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.
PETER COLLISON
PARENT GOVERNOR
It’s a great privilege to be the newly appointed Chair of Governors for The Kite Primary Federation.
In addition to being Chair I also sit on the Curriculum, Policies, Finance and Admissions Committees and am the link Governor for ICT and Maths.
For almost 20 years I’ve worked for one of the UK’s largest education companies helping schools and universities all over the country to deliver inspiring learning and teaching with technology. I’m passionate about the power of technology to enthuse, empower and enrich the whole school experience. I also believe however that technology is not a substitute for great teaching: it should facilitate and augment great teaching.
Recently I’ve specialised in school assessment and data – Working with the Department for Education and many of the UK’s exam boards to ensure that the learner is always at the heart of the system. I believe that learner focus is critical for any education experience.
I’ve been a Parent Governor for just over 2 years, with my children currently in Years 2 and 4 at Stockcross, and was part of the team that recruited our wonderful new Executive Head. I’m very much looking forward to getting further engaged in the school community and supporting the whole Federation team going forward.
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 sits on the Finance and Premises committees.
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 (6) and Peppy (4). Both will be pupils at the school in September. 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.
NEAL MURRAY
Neal joined the team at Stockcross in January 2019 and became the Deputy Head teacher in September of that year. He began teaching in 2010 after changing career from the financial sector and has never looked back. His wife is also a teacher at a school in Hampshire and they have two children; Isla and Alex, who keep them on their toes. Neal 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.
KAREN SMITH
Karen is a qualified secondary school teacher of Design Technology. She has three boys, Edward, Oliver and Tom.
Karen moved to the area from Surrey but has lived in many other places. Her interests include sport of all sorts, but she plays golf and netball. She loves growing her own fruit and vegetables and cooking. Karen has sat on many committees in the past including school PTA and Golf Club Competition Chair
REVD JOHN TOOGOOD
John moved to the area in 2003 and became Ex-Officio Governor in 2010 at Stockcross School when he took on the post of Rector of the East Downland Benefice. He was appointed Ex-Officio Governor to the Kite Primary Federation in 2020. He is married to Philippa (who teaches at a local secondary school) and has two daughters. In addition to general governor duties John comes in to take weekly assemblies and is charged with monitoring all aspects of safeguarding, behaviour and welfare for the governing body in his role as the designated Safeguarding Governor.
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 PSHE. She was appointed Vice-Chair, KPF in September 2022.
NICOLA CROSSE
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CHRISTOPHER SMITH
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KIRSTY TERRY
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