Governors

GOVERNOR TYPE	NAME	ROLES
Appointed Governor	Dr Phil Buckley	Acting Chair Early Years Leadership
Appointed Governor	Mr Justin Morely	Vice Chair Quality of Education
Headteacher	Miss Leanne Bennett
Appointed Governor	Mrs Marion Owen	Behaviour & Attitudes
Appointed Governor	Mr Richard Chew	Safeguarding
Governor	Mr Harry Sampson	Skills & Training
Appointed Governor	Mrs Carol Poole	Health & Safety Behaviour & Attitudes
Co-opted Governor	Mrs Maria Elsam	Quality of Education SEND
Co-opted Governor	Vacancy
Parent Governor	Mr Phil Richards
Parent Governor	Mr Luke Hedges	Finance Personal Development
Staff Governor	Mrs Jenny Fletcher	Personal Development

Clerk	Ms Louise Barr	Clerk

Pen Portraits

Please see below statements from our Governors and Governor drawings by our School Council

Dr Phil Buckley

I liked Sandwich Infant School from my first encounter with it in 2017. I started to take much more notice of the school when I saw the fantastic personalised support that was given to my son by his teacher during reception year. After becoming a governor I saw that this level of care for individual children from all staff was just embedded in the culture.

From the governance side you see the significant and relentless challenge that school staff have to overcome every day to deliver effective and compassionate education. Staff at the school have to be both as tough as nails and also endlessly kind, which makes infant school educators a rare breed. Small schools like Sandwich Infant School have significant pedagogic advantages, and also specific challenges. It is the responsibility of the school leadership team to emphasise and capture the positive elements and mitigate the challenges at a strategic level.

Mr Justin Morely

Miss Leanne Bennett

Mr Richard Chew

Working from home in the pharmaceutical industry has allowed me to spend time flexibly with visits to the school and to socialise with other parents on the way there and back. I am particularly interested in speech and language development, safeguarding and am passionate about preparing children for the next stage in the learning when they leave us.

I began volunteering as a governor at Sandwich Infant School when my daughter attended in 2012, my son also joined subsequently and we have remained in the community since.

Mr Harry Sampson

I have been serving as a Co opted Governor at Sandwich Infant School since October 2021. A dedicated resident of Sandwich, I am proud to say I attended the school quite some years ago and therefore retain a deep affection for it. My professional background is as an experienced Publishing Manager in the pharmaceutical sector, currently working at Pfizer. I was educated in Winchester and earned a degree in Business Management, and have now started a part-time Masters in Senior Leadership with Exeter - I wish to learn as much as I can to assist the school wherever I can. Locally, I am a highly active community volunteer. I take great joy in organising and participating in numerous local initiatives, community events and much more.

Mrs Carol Poole

Initial training completed and after my first Governor’s meeting I’m ready to become a visible presence at SIS once again, offering my time and experience where it is needed. I look forward to seeing parents, pupils and staff around the school.

After a long association with Sandwich Infant School since 2005 I have decided to continue my support of this unique school by becoming a Governor. The children I taught as class teacher in those early days are now in their twenties and becoming parents themselves. The fact that I have taught at this school for so long shows what a happy and nurturing place this is for all.

Mrs Maria Elsam