Governors
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Mr Stuart Ireland
Co-Chair of Governors, Co-opted Governor, Resources Committee
I am a parent of (currently) two children attending the school, one in Year 2 and one in Year 6.
Outside of parenthood, I am a Consultant Ecologist, working for a global multi-disciplinary Engineering and Environment company. I've been in consultancy for 22 years, and before that, I was a local authority Countryside Warden in the North-East of England.
I moved to Devon in 2005 and to Newton Poppleford in 2010 and love the village and school.
I became a governor in 2016 so that I could help the school with strategic direction and support the amazing staff to the best of my abilities.
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Mr John Slade
Co-Chair of Governors, Co-opted Governor, Resources Committee Chair
After a long career in local government finance (particularly payroll), I took early retirement in 1996 and moved back to Devon from the Bristol area. I enjoyed a short spell of employment with the Salvation Army in its divisional headquarters in Exeter until I finally decided to give up paid work in 2003.
My daughter and her family moved to Newton Poppleford in 2009 and I was asked to become a school governor at Newton Poppleford Primary School in 2011, just before my elder granddaughter started in Reception.
I felt this was something useful I could do for the local community and make use of some of the financial experience I had gained through my career.
Both granddaughters have now completed their education at NPPS and moved on to secondary schools and I look forward to continuing to support the education of future generations of children at the school.
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Mr Chris Trengove
Vice Chair, Parent Governor, Teaching & Learning Committee (Co-Chair)
I have been a Governor at Newton Poppleford Primary School since September 2020. I am a Parent Governor with two children with the school, one in Year 1 and another within Pre-School. I became a Governor to use my education knowledge to support the school in its strategic development and assist in developing and maintaining the amazing learning culture that exists.
In my career I am the Head of History at Sidmouth College. One area I am significantly passionate about is School Improvement; with focuses on the curriculum, assessment and the use and evaluation of teaching and learning methods in the classroom. Within curriculum and assessment I have lead a number of subjects in the reflection of their curriculum and assessment and recently have implemented a review of the History curriculum, producing a clear and coherent curriculum which is supported by a rigorous assessment system. I have led and assisted on whole school teaching and learning initiatives within my school which includes; projects which have increased the use of pedagogy in the classroom and action research projects. I am also a Specialist Leader in Education for Secondary History and run a Professional Community for the South West Institute for Teaching. In this role I am able to share my passion for collaborating with others and sharing good practice.
Outside of my school responsibilities, I enjoy spending time with my family, with visits to the beach, walks and holidays.
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Mrs Mary Raffell
Staff Governor, Teaching & Learning Committee
I have been teaching in Yr 1 and 2 at Newton Poppleford Primary since 2005 and took over the Reception Class in 2020 which gave me a new lease of life.
I love the fact that every day is different and I enjoy seeing the children have fun and learn at the same time.
In my spare time I like to walk with Buddy, my working cocker spaniel and have just completed Land’s End to John O’Groats and the South West Coast path virtually!
Now my own three children are in their late teens I felt I had the time to give something back and so decided to become a teacher governor. I hope I can represent the fantastic team that work at Newton Pop and help shape the future of the school in some way.
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Mr Gary Oldroyd
Parent Governor, Resources Committee
I was inspired to become a Parent Governor in order to gain insight into how the School operates and to contribute to its strategic development. I was appointed in May 2020, more or less on the day of the first national Covid-19 lockdown and so my introduction to being a Governor was certainly full on! Things are much closer to normal now, but there is still much to do, be it reviewing school policies or else appointing a new Head Teacher! Being a Governor has been a rewarding experience for me. It really has been a unique opportunity to witness, at the first hand, the professionalism and dedication of every member of staff and the positive impact that they have on our children, including my own three. Professionally, I have worked as a solicitor in a national law firm dealing with commercial insurance disputes for over 20 years. I also now sit regularly as a Judge in the family and civil Courts across Devon and also in the Employment Tribunal. In my spare time, my wife and I enjoy rambling across Devon with our children and our red fox Labrador. The dog always comes back when called, the children not so much !
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Mr Neil Macleod
Co-opted Governor, Teaching & Learning Committee
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Mrs Nicola Dowsing
Parent Governor, Teaching & Learning Committee
I have been a parent governor at Newton Poppleford Primary School since May 2020. I am a qualified early years teacher and have taught in a number of schools in the UK and Australia. I now work as a preschool assistant at Little Popples and feel very lucky to work with such a fantastic team. In my role as governor I work hard to promote the value of play, for all children, and the importance of outdoor learning.
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Miss Rebecca Layman
Co-opted Governor, Resources Committee
I moved to the village in 2012, and my son Samuel is currently in reception with Mrs Raffell and the team. Samuel's love of the school has inspired me to get involved. I have over 20 years of experience in business, starting my career in London in advertising. In 2006, I packed up my life and moved to Devon and started work as head hunter recruiting IT specialists. For the last 10 years I have worked for an IT training consultancy within their business development and strategic account management team. In my spare time, you can find me restoring my 400-year-old thatch cottage which I share with Samuel and my crazy cockapoo, or in the gym learning to powerlift!
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Mrs Teri Murphy
Parent Governor, Resources Committee
I have been a parent governor since November 2020, I have two children in the school and a toddler at home with me. My career has primarily been in the finance industry, but I have a BSc in zoology, and I currently work part time in the hospitality sector. I have been involved with the PTFA since my eldest started reception class and enjoy supporting the school in both my PTFA and governor roles.
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Stuart Vaughan
Headteacher, Teaching & Learning, Resources Committee
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Mrs Natalie Mann
Clerk to the Governing Body
clerk@newton-poppleford.devon.sch.uk
Name |
Governor |
Term of Office |
Attendance 2020-21 |
Registered Business / Finance interests |
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|
|
Start |
End |
|
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Mr John Slade |
Co-opted |
23/05/19 |
22/05/23 |
FGB: 6/6 Committee: 6/6 |
|
Mr Gary Oldroyd |
Parent |
12/05/20 |
11/05/24 |
FGB: 6/6 Committee: 6/6 |
|
Mrs Nicola Dowsing |
Parent |
12/05/20 |
11/05/24 |
FGB: 6/6 Committee: 5/6 |
|
Mr Chris Trengove |
Parent |
12/08/20 |
11/08/24 |
FGB: 6/6 Committee: 5/6 |
|
Mr Stuart Ireland |
Co-opted |
17/09/20 |
16/09/24 |
FGB: 6/6 Committee: 6/6 |
|
Mrs Teri Murphy |
Parent |
18/11/20 |
17/11/24 |
FGB: 4/4 Committee: 4/4 |
|
Mr Neil Macleod |
Co-opted |
05/10/21 |
04/10/25 |
N/A |
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Mrs Rebecca Layman |
Co-opted |
20/10/21 |
19/10/25 |
N/A |
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Mrs Mary Raffell |
Staff |
20/10/21 |
19/10/25 |
N/A |
|
Mr Stuart Vaughan |
Headteacher |
01/09/06 |
- |
FGB: 6/6 Committee: 6/6 |
Head teacher, Wife employed in twilight after school club |
Governors left in the last 12 months |
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Mr Phil Joyce |
Co-opted |
05/10/21 |
05/01/22 |
N/A |
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Mr Stephen Smith |
Co-opted |
05/10/21 |
20/11/22 |
N/A |
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Mrs Marian Gadian |
Co-opted |
19/03/20 |
19/11/22 |
FGB: 6/6 Committee: 6/6 |
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Mr Simon Finch |
Parent |
18/11/16 |
17/11/20 |
FGB: 1/1 Committee: 2/2 |
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Mr Ben McGowan |
Co-opted |
27/01/20 |
03/12/20 |
FGB: 2/2 Committee: 2/2 |
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Mr Chris Hewitt |
Co-opted |
23/05/19 |
23/07/21 |
FGB: 5/6 Committee: 3/6 |
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Mr John Ridgley |
Co-opted |
23/05/19 |
02/10/21 |
FGB: 1/6 Committee: 3/6 |
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Mr Phil Joyce
Retired as Co-opted Governor, Spring 2022
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Mr Stephen Smith
Retired as Co-opted Governor, Autumn 2021
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Mrs Marian Gadian
Retired as Co-opted governor, Autumn 2021
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Mr John Ridgley
Retired as Co-opted Governor - Autumn 2021
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Mr Chris Hewitt
Retired as Co-opted Governor - Summer 2021
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Mr Ben McGowan
Retired as Co-Opted Governor - Spring 2021
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Mr Simon Finch
Retired as Parent Governor - Autumn 2021
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Mrs Julia Bramble
Retired as LA Governor and Chair - Autumn 2020
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Mrs Maria Pinney
Retired as Co-Opted Governor - Autumn 2020
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Mr Bob Tubbs
Retired as Parent Governor - Spring 2020
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Mrs Bev Bradley
Retired as Staff Governor - Spring 2020
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Ms Nicola Spencer Godfrey
Retired as Parent Governor - Summer 2019