Governor Profiles
Jennie Barnard-Langston, Chair of Governors
Appointed by Local Education Authority (L)
Professionally I am Psychotherapist (Family and Couple Counselling). I was introduced to the world of education as foster parent to teenagers (30 in total) and am a former East Sussex County Council Chair of Education. I have been involved with Blatchington Mill for many years. I chair the Governing Body, a team of dedicated volunteers and am committed to high quality education opportunities for all our students. We have much to be proud of. We are a popular community school with dedicated staff and three specialism and good links with our primary schools. We are not complacent and seek to build on our success.
Rowena Mattacks, Vice Chair of Governors
Appointed by Local Education Authority (L)
I became a governor appointed by the Local Authority in September 2000. I have two children who both attended Blatchington Mill. I am a member of the Staffing and Curriculum and am currently the attached governor for Gifted and Talented and for Year 8.
John Allcock
Appointed by Local Education Authority (L)
I have just started my second term as a Local Authority governor at Blatchington Mill. I was previously a governor at Somerhill Junior School. Both my children have attended and have benefited from BMS. I am currently employed by the DCSF Schools Capital Division working on the transformational secondary school rebuilding program: Building Schools for the Future. I have previously worked with National Sure Start, developing Children’s Centre for Inner London Local Authorities as Youth and Community Worker and Youth Officer. I have also worked with a national housing association managing supported housing projects. As a BMS governor I aim to support Blatchington Mill staff, students and parents in further raising standards in and seeking to develop more opportunities for the school to contribute to the wider community. I feel privileged to contribute to promoting continuous improvement within an equal framework that recognises and celebrates diversity for the benefit of all children.
John Barker
Community Governor (C)
I am a director of a small local company and have been a governor of Blatchington Mill for around 20 years. Originally a Local Education Authority governor when my children were attending the school, I am now a community governor serving as Chair of the Finance and Building Committee and linked with the Modern Languages and Science curricula.
Miles Bingham
Sponsor Governor (SP)
Miles was a student at Blatch Mill from its inaugural year in 1979 through to 1985 including a stint as Deputy Head Boy. After studying at the University of Nottingham, Miles joined HSBC on their graduate scheme and spent five years with them in sales and marketing roles before moving to Abbey for a further six years. More recently, he has returned to Brighton and is currently the Marketing Director at local firm, Family Investments.
Tom Cutler
Parent Governor (P)
I am a parent governor with one son at the school. After several years in publishing I now write for a living. I have particular interest and expertise in the arts and in English, and I sit as a communications adviser on the governors' sub-committees.
Janet Davis
Community Governor (C)
I have been a governor at Blatchington Mill for eight years, starting when my three children attended. I am now a community governor and serve on two committees, Student Matters and Communication and Marketing, and I support Year 11. I am a primary school supply teacher in the area and also help at a local after-school/holiday club.
Richard East
Community Governor (C)
I am a self-employed Human Resources consultant, having had a 25-year career with Seeboard, mainly in Human Resources. I became a parent governor when my two children were at Blatch and am now a community governor. I am a member of the Staffing and Curriculum and the Communications and Marketing committees and am currently the attached governor for Personal and Social Education and Careers, and for Year 10.
Maggie Ellis
Staff Governors (ST)
I am a member of the teaching staff in the school, also a Year Manager and the Gifted and Talented coordinator. I have represented the staff on the governing body for a number of years.
Maggie Fenwick
Associate Governor (SP)
I am a Senior Education Consultant working with schools, colleges and local authorities. I have been working in education for 30 years and have held a variety of positions including Senior Adviser and 14–19 Inspector. I became a sponsored governor of Blatchington Mill so that I could support the school. I am a member of the Finance and Buildings Committee.
Ms Joanne Heard
Parent Governor (P)
I have been a Parent Governor for nearly three years and have two children at our school. I very much enjoy helping to shape the future of this school and it's position within the community. I work part time for the Alzheimer's Society and do a lot of voluntary work including putting on charity shows at our Windmill Theatre.
Philip Helyar
Parent Governor (P)
I work as a Financial Consultant for a local firm of accountants, having worked in the Financial Services industry for 30 years. I first became a parent governor at Blatch when my son joined the school, soon to be followed by my daughter. I now stand as a sponsor governor. I am a member of the Finance and Buildings, Student Matters, and Disciplinary and Management committees. I am the attached governor for the current year 11 and my curriculum area is Humanities.
Mark Leighton
Staff Governor (ST)
I have taught in secondary schools for 20 years, first as a geology/geography teacher and then as an ICT teacher. I have also worked as a computer programmer and systems analyst for five years in the engineering sector. I am currently Director of ICT at Blatchington Mill, and a staff governor. I am a member of the Communications and Marketing Committee.
Anne Palmer
Appointed by Local Education Authority (L)
I work in the local hospitals, performing ultrasound scans of adults for diagnostic purposes and also scanning pregnancies. I was appointed as a governor by the Local Authority; however there is nothing political about this post. I have been involved in the development of Blatchington Mill School as a governor for many years, since my four children attended it. My special interests, shown by my committee memberships and governor links are staffing and curriculum, teaching and learning, the sixth form and special educational needs.
Catherine O'Regan
Staff Governor (ST)
I have worked in Blatchington Mill since June 2006 as the school web administrator, maintaining and developing the school websites, online portal content and plasma displays. I recently became a Support Staff governor and my interests are in online communications for the students, staff, parents and governors. I also help run the school Eco Club.
Mr Philip Siegler
Clerk to the Governors
Please send all correspondence to:
Mr Philip Siegler,
Clerk to the Governors,
Blatchington Mill School,
Nevill Avenue,
Hove BN3 7BW
See also: Who to contact
