Governors

I have lived in East Sussex for the past 15 years and am now settled in Chiddingly with my family. Professionally, I am Head of Academic Governance and Quality at a UK university, where I lead activity relating to governance, quality assurance, curriculum development, and regulatory compliance.

I have worked in higher education for more than 25 years and, throughout my career, have worked closely with senior leaders, governing bodies and external regulators, designing governance frameworks and assurance processes that support high-quality educational outcomes.

Outside work, I am a keen runner and enjoy taking on endurance challenges. Over the years, I have completed marathons and ultramarathons, including races of up to 100km. I find running a great way to stay active, clear my head and explore the Sussex countryside.

I became a governor because I am passionate about education and want to contribute my professional skills in support of local schools. The Pioneer Federation has an excellent reputation for collaboration and school improvement, and I am keen to play my part in helping ensure that all children across the federation receive the best possible educational experience.

I am a qualified Primary School teacher, who retrained to specialise in Special Educational Needs 12 years ago. I worked as the SENCo in two different independent schools, before retiring in July 2025. I have a heart for SEND pupils, in particular, and have a strong background in supporting children with autism, ADHD and dyslexia. I have supported pupils struggling with anxiety and mental health issues, related to their SEND condition, and am a Mental Health First Aider.

I have been a Foundation Governor at Stonegate School for nine years and am delighted to be joining the Pioneer Board in September 2026. I look forward to working with new colleagues to support the schools in the Ashdown Cluster with Mental Health and Emotional Well-Being, as one of my main roles. I will also continue working with Stonegate School on Church, Community and Ethos. I support our Associate Vicar in Stonegate with Tuesday morning assemblies each week, which enables me to have regular contact with children across all year groups. We have also run a popular Pop-Up Prayer Space, which we opened to parents and the community. I look forward to meeting more teachers, pupils and parents this academic year.

I have been a parent governor at Stonegate for the past four years, having been an active member of the PTA prior to that. During that time, I was responsible for SEND and Sustainability. I have two daughters, one of whom recently finished her time at primary school, and my youngest who thankfully still has a few years left! I grew up locally until my late teens when my family relocated to South Africa. After a brief hiatus, I returned and after working in advertising in London, moved back to East Sussex to raise a family. I’m passionate about forging strong links between families and their communities to support each school’s objectives and make them an environment where every child can thrive.

As a former parent of children at Stonegate, I have been on the governing board for 8 years and really enjoy being a part of the school community and helping make a positive learning experience for the children of the school. I’m looking forward to being part of the wider Pioneer Federation and contributing to so many more children’s experiences.

I have been the proud leader of Chiddingly Primary School since September 2020, dedicated to fostering an environment where inspiring learning and pupil well-being come together. Beyond my day-to-day role at Chiddingly, I am the Downs Cluster Lead Headteacher within the Pioneer Federation, working strategically to drive collaborative improvement, shared curriculum design and strong educational outcomes across our schools.

As a staff governor, I want to bridge between the daily reality of school life and the strategic decision-making of the governing board. This role allows me to bring a unique, firsthand perspective of our teaching and support staff whilst ensuring that operational insights and workplace well-being shape our long-term planning.

I have been a school governor for over 20 years in 4 different schools. As staff governor at St Paul’s Rusthall, where I worked as a special needs Teaching Assistant, and then at St Mark’s Tunbridge Wells, Crockham Hill and since 2023 as a foundation governor at Groombridge. From September 2025, when Groombridge St Thomas joined the Federation, I have been a Pioneer Governor. From September I look forward to chairing the Ashdown Cluster.

I have had a varied ministry over 36 years. Mancunian by birth and upbringing, I was ordained in 1988 and served for 14 years in inner city communities in Newcastle upon Tyne, where my parish was finally demolished by the City Council. In 2002, I joined the staff team at Derby Cathedral as Canon Precentor, where I also worked as the presenter of the Sunday Breakfast on BBC Radio Derby. I then spent six years serving a large church in Harrogate, also serving for a year as the Acting Archdeacon and as acting chaplain to a joint Anglican / Roman Catholic High School.

I served as Dean of Chelmsford from 2014 to 2023, leading the Cathedral through a time of significant change, before moving in 2023 to become Vicar of St Thomas the Apostle, Groombridge in the High Weald of East Sussex.

I have been a school governor in a range of very different schools for most of the last 37 years.

I am passionate about the relationship between worship and mission in post-Christendom culture. For 10 years I wrote for the Roman Catholic weekly, The Tablet, and I have contributed to a range of publications on ministry, prayer, and practical theology.

I have worked in education for more years than I would like to admit as a teacher and Headteacher in Sussex and in Africa! Then after 12 years with the LA in Greenwich as a schools adviser, I moved to Chichester Diocese in 2016 where I worked as a schools effectiveness adviser. I support two Diocesan Academy Trusts as a governance consultant. I first became a governor for East Hoathly in 2014 and have loved it so much that I have stayed on through the exciting growth of Pioneer to the great group of schools it is today.

I love books, so I am particularly pleased with our libraries and success in encouraging reading in all the schools . I also like long walks in the countryside and by the sea and continue my travels in Africa each year.

I have always lived locally in East Sussex, growing up in Shinewater in Eastbourne; I attended St Thomas a Beckett, St Richard’s, and Park College. I then moved to Brighton and studied law at Sussex University. I now work as a court clerk at Lewes Crown court, which is fascinating and varied!

I really really (really!) like walking. My husband and I chose to walk from Land’s End to John O’groats for our honeymoon (1200 miles in 3 months!) and I have walked 100k in 23 hours. I also run and go to the local book club. I live in Upper Dicker with my husband and three young children, the eldest has just started in reception at Park Mead. I really love being part of village life, mucking about with the kids, and contributing to our community.

I have been part of the governing board since before Park Mead joined the Pioneer Federation. As Alan says, as governors, we must be responsible for strategic direction but avoid involvement with day-to-day management. We also want to support our teachers as much as possible but provide critique and ask challenging questions to ensure our children’s education is the best it can possibly be. I am specifically linked to Mental Health and Emotional Wellbeing alongside Ms West, which is challenging but thought-provoking, as is scrutinising the implementation of strategies to encourage our children’s confidence and resilience.

I was born and brought up in the Village of Westham, and attended Pevensey & Westham Primary School, Willingdon Secondary school and Eastbourne Sixth form College I began a nursing career in Hastings in 1985, qualifying as a Registered General Nurse in the May of 1988, working initially in paediatrics, then moving on to Adult Cardiac Care. During my nursing Career I completed a BSc. (Hons) degree course with Brighton University. I responded to a call to Ordained ministry towards the end of the 1990’s, attended theological college at St. Stephen’s House Oxford, obtained a Post Graduate Diploma in Ministry and was ordained in the summer of 2000. I graduated with honours with an MA in Christian Spirituality from Winchester University in the autumn of 2017. Having served my Curacy at Eastbourne Parish Church, I served as Vicar of Saint Luke’s Stone Cross with North Langney from 2003 to 2023 and now Rector of the Weald Way Benefice: The Parish Churches of Chiddingly, Framfield and East Hoathly. I am married to Clare and we have two grown up children; Chloe who is a Piano Teacher and Sebastian who lives with his Fiancé in Bournemouth and manages a large Wetherspoons in the town centre.

I’m really looking forward to playing my part in the governance of the schools.

I have taught all year groups across primary schools in Lincolnshire and East Sussex, moving through roles as a Leading County Teacher, Senior Teacher, Deputy Headteacher, Head of School, and now Executive Headteacher.

Nothing is more rewarding to me than seeing the children in our Federation find their learning irresistible. I love seeing them actively explore concepts, apply new skills, ask questions, and drive their own independent discovery. Achieving this is a collaborative effort, and I thoroughly enjoy working alongside our fantastic staff, supportive parents, and dedicated governors.

My Vision for The Pioneer Federation I envision an outstanding federation centered on creative, innovative, and engaging teaching that sparks a lifelong love for learning. I want our children to see education as a creative journey that fuels their aspirations, helping them spot opportunities and believe that anything is possible. By crafting meaningful contexts for learning, we develop the independence, confidence, and resilience our pupils need to thrive. My goal is to maintain exemplary schools where every child leaves with a toolkit for lifelong success, built on a foundation of highest-quality teaching.

Outside of school I am a very active person who loves a challenge. I run regularly and have completed marathons to fundraise for developments across all our schools. I have two children, and when I am not working with the Pioneer schools, I enjoy travelling and socialising with my family and friends.

For those of you that do not know me I live in Hailsham. I am married (to a teacher) and have one child. I am a Civil Servant and have recently taken partial retirement. I relax by playing, umpiring, and coaching hockey for Hailsham. I also have an allotment, though I am struggling to find enough day light hours to do it justice. I also seem to get roped into running for good causes – even though I really am not that keen on running! I think if someone highlights a good cause, I appear to be easily persuaded! I have now completed the London Marathon and the Brighton and Eastbourne half marathons over the last few years. Not to mention the Mince pie run in December that Mr Procter has successfully convinced me to run several times. I mistakenly thought I would get a mince pie at each water stop……apparently, they expect you to finish before they give you a mince pie!! I started as a Governor of Chiddingly School over 20 years ago when my child was a pupil. During that time, I have served as Chair at Chiddingly for approximately 11 years, Vice Chair of the Federation and now Chair. I have also recently been selected as a Local Support Governor (LSG) lending support to other Governing bodies.

Being a Governor is an extremely rewarding role while at the same time being sometimes quite challenging. As a Governor, you are responsible for influencing the strategic direction of the schools but also must avoid the temptation to get involved in the day-to-day management of the schools. We are responsible with the senior leadership team for the individual schools and Federation’s performance and direction but as Governors we must get the balance right so that we allow the senior leadership team to manage on a day-to-day basis without interfering. We must learn to fulfil the “critical friend” role. I have seen many ups and downs over the years but the most exciting was the move to the Federation. I have been amazed by the progress each school has made over the period it has been in the partnership or federation. The results and the Ofsted judgements have been so good to see. The benefits of schools and professionals working together cannot be underestimated and I think the evidence speaks for itself. There is, of course, still work to be done and areas where we can improve, but I think the foundations have been laid and we have a good team of professionals in the Pioneer Federation who will drive us all forward for the most important aspect, which is of course the children. Why have I stayed around for so long? Well, there is no substitute for seeing the excitement on the children’s faces and hearing their chatter as they grow and develop. They are always so willing to share what is important to them. Seeing the schools move forward and develop is just so rewarding. I try to get into school either on formal visits for meetings and interviews or more informally just to look round the classrooms and chat with the staff and children. It just puts the day job into perspective! The Governors normally have their badges on when they are in school so if you see any of us, then by all means stop us, introduce yourselves and have a chat.

I have lived and worked in Hartfield for over 25 years. I’m married to Christina and have three lovely children, two of whom have already passed through St Mary’s school in Hartfield and my youngest hopefully due to attend in the next couple of years.

I run my own graphic design business, am on the board at East Grinstead Rugby Football Club (my playing days are fast running out) and am currently St Mary’s Church youth leader and Church Warden. The strong links between Hartfield church and school mean I am privileged to help with assemblies twice a week and really feel a part of the St Mary’s school family.

I am an experienced leader in education having spent a varied career supporting and developing schools in a range of situations, many challenging ones.. I have been a headteacher, School Improvement Partner, Adviser, Diocesan Effectiveness Partner and Ofsted Additional Inspector. I have been a governor for over 25 years. Currently I work as an independent consultant for the Local Authority and work closely with the Leadership and Governor Services teams.

Personally, I have two grown up daughters, six grandchildren and am a very hands on Nanny.  I read, cook, love walking, travelling and spending time with my family and friends. I am lucky to live close to the sea and enjoy time on the beach. I remain passionate about providing the very best opportunities for children so that they can grow and flourish in all areas of life.

I enjoy being involved in various community groups including Groombridge Scout Group and Jarvis Brook Football Club.  I was Chair of Groombridge PTA for three years to Oct 2024 and lead co-ordinator for the Groombridge May Fair for three years, bowing out after this year’s event.  It’s a great time to be involved with the Pioneer Federation as it grows and evolves and I look forward to contributing meaningfully where I can.

With a long-standing commitment to education, my career has been defined by a strong track record of achievement. Under my leadership as Head of Department, for example, languages at one of the country’s top ten universities rose to third place in the UK national league tables. After retiring, I relocated to Nutley seven years ago to be closer to family. That said, higher education remains an integral part of who I am – I still work as an Associate Lecturer at the Open University teaching German and Translation Studies.

The move to East Sussex provided an opportunity to become actively involved in the local community. Since 2018 I have been a Parish Councillor and since 2020, I have served as a governor at Nutley Primary School. From 2022, I led the school as Chair of Governors through the process of joining the Pioneer Federation. The experience has deepened my belief that Nutley is more than just a school—it is a central part of a supportive and inclusive community.

As part of the governing body, the role involves setting the school’s strategic direction, defining its aims and objectives, and monitoring progress across a broad range of indicators—not only academic performance in reading, writing, and mathematics, but also attendance, wellbeing, and overall school health. These areas are deeply important to me, and I am passionate about contributing meaningfully to their continued improvement.

My professional background has equipped me with the ability to clarify complex issues, advocate for informed viewpoints, and facilitate constructive solutions. These are skills I bring to governance, and I would be proud to support the Pioneer Federation in maintaining and enhancing its high standards. Through dedicated and thoughtful service, I hope to continue making a positive contribution to our schools and community.

My background is as a Secondary School teacher in Religious Studies with History with Special Educational Needs. Juggling work around my 3 active children (8-16 years) means that I have done tutoring in GCSE English, History and Religious Studies, Primary school Literacy and A-Level History and Philosophy. I mark GCSE papers in Religious Studies and currently do supply work in local secondary schools and Nutley Pre-school. I was managing Chair of Nutley Pre-school and am currently Safeguarding Officer at St Mary’s Church, East Grinstead. I have lived in Nutley for around 13 years and help run a toddler cafe on a Friday morning at in the Church hall of St James the Less Nutley and often help with other events too. I like walking on the Ashdown Forest, baking and love the Theatre.

My name is William Neil Lovett (Neil) and I have been married for over 40 years we have 2 children and 4 grandchildren and enjoy family time together. I am a retired chartered accountant with significant financial experience including being employed as European finance director for a USA fortune 500 company.

I was a governor for Nutley primary school for nearly 10 years before it joined the pioneer federation, I am also the treasurer for friends of Ashdown forest which is a charity raising funds to support conservation of the forest.