Meet the Governors
Hedda Wells (Chair)
I have been a parent at Eastergate School for a total of 11 years and after my youngest moved to Secondary School in 2015, I joined the Governing Body in September 2015 and became Chair of Governors in 2017. I still see it as a privilege to work with the staff team, parents/carers and the wider school community; always with the children in the centre of any decisions. I am involved in running a Toddler Group and Sunday School at the local church and volunteer with the Aldingbourne Trust. I enjoy outdoor activities, making music, a good book and baking.
Father Paul (Ex-officio)
I am Fr Paul and I am the Rector of the parish of Aldingbourne, Barnham and Eastergate. I am relatively new to the area having moved from Portsmouth in October 2021. What I have found, is that we, as the church in these villages, are so proud of our partnership with our parish school at Eastergate and we look for every opportunity to celebrate this and to do things together. The young people of our school are our present as well as our future and that is so important to remember. You will find me most weeks either in the hall or the classroom on the days I come into school or, at St George's Church or one of the other churches in the parish. I try to walk everywhere, when it is practical, so please say 'hello' if you see me!
Lynne Sharrock (Foundation governor)
I am a retired Primary School teacher and a committed Christian. I was born in Wigan, Lancashire and I spent my whole teaching career there, teaching in two Church of England Primary Schools.
My family always wanted to live near the south coast of England and after my early retirement from teaching we moved here in 2020. After the lockdowns, we became regular worshippers at St George's Church in Eastergate.
I had already become a weekly volunteer at Eastergate Village Hall and soon I started to help regularly with Art activities at Eastergate Primary School. I enjoy singing with the Chichester Rock Choir and as an artist, I now have time to draw and paint in my small Art studio at home.
I feel priviledged to join the Board of Governors and I hope I can bring my experiences as a teacher and my christian faith to support the staff and children at Eastergate Church of England Primary School.
Annette Chapman (Co-opted governor)
I joined the Governor Team at Eastergate in Sept 2021 after returning to West Sussex from Asia. I have been in education all my working life and in a secondary school in Hong Kong for over 30 years, where I held the posts of Vice Principal and Acting Principal. My main roles were in Safeguarding, leading the Pastoral team and SEND. I also had the opportunity of an Acting Principal role in a Special School who were going through accreditation. Having returned to the UK I am now becoming more involved with the local community and I am a volunteer for the Aldingbourne Trust.
Davina Rowe (Co-opted governor)
My youngest son joined Eastergate in September 2017. I was the clerk for over 3 years then joined as Associate Governor for 6 months before being co-opted to the Governing Body in September 2022. My husband and I have lived in Barnham for 18 years having both moved to Sussex from Devon over 20 years ago. I worked for IBM for nearly 20 years in various roles ranging from in Finance & Planning to Business Operations Manager, Global Delivery Education Manager and finally Commercial Delivery Manager.
I feel privileged to be a governor and support the school in a new way. I enjoy volunteering and I am on the PTA as well as a PTA Trustee and 1st Barnham Scouts Trustee. I have 2 older boys who are at St. Philip Howard Catholic School so my main role is supporting my 3 boys. I love to spend time with my family and we are theme park and Disney enthusiasts. We enjoy days out, watching football, playing board games and when I’m allowed to, I love to sing!
Paula Clark (Co-opted governor)
I was appointed as a governor in March 2023. I have worked as a teacher at Barnham Primary School for 10 years and have extensive experience working across KS1 and KS2. I have a particular interest in science and interdisciplinary STEM learning. I am passionate about providing children with the best education I can deliver in my role as a teacher and supporting Eastergate with their endeavours to provide a curriculum that is broad, balanced, and relevant to the expectations of our modern world. My first degree is in Law, and I have completed the Legal Practice Certificate. I worked as a Paralegal for 5 years in various city firms in Birmingham before embarking on career in teaching when I moved to Portsmouth to be with my husband, who is in the Military. My most precious times are now spent with my husband and my little boy. We enjoy going on adventures and just being together as a family.
Diana Okeme (Parent governor)
I’m Diana Okeme and glad to be a parent governor. My family and I relocated from New Zealand to the UK in 2022 and my kids have settled well at Eastergate C of E Primary.
I’ve worked in Adult social care since 2006 whilst completing my Nursing degree at the University of Southampton, gaining invaluable skills and experience.
I am a volunteer teacher at my local church for primary school aged children and I have been serving as part of the kids ministry team for about a year now. I’m passionate about kids development and promoting education so I am glad to have been nominated to serve as a Parent Governor.
I have vast experience in Quality assurance and auditing due to managing Care Homes and retirement villages both in the UK and New Zealand so I am keen to learn how best to support as a Parent Governor and use my skills to help improve the quality of education children experience. My hobbies include swimming, outdoor walks and relaxing.
Lucy McGuigan (Staff governor)
I started working at Eastergate January 2021, I have been the Year 2 teacher for 4 years. I grew up between London and Bognor Regis. I completed my undergraduate degree in Film and Creative Writing in 2020 and then completed my PGCE at University of Roehampton the following year. I have I wanted to become a primary school teacher since I was seven years old, and am very proud that I have achieved this. During Easter 2021, I had the privilege to work in a primary school in Kenya located in a deprived area. This experience was incredible and opened my eyes to a whole new world of teaching. I am currently the History and Geography lead and the PE and Science Co-lead. I love being involved in school events and take pride in my role at Eastergate CE Primary School.
Chris Tonge (Parent governor)
As a father of three children at Eastergate Primary School, I wanted to get involved in the community in a meaningful way, which led me to join the governing body in 2024. I am committed to helping create an environment where every child has the best possible opportunities to grow, learn, and succeed. In my role as Parent Governor, I will work to ensure the perspectives of parents and carers are heard, and to support the ongoing development of our school.
Professionally, I work in Highways and Infrastructure, with a focus on managing and delivering road safety schemes in the Surrey area. I aim to bring this expertise to the governing body, particularly to address the challenges we face with the road outside the school. Ensuring the safety of children, staff, and families around school grounds is something I am deeply committed to, and I will work toward finding solutions that benefit our entire community.
Stacey Cullen (Co-opted governor)
Having been a qualified English teacher at secondary level for several years and working in a variety of schools in leadership roles, I wanted a change of direction, so I moved into the Charity sector ten years ago and have had the privilege of working for three charities, both national and local. I currently work full time as part of the Senior Leadership team of a large charity working across West Sussex, Brighton & Hove, and I plan to bring my strategic skills and expertise to my role as Governor at Eastergate CE Primary School.
I am delighted to join the governing body as I have previously been Chair of Governors when my now grown-up children were at school and I was also a member of the Diocese of Chichester’s Board of Education, so I have quite a rounded experience of being a governor, parent and teacher, which I hope will prove useful this time around.
Most importantly of all, I have a vested interest as I have four granddaughters at the school, with a fifth one joining in September!
Catherine Ward (Headteacher)
I joined Eastergate CE Primary School as Headteacher in January 2017. I have been working in education for over thirty years. I started my career in a Montessori School in London, before doing my PGCE in Cambridge. I worked in two village schools in Cambridgeshire before moving to London, when I got married. I was the special needs co-ordinator of the school in Wandsworth that I worked in before relocating to West Sussex.
During my time in West Sussex I have worked in a very small village school and a large coastal school besides Eastergate. I have served on the Diocesan Board of Education and the Head's Executive Board, since becoming a Headteacher.
I worship regularly in my local church, where my husband is the incumbent and
in my spare time I like to read, walk and sew. I have a passion for speaking French and love teaching French in school!