Meet the Governors

 (Click a name to read more)

Clerk

Mrs Rachel Martin

School Business Manager, Clerk to the Governors

Finance and Audit Committee

Date of appointment: 01/09/2021

Mrs Margaret Knight – Chair

Area of focus – Numeracy

Curriculum, Ethos and Finance and Audit committee

Date of appointment: 01/11/2015

I have lived in the Woodford Valley since marrying over 30 years ago and both our children attended Woodford Valley Primary school when they were younger, having a very happy and successful time here.  When I retired from my teaching career of 40 years (mostly in middle schools) I offered some help to Woodford Valley Academy and this led to an invitation to become a Governor and then to taking on the role of Chair of Governors.  It is important to me that the Chair of Governors should be ‘visible’ in the school and, apart from getting to know the staff and pupils through my continuing contact on the teaching side, I attend PTA meetings and events as well as Parents Evenings and other occasions, hoping to get to know parents as well.  

Mrs Sophie Soar

Area of Focus – Literacy

Curriculum Committee (chair)

Date of appointment: 01/09/2019

I have had two children at Woodford, one of whom is still here.  As a governor and a parent, I am keen to do what I can to contribute to the school.  I am a Music Therapist for children and young people and their families, working with trauma and attachment.  I play side drum in a pipe band, and play fiddle in an occasional dance band.  I also enjoy walking (and sometimes running) with our dog.

Mrs Verena Huntley

Area of Focus Early Years and Art

Buildings and Sites committee

Date of appointment: 01/09/2015

I was previously a Parent Governor for 12 years having had 3 children at the school between 1996 and 2012.  My specialist area is Early Years and I run Little Orchard Preschool.  My reason for being a governor is to promote the safeguarding, wellbeing and education of the children in a school whose ethos I share.

Mrs Amanda Iles

Area of focus – Music

Buildings and Ethos committee

Date of appointment: 12/03/2019

I have lived in the Woodford Valley for almost 30 years, and have a daughter at the school. As a Foundation Governor I hope to further strengthen the school’s links with the local church and wider community. With a background in Town & Country Planning I am particularly interested in the maintenance and development of the buildings and outdoor spaces of the school. In my spare time I enjoy gardening, craft and partaking in the arts.

Mrs Fiona Makin

Co-opted Governor

Area of Focus –  SEN and Modern Foreign Languages

Curriculum and Ethos Committee

Date of Appointment: 20/5/2021

I have three daughters who all attended Woodford Valley, and whilst they have all now left, I have continued as a Governor, firstly as a Foundation Governor, and now a Co-opted Governor.

As the SEND governor, I regularly come into the school to work with pupils and ensure I keep up to date with the support offered.

I work part time for the National Childbirth Trust and in my spare time, I enjoy walking my dog and keeping fit.  I also have been learning tap dancing for the past few years, and enjoy the challenges, both mental and physical, that the classes bring.

Mr Steve Fair

Area of Focus – PE

Finance Committee

Date of appointment: 30/06/2020

I have two boys who attend Woodford Valley Primary Academy and they both enjoy attending the school immensely. From their time in Reception to the current date I have been extremely impressed with the teachers and staff’s commitment and drive to ensure that every pupil gets the best start in their education. As a result, I became the PTA Secretary for over two and a half years, in this time developing a good working relationship with the headteacher, governors, teachers and staff. I wanted to further support the staff and management in achieving their aims and became a Parent Governor in July 2020.


My employment background consists of ten years as a navigating officer in the Merchant Navy prior to serving 30 years as a police officer in Lancashire and Wiltshire, 26 years of which was as a ‘Traffic Cop’. I eventually became an expert in forensic collision investigation and am currently employed as a Forensic Collision Investigator with Wiltshire Police.

Rev Dr Mike Perry

Area of Focus: ICT

Ethos Committee

Date of appointment: 01/09/2017

Vicar of the Woodford Valley with Archers Gate, Foundation Governor and Trustee of Woodford Academy. I have been a vicar for just over twenty years, with the last six in the Woodford Valley.  With a background in research biology I have a passion for Christian care of  the natural world and issues of global justice.

Mrs Caroline Holt

Area of focus: Child Protection and PSHE

Buildings and Ethos Committee

Date of Appointment 01/09/2020

I first worked with the school when I was school liaison officer in Wiltshire police delivering talks and running the local junior good citizen scheme. My daughter joined the school in reception and thoroughly enjoyed her whole schooling, leaving to join South Wilts Grammar School in 2015. After retiring from the police I was Chair of the PTA for 2 years and I now work for Wiltshire Council as an EducationWelfare Officer. As a governor I recognise how special the school is and will work to ensure it continues to enable all pupils to achieve their full potential. In my spare time I enjoy gardening and reading.

Mrs Susie Vivian

Area of focus: Design & Technology

Finance and Audit and Ethos Committee

Date of Appointment – 13/01/2021

I’ve lived in the Woodford Valley for the last 11 years. My background is in business and I was managing director of a marketing communications agency for a number of years. I’m currently a director of my husband’s training & coaching company with responsibility for finance. I’m also a researcher for a media database company and a telephone bidder for a local auction house.

Head Teacher

Mrs Rebecca Carson

Curriculum, Finance and Audit Committee

Date of appointment: 01/06/2012

Headteacher and a member of the Finance Committee. I have been the Head for the last sixteen years and a member of staff since 1994. I am a new head teacher mentor, a member of the executive committee for the SAS (Salisbury Association of Schools and PHF (Primary Head’s Forum) I love gardening, reading and being with family in my spare time.

Teacher Governor

Mrs Donna Young

Ethos (chair) Buildings and Sites Committee (chair)

Date of appointment: 11/09/2020

I have been at Woodford since 1999 and I am currently the Deputy Head, SENCo as well as the Year 5 class teacher.


On the governing body I am part of the Building and Sites Committee and the Ethos Committee. I love my job as no day is ever the same!
Outside of school, I enjoy walking my dog, being in the garden and going on sunshine holidays.

Parent Governor

Mrs Nina Griffin

Area of focus – Science

Curriculum committee

Date of appointment: 19.12.21

I currently have two girls at Woodford Valley and I take a keen interest in the school as a whole, especially the curriculum. I am Parent Governor and I am hoping to build strong links between parents and the school.

My career is within Healthcare, I am a Senior Nurse at SDH, working in all areas of Medicine and Surgery.

A few interests of mine are walking, cycling, kayaking and chicken husbandry.