Governors

Our Governing board

Our Governors work hard to support the staff and children at Chawson. Our Governing board is made up of parents, staff and co-opted governors who are part of a Finance Committee and/or Quality of Education/Personal Committee.

The role of the Governor board is to support and challenge the Headteacher and has the following core functions:

Ensuring clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction;
Holding executive leaders to account for the educational performance of the organisation and its pupils, and the performance management of staff; and
Overseeing the financial performance of the organisation and making sure its money is well spent.

Meet our Governors-

Nick Sanders Chair of Governors

I have been a governor of Chawson First School since 2021, taking an active role in the strategic management of the school. As well as monthly governance meetings, I also have regular meetings with the Head Teacher to discuss school issues and I am frequently on the playground as I complete the parental ‘drop-off’ and ‘pick-up’ routine. As well as monthly meetings, I am invited upon learning walks, to meet with staff, and to school productions and events. These meetings and visits provide me with a fantastic insight into the workings of this vibrant, effective and happy school. A happiness that is echoed from within the school by my own son who has just left Year 4.

My career background saw me leaving Worcester’s Christopher Whitehead Boy’s School in 1979 to serve a five-year apprenticeship in signwriting. I continued with the Master who had taught me until 1988, when I joined West Mercia Constabulary. I remained for thirty years working in several aspects of policing, spending the last ten years in Major Crime Review. This encompassed a raft of serious crime investigations and included the preparation of reports for inclusion in Serious Case Reviews of child harm and abuse. Retiring from the police in 2018, I have returned to the craft of signwriting and commercial art and of course, my new hobby, school governance!

Dave Peters Vice Chair of Governors

I joined the governing body at Chawson in 2016 having previously served as Chair at Wychall Primary and Chair of Finance at Shenley Court secondary, both in Birmingham. Currently, I am also a trustee of drb-Ignite, a MAT with 9 primary schools in the Birmingham area.

I sit on the Quality of Education and Finance subcommittees with a special interest in attainment and SEND

Following 35 years working for Cadbury, I left in 2011 and have become more and more retired in the intervening years. The Chemical Engineering department at the University of Birmingham now employ me part-time as a visiting lecturer.

Ian Evans Chair of Finance Committee

I have been Governor of Chawson First School since 2014. I started as a parent governor whist both of my children attended the Chawson, and continued on to become a co-opted governors once they left.

During my time as Governor, I have fulfilled many roles including Sport Premium, Data Milestones, year group governor and onto my current role as Chair of finance where I have sat since 2016. During my role as chair of finance I have been heavily involved in working parties including academisation and school PAN.

I also supported Chawson to achieving there good Ofsted result in 2015 after a result of requires improvement in 2013. This was also maintained through to 2019 when Chawson was again reviewed as good.

I have previously had links with the school working as treasurer for the CFSA (school’s PTA) for 5 years, fundraising to support the school’s children where needed. I support the group host events like Xmas fayres, tuck shops, cake sales, fireworks displays and Circus’ to name a few.

Outside education, I have worked in the retail sector for 27 years, both in hospitality and petrol forecourts. I have gained extensive knowledge around budget setting, profit and loss charts and finance troubleshooting, which helps me support the current leadership team within Chawson.

Holly Coles, Staff Governor

I am newly appointed to this role and will attending meetings from September 2025. I have been a dedicated member of our school community for the past 10 years, teaching across Years 2, 3, and 4. I currently teach in Year 4 and lead on Writing and Oracy. In this role, I have worked extensively to research and develop our writing curriculum, which has been carefully designed to embed learning through deliberate practice and ensure a clear progression of skills. I am passionate about improving outcomes for all children and committed to creating a learning environment where every pupil is supported to succeed. As a staff governor, I bring both classroom expertise and a strong focus on curriculum development to support the continued growth and success of our school.

Paul Higgins

As a parent governor, I have two children in attendance at Chawson First School with another two hopeful students still to come. I have worked in the IT industry for approx. 23 years and currently hold the position of Head of Infrastructure and Operations services within the local County Council. I utilise my skills to support the school in terms of GDPR requirements and I am also a member of the Finance Governing Committee. My interests mainly focus on technology and it’s use to improve lives and working practices but I also enjoy playing with my children, walking and outdoor exploration.

Joseph Neal

As well as helping the governing board with the strategic planning of the school my role is governor of health & safety. I regularly engage with the head, review external audits, and visit for governor walks which results in regular reporting back to the board. I have been in this position since 2021.

Currently I work at a local architectural practice within the Civil & Structural team. I went to the University of Wolverhampton and worked in building structures for the past 16 years, during this time I've been involved in a variety of projects including the education sector. I've also been lucky enough to work on very large projects like the walkie talkie building in London.

As a former student of Chawson it’s great to see my daughter enjoy her time flourishing as she has moved through school and is now in Year 2. I'm a dad of two who enjoys family time, a range of sports, and if there's ever time a drink with friends!

Vicky Moloney

I am a Registered nurse in learning disabilities having been qualified for 13yrs and working with both adults and children with learning disabilities and SEN for 20+ years in various settings. I have recently been Named Nurse for Children in Care for University Hospitals Birmingham and have worked alongside mainstream, special and virtual schools and been involved in providing information for and reviewing Education, Health Care Plans (EHCPs). I am starting a new role at Birmingham City University as lecturer in learning disability nursing. I have a child who attends Chawson and my daughter has recently left there after 5yrs. I am the Safeguarding and SEN link governor.

Paul Garbett

I am a father of two daughters with one currently in Year 2 at Chawson First School.

I am a chartered Quantity Surveyor with over 16 years of experience in the built environment. I currently hold a senior role within a global construction advisory consultancy, who specialise in cost and project management, building surveying, building engineering design and health and safety services. I have operated in a senior role for over 5 years, leading diverse teams in all aspects of construction-related strategy and investment, as well as construction delivery.

I have always valued formal education and continued professional development, and this finds me taking an active role supporting professionals to gain chartered status within the surveying discipline. I have been involved in this process for over 12 years.

The skills and experience I bring to the governing body, the finance committee, the senior leadership team and the pupils include support with the operation and maintenance of the school building and surrounding grounds from a funding and finance, contract arrangement and risk perspective, as well as supporting health and safety and programming of works.

My time within a corporate environment offers an alternative perspective to the use of funds, employment affairs, data management and analysis, and the prioritisation of building maintenance and construction works. With an aim to minimise financial expenditure, maximise staff time for teaching and pupil welfare, and reduce / mitigate risks impacting the school’s day-to-day operation, so that time and resources can be channelled into the teaching and learning services to maximise the children’s educational journey.

Governors overview 2024-2025