These pages will contain periodic reports and news from or regarding the school governors.

Governor profiles (2008):

Leanda Robson (Parent Governor) - Chairman of Governors

I live on Marlow Bottom Road, a few hundred yards from the school gates, with my husband Graham and our daughters Anna and Cerys who are in year 4 and year 1 respectively at Burford.  Prior to leaving work to have our children I worked for almost twenty years in a variety of senior secretarial and administrative roles for a large engineering and construction company.

I was elected as a parent governor in October 2004 and took on the role of development governor with responsibility for arranging training courses for other governors and attending development governor briefing sessions.  I have also held the position of literacy governor and am currently a member of the curriculum, community liaison and finance committees.

I was appointed vice-chairman in October 2006 with a view to becoming chairman the following year.  During this time I attended several training courses offered by Bucks cc for prospective or newly elected chairmen of governors.  I was duly elected chairman of governors in October 2007.

 

Peter Lerner  (Local Authority Governor) - Vice Chairman

I was appointed to Burford’s Governing Body by the local education authority, although I am also a parent, of Nicholas (who was at school between 2000 and 2006) and Saskia (currently in year 4).

I am currently on the Finance and Curriculum committees and am also lead governor for Special Educational Needs (SEN). As part of my SEN role I am currently preparing the School’s response to the Disability Equality Duty and will be very pleased to hear from parent, pupils and others who have views and suggestions on this important topic.

After a long career in local government, rising to the level of chief executive, I am now managing director of my own consultancy, specialising in local government. I am a season ticket holder at Wycombe Wanderers and enjoy music, theatre and being with my family. 

  

Pattie Beresford - Community Governor

Our family moved to Marlow Bottom in 1989 and I was elected a parent governor in 1991, while our two children were at Burford. I became chairman of governors in 1994 and stepped down in October 2007. I am now a Community governor and a member of the Curriculum, Finance and Personnel committees as well as the Diversity working group.

I am attached to Year 3 and enjoy going into the classes several times each term to help out. I have been with this group of children since they started in Reception, moving up with them each year. It is great to see how they change and progress over time.

In my professional life I work part-time at Wycombe Hospital in the Oncology Clinics. One of my hobbies is orienteering - started when the children learned it at Burford – and I now help with the Wednesday after school orienteering events.

 

John McMillan – Parent Governor

I have lived in Wycombe District for nearly 20 years and in Marlow Bottom since November 2000. Our son Alex has recently started at in the reception class at Burford.

I currently work for Wycombe District Council as Head of HR. In this position I have experience of the demands and expectations placed on public sector organisations and also have the capacity to deliver high quality results through the individual and collective efforts of people.

I am pleased to have been elected as a parent governor. This will enable me to learn more about the education system and enable me to make a contribution to support the highest possible quality of education for pupils at Burford. I feel that it is important that the children attending Burford are treated as individuals within the school and that their parents are engaged with school life.

On a more general note I have an interest in most things sporting though more a spectator than participant these days - apart from regular games with Alex and his pals.


Di Lavers – Local Authority Governor

I have lived in Marlow Bottom for 19 years with my husband Geoff. Our 3 children Caroline, Joanna and Michael, now in their twenties, all attended Burford.

I was on the FOB committee for several years, much of it as treasurer. So having been very involved with the school as a parent and with much to thank the school for, I couldn’t quite imagine not being involved any more once my children had moved on. I was elected as a parent governor when Michael was in year 6 and when that term of office was over, I became a Local Authority appointed governor. I have now been a governor for nearly 12 years and am a member of the curriculum and premises committees and chairman of the Finance committee. Although I don’t have an accountancy qualification, I’m OK at sums!

My career is in IT, mainly in the travel trade, working for British Airways and Galileo as a solutions architect and also as a free-lance consultant. In my free time, I enjoy travel and gardening - as long as the sun is shining.

 

Sarah Cooper – Community Governor

My husband and I have lived in Marlow Bottom for four years and have two children, Max who is in year 1 at Burford and Elena who will be two in October.

I have enjoyed a successful career in purchasing spanning some twenty years, during which time I worked and lived overseas and worked in three different industries. During the last five years I have specialised in change management and the technical and behavioural development of wider global purchasing teams, while still leading and managing teams and negotiating major IT and Service related contracts.

At the moment I am on a career break, I took this decision for a variety of reasons, but mainly I wanted to spend some quality time with my family. 

I became a Community governor in 2007. My interest in becoming a governor stems from my belief in the state education system and the fond memories that I have of my school days.  I believe that while I am not working, I have the time to use some of my business skills to help schools through the many changes that they now face.

 

David Taylor – Parent Governor

I have lived in Marlow Bottom for 7 years with my wife Helena.  We have three children, two of whom are at Burford School and one at St. Mary’s pre-school. 

I was elected a Parent Governor in 2005 and I am the governor responsible for child protection and Chairman of the Community Liaison Committee. 

By day I am a Criminal Barrister and Mental Health Judge. 

I enjoy playing football and our local Marlow Brewery.

 

Sam Kelly – Parent Governor

I have lived in Wycombe for just over ten years with my husband and children.  Hannah is currently in year 4, and Harry will be joining Reception in September.  I became interested in becoming a governor when Hannah started in reception & was elected a parent governor in November 2004.

I joined the personnel committee - becoming Chairman last year and also as vice chairman of the Finance Committee, and I am also the Numeracy governor. Being a governor has given me a real insight into the issues and challenges that schools face. 

Originally from Bolton, I trained as a chartered accountant in Liverpool and moved south in 1995 still working for one of the large accountancy firms.  With the imminent arrival of Harry I decided to spend more time with my family and gave up full time employment. I have since started a small accountancy practice working from home.  I enjoy eating out & going to the cinema when I get the chance!

 

Frank Sweatman – Local Authority Governor

I moved to Marlow Bottom in 1976 from Kent.   As there was no school in the Valley my two elder children started school at Holy Trinity in Marlow but moved to Burford as part of the first intake when it opened; my youngest also started there when he was old enough.   All three passed the 11+ with the boys going to Borlase and my daughter to Wycombe High.

The Head at the time was not in favour of forming a PTA as she did not want her staff to get involved!   A group of parents went ahead nevertheless and FOB was formed with me as founder chairman.   Since then it has gone from strength to strength supporting the school.

As part of my duties as a County Councillor for Marlow I was nominated as a LEA governor a number of years ago and have been happy  to have an involvement ever since.   I am happy to use part of my annual Community Leader's Fund to help the school and have done so on several occasions

 

Malcolm Blanksby – Community Governor

Gill and I moved to Marlow Bottom with our new baby in October 1968 intending to stay for about two years.

I spent the whole of my professional life in the bus industry principally in the role of Personnel and Training but became involved in consultancy assignments with The British Council and World Bank in designing training packages for managers in developing countries.   On the privatisation of the transport industry I took early retirement and did freelance consultancy for some years.

In 1995 I was elected to Wycombe District Council as Councillor for Marlow Bottom and have been privileged to be re-elected on each occasion since, latterly for the enlarged ward of Greater Marlow.  I am also involved on the wider stage of Local Government through my work with the Local Government Association, currently as Chairman of their Scrutiny Panel.

Both our sons attended Burford and in the 1970s I was appointed as a Parent Governor and Gill and I have always been involved in the Marlow Bottom Community and its many organisations.   I was delighted to be appointed as a Community Governor in January 2007 and am currently a member of the Finance and Personnel Committees and the School Travel Group.   I hope that I can contribute both to the current work of the school and to its future development.

 

Karol Whittington - Head Teacher

Originally from Wales I studied at Weymouth College of Education in the mid seventies. Having trained in the Primary age range I gained my teaching qualification majoring in Art and Music. I took up my first post in the London Borough of Hounslow in Southall, Middlesex with my introduction to teaching being with a Reception class of 40 non-English speaking children – and unfortunately classroom assistants weren’t heard of then!  I then moved to a large Primary school called Isleworth Town, in Isleworth, Middlesex where I taught a variety of year groups for ten years. After this I changed Authorities and worked in the London Borough of Hillingdon, firstly at Hillingdon Infants for two years and then a large C of E Primary school in Hayes. I became Deputy Head whilst at Dr Tripletts C of E Primary, completing my MA in Education whilst there and staying for 10 years. I then moved to Buckinghamshire as Headteacher of Chalfont St Giles Infant school. I was in this post for 6 years before being successful in gaining the headship at Burford in September 2006!

I am delighted to be Headteacher of such a lovely school with the best children I have ever encountered! I enjoy working in an environment where the staff are so warm and friendly and the parents are enthusiastic and supportive. As I live in Fulmer, near Gerrards Cross I have a convenient journey to school and I am looking forward to enjoying Burford for many years to come!

 

Paul Collinswood – Non Teaching Staff Governor

I moved to Marlow Bottom in 2006 and joined Burford School in April 2006 as Site Manager. I previously worked as a Harbourmaster at Bray and Windsor marinas on the River Thames. 

I have two teenage children, Laura 18 and David 15. David attends The Harefield Academy and Laura attends Bishop Ramsey Sixth Form in Ruislip, Middlesex.

I was elected as non teaching staff Governor in October 2006 and primarily sit on the Premises committee but also attend Finance and Personnel committee meetings wherever possible.

Together with Mrs Whittington, Head Teacher, I am responsible for most things outside of teaching in the school – buildings, grounds, maintenance, security and fire systems, health & safety and contractor liaison to name but a few. With pupils, staff and visitors in mind, I also ensure the school operates efficiently and safely on a day to day basis.

I enjoy boating, motorcycling, driving, DIY and tinkering with anything mechanical.

 

Debbie Williams  (Deputy Head) – Staff Governor

I was appointed as Deputy Head teacher at Burford School in September 2007. Prior to this, I trained at Oxford Brookes University where I successfully completed a BEd with Maths. My first appointment as an NQT was at Meadowcroft First School in Aylesbury (now renamed Thomas Hickman School). I then moved to Bierton Combined School, also in Aylesbury. I taught there for nine very happy years in which time I successfully fulfilled roles as a Year 2 class teacher for four years; Year 5 class teacher for 2 years; Year 3 class teacher for 2 years and a mixed year 4/5 class teacher for 1 year. I was also ICT coordinator for six years before becoming maths coordinator for 3 years were I led the introduction of the new framework before I left. I was also KS2 coordinator for 4 years during which time I applied for and attained Advanced Skills Teacher status for Literacy and ICT. In my 2 year role as an AST I was lucky enough to take part in training for teachers across Bucks County as well as take part in videoing with my Year 3 class for a national teacher training resource. I have worked within a number of schools, supporting teachers with Literacy and ICT – a role which I thoroughly enjoyed.

After taking on the role of Acting Deputy I decided I was ready for the next challenge in my career and applied to Burford School for the post of Deputy Head teacher.  It was a school I immediately knew I would enjoy working in as it has such a warm and welcoming atmosphere from both staff and children alike.

I was fortunate enough to be appointed in September 2007 where I also became a staff governor and I am loving every minute of it!

 

Sian Hicks – Staff Governor

I graduated from Plymouth University in 2003, after which I worked at Chepping View Primary School in High Wycombe for four and a half years, where I taught in Years 3 and 4. I was Numeracy, History and PSHCE co-ordinator and liaised with county consultants.

I am currently teaching in Year 2 at Burford school, where I am ICT co-ordinator. I also run the school Choir who will be performing at the Wycombe Swan in a county primary schools concert this July.