Term Dates

Ric Mellis Co-opted Governor

• Appointed by the governing body as a co-opted governor 18 October 2018
• Term of office ends 17 October 2022
• Attendance at FGB – 6 out of 9

Vacancy for Co-opted Governor 

Please contact the school office if you are interested in this position – office.7012@springfield.oxon.sch.uk

Helen White

Parent Governor

• Parent governor elected 1st December 2017. Term of office ends 30th November 2021
• Attendance at FGB – 8 out of 10

James Shryane

Parent Governor

• Parent governor elected 1st December 2017. Term of office ends 30th November 2021
• FGB Attendance – 9 out of 10

I joined the governing body as a parent governor in November 2017.

My childhood was spent in rural Shropshire until 1988 when I left to study Mathematics at Leeds University, later returning there to train as a Maths and IT teacher. After 21 years in mainstream Oxfordshire secondary schools, most recently as SENCO and Assistant Head at Didcot Girls’ School, I now work for the Oxfordshire Hospital School as Assistant Head Teacher.

Carol and I have two children, one at Springfield and the other at Madley Brook. The co-located nature of the two schools was a major factor in deciding to move to Witney in 2010 and this unique setup is of great benefit to the community. We both value the impact of school on our children’s lives and believe it is important to give something back as parents. I have spent five years as treasurer of Madley Brook PTA and Carol is a member of The Friends of Springfield School. We are very lucky to have such good schools on our doorstep and I hope I can contribute to Springfield’s continued success by being a member of the governing body.

Zoe Dobson

Teacher Governor

• Staff governor elected by staff 11th July 2014. Second Term of office ends 16th September 2022.
• FGB attendance – 8 out of 9

I grew up in Chelmsford, Essex but studied in Oxford for my teaching degree which is where I met my husband. We decided to settle in this area and bring up our 2 children here. I’ve taught across the primary age range at New Marston First school, Hanborough Manor school and St John the Evangelist school in Carterton. I joined St. John’s as it opened. It was a fascinating experience to see the school grow from under under 20 pupils to the size it is now. I also worked for a short while as a SENCO.  I have taught at Springfield  since 2008 and for the last few years I have been teaching Key Stage 4.  I am a member of my local church and co-ordinate the children’s work there. Children have always been a very large and important part of my life and my out of work time has mainly revolved around my family and my children’s friends. My daughter now lives in London and my son is at University so a new phase of my life is beginning and I am looking for new activities to fill my time. I have joined a gym but spend quite a lot of the time relaxing in the Jacuzzi rather than sweating in the gym! I also love eating out and socialising with friends.

Vacancy for Co-opted Governor 

Please contact the school office if you are interested in this position – office.7012@springfield.oxon.sch.uk

Katherine Spencer

Co-opted Governor

• Appointed by the governing body as a co-opted governor 1st September 2015
• Term of office ends 31st August 2019
• FGB attendance – 10 out of 10
• Serves as a governor at Madley Brook Community Primary School
• Declared interest: Headteacher at Madley Brook Community Primary School

My name is Katherine Spencer and I am a community governor sitting on two committees for Springfield School; HR and Finance and Joint Executive with Madley Brook. As the headteacher of Madley Brook Primary School, being part of the governing body of Springfield School is a key part of my role. We have a unique situation with the co-location of our two schools and successful integration for all pupils across the school is very important to me. The schools share common ground on many educational and pastoral issues and being able to share these and come together for joint activities is beneficial for all and a great privilege to share. What do I like to do in my spare time? Well… when I eventually get some spare time, and I am not being a wife or a mother, and living in a male dominated household, sport takes up a great deal of my time, either participating or more likely, spectating. I like to run (as infrequently as possible), cycle (occasionally), ski (as often as I can but not as much as I would like) and watch rugby (religiously).

Parent Governor – position started 6th February 2020

As I teach in a mainstream secondary setting where the environment and pressures are slightly different I believe it will be an incredibly exciting opportunity whereby I could explore how my experiences in my own settings can adapt and encourage the growth of Springfield School.

I believe in developing the whole child through my own personal experience and the subject which I teach, I specialise in Drama and I believe that role play can be an empowering tool that is utilised to engage and develop the learning of students at all abilities.

Emma Lawley

Head Teacher Governor

• Governor by virtue of her office since 1st September 2010
• FGB Attendance – 10 out of 10
• Serves as a governor at Madley Brook Community Primary School

Vacancy for Co-opted Governor 

Please contact the school office if you are interested in this position – office.7012@springfield.oxon.sch.uk

John Beckley

Parent Governor | Chair of Governors

• Parent governor elected by parents 1st March 2017. Term of office ends 28th February 2021
• Attendance at FGB  – 10 out of 10

I studied Electronic Engineering at Oxford Brookes University and gained a first class degree in 1997. Since then I have worked within the electronics industry and I am currently Head of Electronic Development for a small research and development company just outside of Bicester.

I’m a single parent with two children, Emily has just moved up into secondary school within Kidlington and my son Thomas is at Springfield on the Bronze Barrow site and has been there since he started within the nursery in 2010. I have always tried to play an active role within both my children’s schools, for 3 years I was a volunteer reader at my daughter’s primary school and have been a parent governor at Springfield since early 2013.

In the past few years, in a futile attempt to stave off old age, I have taken up running, cycling and swimming; I have completed the Blenheim Super Sprint Triathlon as well as several 10km runs at Blenheim and elsewhere.