Sarah Powell – Chair
I have been a Governor at Greenleas since 2014. I was the Vice-Chair for a number of years, and was elected as Chair in September 2020. I have three children, and my eldest was part of the original Reception intake at the Kestrel Way site. I sit on both the Resources and Quality of Education committees and I am one of the link Governors for English and Maths. Coming from a family of teachers, I have a keen interest in all aspects of education. In my role as Chair I work closely with Mrs Clarke to support the School.
I work full time as a Defence Solicitor in Buckinghamshire and am also a visiting lecturer for the University of Law. In my spare time I enjoy yoga, reading, going to the theatre, spending time with family and bingeing on TV box sets and Superhero movies. I love all things chocolate and look forward to taking coastal holidays in North Cornwall and North Yorkshire as often as possible.
Laura Pocock – Vice-Chair
I have been a Governor at Greenleas since 2019, sitting on the resourcing committee and full governing board. This year I was elected as Vice-Chair as well as chairing our resources committee. I have got 2 children who both attend Greenleas, Kestrel Way, one in Reception and one in Year 3. My dad was a governor at my school as I grew up, and I’ve always been keen on doing something broader with my skills outside of work as well as having an interest in education and enabling children to have a strong foundation start in life.
I am a HR Director at BT, supporting a number of units in our business division as well as leading our resourcing team. I started there as an apprentice in 2008 after leaving school and have had many roles both within the operations and in HR. My role is demanding, so outside of work, spending time with my family is key. We love long walks with our dogs, holidays in the sun and paddle boarding when the weather allows. Aside of that, exercise has helped keen me sane, I love a good TV box set and shopping (especially online) is my not so good habit!
Olivia Davies – Co-opted Governor
I joined as a Governor in February 2020, so a lot of what I have done so far has been virtual! I have two children at Derwent Road, a son in reception and daughter in year 3. When my daughter started school I felt I wanted to be a part of her primary school journey and help to support this, so I was keen to join the board when a position arose. I sit on both the resources committee and quality of education committee. I am link governor for modern foreign languages and music.
My passion for the spa and beauty industry has given me a career in something that I enjoy outside of work too. I started my career at Champneys as a young therapist and got to treat lots of celebrity clients. During this time I found a love for teaching, managing the training there and supporting this with a qualification in adult education. I went on to work in various industry based teaching roles and then eventually to run the Sanctuary spa in Covent Garden as General Manager. When the spa closed I considered how I could continue working in the industry I love whilst finding time for my family and I decided to set up my own business, offering beauty and holistic treatments, which is now in it’s 6th year. I believe we are always learning and I take on a new treatment each year to strengthen my knowledge and keep growing.
My family is what is most important to me and we love time outdoors, watching movies and holidays together. Exercise keeps me sane and I exercise daily before the children are out of bed as that’s the quietest time of the day! I love reading, running, cooking and time with friends too.
Amanda Wallace – Co-opted Governor
Hi my name is Amanda and I have been a governor since 2018. I started as a staff governor as I wanted to learn more about the running of the school and also promote the EYFS area of the school. I am currently the safeguarding governor, which I share with Emily Wilding and is an area I am very passionate about. I am the pre-school manager at our Kestrel Way site and the Extended Services Manager in my day job outside of being a governor. I have worked in this area for approximately 18 years now across different settings and seen many changes in early years over this time. I love working with families at the very beginning of their educational journey and supporting them as they encourage their child in those first steps of independence.
SEND is my area of speciality within education and I am also very passionate about this. Ensuring all children have the ability to embark on an educational journey that allows them to flourish into the very best version of themselves if extremely important to me.
Outside of work I am married with two grown up children. My daughter is currently a TA at our Derwent Road site and looking to do her teacher training. My son is a trainee HGV mechanic. We spend our free time wakeboarding and camping at our local ski club. A fun fact about me is that I was a bus and coach driver before I started in Education. Lots of day trips to the seaside and a singsong on the bus!
Dorothy Smith – Staff Governor
I am the Finance Manager at Greenleas and one of the longest serving members of staff. I became a staff governor, as I wanted to contribute to the wellbeing of the school and support the school in its decision making for both pupils and staff. As a former parent I wanted to give something back to the school that had given my children such a good start to their education.
My role as a Governor is to support the Head Teacher and to oversee the management side of a school: strategy, policy, budgeting and staffing. As a qualified accountant I have a depth of financial knowledge that is useful to this role.
On a personal level, I am married with three older children who all attended local schools including Greenleas. I am a member of the Guiding community and was a Brownie leader for several years. I enjoy reading, walking, cooking and many sports including badminton. I enjoy socialising and going out to restaurants.
Emily Wilding – Co-opted Governor
I’ve been a Governor at Greenleas for just over a decade, I joined as parent governor when my eldest was in Y1 and have stayed on since then in various roles as Vice-Chair, Chair and now as a Co-opted Governor. During their time at Greenleas both my sons were encouraged and challenged to reach their full potential and I hope to continue to support Greenleas in providing future generations with the very best all round educational experience.
I am the Safeguarding Governor, a link Governors for English and Maths and Chair of the Quality of Education committee.
Lewis Wright – Co-opted Governor
I would like to take this opportunity to introduce a little bit about myself. I have been living in Leighton Buzzard (Sandhills) for approximately 8 years having moved from the London Borough of Hillingdon where I grew up and went to school.
I have a 4-year-old son who will be going to school in September 2021 and an 11-year-old stepson at middle school in Leighton Buzzard. I work in Corporate Security for a global retail organisation where I have been for 16 years in various roles.
I am an avid football fan, golfer and general sports enthusiast, but I am equally content to sit at home on the sofa and watch TV.
I became a governor at Greenleas in 2020 because I was interested in the role of a governor and how they support the school and community to help children make a successful start in life through education. I sit on the both the Resources and Quality of Education committees and am a link governor for Religious Education and Inclusion.
Sanchia Davidson - Co-opted Governor
I have been appointed as a Greenleas governor in 2021. I am a qualified secondary teacher and have worked in Linslade for over 12 years, being a Head of Music and curriculum lead during that time. I am a mother of three young children, and hold a Masters level in Education.
I have a vested interest in Leighton Buzzard and Linslade, I know it to be one of the best communities and feel very fortunate to be part of it. My particular passions are for music, media, children's literature, and sustainability, social and cultural education. There is so much outside the school walls for these young people and I believe the community can help bring that to a school.
I am also a member of Wing and Ivinghoe Community board in Buckinghamshire, and am hoping to collaborate ideas and share projects across the borders.
Sarah Ryan - Parent Governor
My name is Sarah Ryan, and I have joined the board as parent governor from May 2021. I am a mother of two boys in year one and year four at Greenleas Kestrel Way. I have lived in the local community since 2010 and loved my time as a Greenleas parent, particularly volunteering to read with the children and watching the Christmas plays in the time before covid!
I am passionate about the emotional wellbeing of our children and helping them to be happy, confident and true to themselves. I work as a certified coach and consultant in Sales & Management, and I am looking forward to using these skills to support the Board with their strategic vision and the action steps required to get there.
Outside of work, I love to go camping with friends and enjoy painting and watching movies, especially Marvel.
Chris Leigh - Parent Governor
I have recently joined as a governor in May 2021; so am just starting on my governance journey. My daughter is entering reception at Derwent Road in September 2021 and I wanted to offer my support to the school. I currently sit on the Resources committee and am a link governor for English and Maths.
My full time job is an Accountancy trainer; helping post-graduates learn the professional qualifications they need in order to practice Accountancy. I have devoted a significant portion of my life to education; ensuring students get the best from their time in the classroom. I hope to bring some of these skills to help in my role as a governor.
For fun, I’m an avid board gamer with well over 100 different games in my collection and a regular participant of the Leighton Buzzard Boardgames Club. I am also quite partial to a Netflix binge!