Governors
Our Governors
Governors (ID 1345)
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Karen LambertChair of Governors (Foundation)
Karen Lambert
I recently retired from teaching in Farnborough so I now have plenty of time to
support Mr Hilyard and the team at St Paul's school. It's a very exciting time to be a Governor, with the school expanding to become a primary.I was appointed to the Governing Body by St Paul's church and am keen to build on our links with the church. I am also passionate about the environment and would very much like to help the school develop the children's interest in saving our planet.
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Paul SpoonerVice Chair of Governors - Co-Opted
Paul Spooner
I joined St Paul's as a Co-opted Governor in 2024 as I wanted to support the school as it transitions to a Primary school. I am now Vice Chairman of Governors and It is an exciting time to be involved. I have a background in business and have experience in change management within public and private sectors. I am an ex-Politician and have always had a keen interest in education and health. I currently work as Chairman and Commercial Director of a Med-tech business based in Vienna and I am a proud Guildford Lion having just completed my Presidential year. I have been a School Governor locally for over 20 years. Outside of school life I enjoy theatre and the arts as well as a multitude of sport!
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Claire HoltEx-officio Foundation Governor
Claire Holt
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Agnes BaileyCo-opted Governor
Agnes Bailey
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Nicola SmithCo-Opted Governor
Nicola Smith
I started my role as a Co-opted governor at St Paul's Primary School in July 2024. I was encouraged to take this position, and I have thoroughly enjoyed learning and experiencing my time as a governor. I felt I had a close connection to the school because at the time my two children were within the school. Living in Tongham I am passionate about the values of the school and the community vision St Paul's has. I enjoy giving something back to the local community and spending time within the school setting. I enjoy walking and socialising with friends in my spare time.
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VacantLA Governor
Vacant
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Emily ThorpStaff Governor
Emily Thorp
I first became a parent governor at St Paul's C of E Primary School because I am passionate about equality and inclusion, and I wanted to support the school's vision of ensuring that all children have the opportunity to thrive and reach their full potential. Now, as a staff governor, my focus remains on promoting every child's wellbeing and learning, while also helping to ensure that staff are supported so that together we can create the best environment for our whole school community. I am particularly passionate about the positive social and emotional support that animals can offer children, and the therapeutic effect these connections can have. In my spare time, I enjoy looking after our farm and developing it further, as well as spending time outdoors with my animals and family!
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Robb GrantParent Governor
Robb Grant
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Natalie SodenParent Governor
Natalie Soden
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VacantParent Governor
Vacant
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Tom HilyardHeadteacher - Ex-officio Governor
Tom Hilyard
I joined St Paul's as Headteacher in April 2022, having previously been Deputy Head atanother local school. I am passionate about nurture and inclusion, and believe strongly that every child should feel safe, supported and valued in their school community.
My role is to ensure that all children are given the opportunity to flourish both academically and personally. I am committed to widening children's experiences beyond the classroom, giving them the chance to explore new opportunities, develop their talents and grow in confidence. Working alongside staff, governors, families and the wider community, my aim is to provide the very best start in life for every child at St Paul's.
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Jenny McGregorDeputy Headteacher - Associate Member
Jenny McGregor
I have been part of St Paul's for over 18 years, first as a class teacher and now as Deputy Head. Having lived locally all my life, I really value being part of both the school and the wider community.
In my role, I am passionate about making sure that every child feels included, supported and able to achieve their very best. Inclusion is at the heart of everything I do, and I work hard to ensure that St Paul's is a place where every childfeels they truly belong.
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Sharon GoverClerk to Governors
Sharon Gover
I have been a clerk for over twenty years at primary and secondary schools.Currently I work for St Paul’s and a local Secondary.I have grown up and lived in Ash for over forty-five years, and both my children have been brought up here.I enjoy helping to support governors and the school so the children and community get the best outcomes.
The Role of the Governing Body
The Government requires that each school has a Governing Body; its main functions are to:
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Provide a Strategic View
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Act as a Critical Friend
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Ensure Accountability
The Board of Governors at St Paul’s are responsible for the overall management of the school, in much the same way that a board of directors is responsible for the overall management of a company. The Governors do not run the school on a day-to-day basis — that is the responsibility of the Headteacher and Leadership Team — but work in partnership with staff, parents, the Local Authority, and the Church to raise standards and achievement in a safe and nurturing environment.
Governors set and support the school’s strategic direction and monitor performance against it, making decisions and taking action to improve the standards of teaching and pupils’ learning. They ensure policies and procedures are in place so that the school is well run. While not necessarily education experts, our Governors are committed volunteers who give their time and expertise freely to support the flourishing of our pupils and staff.
Governors and Our Christian Vision
As a Church of England school, our Governing Body has an additional responsibility: to ensure that our Christian vision “Learning in God’s Love” shapes every aspect of school life. Our Foundation Governors, appointed by the Church, play a key role in safeguarding the school’s Christian distinctiveness and holding us accountable for living out our values of Courage, Compassion, and Community.
Governors at St Paul’s:
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Ensure that our vision underpins strategic decisions and policies.
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Monitor the impact of Collective Worship and Religious Education, ensuring they are central to our school identity.
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Oversee safeguarding and inclusion, rooted in dignity, respect, and the belief that every child is made in the image of God.
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Build strong partnerships with St Paul’s Church, families, and the wider community.
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Meet to reflect on and review the Christian character of the school, evaluating how our vision shapes learning, relationships, and community life.
Structure
The Governing Body at St Paul’s consists of 11 Governors. Full Governing Body (FGB) meetings are held at least twice a term, with additional meetings arranged as necessary. St Paul’s does not have a separate Pay/Finance Committee but has a dedicated Finance Governor. FGB meetings cover all business relating to the running of the school, including Finance, Health and Safety, Curriculum, Safeguarding, Staffing, and Ethos.
Open Meetings
The Governing Body has agreed that Full Governing Body meetings will be “open”. Minutes are available on request, once they have been agreed by the Full Governing Body.
Open meetings are meetings of the FGB to which members of the public, including staff and parents, can request to attend as observers. Requests must be made in writing to the Clerk to the Governing Body at least 14 days before the meeting. If space permits, an invitation and agenda will be shared seven days prior to the meeting. Visitors attend as observers only and must follow the code of conduct (available on request).
Minutes are available, if you wish to see them. If you have any queries, you can address these by contacting the Clerk to governors by emailing:
Parental complaints/concerns should be addressed through the complaint procedure.
Further information on the Governing Body can be found here.
Register of interests and term of office
Attendance Registers
|
Name |
Term of office |
Start of Term |
End of Term |
FGB meeting attendance 2025/26 Academic Year |
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|
|
|
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11/9/25 | 21/11/25 |
|
|||
| Karen Lambert | 4 years | 14.10.2014 | 13.10.2026 | Y | Y | ||||
| Tom Hilyard | Ongoing | 19.4.2022 | Y | Y | |||||
|
Jenny McGregor |
4 years |
01.09.2018 |
31.08.2026 |
Y | Y | ||||
|
Rev’d Claire Holt |
Ongoing |
21.03.2012 |
|
Y | N | ||||
| Emily Thorp | 4 Years | 23.02.2023 | 22.02.2027 | Y | Y | ||||
| Paul Spooner | 4 Years | 13.03.2025 | 12.03.2029 | Y | Y | ||||
| Nicola Smith | 4 Years | 11.07.2024 | 10.07.2028 | Y | Y | ||||
| Sandra Jones | 4 Years | 16.01.2025 | 20.11.2025 | Y | - - | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| Agnes Bailey | 4 Years | 20.11.2025 | 19.11.2029 | -- | Y | ||||
| Robb Grant | 4 Years | 20.11.2025 | 19.11.2029 | -- | Y | ||||
| Natalie Soden | 4 Years | 20.11.2025 | 19.11.2029 | -- | Y | ||||
|
Name |
Term of office |
Start of Term |
End of Term |
FGB meeting attendance 2024/25 Academic Year |
|||||
|
|
|
|
|
12th September |
2nd December |
16th January |
13th March |
24th April |
|
| Karen Lambert | 4 years | 14.10.2014 | 13.10.2026 |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y | Y | |
| Tom Hilyard | Ongoing | 19.4.2022 | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | ||
|
Jenny McGregor |
4 years |
01.09.2018 |
31.08.2026 |
Y |
Y | Y | Y | Y | |
|
Rev’d Claire Holt |
Ongoing |
21.03.2012 |
|
Y |
Y | Y | Y | Y | |
| Emily Thorp | 4 Years | 23.02.2023 | 22.02.2027 | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | |
| Paul Spooner | 4 Years | 13.03.2025 | 12.03.2029 | N/A | N/A | N/A | Y | Y | |
| Nicola Smith | 4 Years | 11.07.2024 | 10.07.2028 | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | |
| Sandra Jones | 4 Years | 16.01.2025 | 16.01.2029 | N/A | N/A | Y | Y | Y | |
| Claire Yeates | 4 Years | 08.02.2021 | 07.02.2025 | Y | Y | Y | N/A | N/A | N/A |
|
Name |
Term of office |
Start of Term |
End of Term |
FGB meeting attendance 2023/24 Academic Year |
||||
|
|
|
|
|
7th Sept |
16th Nov |
11th Jan |
21st Mar |
11th Jul |
| Karen Lambert | 4 years | 14.10.2014 | 13.10.2026 |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y | Y |
| Tom Hilyard | Ongoing | 19.4.2022 | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | |
|
Claire Yeates |
4 years |
10.12.2020 |
09.12.2024 |
Y |
Y | N | Y | Y |
|
Jenny McGregor |
4 years |
01.09.2018 |
31.08.2026 |
Y |
Y | Y | Y | Y |
|
Rev’d Claire Holt |
Ongoing |
21.03.2012 |
|
Y |
Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Matthew MacLachlan | 4 years | 26.05.2021 | 25.05.2025 | Y | Y | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Steven Stewart-Farmer | 4 years | 28.02.2019 | 27.02.2024 | Y | Y | Y | Y | N |
| Margaret Murray | 4 Years | N/A | Y | Y | N | N | ||
| Joseph Newman | 4 Years | 1.05.2022 | 30.4.2026 | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Helen Holdaway | 4 Years | 23.02.2023 | 22.02.2027 | N | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Emily Thorp | 4 Years | 23.02.2023 | 22.02.2027 | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Rachel Pryde | 4 Years | 23.02.2023 | 22.02.2027 | Y | N | N | N | N |
|
Name |
Term of office |
Start of Term |
End of Term |
FGB meeting attendance 2022/23 Academic Year |
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|
|
|
|
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29th Sept |
17th Nov |
8th Dec |
19th Jan |
23rd Feb |
23rd Mar |
10th May |
13th Jul |
| Karen Lambert | 4 years (1yr Chair) | 14.10.2014 | 13.10.2026 |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Tom Hilyard | Ongoing | 19.4.2022 | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | |
|
Claire Yeates |
4 years |
10.12.2020 |
09.12.2024 |
N |
Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
|
Jenny McGregor |
4 years |
01.09.2018 |
31.08.2026 |
Y |
Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
|
Rev’d Claire Holt |
Ongoing |
21.03.2012 |
|
Y |
Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Matthew MacLachlan | 4 years | 26.05.2021 | 25.05.2025 | N | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Katy Wright | 4 years | 26.05.2021 | 29.11.2022 | Y | Y | N | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Steven Stewart-Farmer | 4 years | 28.02.2019 | 27.02.2024 | Y | Y | Y | Y | N | Y | Y | Y |
| Louise Kennedy | 4 years | 28.02.2019 | 12.01.2023 | Y | N | N | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Joseph Newman | 4 Years | 1.05.2022 | 30.4.2026 | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Helen Holdaway | 4 Years | 23.02.2023 | 22.02.2027 | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Emily Thorp | 4 Years | 23.02.2023 | 22.02.2027 | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Rachel Pryde | 4 Years | 23.02.2023 | 22.02.2022 | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | Y | Y | Y | Y |
|
Name |
Term of office |
Start of Term |
End of Term |
FGB meeting attendance 2021/22 Academic Year |
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|
|
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23rd Sept |
18th Nov |
16th Dec |
24th Feb |
17th Mar |
5th May |
9th Jun |
14th Jul |
| Karen Lambert | 4 years (1yr Chair) | 14.10.2014 | 13.10.2022 |
√ |
√ |
√ |
√ | √ | √ | √ | √ |
| Tom Hilyard | Ongoing | 19.4.2022 | √ | √ | √ | ||||||
|
Suzanne Brown |
|
01.09.1995 |
18.4.2022 |
√ |
√ | √ | √ | √ | |||
|
Claire Yeates |
4 years |
10.12.2020 |
09.12.2024 |
√ |
√ | √ | x | √ | √ | √ | √ |
|
Jenny McGregor |
4 years |
01.09.2018 |
31.08.2022 |
√ |
√ | √ | √ | √ | √ | √ | √ |
|
Rev’d Claire Holt |
Ongoing |
21.03.2012 |
|
√ |
√ | √ | √ | √ | √ | √ | √ |
| Matthew MacLachlan | 4 years | 26.05.2021 | 25.05.2025 | √ | √ | √ | √ | √ | √ | √ | √ |
| Katy Wright | 4 years | 26.05.2021 | 25.05.2025 | √ | √ | √ | √ | √ | √ | √ | √ |
| Steven Stewart-Farmer | 4 years | 28.02.2019 | 27.02.2023 | √ | √ | √ | √ | √ | √ | √ | √ |
| Louise Kennedy | 4 years | 28.02.2019 | 27.02.2023 | √ | √ | √ | √ | √ | √ | ||
| Joseph Newman | 4 Years | 1.05.2022 | 30.4.2026 | √ | √ | ||||||
| Rebecca Barnes | 4 Years | 1.05.2018 | 28.2.2022 | √ | √ | ||||||
