Our Governing Body

I am Co-Chair of Governors and have been on the Governing Body since 2001. I live locally and my own three children attended the school. I work for Newcastle City Council where I support school governors. I am also Co-Chair of Governors at Benton Park School and Vice Chair on the Virtual School Board. I am on the Finance and Personnel, Curriculum and Admissions committees. I very much enjoy being a governor at West Jesmond; it is a great school and it is a privilege to be part of the leadership of the school.

I am Co-Chair of Governors and have been on the governing body since 2016. I attended West Jesmond Primary many years ago and so it is a real privilege to now be involved with the school, and to be part of a team helping to continually move it forward. This year I am a member of the Inclusion, Curriculum, Finance and Personnel committees. I am also link governor for EYFS/Year 1. I feel very honoured to have had, and continue to have, all these opportunities in school and I am very excited to be part of the next chapter at West Jesmond Primary School.

I became a Governor in December 2021 and feel very proud to be part of the West Jesmond Primary School community. As a parent, I care deeply about the school and am committed to using my experience and perspective to support its pupils, staff and families. I serve as vice chair, sit on the Finance and Personnel Committee, and am the EAL link governor. In my professional role, I work in digital marketing, with a focus on brand content and eLearning. I am really pleased to be able to give something back to the school and to play a small part in helping it continue to thrive.

I am currently serving on the Governing Body having joined in 2016. Although I did not attend the school (my dad did in the late 1940’s!), I grew up locally and spent a lot of my childhood in Jesmond. I work for the Great North Museum as Learning, Engagement & Research Manager, valuing every opportunity for all children in the school to learn outside of the classroom allowing access to cultural and science opportunities. I am Chair of the Curriculum committee and excited by the inspiring breadth and progressive depth of the outstanding school Curriculum.

As headteacher of West Jesmond Primary it is a privilege to work alongside such a talented, dedicated and experienced governing body who are dedicated to improving our school for every child.
The governors offer the school leadership both challenge and support. They offer a fresh viewpoint helping us to review our decisions and to strengthen our work in each part of the school. Through our regular committee meetings, monitoring visits and focussed discussions they are encouraged to scrutinise, question and, at all times, champion the needs of our children. At the same time they offer much needed advice and encouragement and help us to celebrate our successes.

I joined the governing body in December 2023 as a parent governor at the end of our eldest son's first term at West Jesmond, having moved to Newcastle from Hertfordshire in August 2023 to be near family (my wife and her brother grew up around the corner and attended West Jesmond themselves).
I have worked in secondary independent boarding schools my whole professional career in a range of academic, co-curricular and pastoral roles, most recently as a Head of Wellbeing. I am delighted to have this chance to learn more about and contribute to the school, and the education it can provide for our children.

I had the privilege of joining the governing body in December 2023 as a parent governor. Already I have seen great energy, drive and commitment from all those who are connected to WJPS.
I live in Jesmond with my family and my daughter currently attends WJPS.
I work in the Civil Service and sit on the board for the North-East Diversity and Inclusion Network. I am also co-chair of the National Race Network working with the Cabinet Office and ministerial steer, implementing strategies to set new standards for diversity and inclusion, championing a diversity of backgrounds to better promote fairness and performance in the Civil Service.
I will devote both time and energy to the role and ultimately ensure the best outcome for all children irrespective of differences in culture and lifestyle.

I joined the Governing Body in 2026 as a Local Authority Governor. I am a Deputy Principal at Jesmond Park Academy. I have worked at Jesmond Park Academy (formerly Heaton Manor School) from September 1993 when I started my teaching career as a newly qualified teacher (as they were then called - now early careers teachers). I am a science teacher with biology specialism and throughout my time at Jesmond Park Academy I have enjoyed a huge variety of roles from pastoral (Head of Year) to academic (my current role oversees curriculum and wider enrichment opportunities). I have been lucky to have been able to spend my entire teaching career so far working in the same school. I have been a staff governor in the past in the school I work in and I am delighted to have been able to take up the opportunity to return to school governorship in a local primary feeder school. I look forward to working with all of the staff, governors, parent/carers and, most importantly, the young people of West Jesmond Primary School.

I have been a Foundation Trust Governor since 2012. I’m a local business person and social entrepreneur. My particular interest is in sustainable transport and cycling and I’m a co-founder of the Cycle Hub in the Ouseburn. I am passionate about ensuring that all of our young people are included in the provision of a quality education which can be accessed by all of the children. I work at ensuring that, as a school, we promote and encourage a sense of physical and emotional wellbeing for the children, staff and the wider school community . I’m also a parent of three young people, one of whom used to attend West Jesmond School.

I joined the Governing Body in 2021 as a Parent Governor. I live locally and I have three children. I am a Solicitor and I currently work as Senior Counsel for a global manufacturing business listed on the New York Stock Exchange. For the early part of my career I was a Solicitor at a commercial law firm in Newcastle. I look forward to drawing on my legal background in my contribution to the leadership of the school, and to the benefit of the school and all its pupils.

I have been part of the Governing Body at West Jesmond since 2019. I am a Chartered Accountant and Chartered Financial Planner and chair the school's Finance and Personnel committee, as well as being a link governor for maths.

I joined the Governing Body in 2025 when I joined the school as Deputy Head. I have been teaching since 2015 and held a variety of posts including Trust History Lead, Literacy Lead and DSL. I have previously been a staff governor on one of my previous school's LGB. I am looking forward to working with all of the governors to support the overall academic opportunities for our children at West Jesmond.

West Jesmond Primary has been a part of my life for many years from when I was first appointed back in 1995 as the school’s Nursery Nurse. Currently, I work as a teaching assistant within the Year 2 team and support children in class, as well as leading interventions throughout school. I am passionate about our children and I strive daily to make a difference to their learning and wellbeing. When the opportunity arose in December 2020 to join the governing body, I was keen to apply. I believe the knowledge I’ve gained over the years of both our school and the local community puts me in a strong position to reflect and comment on school life. I sit on the Inclusion committee, which meets half termly, to discuss, plan and ensure that West Jesmond is a fully inclusive school for all its pupils'

I am excited to have the privilege of being part the West Jesmond Primary School Governing Body, which I joined last academic year, as a Parent Governor. I have two children in the school and have lived in the area for the past twenty years. As a teacher in a local schools, I am keen to learn, share ideas and get involved in education from a different angle and sit on the Curriculum Committee along with a joint role as Link Governor for English. Having such a positive experience of the school as a parent, I am greatly enjoy working with such a dedicated staff and governing team to contribute to further development of the school.

I had the privilege of joining the governing body in December 2023.
My two eldest children attended the school and my youngest still attends so I am excited about positively contributing to the West Jesmond school community.
I have 16 years of experience working in education and currently work as a SENDCo and Designated Safeguarding Lead. I am passionate about enhancing opportunities for pupils with a keen focus on providing a safe, inclusive and enriching environment.
I am proud to be part of this dynamic governing team and look forward to the year ahead.

I joined West Jesmond Primay School in September 2024 after teaching for a number of years in North Tyneside. Whilst there, I lead Maths, History and Computing across the whole school. I am delighted to have been appointed as a staff governor and look forward to continuing to positively contribute to our thriving school community. As part of the Inclusion Committee, I take great pride in ensuring rich and creative learning opportunities continue to enrich the lives of all of our West Jesmond family.

Coming soon ...