On behalf of Leechpool Primary School and its learners - welcome to our website.
At Leechpool, the Governing Body is highly valued, teamwork being a priority. We work with the school, with the aim of improving standards and striving for excellence.
Good governance is not just about sitting in meetings. We endeavour to stay updated on, and apply, new legislation. Our governors are hands on and assist with school events such as fayres, fundraising events, new parents induction evenings, outings and special events. Governors also attend classes to monitor the impact of the teaching on our learners, assemblies, inset and training days, inspections and LA reviews, to name but a few areas of involvement.
Current parents are welcome to contact governors with questions or general feedback. Please note that parents should always contact the school directly with any concerns. Likewise, we encourage any prospective parents who are thinking of sending their children to Leechpool, to browse through our website and, importantly, to visit our school so you can see first hand what Leechpool has to offer.
Stephen Humphreys
Chair of Governors
| Mr Stephen Humphreys | Co-opted Governor: Chair of Governors |
| Mr John Bentley |
Local Authority Governor: Vice Chair and Lead
for Safeguarding
|
| Mrs Nicola Davenport | Staff Governor: Headteacher |
| Mr John Adams | Co-opted governor: Joint Lead for Finance |
| Mr Derick Bostridge | Co-opted governor: Lead for Public Relations |
| Miss Sarah Cullern | Staff Governor: Lead for Curriculum and School Liaison |
| Mrs Olivia Ellery | Community Governor: Lead for Human Resources |
| Mrs Fiona Franklin | Parent Governor: Lead for SEND |
| Mrs Michelle Letley | Staff Governor: Joint Lead for Curriculum and School Liaison ( (HLTA); Lead: Premises/Health & Safety |
| Mr Gary Marlow | Co-opted Governor: Lead for PE and Sports Premium |
| Mrs Sara Page |
Parent Governor: Lead for Parent Liaison
|
| Mr Vinod Wagjiani | Parent Governor: Lead for Internet Safety |
| Mrs Katie Jesse | Associate Governor: Joint Lead for Finance |
| Mrs Jayne Dowell | Clerk to Governors |
Co-opted Governor: Chair of Governors
I have been involved with the school since 2014 when the governing body were looking for support on a number of school building projects.
I believe that a lot of what the governing body do has some synergy with my day job and that my business and project management experience can be utilised by the school.
Elected as Chair in 2015, it has been fantastic to be part of so many successful stories and projects. As ‘critical friend’ to the head teacher – Mrs Davenport, I provide a balance of challenge and support to both her and to the Senior Leadership Team.
It has been so rewarding to see how, as a community, school and governing body, we have been able to transform the school with new classrooms, playgrounds and lots of other projects and how the hard work of everyone at the school has resulted in us being judged as ‘Good’ with elements of 'Outstanding' by Ofsted.
Both as a parent of two boys who are Leechpool pupils and as the Chair of Governors, I am so proud of the school, the quality of teaching and learning environment provided at Leechpool by all its staff.
The governing body and school are now looking further ahead and strategically planning for the next 3 to 5 years, a period during which I hope to continue to be fully engaged with the school's development, and its continued success.
Local Authority Governor: Vice Chair of Governors and Safeguarding Lead
I was a teacher and latterly Headteacher during a 38 year career in education. Upon my retirement I served as a governor for 10 years before moving to Horsham. I was asked if I would be prepared to be a governor in Horsham and was appointed to the Governing Body at Leechpool School.
I believe that governors have a very important job to do not only because they hold the school to account but also because they support the staff and the children in all they do.
I hope that my experience in teaching has enabled me to better understand the many changes that are happening in education and at Leechpool at the present time. Schools need a strong Governing Body to support and challenge their work and I am very happy to be part of the dedicated team we have at Leechpool School.
Staff Governor: Headteacher
I am Nicola Davenport the Headteacher of Leechpool Primary School, a post I have held since September 2012. I have worked in education for over 34 years and for the last 25 years have been Headteacher or Local Authority Adviser both in the UK and overseas.
I love my job and believe it to be the best job in the world. I am passionate that all the children of the school have the best opportunities to reach their full potential in all aspects of school life. I am very proud to work with such a great team of governors and staff at Leechpool who are all very dedicated to ensuring that we are the best we can be.
Co-opted Governor: Finance Joint Lead
I have enjoyed a long and successful career as a Finance Director working for over 20 years in the Housing and Education sectors. After qualifying in South Africa, I continued in Public Practice for 10 years, specialising in Local Government, Housing, Health and Treasury.
I have been involved in a range of financial roles to Director level throughout my career and I am currently employed by a local Housing Association in Horsham. In addition, I started up my own financial consultancy business in 2015.
I have held non-executive directorship roles on other Housing and Education organisations including Board Member, Chair of Governors, and Chair of various Audit & Risk and Finance Committees. I am currently Deputy Chair of a University Student Union in Kent and the Chair of their Finance & Risk Committee.
I bring a combination of financial, governance, leadership and not-for-profit skills and experience. I also have a passion for working with people, especially those engaged in the education of children to enable them to become the best they possibly can.
Co-opted Governor: Public Relations and Media Lead
Two of my grandchildren live in Horsham. The eldest is now in Leechpool's Year 5 and her sister is in Year 2.
Although they live out of area, my daughter and son-in-law chose to apply to Leechpool because they were so mightily impressed when they met the head and saw for themselves the secure, happy, confidence building and outward looking environment that she and her staff have created for the children in their care.
I was similarly struck on my visits to the school. Like the Leechpool team, I believe passionately in the vital importance of providing children not only with rock solid foundations in literacy and numeracy but also with a love of learning and interests and enthusiasms across and beyond the formal curriculum.
School and home share the enormous responsibility of helping our young people to develop the knowledge, understanding, skills, qualities and values that will help them navigate successfully through their school years, and beyond. Now retired, I hope to use my broad communication and marketing experience - spanning both business and the world of education - to contribute to Leechpool’s continued success in enabling our children to become the best that they can be.
Staff Governor: Curriculum and School Liaison Lead
Hello, I am Sarah Cullern and I have been teaching at Leechpool Primary for over 17 years, joining the Governing Body 3 years ago, having been elected by my peers. In my role I work across all ages and curriculum areas, which I feel gives me an insight into the education we provide at Leechpool allowing me to make valuable and informed contributions to our meetings.
I believe that our school, with the support of parents, staff and governors, sets firm foundations to enable the children to reach their full potential - to be the best that we can be ...
Community Governor: Human Resources Lead
I became a member of the Leechpool Primary School Governing body in 2014 as a Community Governor. At the start of my term, I was fortunate to be allocated the Foundation set as a year group, and each year we have moved up the school together, and they are now in Year 4. I am really proud to watch them develop and grow during their time at the school.
I am honoured to be part of the extremely strong team at Leechpool Primary School and I feel that this pride and dedication is echoed throughout the school, in both staff and pupils alike. Since joining the Governing Body I have been so proud to see the part that we have played in bringing the school on from strength to strength. It is empowering to work with such a passionate, experienced and dedicated team.
A little about myself, I grew up in West Sussex, within 20 miles of Horsham. I moved to Horsham in 2013 with my husband, and we now have two young sons, one who will be going to school in 2020. My background is primarily HR and administration. I became a Governor to help to give back to my local community and offer my experience to help benefit the school. I also feel that being a parent also brings a further level of understanding and influence that will help benefit the Leechpool community.
Co-opted Associate Governor: Finance Joint Lead
Not long after my eldest daughter turned 3, I visited a number of local schools. I was incredibly impressed by Leechpool and by its Headteacher. The powerful sense of an exceedingly secure, supportive, nurturing and happy community became apparent within minutes of my first visit.
Our girls are now at the school in Years 5 and 2 and I am just as impressed today as I was then. Every child really is valued and the school’s powerful ‘can do’ approach energises every aspect of school life. Our daughters have developed a real love of learning, have explored many non-academic opportunities and genuinely aspire, in all they do, to achieve their very best.
I qualified as a Chartered Management Accountant whilst working at BBC Studios. Once qualified I was appointed to the role of Business Analyst, which allowed me to use both my technical and interpersonal skills. I left the BBC when my husband and I moved to Horsham and have been employed by a local Housing Association (not-for-profit organisation) for the past 10 years where I am currently their Senior Financial Business Manager.
As Joint Lead for Finance on the governing body, I will use my professional, people and technical skills, along with my experience, to help ensure the school’s continued financial integrity. This is vital if it is to achieve its ambitious short and medium term goals whilst securing its long term future. As a parent I have a passion to contribute in any way I can to help this great team continue to make a real difference to the children of Leechpool.
Parent Governor: SEND Lead
I am the parent of a boy who is now in the upper school. I was educated in Horsham and later the University of Westminster, reading Law. I practised as a solicitor before becoming a full-time mum in 2008. I returned to work as a part-time Teaching Assistant in January 2015.
I wanted to use my professional skills and experience as a mother to support Leechpool and volunteered to help with various activities until I became an Associate Governor in November 2013. I became a Parent Governor in September 2014 with a focus on special educational needs and premises/health. I became Chair of Leechpool Caterpillar Club (including Leechpool Caterpillars Nursery), the pre-school within the grounds of Leechpool in November 2015.
I have a broad range of skills and enjoy offering my enthusiasm and commitment to children through my role as a Parent Governor. I consider it a privilege to support our Headteacher, enthusiastic staff and pupils in a role which is both strategic and hands on, working hard to improve standards whilst aiming for excellence. Working with a team which tries to ensure a positive experience for all the children is an enjoyable and valuable experience.
Staff Governor: Curriculum and School Liaison Lead
Hello, my name is Michelle Letley and I am the non-teaching staff governor here at Leechpool. I have been a governor at the school for over 8 years, I wanted to become involved with the school so that I could help to contribute and make an impact together with others, striving to make Leechpool the best within Horsham.
I enjoy being part of Leechpool's governing body; within our body there are people with differing skills and talents, we pull together using these strengths to ensure that we help Leechpool to be the very best it can be!
Co-opted Governor: PE and Sports Premium Lead
Hello my name is Gary Marlow and I have been involved with a range of committees over the years. I was the youngest chairman of Devonshire Park Lawn Tennis Club at 23, Vice Chair of the Federation of Small Businesses, Vice Chair of West Sussex Policy Team and Chair of Horsham Round Table. I am currently a Trustee for the Association for Physical Education National Board and the Chair of the South East Region. I was awarded the UOB Alumni of the Year 2011 for services to sport and charity work and I have worked with, and supported, a number of schools to achieve an 'outstanding' rating in Ofsted inspections.
I have two daughters at Leechpool and have a passion and drive to make a difference as a Governor. I believe that the experiences I have gained in teaching, coaching, owning my own business, training and working with others who have disabilities will enable me to make a real difference to the children of Leechpool.
Parent Governor: Parent Liaison Lead
My name is Sara Page and I began my four year term as a Parent Governor last year whilst my daughter was in Year 6.
I believe that Leechpool is an outstanding school and I want to do all I can to ensure that the children continue to have the best possible opportunities to allow them to achieve.
My background is in insolvency, and for the last 18 years I have been dealing with corporate administrations, liquidations and the bankruptcies of individuals. I have been working in Brighton for a national firm of Insolvency Practitioners for just over 12 years.
In my spare time I follow West Ham United home and away with my daughter.
Parent Governor: Internet Safety Lead
Elected October 2017, my daughter is now in Year 4 and my son settling into Year 1. It has been rewarding to be able to contribute Leechpool which is, I believe, an outstanding school.
Building from the success the school has recently had with their results, I want to continue and make sure that our children get the best quality education and support they can whilst at Leechpool.
I have a strong knowledge and skills in child protection and Digital Online Safety, I have worked with a number of schools to help them identify improvements in these areas and raise awareness with parents. I aim to provide the same level of support at Leechpool Primary School and ensure the children have the most rewarding time.