Governor Profiles

Volunteering to be a Governor is one of the most rewarding things I’ve ever done. It has been a wonderful opportunity to ‘give something back’ to the community and to see how a school really works. I have enjoyed working with other Governors and staff to meet the variety of challenges that come our way!

My association with Solent Infant School began in 2004 when my oldest son started in reception; two years later I was elected to become a Parent Governor. In 2010, when my youngest son moved in to Year 2, I was proud to be asked to become one of the Local Authority Governors.

During my time as a governor, my responsibilities have included chairing the Premises Committee, acting as Vice-chair of the Finance Committee and being the Numeracy Link Role Governor.

Now, as Chair of Governors, I am looking forward to working with the new Senior Management Team and the rest of the Governing body. Together, we aim to ensure that Solent Infant School gets the Ofsted “Outstanding” mark – which is long-overdue in our opinion.

I am always available to talk about any issues or concerns you may have. Now my children have moved on to ‘big’ school, I am no longer to be found in the playground but can be contacted via the school office.

I am the Technical Director of a Design and Build contracting company (Kiwi Design) based near Ringwood .I have been with that company for 19 years and in construction for over 30. I am married to Lisa; she is a HLTA working as a Teaching Assistant at Solent Infant School. We have two children in their teens who are both former pupils at the school. Hence my original involvement with the school; this coupled with the fact that we watched the school being built at the bottom of our garden. Given my experience in construction it is appropriate that I sit on the Building Committee as well as the curriculum committee.

I was born, brought up and educated in Surrey. Having completed college, I decided to move to London to start my teacher training at Roehampton University. Having been dazzled by the bright lights, I decided to stay teaching in London for some years to follow! Following family relocation, Portsmouth was to be our next port of call and I now live with my family in the local area. My youngest child attends Solent Infant School and my eldest Solent Junior School. I joined the staff of Solent Infant School as Deputy Head Teacher in September 2007. Upon arriving at the school I expected the job to be amongst many other things, challenging yet rewarding. I have so far found it to be both of the above, but at the same time have met with a fantastic and truly dedicated staff who have helped me settle in and become part of their talented and inspiring team. Just to add a little extra sparkle, I have met with a school bursting with pupils who are enthusiastic about all they do and have a true passion for learning!

"Hi, I'm Matt Smith, my son is at Solent Infants in Year 1 and my daugher will start Reception year in September '10 I wanted to have as much involvement as possible in my childrens education, and strongly believe that if you want to make a difference, you need to be involved. I enjoy volunteering, having spent 5 years on the RNLI crew at Eastney and 3 years as Chairman of the management committee at Drayton Daisychain Preschool. It seemed a natural progression to volunteer to be a parent governor. Having no background in education (well, I went to school once, but that was a long time ago) I find it quite a challenge learning about the many aspects of school life. I think the board of governors can, and do, make a positive difference to all our childrens educational experience, and for me, that's what it's all about."

I joined the Governors as a Parent Governor in October 2009 as my twins started in reception but I have already have the pleasure of my oldest son (who is now at the Junior School in year 4) going through the school and really flourishing within this lovely teaching environment. When I am not carrying out my most important role (as a Mum to 3 children) I work as a Quality Manager within a Further Education Provider. I hope that my 14 years of experience working with young people and adults in education will support me in my role as a Governor. I believe that Solent Infant is an excellent school and I hope that I can support the Staff, Pupils and Governors in ensuring that this continues. I currently sit on the Personnel and Finance groups but I am keen to represent parent’s views on all aspects of the schools delivery. I enjoy working with the supportive team of Governors and being more involved in the school, something that is often challenging for working parents.

I am the non teaching governor at Solent Infant School. I have been involved with the school since my eldest son started in September 1998. Working first as a volunteer and then as a lunchtime supervisor. During the Autumn term in 2000 I applied for and was offered the position of LSA for ICT, this position had been created to relieve Mr Burnett while the building and the installation of ICT suite took place. Upon completion of the ICT suite my contract was extend for two years at which time I was rewarded with a permanent contract. In my current role as a Higher Level Teaching Assistant I am responsible for Planning, Preparation, Teaching and Levelling ICT lessons. I working closely with the teachers providing resources to meet the ever changing needs of our exciting curriculum.

In the meantime, I have continued on my own educational journey, while experiences the challenges of juggling family, work and learning. In the last 5 years I have completed an ECDL (European Computer Driving Licence), Vocational Qualification in Learning Support, Information Technology Qualification, Higher Level Teaching Assistant Status and a Foundation Degree in Learning Support. At present I am working to obtain a Degree in Education and Training Studies that I hope to complete in 2011. For my dissertation I hope to perform a case study on investigating the Learning Platform at Key stage 1.

I was born in Hexham in Newcastle and have lived all round the world as my dad was in the RAF. At the age of 12 decided that enough was enough and I needed to stay in one place so I asked my parents if I could go to boarding school, and that is where I went.

When I was 18 I moved down to Portsmouth to do my NNEB, met my husband and had five children. I now work at Crookhorn College of Technology.

I first became a Parent Governor when I decided it was time to give back to the school all the hard work that they had put into educating my five children over the years. I have been dropping my children off to the infant school for 11 years now and have seen some fantastic changes that have developed over the years.

I am now an Authority Appointed Governor and still enjoy the challenge that being a governor gives me. I am very proud to be a member of the governing board.

Shuba Khatun

I was born in Bangladesh and moved to England at the young age of five months. At the age of four years our family moved from Manchester to Portsmouth.

I am married and have a daughter who is five years of age, currently attending Solent Infant School, and a son who is ten months, who I hope will also be attending Solent when he is of age.

I currently work part-time as a Resource Analyst and my education background is in Accounting. My interest in becoming a Parent Governor began from the time when my daughter first started attending nursery and I felt that as a parent I should be more involved with the future of our children.

I am quite new to the role of Parent Governor and hope that I can live up to the challenges that I will be faced with in the coming future.

Headteacher: Mrs Lucy Wilby Deputy Headteacher : Miss Laura Peterkin Bursar: Mrs Elisabeth Hesling Support Officers: Mrs Donna Austin & Mrs Clare Winnicott	Visitors online: 11	Solent Infant School Evelegh Road, Farlington, Portsmouth,Hampshire PO6 1DH Tel 023 9237 1073 postbox@solent-inf.portsmouth.sch.uk