Meet the School Governors.
Year Four Governor – Stephen Andrews
Co-opted Governor, Sports Governor, FPP Committee
I became a School Governor at Loudwater School in February 2015 and have taken on roles related to the Finance, Personnel & Premises and Sports Premium as well as now becoming Year Five Class Governor.
I carry out class visits at least once a term where it's a real pleasure meeting the children and teachers. I also meet with the Sports Premium teacher regularly and discuss all aspects of sport at the school. Following these meetings, I write up reports which are uploaded onto GHUB (secure portal) for all governors to read. I attend Raising Attainment Committee meetings, Full Board meetings and ensure I am present at Parents' evenings.
I have one daughter at Loudwater School in Year Six and another daughter who has moved onto Beaconsfield High School. I am married and live locally in Wycombe Marsh. I am a Structural Engineer, predominately carrying out work for domestic properties and commercial properties. My structural background is also useful for carrying out site inspections at the school when required and assisting with the Health and Safety walks with other members of the governing board.
I attend FOLS meetings and have helped out at various events throughout the school year.
I attend St Peter’s Church in Loudwater where I help out with the children’s work, Kidzone on Sunday mornings and Friday night Youth Group.
I am interested in many sports including football, golf and tennis. I also run regularly and have helped raise money in the past for FOLS by completing the Wycombe Half Marathon.
Chair of Governors, Foundation Stage Governor - Paul Randall
Chair of Governors and Partnership Governor, Pupil Premium Governor, Governor with responsibility for Safeguarding, Health & safety Governor.
I am the linked Governor to Foundation Stage.
The role of the Chair is to ensure that the Governing Board's role is focused on the core strategic functions of School Governing Boards. We work extremely hard with the Senior Leadership Team to ensure that current standards are maintained and that further improvements continue across the school.
I have been fortunate that both of my children had their primary education at Loudwater School.
I am currently a National Leader of Governance; this is a role through the Department of Education for experienced Chairs where the aim is to develop school governance capacity and expertise. This role is through a selection system.
I am the current chair of BASG (Bucks Association of School Governors) and I also sit on the Local Authority’s School Governors Consultative Board
Parent Governor, Finance/Personnel/Premises, Curriculum & Admissions, RAC, Performance Management, Geography & History Governor
I became a Parent Governor in Oct 2019 and have taken on the above roles. I have two children in Key Stage 2 and was keen to see the working of the school and how I could help. There is a family history as my wife attended the school. We live locally in Loudwater and I run my own estate agency in High Wycombe, Thompson Wilson which I have been running since 2006. I would hope some of my business skills will be of help in my role as parent governor.
It has certainly been a steep learning curve taking on the roles which has not been helped with Co-vid 19 which has restricted school visits and meant all meetings have been online. It will be good when we are able to carry out class visits to actually see the hard work carried out by the teachers and the willingness to learn of the pupils, which from my experience so far, is second to none. I hope by carrying out the visits to be able to gain a greater insight to progress in History & Geography. Part of my role will be to write up reports for all Governors to read.
In my spare time , I enjoy watching all sports especially football and go to watch Arsenal when I can. Most Sunday mornings I will be seen on the touchline watching my son play football.
Ever since my eldest daughter started at Loudwater, I have enjoyed taking part in school life, attending Parent Forum meetings and helping on school trips. When I saw there was an opening for a parent governor, I decided I would love an opportunity to become more involved with the school.
I grew up in High Wycombe, and attended Loudwater School myself and have very fond memories of my time there.
I am an accountant, and have worked for the local firm, The Fish Partnership (now Azets), based in Loudwater, since leaving university over 15 years ago. I gained my ACCA qualification in 2009 and became an Audit and Accounts Manager, specialising in Charities and Academies.
I work part time, so around working and looking after my two girls, I enjoy spending time with our extended family, walking our dog, and love doing art and crafts and planning projects to improve our home.
My first year of being a governor has been a very steep learning curve but I really enjoy learning more about the school. After what has been a very challenging year for everyone at the school, I look forward to doing some class visits in the future and seeing the children learning in the classroom.
Year Two Governor - Andy McNeil
Vice-Chair, FPP Chair, SEND governor
‘Wear Sunscreen’
Remember the song by Baz Luhrmann?
In the song he uses the words of Mary Schmich where she offers advice to students, based on her own meandering experiences. It’s worth a listen.
There is a particular line that I like in it, which says “the most interesting people I know didn’t know at 22 what they wanted to do with their lives, some of the most interesting 40-year olds I know still don’t”. Well, I wouldn’t say I’m interesting but I’m definitely in my 40’s and I’ve had my fair share of meandering experiences. I’ve studied, I’ve been employed, unemployed, self-employed. I’ve worked as a labourer, a manager, a director. I’ve worked in a laboratory, a glass factory, a recycling company, and buildings maintenance. I’ve lived in Sheffield, Liverpool, Aberdeen, Nuremberg, Woking and Loudwater.
I’d say it was a honour to be appointed as a governor 7 years ago and, hopefully, I’ve used my varied experiences to help the governing board. It’s been a very steep learning curve but, as I’ve heard, ‘life begins at the edge of your comfort zone’ so I must be living……..a lot.
Outside of school and work I spend my time acting as my children’s Personal Assistant; organising meetings (play dates), chauffeuring from one activity to another and cooking to their demanding expectations (beans again?!). It’s another unpaid role I enjoy very much!
Belinda Welland - Staff Governor
My name is Belinda Welland and I am a staff Governor. I have been teaching at Loudwater School for 12 years. During my time at Loudwater School, I have taught mainly in KS2 and have been the Deputy Head and Key Stage 2 Leader the past 4 years. Currently, I am the Year 6 teacher. Also, I am the Computing Co-ordinator.
I joined the Governing Body in April 2018. My role as Governor is to represent the staff, provide a link between the teaching staff and Governors, and be a voice for the teaching staff at Governor meetings. I am the PSHE and Values Governor. I attend committee meetings for Curriculum & Admissions, Raising Achievement and Full Board.