Our Governors
Meet the Governors
The Governing Board of the Kite Primary Federation is made up of 14 Governors. The Executive Head Teacher is automatically a Governor, along with 2 Parent Governors elected by the parent body. A staff Governor is elected by the teaching and non-teaching staff at both schools. The local Rector is automatically a member as both schools are Voluntary Aided church schools. Welford and Wickham and Stockcross are in different parishes and so each rector takes a turn to serve a 4 year term. The final non-Diocese appointed Governor is nominated by West Berkshire Council as the Local Authority and the remaining Governors are all appointed by the Oxford Diocese.
KAREN SMITH
I have been a Governor at The Kite Primary Federation for 6 years and have recently taken over as Chair. In addition to being Chair I also sit on the curriculum, finance and admissions committees. I am link governor for SENDco and safeguarding.
In my professional life I taught science and DT at secondary level. I enjoy being part of school life and am a frequent visitor in the Federations schools.
VICE-CHAIR OF GOVERNORS
PARENT GOVERNOR
It’s a great privilege to sit as the Vice-Chair of Governors for The Kite Primary Federation, having served as the Chair for the last 2 years. I’ve been a Parent Governor for just over 4 years, with my children currently in Years 4 and 6 at Stockcross.
In addition to being Vice Chair I also sit on the Policies and Finance Committees and am the link Governor for Geography and Science.
My entire working career has been in the education technology space and I’m passionate about the power of technology to enthuse, empower and enrich the whole school experience. Currently I am the General Manager for a School Management Systems provider.
NIKKI CROSSE
Nikki is currently the Reception / year 1 / year 2 teacher at Welford and Wickham school, where she has been teaching for 9 years. Prior to that she worked for 16 years in Market Research and Insights for both agencies and client side. She is married with two boys aged 12 and 14 and has two very fluffy rabbits!
ALASTAIR EADIE
Al has been governor since July 2023. He has worked across a number of sectors (advertising, manufacturing, insurance, banking, insurance, trade finance) in large multi-nationals through to startups; his principal expertise is in finance but has broad general management experience. He is married with 2 teenage boys and is a keen fly-fisher and runs with his dog when he can.
He is the Chair of the Finance and Premises committees.
REVD MIKE GRIFFITHS
INFORMATION TO FOLLOW
LAURENCE HAYES
Laurence’s professional background is in corporate finance and fund management, but he now spends most of his time writing children’s books and helping run the Street Soccer Foundation, a charity for disadvantaged and homeless young people.
GAVIN JONES
Gavin has been a Governor at Stockcross School since 2007, serving as Chair from 2009 to 2013. He was appointed as Local Authority Governor to the Kite Primary Federation in 2020. He is married to Kate and lives in Marsh Benham with his two daughters, Olivia and Polly who were both pupils at Stockcross school.
Gavin works for BT based in London where he looks after one of their sales divisions in their wholesale business. His previous experience includes surveying and IT services and his interests include running and golf which he has recently taken up.
MELISSA KILDING
Mel was previously Staff Governor at Welford and Wickham School and was elected as a Staff Governor by the Kite Primary Federation in April 2020.
Mel is currently the Year 5/6 teacher at Welford & Wickham Primary where she has been teaching for 4 years. She has three boys (age 20, 17 and 11), two of whom attended Stockcross Primary. Before having children and becoming a teacher, she worked for a marketing agency in London. Between 2009 and 2011 she and her husband took their three children travelling around the world and self-taught them. Mel is a keen runner and loves all things outdoors.
JOANNA LAGARES
Jo took up post as Executive Headteacher of the Kite Primary Federation in September 2022. Prior to this she was the headteacher of a large, town primary school in a neighbouring authority for 7 years.
Jo’s teaching career began in 1999 in schools in London; working in Southwark, Lambeth and then Kensington and Chelsea. She moved out of London in 2011 to take up her first Deputy Headteacher position and hasn’t looked back since.
Along with rich and varied experiences, Jo brings a wealth of ideas, energy and enthusiasm to the Kite Primary Federation. She loves working with people and bring out the best in others.
Jo is married and has two primary aged children. When not at school, she spends much of her time taking them to their various activities and busy social lives!
EDWARD MILLER
Ed was elected as a Parent Governor in March 2019 at Stockcross and as a Foundation Governor of the Kite Primary Federation in April 2020.
Ed lives in Stockcross with his wife Sandra and their 2 children Hugo and Peppy. Both are pupils at Stockcross school. Sandra is French and so they all try and speak French and English. Ed says that to his embarrassment, his French is vastly inferior to the children’s already.
Also living with them are 2 Parson Russel terrier dogs and 4 tortoises.
They live in a converted Victorian house with a garden where they have a wildflower meadow, wildlife pond, and garden with obligatory mini goal nets. They also have a kitchen garden area where they like to grow as much as they can in and out of the greenhouse. They spend as much time as they can outside, gardening growing and keeping active with various sports.
Ed’s other passions include cooking, travelling and general environmental awareness.
Ed started his working career in retail management with John Lewis. He then moved into pharmaceutical sales working over 12 years for companies such as Pfizer, Dupont, GSK and Johnson & Johnson. He decided on a change 9 years ago and joined the nursery goods industry, spending 6 years at Bugaboo as General Manager UK and Ireland, several years consulting for private equity within the industry and now for the last year with BeSafe Voksi (children’s car seats and clothing respectfully). He is Country Manager looking after UK, Ireland, US and Canada. It’s a small Norwegian company with a passion for safety, design and sustainability which fits well with his passion outside of work.
Ed’s skills are: managing teams, building relationships, negotiation, setting strategy, marketing and PR.
Mark Wilson
Mark joined the team as Deputy Head teacher at Stockcross in January 2025.
Mark is an Associate Governor and is pleased to offer his insight and experience to the Kite Primary Federation’s governors whenever they need it.
GEORGINA PUNTER
Georgina comes from an entrepreneurial/managerial background, in several sectors including health, fitness, luxury travel, property and returned to University to study a Psychology degree quickly followed by a Diploma in Counselling. She continues her interest in the Psychotherapeutic field and is currently in the final year of a 3 year Postgraduate Psychotherapy Diploma. George is passionate about “living well” both physically and emotionally. She has been a Trustee at Time to Talk West Berkshire since 14 Sept 2016 and was Chair from 2020-23.
George has worked in the Newbury area since 1996 moving here more permanently to start a family in 2000. In her spare time she enjoys the great outdoors in all it’s wonderful guises including running/walking with Ceba.
CHRIS SMITH
Chris has been a governor since February 2024. Chris lives in Weston with his wife Jade (who is on the PTFA) and 2 boys Zachary and Max who are both at Stockcross school.
Professionally Chris works in the IT industry and has worked for large global organisations such as Hewlett Packard and Citrix in numerous sales and leadership positions. Most recently he works as Sales Regional Vice President for UiPath – an Artificial Intelligence and Automation software company.
Outside of work his interests are very sport focused – football, rugby, cricket, golf (when I find time!) and is active in the local community coaching at Newbury Rugby Club.
SAMANTHA WALKER
Sam has been a Foundation Governor at the KPF since April 2020.
She has over thirty years’ experience gained within large global advertising and PR agencies as well as smaller, owner managed businesses as a client manager in recruitment and HR. She has run her own advisory business since 2005 which allows her the work life balance to also spend time with her husband and children.
She is a keen fundraiser and event organiser and has served on committees, and as a volunteer of various charitable organisations. She also spent two years as PTA Chair at her sons’ school where she set up a successful speaker programme for children, parents and teachers. Sam also provides career coaching to sixth formers and graduates.
She is passionate about helping young people reach their maximum potential, in whatever form that may take, as well as being a support to the wonderful teachers and support staff in the KPF community who are so committed to helping children become the people they aspire to be.
She sits on the Finance and HR and Premises Committees and is the Link Governor for Art, DT, and Music.
KIRSTY TERRY
Kirsty was elected as a Parent Governor in November 2023 and currently sits on both the Curriculum and Policies committees. In addition, she is the chair of the Admissions committee and the link Governor for Computing, EYFS, and Phonics. Kirsty is an experienced teacher of Computer Science, having taught for almost 20 years, and is currently working at a local secondary school. She is also a qualified examiner and NCCE facilitator.
Kirsty moved to the area 10 years ago after previously living in London and Surrey. She has three children (aged 10, 7, and 4), all of whom attend Welford and Wickham.
Her interests include photography, astronomy, and scuba diving, with a focus on underwater and astrophotography. She recently completed her wreck diver specialty and is working towards her Master Scuba Diver certification.