Governors

Chair of Governors & Member

Co-opted Governor

Dr Mengeaud

Virginie has been a Governor at WPS since 2017. She has two children at our school. Virginie is a scientist and her professional background is in Quality Assurance. She was educated in France and Switzerland and joined the WPS governing body to share her different international, quality improvement and auditor experiences. Virginie was appointed Chair of Governors during her second term in September 2022. Her interests are in Safeguarding, Inclusion & Diversity, and English as an Additional Language. Virginie is a Mental Health and Wellbeing Link Governor at WPS.

Member appointed Governor

Mrs Webb

Katherine has been a Governor at WPS since 2023, having previously been a governor at our school from 2013 to 2019. She currently has three children at the school. Katherine is a Chartered Accountant working in the Civil Service. She enjoys being a governor, both in a supportive and challenging role, to ensure that all Westbury Park children fulfil their potential. She was appointed as Vice Chair of Governors in October 2023. Katherine is Safeguarding Governor and a Staff Link Governor at WPS.

Co-opted Governor

Mr Cairns

George has been a Governor at WPS since 2023. He has lived in the Westbury Park area since 2010 with a strong affinity with Westbury Park Primary having had both his children educated at the school. George is currently a senior leader in the financial services sector, responsible for delivering digital and data driven transformation. Half-British and half-Swiss, he is passionate about championing inclusivity and diversity. In his spare time, he is a keen triathlete and will often be seen running or cycling around the area. George is an Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Link Governor at WPS.

Co-opted Governor

Mr Lane

As well as being a Learning Support Assistant at WPS, Dan has been a WPS Governor since 2019. Dan joined our school in 2010 and is proud to have seen first-hand what an amazing school it is and what an incredible role it plays in shaping the lives of every child who attends. He loves his job which has a focus on children with SEND (Special educational needs and disabilities) and he considers it a privilege to support the children through their primary education journey. Outside of school you will find Dan playing or watching live music and spending every second he can with his young son.

Co-opted Governor

Mrs Deering

Clare has been a Governor at WPS since 2020. She lives locally and her daughter attended Westbury Park School. After a teaching career of over 30 years, Clare retired in 2019. She is still very interested in education policy and provision in schools, and is enjoying learning about the life of a Primary School. She is particularly keen to ensure that every child achieves their potential and is not prevented from accessing an excellent education through no fault of their own. Clare is a Curriculum Link Governor at WPS.

Co-opted Governor

Mrs Dursley

Karen has been a Governor at WPS since 2022. She is a retired Office and Personnel Manager who worked in the education sector for six years. Prior to that Karen held a senior role in facilities management with primary responsibility for buildings, environment, community, supply chain and contract management. Karen also brings to her experience of other trust boards to our WPS governing body. Karen is an Estates Link Governor at WPS.

Parent Governor

Mrs Brennan

Catherine has been a Governor since 2022. She currently has one child at our school. Catherine is a solicitor in the renewables sector. She enjoys being part of a team committed to ensuring that children are given the best education, learning and development opportunities available. Her interests are in the curriculum and safeguarding. In her spare time, Catherine enjoys running. Catherine is a Curriculum Link Governor at WPS.

Parent Governor

Mr Hardy

Matt has been a Governor at WPS since 2023. He has three children at our school. Matt is a Chartered Accountant and currently works as Deputy Head of Tax at a large UK consumer goods company. His career has focused on international trade and tax policy, and he hopes to use his knowledge and experience in accountancy and economics to benefit the school. In his spare time, Matt is a keen cyclist and runner. Matt is a Curriculum Link Governor at WPS.

Co-opted Governor

Mrs Burdett

Debbie works in the school as a Teaching Assistant working one to one with children in the afternoons and as part of the office team in the mornings. She has been a Governor at WPS since 2024.

Associate Governor

Mr Horton

Tim is an Associate Governor and link Health & Safety Governor.

Co-opted Governor

Mrs Maggs

As well as being a Teacher at WPS, Lauren has been a WPS Governor since 2021.

Co-opted Governor

Ms Bryer

Helen has been a Governor at WPS since 2025. She has two children, one at our school and the younger one joining next year. Helen is a civil servant, with a particular interest in equity and inclusion. She has previous experience of being a Governor at a local federation of special schools. Helen is an Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Link Governor at WPS

Member

Mrs Engelbrecht

Member

Mrs Stephens

Member

Mr Hackett

Member

Mr Sefton

Member

Dr Mengeaud

School governors have a central responsibility for overseeing the leadership and direction of their school and improving standards.

While the headteacher is responsible for day-to-day management of the school, the role of the Governing Body is to provide strategic leadership and to act as a "critical friend", supporting the work of the headteacher and other staff.

The Members are the guardians of the governance of the Trust with limited and distanced role, ‘eyes on hands off’ and are holding once a year the Trustees to account for the effective governance of the Trust on the Annual General Meeting (AGM).

The Governing Body has a role in setting school performance targets, deciding on spending priorities, recruiting staff and monitoring progress.

Governors also play a formal and informal role in handling complaints from parents. Parents can contact Governors via the Clerk to Governors [clerk@westburyparkschool.co.uk]

The governors at Westbury Park are dedicated to their role of supporting and challenging staff to make the school the best it can be for our children.

When considering the skills and training Governors require, particular attention is given to three core strategic functions of the Board of Governors:

Setting the school’s vision, ethos and strategic direction
Holding the headteacher to account for the educational performance of the school and its pupils
Overseeing the financial performance of the school and making sure its money is well spent

Board Structure

To fulfil the role as needed we are running the following two Sub-Committees termly:

Resources and Audit Committee - with the purpose to advise the Trustees on:

Monitor, consider and advice the Trustees on policies and practice related to finance, premises, health & safety and staffing resources;
hold the headteacher and school leadership team to account on matters connected to the above;
Matters related to the Trust's audit arrangements
Systems of internal control and risk management

School Improvement Committee - with the purpose to advise the Trustees on:

Provide strategic direction for the School’s teaching and learning and act as a proactive and strategic body for teaching, learning, assessment and curriculum matters, including quality enhancement and the sharing of good practice;
Develop a formal program of monitoring and assessment of the School’s teaching and learning, in the context of the School’s Five Year Plan, School Development Plan, SEN Action Plan, the National Curriculum, and other DfE and Local Authority guidelines;
Accept fully delegated responsibilities for the discharge of the following duties and to report and make recommendations to the Governing Body.
Monitor, consider and advice the Trustees on policies and practice related to school improvement;
Hold the headteacher and school leadership team to account on matters connected to the same above;

And twice a year:

Pay Committee - with the purpose to advise the Trustees on:

implement the pay policy in a fair and objective manner and to consider any individual representations that may be made in respect of pay decisions
hold the Head teacher and school leadership team to account on matters connected to the same above;