Withycombe Raleigh C of E Primary School
Headteacher Mrs E Jones
Withycombe Village Road, Exmouth, Devon, EX8 3BA. Tel: (01395 263397)
Chair of Governors: Sue Humphries
I became a Foundation Governor in March 2014, and am very pleased to have the opportunity to ‘give something back’ to the School and wider community. Growing up in Exmouth in the sixties, I attended Withycome Raleigh Primary, then the Grammar and Exmouth School before going to Rolle College to train as a teacher. I thoroughly enjoyed my time at Withycombe, developing a love of learning that inspired my choice of teaching as a career. During my professional life, I have taught children of every age from pre-school to GCSE, and for 14 years I was a Headteacher and consultant head in Wiltshire. My background in education gives me the professional skills and knowledge to support the school community, continuing all the good work that goes on in the school and seeking ways to improve and enhance it further. I understand the School Improvement process, am very familiar with Ofsted, and areas such as school finance and Safeguarding Children. I am a member of the Governors’ Teaching and Learning Committee, and of the committee for Headteacher Performance Management. As a Foundation Governor, I help to maintain and develop the Christian ethos of the School. I have been fortunate to combine a teaching career with accompanying my husband on his RAF postings and raising our family. Our three grown up children all have children of their own, and I retired a few years ago to care for our youngest grandchildren while their mums work (as teachers!). Apart from our busy home life, we are members of Exe sailing club and love exercising the grandchildren and our dogs on the beach.
Clerk to the Governors
Board of Governors
Antonia Burrows
I am a Parent Governor, originally from Mallorca. I came to this country 20 years ago and I have two girls that both attend our fantastic school, one in Year 5 and one in Year 2. I am passionate about Modern Foreign Languages and I currently teach Spanish in school. I became a Governor because I am passionate about the children’s education, welfare and opportunities.
I believe Withycombe Raleigh Primary School offers a varied and exciting curriculum for the children that will enrich their path in the future. I feel very privileged to be sitting on the Board and helping to make decisions in the best interest of our children and the school’s future.
Alison Longhorn
I am a co-opted Governor and have a daughter in Year 3 and a 2 year old son who I hope will also be able to attend Withycombe Raleigh when he starts school. I am the Area Coroner for Exeter and East Devon and was previously a Criminal Barrister for 14 years, a career which I hope has developed some useful skills to enable me to be a productive member of the Board.
I consider a child's school experience as one of the most important aspects of their childhood, and have joined the Board of Governors as it presents an invaluable opportunity to be involved in the decisions which will help shape the school's vision and the experience of each child. As a parent of a pupil of the school I am passionate about ensuring Withycombe provides the best education in an enjoyable and inclusive way and that each pupil has fond memories of their time in the school in years to come.
Emma Rogers
I am a Staff Governor and have been teaching for 20 years, 10 of these at Withycombe. I am passionate about the curriculum and learning and welcome the opportunity to makes decisions which I believe would be in the best interest of the School and the children. Both my children attended Withycombe and loved their time at the School. During this time it was a delight as parent to watch them develop and grow. I feel that Withycombe Raleigh has a wonderful ethos and community feel about it and I believe my children received a fantastic education and I am grateful for this. As a Teacher and Governor I want other parents/carers and families to feel the same. I am a member of the Governors’ Teaching and Learning committee and welcome the opportunity of making decisions to support and develop the curriculum. I am especially passionate about Art and ensuring that we incorporate creativity into the whole curriculum. Outside of school I enjoy spending time with my family and on the beach.
Anna Sands
I am a Parent Governor. I have two sons at Withycombe. Professionally I work in communications at an international organisation of people with disabilities. I am an advocate for full inclusion. It is important to me that our school provides opportunities for every child to develop their full potential. I also believe in the great value of good physical and emotional wellbeing. I want to support the school in valuing the happiness of the children alongside academic achievement. I am delighted to have this opportunity to support our school.
Fr Robert Sellers
I have been a governor of various schools since ordination in the Church of England 20 years ago. The schools have been in Gloucester, Cornwall, North Yorkshire and now here in Withycombe Raleigh, all of which have been either primary or junior schools. I became a school governor first of all because, in the early years my three daughters were at school and in any case, to serve the wider community in which my parish was set. It has been a real joy to work with other governors, staff, parents and especially the pupils in all of these schools, but it is always particularly so when the school has a genuine Christian ethos as is the case at Withycombe Raleigh. I sit on the Teaching and Learning Committee where I trust we act as “critical friends” to ensure that we continue to provide the very best education for every pupil in the school regardless of their background or abilities. As the Team Rector of Withycombe Raleigh with Exmouth it is not just an obligation to serve as a foundation governor, but also a privilege.
Anna Slade
This is my first time being a governor and I am really excited to be part of the team. I attended Withycombe School along with my three brothers and have always felt connected to the school. I am really passionate about supporting families with a particular interest in how Trauma impacts family life. I am the Project Coordinator and Designated Safeguarding Lead for a family support project called Devon Family Resource at the Exeter Community Initiatives Charity. The project offers family support and therapeutic support to families across the whole of Devon who are held under Early Help or who have been a victim of crime. I have a degree in Childhood and Youth Studies and have always worked in this line of work.
In my spare time I love to spend time with my family, go on walks, go to festivals, go camping and play computer games.
Jane Speake
I became a co-opted governor in April 2020 and am delighted to have the opportunity to be involved in the life of the school. I attended WRPS (my first school!), came and went a couple of times (we were a service family) and then the Grammar and Exmouth School. I trained as a speech and language therapist and worked in the NHS for nearly 40 years. For the last 20 years of my career I managed the children’s speech and language therapy service for Cambridgeshire. I have always worked with and in schools and worked directly with children as well as being a manager.
I have a special interest in children who have severe speech difficulties and have wide experience across the range of speech, language and communication needs.
I have one daughter who is a teacher in Birmingham and two lively grandsons. My interests include walking and reading.
Audrey Williams
My life has always centred around music – I attended the Royal College of Music in the 50s, studying piano and violin which I taught for many years. I also played the organ and played in various churches in Sussex before moving to Devon in 2008. It was a wonderful surprise and privilege to be appointed as Musical Director at St. John the Evangelist in 2011, where until recently I played the organ and looked after the choir. I became a Foundation Governor at WRPS in 2018, in the hope that I would be able to involve children from the school with singing in the church. Sadly this has not happened but I am passionate about the value of music in education and I know that the music at WRPS is extremely good. I hope that I will be able to offer some inspiration in that direction. I am now more than ever interested in early learning, having acquired three great grandchildren in the last three years.