Steve Fairclough – Foundation Governor – Chair of Governors – Safeguarding Governor
I retired in 2017 to Brighstone from a 25 year career in teaching (the last 14 years as Headmaster).
I have kept busy in “retirement”, tutoring maths and science for GCSE and A level and coaching hockey and rugby at Ryde School. I play tennis, golf and table tennis and enjoy walking. My wife, Heather, teaches in St George’s School in Newport and we have one daughter who is currently training as an Educational Psychologist. We love being part of village life and have a passion for education.
Jane Thomson – Foundation Governor – Vice Chair of Governors – Chair of Education Committee
I have lived in the West Wight for 38 years with my husband and three children. I worked until recently as a Primary School teacher and Special Education Needs Coordinator in several schools across the Island.
I am keen to support Brighstone CE Primary School to encourage an excellent education with a Christian ethos for all children which enables them to progress and achieve to their full potential.
Rebecca Lennon – Headteacher – Education Committee – Finance Committee
Having been teaching for 24 years, both on the mainland and on the Isle of Wight, I have taken on a range of roles throughout my career: class teacher, DT subject lead, English subject lead and Assistant Head, and I now have the privilege of being Headteacher here at Brighstone. I have been teaching in this lovely village school for 16 years since my husband and I moved to the island from Cheshire, and I love being a part of this friendly community. We have a strong and enthusiastic team here at Brighstone, where everyone has a passion for helping children thrive and be their best in a happy and supportive environment. Out of school, I enjoy reading, going for walks in our beautiful countryside and acting in local drama groups.
Rev Jackie Maw – Ex Officio Governor
Reverend Jackie Maw is Team Rector of the West Wight Mission Community. Jackie is relatively new to the island and enjoys walking her dogs on the beach most days. She also enjoys cycling but is seriously considering an electric bike to deal with some of the hills!!
Schools have played a significant role in her previous parishes. ‘They play such an important role in our communities. I’m delighted to be part of this school community and continuing to nurture the strong relationship that there is with St Mary’s. Children ask questions about life, the universe and everything, including God, with a directness we seem to lose as we get older. I look forward those questions as we learn and grow together.’
Samantha Sharp – Staff Governor – Education Committee
I am an Islander and throughout my teaching career I have taught from YR to Y8 in a variety of settings on the Island, mainland and abroad.
I am proud to teach at Brighstone Primary School and I firmly believe that village primary schools have an important part to play – not just in nurturing, developing and educating the child as a whole, but as a stakeholder within the community too. Out of school, I am a member of the Scout Association and enjoy swimming and walking.
Heather Fairclough – Foundation Governor – Education Committee
(Information coming soon.)
Emily Rufian – Parent Governor – Education Committee
Returning to the Island in 2016 with my young family, we settled in the West Wight, and my son now attends Brighstone CE Primary School. Having been so impressed with the welcome the school extended to him during a challenging settling in period, there was no question when it came to applying to be a parent governor to be able to support the school. I look forward to taking on the challenge, and I aim to bring a different perspective to the role, as this is a completely new area for me professionally.
I have a passion for championing small rural schools and the importance they hold for not only local families but the community as a whole. I also have a keen interest in positive and proactive SEN provision. I am looking forward to the opportunity to work with the wider team at Brighstone CE Primary School, supporting them to ensure a sustainable and thriving future for the school.
Sam Cambridge – Parent Governor – Education Committee
My wife, Kate, went to Brighstone Primary School, so when we were looking for a school for our son, Brighstone Primary was top of our list. We feel passionate about education and the importance of a strong foundation for learning. I myself have volunteered with Freshwater & Totland Scouts for the past five years, and I help with football coaching on Sunday mornings. I’ve always looked to help the school wherever I can, so I was delighted to have the opportunity to become a parent governor.
Claire Slade-Carter – Associate Member – Education Committee
I have lived on the island for many years, before moving to Brighstone in 2020, a welcoming and bustling village that we feel very fortunate to call home. I have a background in Speech and Language Therapy, and since starting my teaching career have taught both mainstream and special secondary education on the island, specialising in English and Religious Education, alongside managing student progress data.
I have a real passion for education and supporting all young people, regardless of their background, to have the best opportunities available to them at school.
Away from school, you will probably find me enjoying the beach with my family, on the yoga mat, or coaching athletics for a sports charity that I chair for athletes with additional needs.
Brian Mitchell – Associate Member – Health and Safety
It was the search for our idyllic retirement location that brought us to the Isle of Wight 7 years ago, and my wife’s love of gardening and my wish to be near a coastline made the decision to come here to Brighstone one of the easiest we have ever made. And what a wonderful community we have joined!
My retirement from health, safety and environmental management didn’t go quite according to plan, though, and I now give mainly pro-bono advice to not-for-profit organisations such as Brighstone CE Aided School and St Mary’s Church.
For me, it’s an honour to have been asked to become a Governor of this school and I will do everything I can to support the hopes and ambitions of the pupils, the staff and my fellow governors.
Lisa Abbott – Clerk to the Governing Body
I was brought up on the Island and love working and living here. Now living in the beautiful West Wight, my children have both attended Brighstone Primary and we deliberately chose a small school for them to attend. I am delighted to be working with the Governing body to support the school, which is at the heart of the lovely community that the village of Brighstone offers.
Governing Body Information:
2023-2024
Governors’ roles and responsibilities and membership of committees 2023-4 (Issue 1)
Full Governing Body terms of reference September 2023
Governor’s Code of Conduct 2023
Scheme of Delegation September 2023
2022-2023
Governor’s Code of Conduct 2022
Governor Information 2022-23 – Issue 2
Full Governing Body terms of reference September 2022.docx
Scheme of Delegation September 2022
Governors roles and responsibilities and membership of committees 2022-23 – Issue 2
2021-2022
Governor attendance 2021 – 2022
Full Governing Body terms of reference September 2021
Governor’s Code of Conduct 2021
Scheme of Delegation September 2021
Governor Information 2021-2022
Governors roles and responsibilities and membership of committees 2021-2022
Archives
Governors roles and responsibilities and membership of committees 2019-20
Governor Information 2020-2021
Full Governing Body terms of reference September 2019/2020
Governor’s Code of Conduct 2019/2020
Scheme of Delegation September 2019/2020