Alison Mitchell, Chair, Co-opted Governor

I have lived in Kintbury with my family for 28 years and all five of my children attended and enjoyed the caring and nurturing ethos of Kintbury School.

Keen to contribute both to our village and wider community, I have been actively involved in school governance since 2005. I'm currently a Trustee of a Multi Academy Trust in Newbury, as well as a governor at Kintbury School.

A scientist by qualification, it's a pleasure to work alongside school staff, families, fellow governors and the wider community, and use skills from both academic research and roles within the pharmaceutical industry, to make a positive impact on the well-being and outcomes of children.

I firmly believe that every child should enjoy their time in school, be given the opportunity to flourish and develop as a life-long learner.

Jenny Veasey, Vice-Chair, Foundation Governor

I retired in 2010 after 16 years as a headteacher in a village Church of England primary school. Since then, I have trained as a Licensed Lay Minister in Walbury Beacon Benefice, which includes St Mary’s Church Kintbury. KSM is a lovely school which really tries to live out the Christian principle of Loving your Neighbour; I enjoy the privilege of being a Foundation Governor and of being involved in many aspects of school life.

Sue Wigmore, Co-opted Governor

I have been a governor since 2011 when my children attended Kintbury St Marys. I have a strong belief in education and know first-hand the opportunities it can offer. I want to make sure that all children have the very best primary education. As a Co-opted Governor and a scientist, I can use my excellent data and analysis skills to review childrens progress and achievement. I am also keen to promote science and maths across the school. I have a personal interest in SEND and want to ensure that all children reach their potential.

Roy Hutchings, Foundation Governor

I have been a Foundation governor for 11 years and became a governor when my son was at the school to support the school and help all pupils experience the best possible education and experience at primary school. I have a science background, worked in a research lab and now am a technical manager, so have experience of strategic leadership, business processes and structures, evaluation of outcomes and data analysis.

Kevin Fry, Co-opted Governor

I have lived in Kintbury for over 12 years, and have two children who attend the school. I am a chartered accountant by profession and my background in Finance led to me becoming a school governor with the aim of sharing my knowledge and skills in this area and making a contribution to the school and the local community. I am particularly impressed with the school’s nurturing and caring ethos and the dedication of its teachers. I am proud to be a part of that. When I am not getting excited about spreadsheets, I enjoy a wide range of sports. I am qualified FA level 1 coach and help coach the Hungerford Town Juniors team in my spare time.

Andrew Cox, Foundation Governor

I am a graduate of the University of Exeter (Music) and the London School of Economics (Finance). Since leaving the Royal Navy at the end of a six-year commission, I have worked in banking and finance, mainly in London but now much closer to home.

I have lived in Kintbury since 2011 and, by the time they have all gone through the system, I will have seen my three sons go through Kintbury St Mary's. Where time allows, I am a active organist and conductor. My aim as a governor is to use my varied skillset as required to assist the school in its continued development.

Sophie Hume, Co-Opted Governor

I left Durham University with a degree in Classical Civilisation and work in the Private Clients Department for Cazenove Fund Management and then as a Management Consultant for Bain and Co before heading to Hong Kong. I worked for 4 years at the British Chamber of Commerce/British Consulate organising all visiting VIP events in the territory. I then worked for Standard Chartered Bank in Singapore for 2 years as their Global Head of Events for th banks top 50 clients, travelling all over the world. Moving back to Hong Kong I spent another 7 years out in Asia before moving with my family back to London.

In 2017 I moved to the village of Kintbury with my husband Angus and my 3 children. I continue to do charitable work for various cancer charities and am delighted to be appointed as a Co-opted Governor at Kintbury St Mary's Primary School.

Gemma Duff, Parent Governor

I have lived in Kintbury village since 2019 when my husband and I moved here with our 2 young children. My daughter started at Kintbury St Mary's in September 2021, and my son will hopefully be joining in September 2023.

Originally graduating from Plymouth University with a degree in LLB Law, I then studied for a degree in Childhood and Youth Studies, where I realised my true vocation and went on to gain my PGCE.

I am a qualified Primary Teacher with a passion and specialism in Early Years. I hope to use my experience to contribute to developing the early years education and wellbeing of every child at Kintbury St Mary's so that they have the best possible start and reach their fullest potential in a nurturing and inspiring school.

Previously being a Phonics Leader and having a love for children's literature, I am keen to promote Reading throughout the school so that the chlldren may develop a lifelong love for it.

Darren Norman, Parent Governor

I moved to Kintbury in January 2021 and our daughter attends the school, our younger son will also be a future pupil. My partner attended the school many moons ago too.
Since arriving in Kintbury I have been so impressed by the commitment from all of the staff at the school that I wanted to contribute to improve the school even further.
Why am i a governor? I grew up in South East London and attended a poor performing school.  Fortunately I achieved good exam results, this was in part because of encouragement from the teaching staff. However, I did see that many of my friends, through no fault of their own didn't achieve the same success. I want to play a small part in helping all children excel at school.
Having spent over 25 years as a police officer in London I know first hand the importance that a positive experience at school can have on children and the effect a negative experience can lead to.  
I want to use my skills to make a contribution to school and wider community to ensure that all pupils have the best start to their schooling journey.

Derek Peaple, Local Authority Governor

I was the Headteacher of Park House School in Newbury from 2003 to 2020 and I now lead my own education consultancy company.

Throughout my headship I played a leading role in national and international education initiatives, and now I continue to do so in a consultancy capacity. In this context, I co-founded World Peace School Sports Day to empower young people through sport raise to funds annually for humanitarian causes. My previous work has included helping to develop the London 2012 Get Set Education programme and supporting the BBC World Olympic Dreams initiative, linking schools internationally through the Olympic and Paralympic values. I have also acted as a consultant for The British Council and EU in relation to the role of sport in education reconstruction and school improvement. Most recently, I have developed education resources for the UFEA Women’s EURO and unique programmes on the role of sport in the promotion of equalities and anti-bullying. 

In 2012 I was appointed as the first Chair of the Youth Sport Trust's national Headteacher Strategy Group and in 2013 received the inaugural Sir John Madejski Award for Outstanding Contribution to Education and Sport. I recently contributed to the House of Commons Education Committee’s influential Report, 'School Sport following London 2012: No more political football' and advised the All Party Parliamentary Group on Physical Activity.

As a result of the breadth and impact of my work, I was was previously shortlisted for the Times Educational Supplement National Headteacher of the Year Award.


Anna Floyd, Staff Governor

Assistant Headteacher

Alison McDonald, Ex-officio

Headteacher