Menu
Governors are volunteers and our main role is to work with the school ensuring that your children receive the best education in a supportive and safe setting.
Essentially, the role involves being part of a like-minded group of individuals, with as diverse set of skills; knowledge; and experience as possible to support and challenge the Schools’ Senior Leadership Team where appropriate. The shared goal is to ensure delivery of the Schools’ strategic objectives that include curriculum development, financial management and safeguarding, and as a result leads to the achievement of the best possible outcomes for all our pupils.
To find out more about our Governors, and for copies of our Governing Body minutes and annual report, please see our other governor pages on this website. If you would like to contact us, or any of our fellow governors, please do so via email at governors@jrs.w-berks.sch.uk.
Chair of Governors, John Rankin Schools
| Term of Office: | 14/05/2023 – 13/05/2026 |
| Declaration of Interests: | None |
| Meeting attendance: | 8/8 FGB, 6/6 R&P 3/3 T&L |
| Experience: | National newspaper journalist for 30 years, most recently 20 years as a senior editor with The Guardian Author of several language books, including For Who the Bell Tolls: the Essential and Entertaining Guide to Grammar (2013) Member of West Berkshire Council and Newbury Town Council Parent of former John Rankin pupil |
| Responsibilities: | Chair of Governing Body Member of all committees Link Governor for sport |
| Term of Office: | 27/04/2023 – 26/04/2026 |
| Declaration of Interests: | Governor at Winchcombe School |
| Meeting attendance: | 7/8 FGB, 3/3 T&L |
| Experience: | Qualified teacher; over 20 years experience with children from 0 – 7 years old Current employment for West Berkshire Early Years Team and Looked After Children’s Education Services Two grown up sons |
| Responsibilities: | Vice Chair of Governors Member of Teaching and Learning Committee |
| Term of Office: | From 01/09/2022 |
| Declaration of Interests: | None |
| Meeting attendance: | 8/8 FGB, 6/6 R&P, 3/3 T&L |
| Experience: | I have been in education for 20 years, starting out as a teaching assistant in an EBD school near Birmingham Before joining John Rankin Schools, I was headteacher at Crowmarsh Gifford in Oxfordshire for 9 years I am also an Executive of the Talk Teachers Radio Station and also host their Saturday show twice a month |
| Responsibilities: | Member of all committees |
| Term of Office: | 01/12/2022 – 30/11/2025 |
| Declaration of Interests: | Wife works at West Berkshire District Council |
| Meeting attendance: | 6/8 FGB, 5/6 R&P |
| Experience: | TBC |
| Responsibilities: | Member of Resources and Premises Committee |
| Term of Office: | 28/3/2024 to 27/3/2027 |
| Declaration of Interests: | None |
| Meeting attendance: | 6/8 FGB, 3/3 T&L |
| Experience: | Over 15 years’ experience of working in marketing teams in educational publishing Now a freelance marketing consultant working with many of the big educational publishers I have 2 children, 1 currently at JRI and the other (hopefully) due to start soon |
| Responsibilities: | Chair of Teaching and Learning Committee |
| Term of Office: | 19/01/2023 – 18/01/2026 |
| Declaration of Interests: | Daughter works at John Rankin Schools |
| Meeting attendance: | 8/8 FGB, 2/3 T&L |
| Experience: | In a previous life, I was a DJ, an executive consultant of LLoyds TSB Insurance and a Stockman for Sir Richard Sutton who, at the time, was the (ninth) Baronet of Berkshire. Fate then bought me to JRS and it has now become as much a part of me as I have of it. I have a keen interest in outdoor sports and conservation. |
| Responsibilities: | Member of Resources and Premises Committee |
| Term of Office: | 28/9/2023 – 27/9/2026 |
| Declaration of Interests: | None |
| Meeting attendance: | 7/7 FGB, 6/6 R&P |
| Experience: | Chartered and European Patent Attorney with 20 years experience of working across government and the pharmaceutical industry. PhD in chemistry and a strong interest in education, particularly science and maths. Previously served as governor at John Rankin Schools from 2016 – 2022 and former chair of resources and premises committee. |
| Responsibilities: | Member of Teaching and Learning Committee |
| Term of Office: | 23/11/2023 – 22/11/2026 |
| Declaration of Interests: | None |
| Meeting attendance: | 5/6 FGB, 3/3 T&L |
| Experience: | After working on feature films as a production coordinator, I became an early years teaching assistant and primary school LSA, before completing a PGCE in primary education. I worked as a Year 2 teacher and computing lead at a large federated primary school in Manchester before becoming a mum and moving to Newbury. I have three children; my eldest goes to John Rankin Junior School, and my second child has just started at John Rankin Infant Schools. |
| Responsibilities: | Member of Teaching and Learning Committee |
| Term of Office: | 28/06/2023 – 27/06/2026 |
| Declaration of Interests: | None |
| Meeting attendance: | 6/8 FGB 6/6 R&P |
| Experience: | Over 18 years’ experience working in Financial Services as a qualified Chartered Accountant and Internal Auditor. My eldest daughter has just ‘graduated’ year 6 at John Rankin, and my youngest daughter is in the Junior school. |
| Responsibilities: | Chair of Resources and Premises Committee |
| Term of Office: | 28/06/2023 – 27/06/2026 |
| Declaration of Interests: | Husband is headteacher at Winchcombe School and a member of the Academy Trust of St Bartholomew’s School |
| Meeting attendance: | 6/7 FGB, 5/6 R&P |
| Experience: | Qualified Solicitor since 2006- A variety of roles working In-house for Local Authorities, Legal Services Board, and in the commercial sector in telecoms and tech. Experience in advising on education law including safeguarding matters and SEND. Experience in advising on commercial matters. Two daughters who attended John Rankin and are now at a local secondary school. |
| Responsibilities: | Member of Resources and Premises Committee |
| Term of Office: | 23/05/2024 – 22/05/2027 |
| Declaration of Interests: | Treasurer of the PTFA and my wife works in the school as a trainee teacher in Y4, plus I have two children at the school. |
| Meeting attendance: | 2/2 FGB, 2/2 R&P |
| Experience: | I am a managing director of a company in the UK, with previous experience in financial, HR and software implementations. I am an experienced full stack software developer and have written a web-based Enterprise Resource Planning application for business management, HR and finance. I am the co-chair and treasurer of John Rankin PTFA |
| Responsibilities: | Member of Resources and Premises Committee |
| Experience: | Worked as an administrator and legal secretary in a local law firm for eight years Has two children and spent five years being a full-time parent |
| Responsibilities: | Advise the governing body on constitutional and procedural matters, duties and powers, ensuring compliance with the relevant governance legislation Provide high quality, confidential administrative support Ensure the continuity of governing body business and recommend good practice |
None at present
