Welcome to Our Governors' Section

Hello and a very warm welcome to the Governors' section of Merdon Junior School's website! As a Governing Body we play an important role in supporting our school, its pupils and our wider community. Working closely with the Headteacher and school leadership team, we provide strategic leadership and support to ensure that every child has the opportunity to thrive.

Our work is guided by Merdon's Aspirational, Connected and Thoughtful (ACT) values. We are committed to supporting a school where children are encouraged to reach their potential, develop meaningful connections and become thoughtful learners, ready for future successes.

We are fortunate to have a diverse Governing Body, bringing together a range of skills, experience and perspectives.  Working together, we provide support and constructive challenge to help Merdon continue to grow and develop.   

We hope you enjoy exploring this section and finding out more about the work we do to support the Merdon community.  

If you would like to find out more about becoming a governor at a Hampshire school, please follow the link below:

Find out more about becoming a school governor in Hampshire

Merdon Junior School Full Governing Body

Catherine Biggs, Co-opted Governor, Chair of Governors, Pay Committee, Finance

 

Hello, my name is Catherine and I joined the Governing Body as a Parent Governor in 2024 and now I am a co-opted Governor as my child has moved to secondary school.  After 20 years in Higher Education I am currently using my professional skills and experiences to help, support and make a positive impact to childhood health and education through patient and public involvement activities with national medical charities and trustee roles.  I am also a parent governor at a secondary school in Hampshire.  

I joined the Governing Body as an opportunity to apply my skills and lived experience with a passion to support children’s education. I believe all children, of all capabilities, should have access to good quality education in an inspiring and supportive environment.  I am looking forward to challenging, supporting and helping shape the strategic direction of the school.

 

Vicky Robinson, Vice Chair of Governors, Co-opted Governor

Vice-Chair, Safeguarding, Curriculum and Standards

Hi, I’m Vicky and I became a parent governor in the summer of 2021 and now I am a co-opted

Governor.  I have over 20 years’ experience working in Human Resources and Learning &

Development, which includes coaching Managers and Directors to get the best out of their teams. I also work for the NHS and NCT as a breastfeeding counsellor/antenatal teacher supporting new parents in hospital and within the community. 

I am co-Vice chair of the board of governors and support Catherine Biggs as the Chair of Governors. I also oversee safeguarding for the school. This involves regular visits to Merdon, going through cases (anonymously) with the leadership team to make sure we are doing absolutely everything we can to keep our children safe.  I regularly meet with groups of children to hear what they think about safety in school, review ongoing staff training of safeguarding and check all the documentation is up to date. 

Being a governor is incredibly rewarding. It allows us to be part of helping to shape the strategic direction of the school and ensure that Merdon continues to be a warm, welcoming community for all children to thrive and achieve their best. 

Peter Martin, Co-opted Governor

Health and Safety, Pay Committee, Safeguarding

Hello, my name is Peter and I started being a parent governor in 2008 when my son started attending Merdon.  I am now co-opted Governor.  It was so rewarding that after my son left I decided to continue as a co-opted Governor.  As a governor I am able to use my previous experience and knowledge to fulfil my strategic role in Health & Safety and Safeguarding. I have enjoyed contributing to the effective governance and success of the school over the years and I will continue to do this to the best of my ability.

Most of my career has been in retail and I have plenty of experience as a department manager and trainer in one of the UK’s top supermarkets. After nearly 4 decades, I made a very ‘scary’ decision; I decided to go self employed as a driving instructor and have never looked back!

 

 

 

 

Julian Vaughan-Spickers - Co-opted Governor

Health & Safety

Hello, my name is Julian and I have been a co-opted governor since November 2024, with a particular interest in health and safety, SEND provision and Science, Technology, Engineering and

Mathematics (STEM).

As a chemist who has spent most of his career in the chemical and pharmaceutical industry, I understand the importance and value of early exposure to STEM subjects.

I have now moved to the university sector where I work in a diverse environment, with equally diverse challenges, whilst advising on all aspects of health and safety.

In my role as a governor, I very much enjoy the opportunity to have input into the strategic direction of the school and to support the governing board in its wider capacity.

 

Tom Johnston - Headteacher

Finance, Curriculum and Standards, Health and Safety, Safeguarding

Kathy Whitford - Staff governor

Sally Murray - Co-opted Governor

Curriculum and Standards

Rebecca Winterhalder - Local Authority Governor,

Finance, Pay Committee

Rebecca is an experienced leader in the financial services, specialising in operations and strategic improvement. She is passionate about education and brings governance, analytical, financial and leadership skills to her role as a school governor.

Kate Henty - parent governor

SEND

Hi, I’m Kate and I became a parent governor in April 2026. I really value being part of the Merdon community and wanted to become a governor to contribute to the school, learn more about its work and use my own experience to support its continued development.

Alongside being a parent governor, I have a particular responsibility for SEND and inclusion, an area that I am incredibly passionate about professionally. I have nearly 20 years’ experience working with children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities and currently work as an Assistant Headteacher at a specialist SEN school in Southampton.

As SEND Governor, my role is to support and challenge the school to make sure that children with additional needs are well supported and that inclusion remains at the heart of what we do. This includes spending time in school, talking to staff and children, looking at SEND provision and considering how effectively the school identifies and responds to the individual needs of its pupils.

I feel really fortunate to be able to bring my professional experience and knowledge of SEND to the governing body. I’m passionate about championing inclusion and helping Merdon continue to develop an environment where differences are recognised, individual strengths are celebrated and all children are supported to succeed.

Jane Bliss - Clerk

 

How We Work

Working collectively, we make strategic decisions and act as a critical friend to the Headteacher and staff. This means offering encouragement and support, while also asking thoughtful questions and providing constructive challenge to help our school continue to grow.  Underpinned by Merdon's ACT values, we aim to be aspirational in our support for the school's future, connected to the needs of our children and wider community, and thoughtful in the decisions we make.  

As a Full Governing body, we meet at least four times a year to discuss the school's priorities, progress and future development. We also have two dedicated committees, which meet at least three times a year.

Finance Committee

The Finance Committee provides strategic oversight of the school's financial planning, performance and compliance. It helps ensure that the school's resources are used effectively to support educational priorities and the long-term sustainability of the school. Through careful consideration and thoughtful decision-making, the committee helps ensure that resources are used in ways that support the best possible outcomes for our pupils.

Curriculum and Standards Committee

The Curriculum and Standards Committee provides strategic oversight, support and challenge to ensure that every pupil has access to a broad, balanced and ambitious curriculum. The committee considers how the school supports every child to achieve their full potential, both academically and through wider learning opportunities.  We also recognise the importance of connected learning, helping children understand how their experiences at school relate to the wider world and their future.