Governors' Welcome

Welcome to the School Governors of The Federation of Briar Hill Infant and St Margaret's CE Junior Schools. In 2016 when the two schools became a Federation, the governing bodies combined to form one. 

What do we do?

Our school governors have a varied and important role in helping our schools to run effectively. As with all governing bodies, we have 3 core functions: 

• Planning the strategic direction of the Federation and the individual schools 
• Overseeing the financial performance of the schools and ensuring money is well spent 
• Holding the Federation leadership to account 

We have a good mix of experienced and new to role governors all playing their part in providing a good level of challenge and support. Our role is strategic rather than operational but we do regularly come into the schools to ensure that we can see first-hand, how our decision making translates into provision.  

The Governing Body meets at least twice every term to discuss the school’s development priorities with a focus on ‘Curriculum and Standards’ and ‘Finance and Resources’.   

The strategic development of the school is proposed in an annual document, building on strengths and assigning resources to develop areas of greater challenge within the schools.  Individual governors are linked to areas of school responsibility/curriculum and work with the school Leadership Team to monitor and review the progress of these aims. 

Mr Serhan Wade,Chair of Governors

I am a Civil Servant from Leamington. While at university, I served as a Trustee for two educational organisations. I had the privilege of joining the Briar Hill and St Margaret's Governing Body in March 2021. I am committed to supporting the Federation to be the best it can be so every pupil can reach their full potential. As a passionate believer in social mobility, I am pleased to serve as the Pupil Premium Governor for the Federation.

Mrs Debbie Morgan, Vice Chair of Governors

My association with the Briar Hill and St Margaret’s started in 2011 when my oldest daughter started in Reception at Briar Hill. Since then, all 3 of my children have been at both schools with my youngest still in Year 5 at St Margaret’s. I have been active with the PTA over much of this period but after this I joined the Board of Governors in 2019 as a Parent Governor. I have recently moved to be a Co-Opted Governor and am now the Chair of the Governing Board. I am so proud to be part of this wonderful school family and am immensely proud of the learning environment that the Federation offers. To me, this is a truly brilliant school with amazing staff who strive to fulfil the potential of the amazing children who attend.

Our Governors

Mr Richard Hawke, Co-Opted Governor

I have been involved with Briar Hill and St Margaret's since my children attended both schools. I am a retiree, living in Whitnash. My children have long since moved on from education, but I have been privileged and grateful to stay on and play a small part in helping the Federation provide a fantastic environment for children to learn and be happy. 

Karen Davidson, Co Opted Governor

I joined the Governing Body in April 2022 following my retirement from the role of primary school headteacher. Both my children attended Briar Hill and St. Margaret’s many years ago and they still have fond memories of their experiences during that formative time of their lives.  I was also happily involved at the schools during this time, first on the PTA at Briar Hill and then as a parent governor at both.  I firmly believe in the importance of schools and families working together for the children and I am very pleased to be able to return as a governor once again, where I hope to be of service to the children, the schools and the community.

Mr Paul Weighton, Co-Opted Governor

I have been involved with Briar Hill and St Margaret's schools since 2003. My children had a very positive learning experience at both schools, this made it an easy decision to give something back. I was initially involved in the school PTA and have been a school governor since 2008. It is a privilege to support such a passionate team at the school.

Revd Ben Cook, Ex Officio Governor

I became the Rector of St Margaret’s Church in Whitnash in April 2023 and am delighted to be a governor at the Federation of Briar Hill and St Margaret’s schools. I am passionate about the church being at the heart of its community and serving the parish, and am therefore very happy to see such an active and thriving partnership between the schools, the community and the church. I have previously served as a governor at two schools in my previous church leadership role and I have a child in year 3 at St Margaret’s as well as a child at Briar Hill in Reception.  I look forward to serving the schools as a governor and leading collective worship! 

Mr Bern Timings, Co Opted

I joined the governing body in 2020 as a parent governor after my son started in Reception. In my professional life I have a strategic role at the Warwickshire and now Solihul local authorities and spend my working days on the development and implementation strategies and policies that help schools deal with and successfully overcome the practical challenges they face today. I strongly believe that our children deserve the very best education, and I am proud to be part of the Briar Hill and St Margaret's community. 

Mr Bhavan Jhita, Parent Governor 

I joined the Governing Body as a Parent Governor in 2023 and also I have been an active PTA member since 2022. Since becoming a Federation Friends PTA member,  I have assisted in helping to organise a number of events for Briar Hill. I grew up in the area and have worked in the construction industry since the age of 16.  I believe because of my skills and local knowledge I will be useful and helpful in supporting the Federation.  All children deserve the very best education and I want to help support the Federation team to help and encourage the children reach their full potential in a happy and safe environment.

Ms Karen Molyneux, Co Opted Governor

I have worked at Briar Hill since my children attended the school many years ago, in a range of different roles. I now work across the federation as the School Business Manager. I joined the Governing Body at Briar Hill as a staff governor in 2010. As the two schools federated, I wanted to continue to serve and support the schools and so became a Co Opted Governor. I am immensely proud of all that the federation has achieved so far and am excited for what the future may hold for us.

Mrs Cara Calvert, Co Opted Governor

I have been a teacher at Briar Hill for many years and made the decision to become a governor in 2016. This was an exciting time for both schools, as it was when they became a federation. Both as a governor and as a teacher I am very proud of the journey the federation has made. The curriculum is planned and developed through subject leads working closely together which has a positive impact on the children’s learning and ensures continuity. I am the Music and English as an Additional Langauge (EAL) Lead at Briar Hill with responsibilty for the provision for children who hear/speak dual languages within our diverse community. 

Clare Cairns, Staff Governor

My role is Assistant SENDCo at Briar Hill. I have worked at Briar Hill for 11 years, supporting our children with additional needs.  As a former parent and volunteer, I am very proud to be working at Briar Hill.  I became our Federated Staff Governor in 2023 and hope to represent the thoughts and views of our wonderful staff across the Federation in our meetings.  Much has changed across the Federation during my time working here, it has been fantastic to see how the two schools have changed and it will be exciting to see how the schools develop further in the future.

Rolene Cort, Foundation Governor

I have recently moved to the area and began serving as Curate to St Margaret’s Church in July 2024 and now as a governor. I am very grateful for a warm welcome. My background prior to retraining was in TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) in both adult education and in schools. As an educator I am passionate about facilitating equity in learning, cross cultural understanding, integration and inclusion. As a minister I look forward to meeting many more of you, supporting the Rector in growing the partnerships between the federation, church and community links and being involved in leading Collective Worship.

Katy Thomson, Governor Professional

Governor Registration of Interests 2024-2025 

 Attendance Register 2023-2024 Full Governing Body meetings

 Attendance Register 2023-2024 Resource Committee Meetings