Our Governors, their responsibilities and 'Information and Duties.'

  • Mr Geoff Beales

    Chair of Governors

    Co-opted Governor

    I have been a Governor at St Johns Green since March 2017. As a Governor I hope I can help ensure that the school is successful and prepared to provide excellent teaching and learning for all the children that attend. I will always look to ensure that all children are given the opportunities to do their best and achieve their potential. I also hope to ensure that all children are provided with the necessary skills and knowledge that will help them in their future lives.

    After completing a business degree at the University of Hertfordshire my career background has always been in local government, working in various fields including housing, management and client management over the past 25 years.

  • Mrs Nicola Roberts

    Vice Chair of Governors

    Parent Governor

    I have been part of the St John’s Green community since 2008, when my eldest child started at the school, I have since had three children move through the school and on to senior school and my youngest is in KS1. I am now in my sixth year serving as a governor. The school has changed and grown a lot over the years, but one thing that remains the same is the feeling of community and the commitment of the staff to give each child an interesting and varied learning experience and the shared desire to help each pupil achieve their potential. As a parent I know how important it is for children to feel secure and happy at school and as a governor I enjoy working with the Senior Management Team to strive towards our joint goal of giving every child a good start to their education in an inclusive, caring, safe and educationally rich environment.
    My career background is mostly in the financial sector, doing project management, marketing and operations support. I have also always enjoyed working with children, and worked with a special needs children's charity prior to completing my Psychology BSc at Lancaster University, where I focused my
    studies on child development, education and 'how people learn'.
    I enjoy photography, writing, films and travelling with my family, and can often be seen in and around school, visiting, helping, assisting with PTA activities and at pick up time. I strongly believe that with the whole school community working together we can help SJG be an even better school than it already is.

  • Mr Patrick Shields

    Parent Governor.

    A father of five, with three children in SJGPS (Dylan Yr5, Myla Yr4 and Layla Yr2), I am lucky enough to have benefited from a fantastic education in local community and grammar
    schools, leading to graduate and post-graduate degrees. In turn, this was the
    platform which launched me into a 31 year (and counting) career in banking
    and finance. With good guidance and hard work I have followed a fulfilling
    path and hope to help others set out on a similar journey.
    I care profoundly about how our children are educated, about how we help
    and guide them to fulfil individual potential (academic, creative, sporting,
    social) but equally how we help them develop as members of a community.
    We should not shy from striving for excellence in all things as a school, but not
    solely measure that in narrow academic currency. A community school like
    ours must ensure that all are afforded equal opportunity to excel however
    they can.

    So, I’m a fully invested and committed parent, I’m committed to great
    schooling for our children and I’m committed to bringing my experience in life,
    education and a career in finance to benefit our great school.

  • Mr Lee Brooker

    Parent Governor

    After becoming a governor in the summer term of 2017, I have been delighted
    to be welcomed by such a great group of people who have such a clear
    direction and care for the children and the school. Coming from a business
    background and working in schools throughout the country over the last 14
    years, I am proud to be a part of a school which just has that great, positive
    and inclusive feeling. It is something which can’t be described, but as soon as I
    set foot in the school, I knew it was right for my family. To be honoured with
    the role of a Parent Governor and be involved with the future development is
    fantastic and something I take great pride in. In my spare time I love
    photography, motorsports, football and most of all spending time with my
    family.

  • Mrs Elisa Vasquez-Walters

    Co-opted Governor

    I am now into my 3rd year of being a governor at St. John’s Green and this is my second time round doing so. The first time was when my children, now aged 24 and 26, were at the school themselves. In my day to day I work in Criminal Justice so am very interested in positive outcomes for children as this gives them the best chances for positive outcomes as adults. I currently have governor responsibility for RE/PSHE/Rights respecting and Year 2.

  • Mr Mark Scaife

    Parent Governor

    I have been a governor since November 2020.

    As a governor I hope that I can help the school be the best that it can. I was initially interested in becoming a Governor because I spend a large amount of time designing school buildings and so wanted to understand more about how those buildings get used. However, I hope that I can also bring value to the school from my professional career. I have a keen interest in STEM subjects as I believe they can lead to great opportunities to shape the world we live.

    I am a Chartered Engineer with a degree in Audio Technology from the University of Salford, and since then have been working in architectural and environmental acoustic consultancy for the last 20 years, which has given me the opportunity to work on projects around the world (from Antartica to Za'abeel via Mercury Theatre).

    I enjoy taking part most sports; especially running . I'm a lifelong supporter of Ipswich Town FC which equips me we patience and a good sense of humour.

    In my spare time I read and act as a runner for the PTA.

  • Mrs Lynn Spencer-Campbell

    Co-opted Governor

    I have spent my whole career in Education, working with all age groups from Early Years to Adults in London, Harlow, Saffron Walden and Colchester.

    My experience in classroom and youth provision and residential centres has enabled me to develop a broad, lasting and deep interest in learning. It is our privilege in Education in the broadest sense to open doors of opportunity and create learning experiences to last a lifetime. One of the joys of teaching is that no two days are alike and no two children are the same. My mantra has always been that we should find in every child a platform from which to shine.

    In the last eight years I have been a Training Manager at Colchester Teacher Training Consortium. During this time I have had several trainee teachers offered a placement at St John’s Green School. From their warm welcome to their highly professional mentoring they have all experienced the support of this strong teaching team.

    I love the ethos of St John’s Green school and watched the new build with interest as it developed. Simon and his team have created a cohesive learning Hub across the two sites where children feel safe to learn and to experiment with life.

    So now I have joined the school as a co-opted governor. Having been a Headteacher I hope I am able to bring some useful experience to the Governing Body and can draw on this to support the school as it continues to develop.

    My greatest personal achievement is my two children, now both adults. I have a wide range of interests including music, theatre, art, gardening and upholstery the latter of which has kept me busy throughout the lockdown.

    Mostly, I am currently looking forward to the day when we can begin visiting the children and staff in the school. Maybe next year.

  • Mr Simon Billings

    Headteacher

    Staff Governor

    I have been Headteacher of St John’s Green Primary School for over 15 years
    having previously worked in Wickford and prior to that in Coventry.
    I care passionately about the school and am fundamental in my aim that I
    want children to enjoy coming to a school that cares for them and wants them
    to achieve the best they possible can through a rich and challenging
    education.
    I have three children of my own, two boys and a girl and am fully aware of
    both the challenges and joys that having children brings. Catch me in an
    unguarded moment and I will quite happily expand on my six year old
    daughter’s ability to run rings around every other living thing in the house or
    my sons ability to leave wakes of destruction in every room he visits.
    I think that St John’s Green Primary School is a fantastic school and I feel
    privileged to be its headteacher.

  • Mrs Clare Skinner

    Assistant Headteacher

    Staff Governor

    I have been working at St. John’s Green Primary School for 12 years and I am very proud to do so. I have been teaching for over 20 years, becoming Assistant Head, with the responsibility for Teaching and Learning, 3 years ago.

    I grew up in Cornwall and moved to London to begin my teaching career in 1998. I have always been passionate about teaching and the difference we can make to the children we have the privilege of working with. I have a particular interest in English and I was English Lead in a previous school, working within the London Borough of Havering, to roll out new initiatives for Reading and Writing. When I moved to Colchester, I had two young boys who are now teenagers…time flies! I still have my Cornish roots, but I am delighted that I made the decision to move to London and then Essex, to continue my career.

    Throughout my teaching career, the curriculum and expectations have changed dramatically. It has been both exciting and daunting over the years, to adapt to and work with the new and ever-changing ways in which we are asked to teach. However, the fundamentals are always the same:

    · Provide a secure and stimulating environment, that is conducive to all children having the opportunity to reach their full potential;

    · Value the achievements of all children, both in and out of school and provide opportunities to develop self-confidence and a positive self-image;

    · Provide a curriculum which is balanced, relevant and progressive;

    · Offer all children equal access to the curriculum and school life, in the community where individual differences are appreciated, celebrated, understood and accepted

    It is a pleasure to work at St. John’s Green Primary School; the children, staff, families and community are very special.

  • Mr Philip Freeman

    Clerk to the Governors

    I work for Juniper Education Clerking Service and one of the Colchester schools I work with is St John's Green Primary. I previously worked at the Gilberd School for 25 years in a variety of roles including periods as
    Headteacher and Deputy Head.
In accordance with the Government’s requirement for all governing bodies, the three core strategic functions of the St John’s Green Primary School Governing Body are:
 
1.    Ensuring clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction;
2.    Holding the headteacher to account for the educational performance of the school and its pupils;
3.    Overseeing the financial performance of the school and making sure its money is well spent.