Our Governors

Message from the Chair - Jonathan Sharpe

The Governing Body at Newick is committed to doing all that it can to ensure that children here achieve the very best they can.

Governors are often referred to as “critical friends”, and our role is to support and question on all aspects of school life. We are involved in recruiting staff when the need arises. We also keep an eye on the school budget, the state of the building, and attendance & welfare as well as, most importantly, the curriculum. We work together as a team, sharing the load by focussing on our individual roles and coming together at regular Full Governing Body meetings.

Governing Bodies represent all parts of the community: Parents, Teachers and Support Staff, Community Governors who represent local organisations and businesses, as well as the Childrens’ Services Department. We are all volunteers, but it is very satisfying to know that we are playing our part in the development of the school and supporting children’s learning.

Usually Governors are asked to sign up for four years, which means that we are on the lookout for new Governors from time to time. We advertise, when new parent governors are needed, in the school newsletter and have an election. The teachers and staff have their own election.

Contact

Jonathan Sharpe - Chair of Governors - chairgovs@newickschool.co.uk

Caoimhe Dunlop - Clerk to Governors - clerkgovs@newickschool.co.uk

Governor Information

Governor Structure and Attendance September 2025

Meeting Minutes

Should you wish to see a copy of any Governor Meeting Minutes please contact the School Office - admin@newickschool.co.uk

Governor Profiles

Jonathan Sharpe - Chair of Governors - Business and Community Governor - Attendance Lead - Behaviour Lead - Policies Lead - Pay Committee

I have lived in Newick for over 20 years with my family and am very pleased to have joined the governing body. I was chair of governors of a primary school in Lewes until July 2019 and am delighted to now be able to support our village school. I believe strongly that education is very important for all children and am I pleased to be able to play a part in supporting that aspect of our community. I have worked in finance in London for my whole career but am happiest in Newick and its surroundings, often running or cycling, or walking our three dogs.

Victoria Penfold - Vice Chair - Parent Governor - Data Lead - English Lead - Pay Committee - Staff Wellbeing

I joined the Governing Body in 2023 as a parent governor having lived in Newick for 10 years and after my oldest child joined the school. I'm looking forward to working with the school and staff in continuing to provide excellent education and opportunities to all our children.

I'm a lawyer by profession, originally in London and now in Brighton working for a company that launches the careers of young people wanting a career in the tech industry. I hope to bring some of the analysis, challenge and supportiveness required in my day job to my role as a Governor.

In my limited spare time I enjoy running - mainly after my two children but ideally out in our local countryside!

Steve Barry - Parent Governor

I moved to Newick from Lewes in early 2025 with my wife and our two girls who now attend Newick school. I also have two grown up daughters who have flown the nest. I have been a Sussex resident for over 30 years and grew up in a Kent village very similar to Newick, the environment felt reassuringly familiar when we moved here.

Having been a serving police officer since 1993 I know how important a role the village school plays in helping our local community thrive. I joined the school governors in late 2025 as I want to contribute in whatever way I can. In my spare time I enjoy cycling on local roads, walking our dog Max through the woods and visiting wider family in foreign countries and distant counties, where many of them live.

Rob Boswell - Business and Community Governor - Complaints Lead

Our three children loved their time at Newick C of E Primary school and being a governor allows me to give something back. I thoroughly enjoy being part of a Board of Governors which helps (and challenges) the School to continue to provide the same experience and opportunities for today's pupils. It is insightful to see the effort and dedication of the staff and the Parent Community to maintain the School's standards. My working background is in Finance and Property so the Finance Committee was the obvious sub-committee when I joined over 13 years ago - committee structures have evolved over time and I am Chair of the Resources (Finance, Premises & Personnel) Committee. In my spare time I play golf as much as possible and with a young golden retriever we spend a lot of time on Ashdown Forest.

Lucy Fisher - Foundation Governor - Ethos/Enrichment Lead - Pupil Premium Lead - SEND Lead

Newick Primary school is the heart of our village, and I am so pleased to be part of the team that serves our local community and all the little minds in it!

I've lived in the village since 2010 and worked in Education since 2006, currently as an Inclusion Adviser for East Sussex. I bring to the table expertise in Therapeutic Thinking, behaviour management and a love of policies. I have also been a Governor in a secondary setting and hope that all my lived experiences to date can be funnelled to make our Primary school even better.

Outside of work and raising our family I adore Yoga, am a reading addict and also have a blog as a creative outlet. I have too many house plants and our pets include Pearl the dog, Nathaniel the Tortoise and a Leopard Gecko called Burple.

Shelley Leaney - Business and Community Governor - Complaints Lead - Finance Lead - Maths Lead - Pay Committee

I have lived in Lewes, Newick Fairwarp, and now Sheffield Park in the last 46 years so have always remained local with both my grandchildren attending Newick Primary school.

I have worked in Financial Services most of my working life, the last 25 years with a prominent City firm from which I retired at the end of February 2024. However, I originally trained as a classical musician studying at Trinity College of Music, in London.

Having volunteered at Newick since retirement, I was delighted when the opportunity to apply to serve as a Governor at the school arose, having seen at first hand the quality of the school and the effort and dedication of the staff and parents to invest in the children’s education whilst enabling them to enjoy the whole experience. I look forward to bringing some of my experience in business both the Governors and Mrs Lawrence and her Team.

I enjoy swimming, music, gardening and spending time at my house in France.

Annabelle McIntosh - Business and Community Governor - Safeguarding Lead

I have lived in the area with my family for over 25 years and have four grown up children. I have spent 15 years teaching young children which has been professionally and personally fulfilling, and I appreciate the importance of early education and the profound impact it can have on a child’s future. I am excited to have the opportunity to join the Governing Body at Newick School. My hobbies are walking our dogs in the beautiful Sussex countryside, swimming and playing tennis.

Amanda Meier - Business and Community Governor

I moved to Newick with my husband in February 2025, having begun building our home in the village the previous year. Keen to immerse myself in the local community, I was delighted to be invited to join the governing body of our thriving village school.

I have worked in education for almost 30 years in a variety of roles, including Teacher of English, SENCO, Designated Safeguarding Lead, Senior Assistant Head Teacher, and Head Teacher. I currently work in Brighton & Hove, alongside the Department for Education, leading on the SEND & AP Change Programme, and I also occasionally work with Ofsted as an Education Inspector for Area SEND Inspections. I am passionate about inclusive education which enables every child and young person to flourish, and I hope my experience will bring real value to the school

Outside of work, I’m an avid gardener and enjoy walking, singing, reading, and most importantly, spending time with family and friends.

Henry Tresidder - Business and Community Governor

I have been a teacher for 12 years and lived in the local area since 2016. I studied Religion and Education at the University of Huddersfield and further training for my PGCE at St Mary's, Twickenham. I have specialised in History and Religious Education, but have experience teaching a range of subjects across Primary and Secondary education. I am Head of Pastoral Tracking, Head of History and part of the Senior Management Team at my current school.

I am excited to have the opportunity to join the Governing Body at Newick School.

Rev Paul Munday - Church Governor - Ethos/Enrichment Lead

I live at the Rectory on Allington Road with my family and two very noisy Lurchers, who many of you will know from the school pick-up and drop- off. I grew up in Sussex, moving to the Lewes area in 1996, as part of my career in hospitality. After returning to study in Cambridge in 2010, I was ordained a Priest in the Church of England in 2013, and served my curacy over the hill in Barcombe, where I was also a Foundation Governor for the primary school there before moving to Newick in 2016.

I love being part of this amazing community and my greatest privilege is serving as a Foundation Governor to Newick Primary School, working with our incredible young people, teachers, teaching assistants, support staff and fellow Governors. Through my involvement with school, we run a St Mary's Youth Choir and our Kids Club at St Mary's on the first and third Sunday of each month, leading to our very popular year 7+ Youth Club NYC.

I love jazz, entertaining, rugby, hiking, cycling and skiing, though not always in that order, and I've been involved with our local Bonfire Societies for over 30 years.

Jane Roberts - Business and Community Governor - Ethos/Enrichment Lead - Fundraising

We moved to Newick in 1997 with our 2 (then) very young children so that we could bring them up in our lovely Sussex countryside. I worked in marketing and then strategic brand development for many years, and was a trustee at Chailey Heritage Foundation until December 2019. I am delighted to be joining the Governing Body at our local village school and really look forward to getting involved. I believe passionately in the importance of early years education in setting the framework for a child’s future.

I am a keen gardener, I play tennis, golf , sing with a local choral society and enjoy walking with friends.

Newick Church of England Primary School