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School CLOSED Friday 1st February
Apologies for the late website news that the school is closed on Friday. It seems that snow must have got into the website as it has been unavailable for updates …Read More »Springfield CLOSED Friday 1st February
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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
I’ve been a governor at two schools – Madley Brook and the Henry Box School – and was, briefly, chair in both cases.
I’ve always been interested in education and children and worked for a number of years filming best practice in schools all over the country for the DfE.
I specialised in disability and inclusion and have worked a lot with young people with a wide range of conditions which could be a barrier to learning and inclusion.
My skills are problem solving, attention to detail and enthusiasm!
Carol Hunkin
Co-opted Governor
FGB Attendance – 2 out of 3
With a background in law and private and third sector business development I have experience working with regulation, auditing and compliance, business process engineering and change management. Nearly two decades as a parent of a young man with complex needs, both medical and educational, has given me an insight into the workings of special education from nursery provision right up to college and beyond.
I also have experience as a fundraiser, as a speaker and as an advocate, some or all of which I hope may be of value to the school.
Helen White
Parent Governor
- Parent governor elected 1st December 2017. Term of office ends 30th November 2021
- Attendance at FGB – 5 out of 6
I moved to Witney about 10 years ago, after meeting my husband who lived here. We are the lucky parents to identical twin girls. Beatrice is at Madley Brook Primary and Emily is at Springfield, both in reception year at the Bronze Barrow. Emily has been at Springfield since 2016, attending the Springfield nursery. Emily is a very happy girl and is blossoming under the care she receives at the school. Our little family has received full and sincere support from Springfield and I wanted to find a way to give something back. When the opportunity arose to join the school as a new parent governor in December, I took it. I also started working as a volunteer at Springfield, one day a week, helping out wherever I’m needed.
In my career I’ve always liked a challenge, so after university I worked for British Steel, both in R&D and then in one of their plant. I have since had roles as a technical author then as operations analyst, before settling on the role of a business analyst. Since the birth of Beatrice and Emily I have the best job, being a stay at home mum to my beautiful girls.
When it comes to hobbies, I like making things and recently that means pottering about with beads and wire making jewellery. Right now, I’m into making beaded flowers and have set myself a goal, for 2018, to try and make a bunch of beaded flowers for our home.
James Shryane
Parent Governor
- Parent governor elected 1st December 2017. Term of office ends 30th November 2021
- FGB Attendance – 5 out of 6
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.
Brenda Churchill
Co-opted Governor
FGB Attendance 4 out of 9
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I am an ex County Councillor, ex West Oxfordshire District Councillor and have been a Witney Town Councillor for 15 years. I spent 6 years working at the John Watson School Special School at Wheatley.This year I will be Deputy Mayor of Witney going on to be Mayor the following year, I am sure this will help the school, in my ambassadorial role representing the Town. I am a well organised and diligent and count it a real privilege to be a Governor at your school.
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 – 7 out of 9
- 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).
Vacancy soon to be filled
Parent Governor
Emma Lawley
Head Teacher Governor
- Governor by virtue of her office since 1st September 2010
- FGB Attendance –9 out of 9
- 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
Wendy Goddard
Local Authority Governor | Joint Chair of Governors
- LA governor appointed by local councillors 24th January 2011. Term of office ends 23rd January 2019
- FGB attendance – 6 of 9
I qualified as a teacher in 1972 and started teaching in the East End of London, before moving to Birmingham, where I worked in a variety of teaching related, but part time, jobs while the children were young. One of these jobs was teaching basic literacy, once a week, at a Day Centre for adults with psychiatric problems.
Since moving to West Oxfordshire in 1983, I’ve mostly taught in Primary Schools, including eight years at Ducklington as a class teacher and thirteen years at Great Rollright, as Headteacher. At both schools inclusion was actively encouraged. At Great Rollright we acquired a reputation for working with children who found school difficult to cope with for various reasons. At one point 25% of the school roll was on the Special Needs Register, including several children with Statements.
I left Great Rollright in 2006 and joined the staff of Abingdon and Witney College; mainly teaching 16 – 19 year olds on Level 3 Child Care & Education courses, but I also taught two modules, including the Inclusion module, on the Early Years Foundation Degree course. I took voluntary redundancy from the college in July 2010 and did part time Foundation Degree work there and some supply teaching in various Primary schools until June of 2011, when I stopped work completely.
I live in North Leigh with my son Christopher, whose son Kit was a Springfield pupil until 2014. I enjoy reading, walking, swimming, travelling and spending time with friends. I am a member of the W.I. and very involved in Guiding.
John Beckley
Parent Governor | Joint Chair of Governors
- Parent governor elected by parents 1st March 2017. Term of office ends 28th February 2021
- FGB attendance – 9 out of 9
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.