Governor Profiles

Katie Egan - Chair of Governors

 Background:

· BA Joint Hons in Russian and German, and Postgraduate Diploma in Marketing and Market Research

· Worked and lived across Europe, Japan and the USA in teaching, training, marketing and business development roles in the information technology, financial and professional services arenas

· Variety of training accreditations including business development, presentations, negotiations, proposal development and train the trainers

· Currently based in Devon, working part time as an estate agent

Governing role responsibilities:

· Chair of the Governing Body with particular responsibility for Safeguarding.

Rachel Shears - Teacher Governor

BA Honours in Sports Development and Coaching

MA in Applied Sports Development and Coaching

PGCE Primary

After graduating from University in 2011, I have worked in a number of primary schools across Devon as a PE specialist. For three of these years, I was at Furzeham; teaching PE, leading CPD for teachers and delivering a range of after school sport clubs. This is where I further developed my passion for children’s learning and decided to train to become a primary school teacher; which was the best decision I have ever made!

For the past two years I have been working at Furzeham Primary School, as a KS2 teacher. This academic year, I have become the lead for Positive Behaviour. My decision to become Staff Governor was in Autumn 2017. I aspire to contribute to the governance and future development of our school and to help drive the continued improvement to provide our children with the very best chance of success.

My responsibility as a governor is to monitor the school’s website to ensure it is legally compliant.

Lisa Watts - Co-opted Governor

I am a local girl who has lived for most of my life in Brixham. Upon leaving school I worked in a bank for 5 years before going to university to train as a teacher.

I worked in Hertfordshire for 3 years before coming home to roost where I continued to teach for another 15 years. After 18 years in teaching I left the profession to join my husband in business which is where I am now.

We run a local minibus/bus company and a large part of our business is transporting children to and from school daily across the Bay and the South Hams.

I became a governor because, although I no longer work in education, my passion for children’s development and learning is still very much alive. I wanted to give something back to a community that has served me so well all my life and it made sense to do this in an area that I was familiar with.

I look forward to making a positive difference in any small way that I can.

My governing responsibility is for English and Curriculum.

Amanda Cox - Co-opted Governor

I live with my partner, Nigel and am a mother of 4 boys and Nigel's two boys. I have two Springer Spaniels called Lenny and Henry. We have one grandchild, also a boy! We discovered and fell in love with Brixham, 8 yrs ago years. We renovated and restored a beautiful house which we have been running as Beacon House Bed & Breakfast, situated close to Furzeham Primary School.
I previously lived in Wiltshire where I worked as a Sport Development Officer for Wiltshire Council. Part of my job involved working with primary schools, youth and sports clubs within my area (Marlborough, Devizes, Tidworth, and Pewsey). With the experience of my supporting role for teachers in helping with and creating opportunities, links and pathways within schools and clubs, I feel excited about becoming a part of Furzeham School. I am looking forward as a Governor, to becoming involved in working with staff and children - the part of my sports development role I loved the most.

Mary Lennighan Wood - Parent governor

A Yorkshire lass by birth, I headed south for higher education at the University of Exeter and fully intended to stay in the South West, but work eventually took me to London. Five years ago, having had my fill of the bright lights of the big city I relocated back to Devon in search of the good life and now live in Brixham with my husband and son. 

I have spent the past 20 years working as a journalist in the telecoms sector. It is a career that has taken me all over the world, served up many new experiences and allowed me to meet countless interesting people. Having been editor of a major industry publication based in London, I am now self-employed, working on a freelance basis. 

It was something of a fluke that I ended up in Brixham, but I very quickly grew to love both the town and the community based around Furzeham Primary; I hope to be able to give something back by serving as a parent governor. 

   Mark Eager - Co-opted Governor

I am delighted to be a governor of Furzeham Primary School and have the opportunity to work with a highly professional and dedicated team.  Currently, I am Principal of Brixham College and trustee of the Brixham College Academy Trust.   This I believe provides me with a valuable insight into the issues surrounding pupil transition from primary to secondary school and partnership working across different phases of education.  Being a member of several education forums in the Bay provides me with an enhanced understanding of the challenges and opportunities for schools in the area.  Furthermore, as a member of the steering group for the Torbay Education Safeguarding Service, I have an enhanced understanding of the issues surrounding the safeguarding of young people in the area.  Before taking up the post in 2009 as Principal of Brixham College, I worked in five other large secondary schools located in the region.  Although I originate from the North-East of England, I am happy to call the South-West home.