Governance
Please contact any of the school governors through the Clerk to the Governors, Mrs Deborah Stryzyk at the school address or by email at,
Appointed Governors
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Mrs P Hatt Director Appointed Governor Appointed by FMAT Responsibility: Chair of Governors/Child Protection/Safeguarding/Health & Safety Employment: Retired Business interests to declare: None Other Positions: FMAT Strategic Board Term of office: 6th December 2017 to 5th December 2021 Resigned 31st July 2022 I live locally with my husband and we have three children grown up children who all attended local primary and secondary schools. I recently retired from over twenty years in the teaching profession after working in industry and raising my family. I have always been passionate about facilitating children to become independent learners and “We Discover, We Learn, We Grow” is at the heart of this. With the experience I have gained I can hopefully make a positive contribution to South Avenue’s Governing Body, the Headteacher and staff and ultimately the children’s education. |
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Miss T Cadwallader Responsibility: Headteacher Employment: FMAT Business interests to declare: None Other Positions: None 4 out of 4 meetings attended (2022/23) I moved to Sittingbourne over 14 years ago, my brother and father soon joined me in this area. I have been in teaching for over 20 years, the last 7 of them here at South Avenue Primary School, recently taking on the role of Headteacher. I trained to become a teacher as I felt that every child deserves the opportunity to achieve their dreams and through education, they are given the foundations to do this. I hope to be able to develop the ‘we discover, we learn, we grow’ philosophy as Headteacher. |
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Staff Governor
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Mrs J Purves Employment: FMAT Business interests to declare: None Other Positions: None Term of office: 24th January 2023 to 23rd January 2027 3 out of 4 meetings attended (2022/23) I have worked at South Avenue Primary since 2012 and have worked across the school in various year groups and roles. My current role is as a Thrive Practitioner working as a member of the Wellbeing Team, supporting children who have gaps in their social and emotional development to learn strategies to support themselves. I aim to help children feel safe and to reduce their anxieties, boost their resilience, to learn to trust and regain a willingness to learn. This is one of my most rewarding roles, helping children who may have a chaotic and confusing mind to be able to come to a safe place and know that there are people there who can help and care for them. I get to have lots of fun with the children along the way and am currently the South Avenue Primary UNO champion! I have worked with children in a number of different schools, and nurseries, as my husband was a serving soldier with the Royal Engineers in Germany and we moved around a lot. I have four daughters of my own including a set of twins which brought its own special challenges! As my children are older now this is giving me the opportunity to focus on helping the children and staff of South Avenue Primary succeed both educational and personally. To this end I am an active member of the Parent, Teacher, Friends Association (PTFA) supporting the school on a voluntary basis to run fund raising activities. In my free time I am a Unit Leader for Brownies and Rainbows. |
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Parent Governors
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Anna Penn Parent Governor elected by the parent community Employment: TBC Business interests to declare: None Other Positions: None Term of office: 1st September 2021 to 31st August 2025 1 out of 4 meetings attended (2022/23) |
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Mr Chris Soyiinka Parent Governor elected by the parent community Employment: Royal Veterinary College and Cotts World Limited Business interests to declare: None Other Positions: Article 25 – Honorary Treasurer, Royal Veterinary College Term of office: 18th January 2021 to 17th January 2024 Resigned 5th September 2022 My family and I moved to Sittingbourne in 2020; before this, we lived in Chatham for nine years. I am a Chartered Accountant and work for Royal Veterinary College (ranked as World's number one veterinary school in the prestigious QS World University Ranking for 2019 and 2020). I lead on the preparation of financial statements and provide technical advice on Financial Regulations, Accounting Standards and Treasury Management. I previously worked in the charity sector for 15 years, mainly at Ambitious about Autism and Royal National Institute for Deaf People. I was a school governor for a school in Chatham for four years, and for some years, I chaired the Finance & Personnel Committee. I recognise some challenges teachers, senior leadership teams, parents, and schools in general face. With my experience in the third and HE sectors, I can positively contribute to a positive learning journey for all pupils alongside other stakeholders. |
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Mr Olayiwola Talabi Parent Governor elected by the parent community Employment: Association of British Insurer Business interests to declare: None Other positions: None Term of office: 28th January 2022 to 27th January 2026 4 out of 4 meetings attended (2022/23) My family and I moved to Sittingbourne in 2016; before this, we lived in Southeast London for about eleven years. My day job is in Management accounting and Project management, I believe these skills will transfer well to the work of school governance and I would like to help the school continue to improve and develop. With my experience as a professional and a parent, I can contribute to the learning journey for all the pupils and help to analyse the attainment gaps between groups of pupils and pinpoint where the school needs to be doing more for our children. As a parent, I am very keen to ensure that all children are safeguarded well and can fulfil their full potential whatever their background, special educational needs or disabilities - as I believe children are the future of the world. Nevertheless, I do acknowledge some challenges teachers, parents, and schools in general face, and I am willing to support the school and all its dedicated staff who work so hard to keep this place running smoothly. |
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Governors Appointed by the Directors of the Fulston Manor Academies Trust
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Mrs K Franks Directed Appointed Governor - Appointed by FMAT Responsibility: SEND and Wellbeing Employment: FMAT Business interests to declare: None Other Positions: None Term of office: 15th October 2019 to 14th October 2023 4 out of 4 meetings attended (2022/23) |
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Mrs A Kelly-Metelewa Directed Appointed Governor - Appointed by FMAT Responsibility: Finance, PE and Sports Premium Grants Employment: Financial Conduct Authority Business interests to declare: None Other Positions: None Term of office: 1st September 2020 to 31st August 2024 2 out of 4 meetings attended 2022/23) I have lived in Sittingbourne for just over 5 years having moved from London and this very much feels like home to us now. I hold a degree in Quantity Surveying, but I have spent most of my career working in Financial Services Public Policy. Since having my own babies, I have come to understand the value that should be placed on educating the bright minds of the future. I am very passionate about social mobility and I became a school governor to ensure that i do my bit to ensure that every child has an equal opportunity to attain success. |
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Mr B Johnson Directed Appointed Governor - Appointed by FMAT Employment: Retired Business Interests to declare: None Term of office: 24th January 2023 to 23rd Januray 2027 3 out of 4 meetings attended (2022/23) I was born in London and worked for the GPO (Telephones) until moving to New Zealand in my late 20’s. I continued working in telecommunications until returning to London in 2003. My wife and I moved to Sittingbourne over 15 years ago and until retiring, I was with the NHS working as an IT Project Manager I hold a Master of Communications degree, with my dissertation in utilising Information Technology for the education of children with learning disabilities. As someone who left secondary school without any qualifications, I come to realise to progress in most occupations, qualifications were the way forward, but how hard it was to study whilst holding down a job and supporting one’s family. I hope this experience helps as Governor of South Avenue Primary School in making a difference |
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Clerk to the Governors
| Mrs D Stryzyk |
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