Governors
Please find below details of how our Governing Body is structured, including the names, categories, responsibilities and terms of appointment for each Governor. From December 2020 when we became part of The University of Winchester Academy Trust (UWinAT), our governing body became a Local Academy Committee, working alongside our Trustees who have overall responsibility for our five schools. This means that our governors focus solely on Halterworth, but the school benefits from excellent support and advice of trustees. If you would like to contact our Governors, please email governor@halterworth.uwinat.co.uk or call the School Office on 01794 512028 and ask for a call back.
Name | Type |
| David Brown (Chair) | Co-optedDevelopment & Training |
| Ben Meehan (Vice Chair) | Parent Health & Safety, Estates |
| Verity Pillinger-Cork | Co-opted Safeguarding |
| Luke Kotchie | Co-opted Finance & Risk |
| John Quayle | Co-opted Inclusion, Disadvantage and SEND |
| Emma Groves | Parent |
| Joe Vavasour | Co-opted |
| Julie Bray | Co-executive Headteacher |
| Jackie Murphy | Staff Staff Link |
OUR GOVERNORS
Halterworth School has a dedicated team of Governors who are either elected as Parent Governors or Co-Opted Governors. They remain on the Local Academy Committee for a period of four years and may be re-elected if no other candidates come forward. Vacancies for Governors are communicated through the school to parents. Each governor has a clear role in supporting and holding the school to account, this ensures that Halterworth Governors ‘know their school’ and are able to challenge the school to achieve the very best outcomes for children. They benefit from the support of colleague governors who belong to our other Trust schools, which helps ensure a good level of challenge and support.
Chair of Governors - David Brown
David joined the Halterworth Governors in 2016 and has two children currently at school. He is a professor of History and has wide experience in higher education. He is committed to supporting the School in offering all pupils the opportunity to thrive.
David’s current role on the Governing Body is Chair of Governors. Having previously acted as Vice Chair of Governors, David is well known to parents, staff and children and often a presence in school and at evening events.
To contact our Chair of Governors please email governor@halterworth.uwinat.co.uk or telephone the school office on 01794 512028 to ask for a return call.
Vice Chair of Governors - Ben Meehan
I became a Parent Governor in 2019 and have two children currently at Halterworth. Working within estates for an NHS Trust, it seemed a good use of my knowledge and experience to take on the role of Health & Safety and Estates Governor in the following year. This role enable me to visit regularly and monitor how the school is keeping our children safe and where they’re opportunities to improve the learning environment. In addition I was appointed the Vice Chair of Governors in September 2022 and have enjoyed the extra responsibility this role has placed on me in these early months. Despite ferrying my children around to various clubs / activities, I do get some spare time. I share a similar love of running with a couple of my fellow governors and after semi-retirement have returned to playing competitive football, albeit in the Veterans section!
Luke Kotc
hie
I am a retired derivatives trader with over 20 years experience in the financial markets. Having run businesses across Europe and Asia, I now serve as the finance and risk link governor. I have two children at Halterworth School and I can be seen regularly about the school listening to children read and helping out with school trips and sporting events. In my spare time I like to play football, golf, and tennis. I coach children at both Romsey Town Youth Football Club and Romsey Rugby Club.
Verity Pill
inger-Cork
I've been a Governor at Halterworth since 2020, when my son was in Year 1. Before that I was a Trustee for many years at a secondary school in South London. I'm passionate about inclusion and sustainability, and I try to champion these values in my governance role. My role in the Governors is to oversee the school's Safeguarding. At work I manage websites and apps; outside work I have a long history of volunteering with children and young people, most recently becoming a Beaver Scout leader. I also (much to my surprise) really enjoy running with the Halterworth Harriers.
John Quayle
I have been a co-opted governor since 2021. I live in Romsey with my wife and two sons, the eldest of which currently attends the school. I am currently employed as an IT manager for a global insurance firm and find that the governor role provides a very different challenge to that of my day job. Outside of work, I am a keen runner and a member of Romsey Road Runners, trying to get out two or three times a week. I also enjoy watching sport, in particular football and rugby union. I also enjoy live music.
Emma Groves
I became a parent Governor in October 2023. I have a son who currently attends Halterworth so feel hugely invested in the school and it’s future. My aim is to be an advocate for Parents to ensure our children have the best possible education in ways that encourage them to thrive and develop. Outside of governing I work in food retail. I am a real foodie! I also love travelling and exploring the great outdoors with family and friends.
Joe Vavasour
A father of three, I have been a Governor at Halterworth school since January 2024 when I was co-opted. I have two children at Halterworth and having seen how they have flourished there, wanted to support the school and its leadership going forward. My working life is spent in the technology sector, specifically in software development where I am tasked with finding appropriate, elegant solutions for businesses ranging from small to multi-national. In my spare time I love music, cinema, and reading. Despite working in software development, I retain a passion for technology and programming which keeps me learning.