Together we Flourish | Aspire • Belong • Care

Supporting Our School to Flourish

At Winford Church of England Primary School, our governors play an important role in supporting and challenging school leaders to ensure that every child receives the best possible education.

As part of the Lighthouse Schools Partnership (LSP), Winford benefits from the support and expertise of the wider Trust, while maintaining strong links with our local community and Church of England foundation.

Our governors share our commitment to the school's Christian vision, Together we Flourish, and our values of Aspire, Belong and Care.

They work alongside school leaders and the Trust to help ensure that Winford is a safe, inclusive and ambitious school where every child is valued and supported to achieve their potential.

What Do Governors Do?

Governors provide strategic oversight of the school, helping to shape its direction and ensure that decisions are made in the best interests of pupils.

Their responsibilities include:

• Supporting school improvement – Monitoring progress against the School Development Plan and helping ensure that priorities lead to better outcomes for children.

• Providing support and challenge – Asking questions, reviewing information and holding leaders to account for the quality of education and experiences provided.

• Safeguarding and wellbeing – Helping ensure that effective arrangements are in place to keep children safe and support their wellbeing.

• Promoting inclusion – Championing high expectations and appropriate support for all pupils, including those with SEND and disadvantaged children.

• Monitoring standards – Reviewing information about attainment, progress, attendance and behaviour.

• Supporting our Christian vision – Helping ensure that our school vision and values are reflected in everyday school life.

• Engaging with the school community – Listening to the views of pupils, staff and families and maintaining strong community relationships.

Governors focus on the strategic direction of the school rather than its day-to-day management, which is the responsibility of the Headteacher and staff.

Governance Within the Lighthouse Schools Partnership

Winford is part of the Lighthouse Schools Partnership, a multi-academy trust.

The Trust Board holds overall responsibility for the governance of schools within the partnership, with responsibilities delegated to local governing bodies in accordance with the Trust's governance arrangements.

Our local governors provide valuable knowledge of Winford and its community, helping ensure that local priorities, experiences and perspectives inform school improvement.

For further information about the Trust's governance arrangements, please visit the Lighthouse Schools Partnership website.

Our Governors

Our Local Governing Body brings together individuals with a range of skills, experiences and connections to our school community.

Governors give their time voluntarily, working alongside school leaders and the Lighthouse Schools Partnership to support Winford's continued improvement.

Name	Role and Responsibilities
Mr John Miles	Chair of Governors, Safeguarding Governor and SEND Governor
Mr Mark Harding	Vice-Chair of Governors, Health and Safety Link Governor, Attendance Link Governor and Pupil Premium Link Governor
Mrs Helen Page	Governor
Mrs Hannah George	Governor
Mr Clem Conti	Governor and Health and Safety Link Governor
Mrs Jane Spanner	Governor
Mrs Sue Britton	Governor

Local Governance Professional

Ms Emily Dobbs

Our Local Governance Professional supports the effective administration and operation of the Local Governing Body, including meeting arrangements, governance records and procedural advice.

Working Together for Winford

Our governors take an active interest in school life and its continued development. Through meetings, monitoring visits and discussions with school leaders, they provide support and constructive challenge across important areas of school improvement.

We are grateful for the time, commitment and expertise they contribute to helping every child flourish.

Meet the Governors

Rev. John Miles-Chair of Governors

I am married to Sarah and have a son, Anthony, who is in year 9 at Nailsea School. I have been the minister of the Baptist Church in Chew Magna for 6 years and last year assumed responsibility for the chapels in Winford and Blagdon. Before moving to North Somerset, I was minister of Cowes Baptist Church on the Isle of Wight. Previous to that, I worked as a water engineer and project manager.

Prior to becoming a governor, I taught Philosophy with year 2 and 6 children in the school, and I have strong connections with the other primary schools in the Chew Valley. I am passionate about education and believe that strong links to the local community are vital in providing our children with an educational experience that will help them to become good citizens.

I am delighted to be a part of the governing body and want to do all I can to ensure that Winford Primary school continues to provide a first-class education for all its pupils.

• Foundation Governor: 4th March 2024 - 3rd March 2028   
• Meeting Attendance 2025-26: 100%
• Business & Pecuniary Interests: None

Hannah George

Hi, I am Hannah George. I joined the Board of Governors as a parent governor when my eldest son William was in his reception year. I am delighted to be a member of the board, as in my other world as Deputy Director for the Library, Careers and Inclusivity at UWE Bristol, I know the hugely important role primary education plays in developing our young people to have ongoing success in their future lives. I am passionate about the role that primary (and early years) education can play in terms of helping our young people develop key skills and competencies such as resilience, team work and curiosity that will allow them to go on and achieve in later life.

As a parent, we chose Winford C of E Primary School as its values align well with those of my family and I am keen to help the school achieve its goals to help children flourish academically, spiritually, personally and emotionally.

• Parent Governor: 2nd November 2022 - 1st November 2026 
• Meeting Attendance 2025- 26: 67% 
• Business & Pecuniary Interests: None

Helen Page

I live in Long Ashton with my 2 teenage sons and our 7-year-old Labrador. I have worked at Winford School as a Teaching Assistant and HLTA for 10 years. During this time and prior to this, I also worked in other local primary schools as a 1:1 Learning Support Assistant. I really enjoy working with children and believe that Winford is a wonderful school where children are supported to flourish and achieve their full potential. With this in mind, I am pleased to join the Governors as a staff governor to help make Winford School the best it can be. 

• Staff Governor: 2nd September 2024 - 1st September 2028 
• Meeting Attendance 2025- 26: 50% 
• Business & Pecuniary Interests: None

Jane Spanner 

Winford has been my home for over 40 years, and I feel very fortunate to have been able, with my husband, to raise our family here – though Winford Church of England Primary was a much smaller school when our two daughters attended! As a Foundation Governor and part of the Open the Book Team, I support the school’s development of its Christian distinctiveness and basic values, which form a firm foundation for our children’s lives and education. It is a privilege to be part of the school, with its caring and attentive attitude, its creativity and energy, and its enthusiastic, dedicated and sensible approach to learning. 

I am also involved in the daily life of the church; am a member of the Deanery Synod, and a church representative for Release International. Pre-family, I worked at a London Hospital, co-run our engineering business, and later worked at Winford Hospital. 

Today, when I can break free of the gardening, I enjoy art, and especially playing the violin – though my family may have other ideas! 

• Foundation Governor: 23rd November 2022 - 22nd November 2026 
• Meeting Attendance 2025-26: 100% 
• Business & Pecuniary Interests: None

Sue Britton 

I have just retired from education, and I am looking forward to using this time to help care for my grandchildren. I was a Teaching Assistant at Cheddar Grove Primary School for 22 years and so have good knowledge of primary education. One of my grandchildren has just joined Winford Primary School. 

• Co-Opted Governor: 2nd July 2025 - 1st July 2029 
• Meeting Attendance 2025-26: 34% 
• Business & Pecuniary Interests: None

Clem Conti 

I am originally from France and have called the UK home for the past 20 years. My twin daughters have attended Winford Primary School since Reception and are now in Year 4, so the school has been a constant part of our family life for a quite a while.

Professionally, I am a Senior Project Manager in software engineering. My work involves leading teams, keeping projects on track, improving processes, managing risks and making sure the right people are kept informed and working well together.

It is a privilege to be joining the board of governors. As my daughters have grown up in this school, I have found myself wanting to play a more active role in it. I hope to bring some of the skills I use at work to support the school and help it be the best it can be for every child in the community.

• Parent Governor: 17th March 2026 - 16th March 2030 
• Meeting Attendance 2025-26: 100% (Joined March 2026)
• Business & Pecuniary Interests: None 

Mark Harding - Co-opted Governor 

My name is Mark Harding and my wife and I have 3 children who went to Yatton and Backwell Schools. I am now retired, but have been a Project Manager with nearly 40 years experience in IT Engineering. I have lived in North Somerset for 35 years and have always contributed to my local community. I have been a Junior Football Coach for 16 years; a Kwik Cricket Coach; Club/Chid Welfare Officer; School Governor for 9 years at Yatton Schools, where I was also Chair of Governors for 6 years. I'm also a House Warden for a community building, Village Social Club Committee Member and Vice Chairman of a Youth Club where we don't only provide a service to school-aged children, but also host a food bank and other community groups. 

I am passionate about contributing to my community to enable children to learn, develop, grow and get a sense of value by providing a safe and supportive environment in which they can flourish in the areas that they enjoy, and believe in themselves to achieve their goals and ambitions. 

• Co-Opted Governor: 20th May 2026 - 19th May 2030 
• Meeting Attendance 2025-26: 100% (joined May 2026) 
• Business & Pecuniary Interests: Trustee of Yatton Youth Club