Meet the Governors
Amber Batson
Role: Chair of Governors | Parent governor
Term of Office: 24/11/2022 - 24/11/ 2026 Chair of Governors since November 2024
Amber attended 6 of 6 FGB Meetings during 2025/26
Working Groups: Finance and Resources and Stakeholder Engagement
Specific Link Roles: SEND link governor
Declared Business & Pecuniary Interests: None
Connection: My son joined Stanton St Quintin Primary School in 2021
Occupation: Veterinary medical professional working part time in clinical practice and part time in animal behaviour and welfare education
Education: Veterinary Medicine and Surgery Degree Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons London, graduated 1999
Hobbies / Interests: Spending time with family including our dogs and ponies, gardening, reading, escape rooms and puzzle solving
What skills and insight do you bring to the governing board from your background? I have worked in the veterinary professional as a primary care vet for over 25 years. I undertook specific behaviour and welfare additional educations early in my career which increased my knowledge of psychology and learning. I have undertaken specific education into aspects of emotional and sensory and cognitive functioning and wellbeing which has complemented me in my role as SEND link governor. I co-owned a large veterinary practice for many years during which time I developed management skills, policy writing and assessing, and business marketing. I have undertaken education in person centred counselling which I feel helps me in communications with people including their concerns.
Kyle Hutchings, PhD
Role: Vice Chair | Parent Governor
Term of Office: 24/11/2022 - 23/11 /2026
Kyle attended 6 of 6 FGB Meetings during 2025/26
Working Groups: Finance & Resource Lead; Pay Panel
Specific Link roles: Whistleblowing Governor
Declared Business & Pecuniary Interests: None
Connection: Moved from Salisbury to Chippenham in 2021; both son and daughter now attend Langley Fitzurze CoE Primary school (Year 1 and 3)
Occupation: Principal R&D Engineer at KLA (Semiconductor industry). Previous research roles at Dyson (EV car project) and Ultra Electronics (Nuclear).
Education: BSc in Physics (Loughborough University) PhD in Materials Science (Cranfield University)
Hobbies/Interests: Sports (indoor football, golf and running); hiking and camping; spending time with family (mostly at kids clubs!)
What skills and insight do you bring to the governing board from your background? Engineering covers so many different areas, but one fundamental skill we bring to the table is problem-solving. It is a challenging time at the moment in the education sector in terms of juggling finances with limited resources; being in a position to provide data-driven insight and a strategic mindset will help ensure the LFSSQ Federation governing board continues to deliver its longer-term vision and strategy sustainably whilst providing the best education for its pupils.
Karen Winterburn
Karen is Executive Headteacher of the LFSSQ Federation. Prior to this she was Headteacher at Stanton St Quintin. She has taught in Swindon and Wiltshire for over 20 years. Karen studied Education and Sports at Edge Hill, Lancashire and continues to enjoy sports – although is a little slower these days! She champions sports and PE in schools being an Ambassador for the Youth Sports Trust. In her spare time she likes to be outside – walking, gardening and when possible being near the sea.
Term of office: whilst in post (ex officio)
Karen attended 6 of 6 FGB Meetings during 2025/26
Working Group membership: Attends all meetings in the capacity of Executive Headteacher
Declared Business & Pecuniary Interests: None
Richard Priest
Role: Foundation Governor
Term of Office: 23/09/2025 – 22/09/2029 (current term)
Richard attended 6 of 6 FGB Meetings during 2025/26
Working Groups: Member of Curriculum Working Party, Christian Distinctiveness Panel
Specific Link roles: English and RE Link Governor
Declared Business & Pecuniary Interests: None
Connection: Resident of Kington Langley, Member of St. Peter’s Church, St. Peter’s Church, Kington Langley.
Occupation: Retired
Education: BA in Theology & Pastoral Studies
Hobbies/Interests: DIY, cooking, family life
What skills and insight do you bring to the governing board from your background?: I am a retired Christian minister and bring with me a wide range of life experience. Being retired, I can give back to the Church and community where I live. My hope is that by being a Governor, I can provide a useful and helpful contribution to the local schools in our federation, the local Church and our community.
Nick Webb
Role: Co-opted Governor
Term of Office: 19/09 2024 – 18/092028
Nick attended 5 of 6 FGB meetings during 2025/26
Working Groups: Stakeholder Engagement Working Party
Specific Link roles: Equality & Diversity and Sustainability
Declared Business & Pecuniary Interests: Wife is Treasurer of Langley Fitzurse PTA; brother-in-law works for the federation’s IT supplier.
Connection: We live locally and my daughter is a pupil at Langley Fitzurse CofE Primary School.
Occupation: Customer Support Manager in the aviation and defence industry; former Royal Air Force airman.
Education: Aeronautical Engineering, City of Bristol College
Hobbies / Interests: Travel, aviation, cycling, model railways, music, and spending time with my family.
What skills and insight do you bring to the governing board from your background? My professional background includes service in the Royal Air Force and subsequent roles in the aviation and defence industry, environments where safety, accountability, and clear decision-making are critical. This has shaped a strong safeguarding and risk-management mindset, alongside experience of working within structured and regulated frameworks.
I regularly work under pressure in safety-critical settings, managing teams, communicating with stakeholders, and resolving complex operational issues. I bring a systems-based approach to problem solving, supported by analysis and reporting of operational data, and a focus on value for money. These skills support effective governance and help contribute to safe, sustainable, and well-run schools.
Wendy Bowring
Role: Co-opted
Term of Office: 22/04/25 – 21/04/29
Wendy attended 5 of 6 FGB meetings during 2025/26
Working Groups: Curriculum Working Group; Salaries Committee
Specific link roles: Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) governor
Declared Business & Pecuniary Interests: None
Connection: I moved from Bristol to Stanton St Quintin in 2012. No connection with either school (other than I can see SSQ playground from my bedroom window).
Occupation: Retired after 45 years in education, including 18 years as a head teacher in Bristol and 30 years as a school inspector
Education: BEd(Hons) in Education (University of London); ADB(Ed) in Drama and Education (The Drama Board); MEd in Management of Primary Education (University of Bristol); PhD in Education (University of Bristol)
Hobbies/Interests: music (playing the piano, violin, recorders, singing); sports (playing netball, Pilates, watching rugby); spending time with my children and grandchildren; cooking and entertaining; spending time in France
What skills and insight do you bring to the governing board from your educational background? I have worked in education throughout my professional life: as a primary-phase teacher, a deputy head in a state primary school, head teacher of an independent pre-preparatory school and as a school inspector for OFSTED and ISI. I moved to Stanton St Quintin 14 years ago, and now having retired, I am pleased to offer my skills and experience to the LFSSQ Federation. Of particular benefit I hope will be my experience and working knowledge of EYFS. My experience as a lead inspector has meant that I am well-versed in safeguarding issues and keep up to date with changes that affect schools in this aspect.
Edward Buchan
Role: Foundation Governor
Term of Office: 16/10/2025 – 15/10/2029
Edward attended 4 of 6 FGB meetings during 2025/26
Working Groups: Finance & Resources
Specific Link roles: Health & Safety Governor
Declared Business & Pecuniary Interests: None
Connection: We live in Kington Langley and two of our children were pupils at Langley Fitzurse CofE Primary School.
I am a member of the Parochial Church Council of St Peter’s Kington Langley
Occupation: Retired
Education: University of Southampton BSc(Soc Sci)
Harvard Business School (Advanced Management Program)
Hobbies / Interests: Travel, history, novels, DIY and spending time with our children and grandchildren.
What skills and insight do you bring to the governing board from your background? I am a qualified chartered accountant and spent 41 years working in the City in banking, investment and corporate finance including several non- executive directorships of public companies. In pro-bono activities, I am a former vice chairman of the Bristol Diocesan Board of Finance and a lay canon emeritus of Bristol Cathedral. I also have and had a number of trusteeships of charitable organisations closely associated with the Church of England.
My professional background means I bring an extensive knowledge of organisations and finance, albeit mainly in the private sector. My work as a company director and trustee has involved me in strategic planning and finance and, as a chair or member of audit committees, in audit, internal control and risk management work.
While my experience in the education sector is very limited, I bring an all round expertise in strategic planning, management and finance which I hope will be valuable.
Andrea Grafton
Role: Foundation Governor
Term of Office: 12/02/2026 - 11/02/2030
Andrea attended 4 of 4 FGB meetings during 2025/26
Working Groups: Curriculum
Specific Link roles: Safeguarding Governor
Declared Business & Pecuniary Interests: None
Connection:
Occupation: Retired
Education:
Hobbies/Interests:
What skills and insight do you bring to the governing board from your background?
James Osler, Head of School Langley Fitzurse C of E Primary
Role: Joint Staff Governor
Term of Office: 24/09/2025 - 23/09/2029
James attended 4 FGB Meetings during 2025/26
Declared Business & Pecuniary Interests: None
James completed a PGCE at Bath Spa in 2002 after a Music degree in Southampton University some years before. He relocated from Hertfordshire to Corsham nine years ago and lives with his wife and three children. James has enjoyed spending the majority of his teaching career in small schools and has been with Langley Fitzurse for the past seven years. He loves listening to music and playing the piano, spending time in the park with his family and cooking curries.
Joint Staff Governor: Sarah Matthews
Sarah Matthews, Head of School, Stanton St Quintin Primary School
Role: Joint Staff Governor
Term of Office: 24/09/2025 - 23/09/2029
Sarah attended 2 FGB Meetings during 2025/26
Declared Business & Pecuniary Interests: None
Sarah studied for 4 years at Bath Spa University and gained BSc (Hons) with QTS and has been teaching for over 20 years. Recently she completed her NPQH qualification and is now Head of School at Stanton. She has a passion for Maths and supports schools around the country with a mastery approach. In her spare time she likes to walk her fox red lab, cycling, reading and Pilates.
Michelle Hocking
Role: Governance Professional appointed by the Board of Governors
Declared Business & Pecuniary Interests: None
Michelle can be contacted at Clerk@lfssq.wilts.sch.uk
Previous Langley Fitzurse Stanton St Quintin Governors
Chris Steen – stepped down as a Co-opted Governor on 18 December 2020.
David Bloomer – stepped down as a Foundation Governor on 18 March 2021
Harriet Wilkinson – stepped down as a Foundation Governor on 27 April 2021
Huw Solly – stepped down as a Foundation Governor in June 2021
Dan Cornwell – stepped down as Co-opted Governor in July 2021
Sarah Matthews – stepped down as a Co-opted Governor in September 2021
Luke Matthews – stepped down as a Parent Governor in July 2022
Wendy Goodswen – stepped down as a Parent Governor in July 2022
Johanna Nathanson – stepped down as a staff Governor in September 2022
John Dawson - stepped down as a Co-opted Governor in September 2023
Gemma Hector - stepped down as a Co-opted Governor in February 2024
Huw Solly - stepped down as a Foundation Governor in August 2024
Ed Shire - stepped down as LA Governor in November 2024
Georgina Adams - stepped down as a Co-opted Governor in February 2025
Adrian Cole - stepped down as a Co-opted July 2025
Tom Stables - stepped down as a Foundation Governor in September 2025
Tori Purton - stepped down as an LA Governor in October 2025
Luke Facey - stepped down as a Co-opted Governor in November 2025
Despoina Chatzikyriazi - stepped down as an Associate governor in May 2026
Fiona Farquhar - stepped down as a Co-opted Governor in August 2026
