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Governors

Ms Mary Smith

Ms Smith is a Co-opted Governor and is also Chair of the Governing Body. She sits on the Pay & Staffing Committee. End of term of office - 20 Nov 2025.

[email protected]

C/O - Steyning CofE Primary School
Shooting Field, Steyning, West Sussex
BN44 3RQ.

01903 813 420

I am a lawyer practicing in Brighton. My family moved to West Sussex in 2007. I have worked with children for most of my professional career and feel the importance of a good education should never be underrated. I volunteered to be a Governor in 2017 a decision I have never regretted.

My interests are in literacy and sciences in particular STEM for girls. My ambition is to ensure that Steyning Primary School continues to provide the best education for all of their children, encouraging them to have a love of learning, so that they can develop to their full potential.

 

Mr Chris Webb

Mr Webb is a Co-opted Governor and is also Vice-Chair of the Governing Body. He is the chair of the Pay & Staffing Committee and also has a particular interest in literacy. End of term of office - 14 Jul 2024.

I joined the governing body back in 2016 when our eldest son started at the school. With all three of our children now at Steyning C of E Primary, it's a great pleasure to be involved, working closely with the other governors and the amazing staff at the school. I'm currently Vice-Chair and Chair of the Pay and Staffing Committee, and I hold various monitoring roles.

In terms of my work and background, I'm a Co-Founder of a PR and Creative consultancy that specialises in health.

As one of the governor literacy champions, I love reading with my children and particularly enjoy the amazing collection of stories by Julia Donaldson.

 

Mr John Gadd

Mr Gadd is a Co-opted Governor. He has a particular interest in Science & Literacy. End of term of office - 14 Jul 2024.

I became a Governor at Steyning Primary for a number of reasons – my daughter attended, my wife had previously been a governor, I live in the village and I wanted to use my education experience to benefit the school.

I am a co-opted governor with a particular interest in teaching, learning and curriculum.

I qualified as a teacher in 1984, and worked in three primary schools in Surrey as a class teacher, deputy head, and variously as subject leader for Geography, Science and PE. I first became a school governor in 1991, and have completed a Master’s degree focused on the working practices of highly successful governing bodies. Since 1996 I have been a Headteacher in three West Sussex primary schools as well as working to support other schools locally and nationally, and mentoring new Heads.

My favourite children’s book is ‘Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone’.

 

Mr John Marchment

Mr John Marchment is a Co-opted Governor.  He sits on the Pay & Staffing Committee. End of term of office - 12 June 2023.

John Marchment is a semi-retired Chartered Engineer, who after many years in management and technical roles in manufacturing, completed his full-time career in Further and Higher Education teaching materials science and business studies. He now spends two days a week mentoring management staff and helping out in the busy cycle business run by two of his sons in Partridge Green.

His interest in SPS is mainly due to having 3 grandchildren who are, or have been, educated at the school. His role as a governor is to be a maths specialist and to support the staff teaching year 5.

Whilst not being a proper steam enthusiast, he volunteers one day per week at the Bluebell Railway machining small parts for steam locomotives.

His favourite children’s book has always been Kenneth Graham’s The Wind in the Willows but loves reading anything by Julia Donaldson with his grandchildren.

Mr David Peace

Mr David Peace is a Co-opted Governor. He sits on the Pay & Staffing Committee. End of term of office - 21 September 2026.

I have run my software business now for over 35 years and over the years have gained knowledge in many different business sectors, from financial services to leisure and travel. We currently have a software package for Hotels to manage their bookings and finance. We also have a very niche consultancy service that brings us business from all over the globe. Dealing with people and helping them solve problems are the things that bring me the most rewards.

I have been a school governor for over 12 years and was chairman of the governors at Steyning Primary for 6 years. I was a founding member of the West Sussex Chairs Exchange bringing my expertise in school governance to help other schools. I have a very keen interest in Special Educational Needs & Disabilities and Disadvantaged Children, I am heavily motivated to see that they get the best outcomes possible.

On a personal note, I am a bit of a petrol head and have owned a TVR Tuscan for 10 years now, I really enjoy a drive through the English countryside with the roof off and the wind in my hair.

 

Mrs Jeanie Dunford

Mrs Dunford is Co-opted Governor. End of term of office - 25 September 2024. 

I'm a mother of two young boys and also a member of staff at Steyning C of E Primary.  Over the last seven years I have watched it grow into the amazing school that it is today.  I wanted to become a governor to help make sure our kids get the very best head start in life.

 

Mrs Caryl Vine

Mrs Vine is a Foundation Governor (Ex-officio) and has a particular interest in RE and Collective Worship. (Ex-officio). She sits on the Pay & Staffing Committee. End of term of office - 13 July 2026.

I am a retired teacher having taught in primary schools for many years. Although I taught all subjects, my main responsibility was music. I am so pleased to be part of a school that has such a lively musical tradition.

My hobby is also music having sung in choirs, played in brass bands and musically directed shows. I have five grandchildren who I love spending time with. My husband Derek was also a teacher and enjoys volunteering in the school.

My favourite books are influenced by my grandchildren and include Harry Potter and all of Julia Donaldson's publications.

Mrs Kate Burnett

Mrs Burnett is a Foundation Governor who has been nominated to sit on the Governing Body by the Parochial Church Council. End of term of office - 2 January 2027.

My career has always been teaching music, both instrumental and in the classroom. I have taught nursery to adult students in the state and private sectors.

In 2007, I was appointed Head of Music at a prep school in London, which meant leaving Cardiff and returning to my home town of Steyning.

As I have now retired (2022), and have a Grandson at Steyning Primary School, I felt that becoming a foundation governor would be a good opportunity to support the school and promote links with the church.

I stay very active in my retirement, teaching piano, singing in several choirs, walking the beautiful South Downs, and at the end of the day enjoying a good read.

 

Mrs Sue Harrison

Mrs Harrison is the Head Teacher and is therefore automatically a crucial member of the Governing Body (Ex-officio).

Mrs Harrison has more than 20 years’ experience has a headteacher and demonstrated her ability to transform schools by taking schools from ‘Requires Improvement’ or ‘Inadequate’ to ‘Good’ in several primary schools across West Sussex and Brighton and Hove. She is child focused and always focuses on progress for each and every child.

Mrs Harrison joined Steyning in April 2016 and since then has ensured the school gained ‘Good’ during both Ofsted and the SIAM’s inspections. These both highlighted the ‘Outstanding’ behaviour and support of the social and emotional aspects of school life that she passionately believes in and this has become a key feature of the school.

As she holds an MA in Education (School Effectiveness and Improvement) from Sussex University, continued professional development is a key driver for Mrs Harrison and she is passionate about supporting staff with their own development and coaching. She is proud to have seen so many staff over the year progress in their careers, with 7 now headteachers themselves.

In her spare time Mrs Harrison loves fast cars, planning holidays and reading her kindle in a hammock, thinking of palms trees and lapping waves.

Mrs Harrison favourite children’s book is a bit of a classic now, it is ‘The Graveyard Book’ by Neil Gaiman. She loves it because it is dark, yet humorous and moving and beautifully written.

 

Mrs Emily Scozzi

Mrs Scozzi is the Staff Governor for the Governing Body. End of term of office - 13 Oct 2025.

Mrs Scozzi joined Steyning Primary School in 2014 after completing her BA Education (Hons) at Brighton University, with a specialism focus of Maths.

Mrs Scozzi has taught across Key Stage 2, with a personal highlight being the three trips to PGL Isle of Wight with Year 6. She has had the role of ‘Staff Governor’ for 4 academic years now and enjoys seeing how the wider aspects of school life are organised and managed.

Having been a pupil at Steyning Primary School herself, Mrs Scozzi is proud to now be teacher in a school that centres around community and celebrating each child’s unique abilities and passions.

In her spare time, Mrs Scozzi enjoys baking; spending time with her family and travelling to a variety of hot countries. Her favourite book is ‘Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire’.

 

Mrs Lizzie Salisbury

Mrs Salisbury is a Parent Governor. End of term of office - 9 June 2025. 

Lizzie is a parent of 2 children currently attending SPS with a 3rd starting in 2022. 

Lizzie has a background in office management, horticulture and farming and is currently employed as a Teaching Assistant in SPS reception class. 

Lizzie became a governor after seeing the excellent way the school includes and encourages all children and wanted to be involved in the further progression and development of the school in the coming years.

 

Mrs May Langan

Mrs Langan is a Parent Governor. End of term of office - 19 Jan 2025. 

May was appointed as a parent governor in January 2021 and has four children, three of whom attend Steyning Primary School. She grew up on a pig farm in Buckinghamshire with her ten siblings.

May has an interest in equality, diversity and inclusion and has completed training in Anti-Racism, Cultural Safety and LGBT+ Competency.

Her favourite children’s book is ‘You’re a Bad Man, Mr Gum!’ by Andy Stanto.