Meet the Governors

Meet The Governors

Steve Rafferty
Headteacher

Sean Dennien Co-Chair, Co-opted Governor

I am a Chartered Engineer working in the rail industry. I live in Monkton Park and have been a parent governor, and then co-opted governor, for 16 years. I am Co-Chair of the governing board. Both my children attended the school and loved their time here. I joined the governing body to support the school and put something back into the community. I'm particularly proud of the way the school provides a broad and rounded education, and the way that exercise and sport is built into the curriculum to support all children's well being. It is always a pleasure to come into school and see the things we discuss in governor meetings brought to life, and see how being a governor can help make a real difference.

Ian Sankey – Co-Chair, Parent Governor

I live in the Monkton Park community with my partner Lorna, our two children and an energetic border collie. I work as a Safety Manager for a locally-based train operating company. Outside of work, my interests include walks in the countryside, travel (preferably by rail), food (both cooking and eating), reading and listening to live music. I also enjoy volunteering with a local canal restoration trust. I have been a Parent Governor at Monkton Park School for approximately 8 years. With both of my children having progressed through the school and moved on to Secondary School, I will be moving into a Co-opted Governor role shortly. I am currently Co-Chair of Governors, Vice Chair of the Attainment & Curriculum Committee and a member of the Finance & Premises Committee. I have a strong personal belief in providing a high-quality state sector education for all. Monkton Park is an excellent school and I joined the Team of Governors with the intention of supporting the Headteacher and staff with the great work that goes on daily in school.

Chris Dutton – Co-opted Governor

I have lived in the Monkton Park area for about 15 years and wanted to become more involved in the local community, hence taking up the role of governor at MPS.

I am passionate about education and seeing young people thrive, especially those from a more disadvantaged background.

Before working in education, I lived in London where I worked in tax/finance in the City. For the last 20 years, I have worked in a secondary school as a teacher, and have significant experience as a senior leader (safeguarding and curriculum) and continue to be an active trade unionist in education.

I hope that I am able to bring some of this knowledge to the governing body, as well as learn more about EYFS, KS1 and KS2 to support me in my professional role.

Children have one chance in life and schooling can make all the difference: it’s a privilege to be a governor at MPPS where teaching and learning is excellent and the school is superbly led.

Outside of education, I enjoy swimming and foreign travel.

Barbara Hearn – Co-opted Governor

I joined the Governors as a Parent Governor in September 1983 and then stayed on later as LA Governor and now am a Community Governor. I have in the past been both Vice and Chair of Governors for several years and until this year Human Resources Chairman. I retrained as an Adult Care Social Worker from 1990, then an Operational Manager and finally Wiltshire’s Adult Safeguarding Operational Manager until I retired. This experience meant I have been the Safeguarding Governor and Special Needs Governor for some years. I have worked with six Head Teachers and been involved in the School‘s four Ofsteds. I am very proud of the School and all it has achieved and also continue to see and hear of the success of many of our previous pupils. I will be retiring from the Governors at the end of August 2023.

Jonathan Watts – LA Governor

Rod Key – Co-opted Governor

Phillip Barnett – Parent Governor

My wife and I moved to Chippenham in 2007 and have two children, our daughter is a student at Monkton Park and our son will hopefully be joining her in September.

I grew up in Malmesbury so have been local to Chippenham for most of my life and have close personal ties with the town.

In my professional life I manage an engineering team based in Bath and am fortunate that my work has taken me all over the UK across a range of sectors.

When I’m not working or spending time with my family I am a keen runner and hiker and a member of the town sports club.

I chose to become a Governor because I was keen to engage with and learn more about life at school and to help support wherever I can.

Fiona Goût – Parent Governor

I’m a mum of two, and a self-employed Leadership and Career Coach with a background in HR. I enjoy being a parent governor, as it enables me to contribute some of my experience and time back to the school. We all have different backgrounds and bring different perspectives, but we are united by a mutual desire for the best for the children at the school.

As well as attending the Full Governor Meetings (6 per year), I also Chair the HR committee. We are all link governors too, which means we are paired with one or two teachers in their area of specialism. As governors, we are not operational, but it’s more we listen, learn and help shape the school’s vision, ethos and approach. A lot of what we do is around asking respectful questions, and offering our own reflections or challenges in a way that can help support the school and the children. We help make decisions about the direction the school goes in and are there to support the school leadership team.

It's a pleasure being a part of the school’s wider team and getting a glimpse into all the thought and hard work that goes into creating our welcoming and inclusive school.

Dan Reynolds – Parent Governor

My background is in design which is why I moved to Chippenham 25 years ago to start work at Dyson. I have always been a keen sportsman and rugby player, playing for the local club.

I have 3 children, 2 of which have been through Monkton Park and the third is still there.

I wanted to become a governor to give something back to the school and as I now work in learning and development I hope that my experience will contribute to the running of the school.

I have been a parent governor now for 18 months and am part of the Attainment & Curriculum committee.

Peter Dodd – Parent Governor

I am a Chartered Engineer and have spent my career working in the nuclear industry. Outside of work I am a keen mountain biker and generally love anything outdoors! I became a Parent Governor because I saw it as an opportunity to be involved in the education of my children, to challenge the school to be a better place for learners from my local community, to support the school through challenge and change, and to gain an insight into our education system. I also hoped that my skills and experience would be beneficial to the governing body and school as a whole.

Since my eldest started at Monkton Park we have felt a strong family bond with the school. It is an organisation that cares about the development of the children and recognises them as individuals. Both of our children are currently at the school and I have found it very satisfying to see the issues and initiatives that we discuss as governors becoming reality for them.

As well as attending the Full Governors Meetings, I chair the Finance and Premises Committee, which approves the schools annual budget and any significant spending, monitors the financial performance and ensures the school is committed to providing premises that are safe and conducive to learning.

Penny Hamilton – Co-opted Governor

Joseph Williams – Staff Governor
Deputy Headteacher

I have been a Staff Governor and the Deputy Head Teacher at Monkton Park since September 2022. I teach Foxes Class (Year 4 and 5) for half of the week.

I have been a teacher since 2006 working in schools in Southampton, Hampshire and Wiltshire in a wide range of different contexts. I have eight years' experience as a Deputy Head and I have also served on two different governing bodies prior to Monkton Park for a total of four years. My specialism in teaching is English and I currently support writing assessment for the Local Authority as a Key Stage 2 Moderator.