Wales. She has a BA (Hons) in Business Studies and a BSc (Hons) in Human Resource Management.

Jennifer joined the RAF as an airman and trained as a Dental Nurse, later achieving a Commission as a Personnel Officer. She recently retired from the RAF after 22 years service and is now a Contracts Officer in the Civil Service.

Jennifer is married to a Civil Servant and lives in Walter’s Ash. She has a daughter who is a pupil at NAWAS, and a son who attends Toddle In nursery.

Jo Lavender – Staff Governor

 

Jo Lavender has been teaching for over 30 years in schools in Berkshire and Oxfordshire and has been the Deputy head at Naphill and Walters Ash school since 2010. As a child she frequently moved schools with her RAF family and so has good empathy with the transient life of a forces schoolchild. 
She is a long-standing staff governor and attends the Teaching and Learning and Safeguarding committees. She has taught all age ranges,  but mostly in KS2, and is currently job sharing in Year 4. Her teaching passions are art, maths and ICT and she has a natural curiosity about science and “big questions”. 
She lives in Oxfordshire with her family and enjoys walking in the Chilterns, nature and a range of arty pastimes.
Lucy Llewellyn – Parent Governor
Lucy Llewellyn was elected as a Parent Governor in October 2023.She works for the University of Oxford in Donor Relations. She has previous experience in the third and charity sectors. Lucy has experience with safeguarding, charity law and has delivered numerous projects with varying stakeholders.
She lives in Walter’s Ash with her husband who is a current serving member of the RAF and two girls who attend NAWAS. In her spare time she enjoys the theatre, reading, cooking and long country walks.

Sarah Elliott – Parent Governor

Sarah and her husband Nick live in Naphill with their two children who both attended Naphill and Walters Ash School.
Sarah has experience in working with and supporting vulnerable children and families and children and young people with SEN. Sarah has extensive knowledge and 10 years’ experience of practice in safeguarding legislation, policy and procedure. 
At the weekends, Sarah can be found running between muddy football pitches and loud dance classes as part of the children’s taxi service, fan club and entourage! 

Nicola Gazzard – Parent Governor 

 

Nicola was elected as a Parent Governor in July 2022. With a BA(Hons) degree in Sociology, she has 20 years IT experience and a vested personal interest in safety online for children and young people. She believes that a solid technology education is paramount to keeping children safe, secure, happy and confident in the online world.

Her career in private sector IT has delivered for the Government and the NHS and more recently International Rail, including the last decade on the Senior Leadership Team at Eurostar. She is also a qualified Executive Coach and during the pandemic she delivered remote pro-bono Coaching for Headteachers.  She has also worked abroad volunteering in Mozambique, teaching English to both children and adults.

Nicola lives in Naphill with her husband and two children – both of whom are at NAWAS. Outside of work she enjoys Travel, Art, Music, Reading and Theatre.

Ellen Howarth – Parent Governor

Ellen was elected as a Parent Governor in January 2023.

Her career in teaching has seen her in a variety of schools and she now works in a local Special Educational Needs school as their behaviour lead. She is passionate about all children having the chance to access education and achieve to the best of their ability. 
Ellen lives locally with her husband and 2 children who both attend NAWAS. As a military wife, she has a good understanding of the challenges and experiences that military life brings. In her spare time, she enjoys keeping fit, spending time with family and travelling.

Fiona Oaklands – Co-Opted Governor

Fiona Oaklands was elected as a co-opted governor for a 4 year term in June 2023 and became a member of the Finance and Resource Committee in October 2023.

Fiona works locally to the school, for MOD Commercial in a senior leadership role. She has been a civil servant for over 17 years, working in a number of central government departments across the Commercial profession (including roles in Procurement, Contract Management, Supplier Relationship Management, Assurance etc.) across different market/supply chain sectors.

She has no governance roles in other educational institutions or any material interests arising from relationships with other Governors and or the school.

Fiona lives in Surrey and travels regularly to Walters Ash to meet with her team and colleagues in Air Command. When not working she enjoys spending time with her family and friends, walking her dog, travelling, and listening to live music whenever possible.

 Kim Ackroyd

  • Full name, Kim Ackroyd.
  • Date of appointment, Sept 2023.
  • Governance role – Finance and Resources.
  • Has served in the RAF as Cyberspace Technician for 21 Years, currently stationed at RAF High Wycombe since 2020. Her new role requires the ISO 9001 Lead Auditor qualification, where she audits all RAF Stations from a communications perspective.
  • Her home base is in Bury St Edmunds where she commutes back to at weekends, spends her free time hiking in the Lake district and Yorkshire Dales with her Husband Matt.
  • Some of the girls in the school attend Walters Ash Brownies where she has been a volunteer leader for 2 years.

 

 

Paul Riglar – Chair and member of the Finance and Resources Committee

Paul Riglar was elected a parent governor in October 2012. He was last appointed as a co-opted governor for a 4 year term on 1 September 2020.
He became chair of the Finance and Resources committee in May 2014 and is currently Chair of Governors.
Both of his children went to Naphill with his younger daughter still at the school.
He lives locally and is the school’s representative and a trustee of the Naphill Village Hall and Playing Fields Council.
He has no governance roles in other educational institutions or any material interests arising from relationships between other governors and/or the school.

Martin Burch – Co-opted Governor and Chair of the Finance and Resources Committee

 

Martin Burch was elected as a co-opted governor in February 2017 and re-elected for a further term until 2025.

He currently serves as chair of the Finance and Resources Committee.

He moved to Naphill in 2007 when his company relocated to High Wycombe. He has three adult children, none of which attended the school.

Martin retired in 2016 after a 40-year career in international marketing and business management and has several years previous experience in governance for an employer pension scheme.

He now spends a lot of time playing golf and enjoying his grandchildren.

If you don’t see him at the school you might run into him on one of his regular walks around the village.

He holds no governance roles in other educational institutions or any material interests arising from relationships with other governors and/or the school.

Dani Bowman – Co-opted Governor and member of the Teaching and Learning Committee

Dani Bowman is a co-opted governor and sits on the Teaching & Learning committee, she also is the designated governor for Child Protection/Safeguarding, Early Years, SEN, Pupil Premium and Pay review and liaises between the school and the RAF.

Dani has been involved with the school since 2009 when she and her daughter moved to Walter’s Ash as the RAF High Wycombe Community Development Officer.  She has four children and has been a foster carer, she travelled around with the army, her sons attended a total of 19 schools during this time so she is very aware of the military lifestyle and the positives and negatives this can bring. Dani is a qualified youth worker and has a second degree in play work and has sat on governing boards at several schools while moving around.

When not at work Dani enjoys live music, festivals, camping, reading and spending time with her family

Shelley Bowyer –  Co-opted Governor

Shelley Bowyer is a co-opted School governor who was elected in October 2018 and is a member of the Finance and Resources Committee.

She and her family live locally in Walters Ash, and her son currently attends the school, which he loves and enthusiastically tells his friends that his mum talks to Miss Gwynn in her governor capacity.

Shelley is an Applications Team manager at Buckinghamshire Council, working in IT dealing with contract and supplier management.  She has extensive experience in Adults and Children’s Social care and working knowledge of SEN and Admissions.

In her free time Shelley enjoys reading and crafting, although the latter does not always go to plan!

Jennifer Kate Mitchell – Co-opted

Governor / Development Governor

 

Jennifer was elected as a Co-opted Governor in June 2021 and took on the role of Community Governor.  Jennifer was appointed in January 2022 as the Development Governor on a 4 year term.  Jennifer is a member of the Finance and Resources committee and has no governance roles in other educational institutions or any material interests arising from relationship with other Governors and/or the school.

 Jennifer was born in South Wales. She has a BA (Hons) in Business Studies and a BSc (Hons) in Human Resource Management.

Jennifer joined the RAF as an airman and trained as a Dental Nurse, later achieving a Commission as a Personnel Officer. She recently retired from the RAF after 22 years service and is now a Contracts Officer in the Civil Service.

Jennifer is married to a Civil Servant and lives in Walter’s Ash. She has a daughter who is a pupil at NAWAS, and a son who attends Toddle In nursery.

Josh Bradshaw – Staff Governor

 

 

Lucy Llewellyn – Parent Governor
Lucy Llewellyn was elected as a Parent Governor in October 2023.She works for the University of Oxford in Donor Relations. She has previous experience in the third and charity sectors. Lucy has experience with safeguarding, charity law and has delivered numerous projects with varying stakeholders.
She lives in Walter’s Ash with her husband who is a current serving member of the RAF and two girls who attend NAWAS. In her spare time she enjoys the theatre, reading, cooking and long country walks.

Sarah Elliott – Parent Governor

Sarah and her husband Nick live in Naphill with their two children who both attended Naphill and Walters Ash School.
Sarah has experience in working with and supporting vulnerable children and families and children and young people with SEN. Sarah has extensive knowledge and 10 years’ experience of practice in safeguarding legislation, policy and procedure. 
At the weekends, Sarah can be found running between muddy football pitches and loud dance classes as part of the children’s taxi service, fan club and entourage! 

Nicola Gazzard – Parent Governor 

 

Nicola was elected as a Parent Governor in July 2022. With a BA(Hons) degree in Sociology, she has 20 years IT experience and a vested personal interest in safety online for children and young people. She believes that a solid technology education is paramount to keeping children safe, secure, happy and confident in the online world.

Her career in private sector IT has delivered for the Government and the NHS and more recently International Rail, including the last decade on the Senior Leadership Team at Eurostar. She is also a qualified Executive Coach and during the pandemic she delivered remote pro-bono Coaching for Headteachers.  She has also worked abroad volunteering in Mozambique, teaching English to both children and adults.

Nicola lives in Naphill with her husband and two children – both of whom are at NAWAS. Outside of work she enjoys Travel, Art, Music, Reading and Theatre.

Ellen Howarth – Parent Governor

Ellen was elected as a Parent Governor in January 2023.

Her career in teaching has seen her in a variety of schools and she now works in a local Special Educational Needs school as their behaviour lead. She is passionate about all children having the chance to access education and achieve to the best of their ability. 
Ellen lives locally with her husband and 2 children who both attend NAWAS. As a military wife, she has a good understanding of the challenges and experiences that military life brings. In her spare time, she enjoys keeping fit, spending time with family and travelling.

Fiona Oaklands – Co-Opted Governor

Fiona Oaklands was elected as a co-opted governor for a 4 year term in June 2023 and became a member of the Finance and Resource Committee in October 2023.

Fiona works locally to the school, for MOD Commercial in a senior leadership role. She has been a civil servant for over 17 years, working in a number of central government departments across the Commercial profession (including roles in Procurement, Contract Management, Supplier Relationship Management, Assurance etc.) across different market/supply chain sectors.

She has no governance roles in other educational institutions or any material interests arising from relationships with other Governors and or the school.

Fiona lives in Surrey and travels regularly to Walters Ash to meet with her team and colleagues in Air Command. When not working she enjoys spending time with her family and friends, walking her dog, travelling, and listening to live music whenever possible.

 Kim Ackroyd

  • Full name, Kim Ackroyd.
  • Date of appointment, Sept 2023.
  • Governance role – Finance and Resources.
  • Has served in the RAF as Cyberspace Technician for 21 Years, currently stationed at RAF High Wycombe since 2020. Her new role requires the ISO 9001 Lead Auditor qualification, where she audits all RAF Stations from a communications perspective.
  • Her home base is in Bury St Edmunds where she commutes back to at weekends, spends her free time hiking in the Lake district and Yorkshire Dales with her Husband Matt.
  • Some of the girls in the school attend Walters Ash Brownies where she has been a volunteer leader for 2 years.

Dionne Reid – Local Authority Governor

Dionne Reid is a Local Authority governor elected in November 2023.Dionne was born in Preston but has lived in Walters Ash for 23 years, and was a student at the school twice due to her father serving in the RAF.Dionne joined the Civil Service in 2014, undertaking various finance roles at RAF High Wycombe where she is currently a Senior Finance Business Partner.Dionne lives with her husband, and is currently studying for her accountancy degree. For fun, Dionne likes listening to music, reading murder mystery books and catching up on TV series.