Governor Profiles

Vernon Pinches

I have lived in Plymouth for 52 years and married to my wife, Brenda, for 51 years. I retired as Headteacher of Victoria Road Primary School in 1994 and have been an active Governor of Sir John Hunt for many years. Sport has always been a passion of mine and previously I was Chairman of Plymouth Albion Rugby Club and I am still a keen supporter of Albion at the Brickfields. In my leisure time, which seems to be disappearing rapidly, I enjoy spending time on the North Cornish coast and have been know to wear a wet suit!

This is going to be a wonderful investment for families children and young people in the North West of Plymouth and I look forward to working with everyone.

John Butcher – Director of Campus

My job over the last few years has been to help develop and support the new campus vision for our community in the North West of Plymouth. What started as a part time role has now developed in to a full time commitment as I work with schools, governors, Plymouth City Council and our PFI commercial partners, Pyramid Consortium.

We now have a new Federated Governing Body, an exciting new school design, many new services for children, young people and their families and a true partnership of three schools that will improve the life opportunities for our area. And that is just the beginning!

Staff Corner – Carolyn Roberts

I am the School Administrator at Whitleigh Community Primary School and have recently been appointed staff Governor to the new Federated Governing Body. Carolyne Roberts

I have lived on the estate all of my life, attending Whitleigh Infants and Junior Schools and supporting my own children through this school and Sir John Hunt Community College. The role of staff in schools is always changing and I look forward to working with Julie Bevan from Sir John Hunt Community Sports College to represent the Campus staff's interests on the Governing Body.

Dr Rosemary Evans – Community Governor

I am a recently retired consultant paediatrician. I did my medical training in London and Bristol and have worked in Plymouth for almost thirty years. I have served as a school Governor for most of this time covering both mainstream and special education facilities.

This has been a great privilege and given me the chance to get to know many children and families over the years and to have witnessed first-hand the changes that have taken place in the education arena. I am very anxious that financial constraints should never have a negative impact on the provision of education services and am willing for my voice to be heard if I feel this is happening.

I have had three children and now have two young grandchildren living in Plymouth so am personally interested in the way forward for all the children in the City regarding education and healthy living opportunities. By serving as a school Governor I hope to be able in some small way to contribute to the ongoing development of top class education provision for all children and young people.

Sylvia Guyler – Vice Chair

My name is Sylvia Guyler and I am vice-chair of our Federated Governing Body. I have been a Governor for 18 years. My first school was Mount Wise Primary and I started there knowing nothing about school governance and the longer I am a governor the less I feel I know. I was a Trustee at the Margaret McMillan Nursery School for four years. I was asked to join Whitleigh Primary School and enjoyed my years there in our old building before moving to our present surroundings. Governors are assigned to various parts of the campus and I am a governor of Woodlands Special School together with responsibility for the Short Break Service facility, formerly known as Residence.

I am also governor of our Childrens' Centres, of which we have two, Whitleighand Southernway. I am a member of the Executive Committee of Plymouth Association of Governors. I am thinking of downsizing my house but before I do that I must downsize what's in it so I am at present sorting through a few papers which over the years seem to have taken over the house!

I can't pass a bookshop and will read all my books one day. I am proud to be a governor and particularly proud of Wood View Learning Community and all that it represents.

Verity Smith – New Parent Governor

I was really proud to be elected as the new parent governor at the beginning of the year. I have been thrown in at the deep end and wow what a lot to learn! At present I am on the Personnel Committee but hope as I become more confident to join another committee.

I have recently moved back to Whitleigh after living in Northern Ireland for 4 years. I grew up in Whitleigh, going to the primary school and Sir John Hunt. The site has now changed beyond belief and it is so exciting. The primary are now looking forward to moving into their new building in June. If anyone has any memorabilia please bring it in – it would be great fun to see how we all looked all those years ago! We would love to see as many of the old faces as we can on Thursday 22nd May 2008 when Whitleigh Primary have their last day in their old building.

I am married with three children, 2 in the nursery and 1 in the primary school. I am so glad to be back in my home community. Though my husband is not local he has settled down into the Devon way of life easily – he says he would never move back up North! Our family hobbies are walking on the moors, swimming, camping in the lovely English weather and catching up with family and friends.

As well as a parent governor I am also the Chair of the PTA for Whitleigh Primary School. We always encourage parents to join us – we are a fun bunch who get together to arrange extra activities for the children and raise funds – if you would like to support us please contact me through the primary school office or here’s a photo of me so catch me if you can in the playground!

Debbie Barenskie – Chair of Personnel

So now it is my turn! My name is Debbie Barenskie. I am the Personnel Committee Chair and like to feel that I am working in a supportive role for Wood View Community. I work for the University of Plymouth in the Finance Department. I also have a partnership business called Endeavour which offers counselling, training courses and life coaching. Previously, I have worked for the College of Further Education as a counsellor and a tutor.

I have been a governor for Woodlands, Stoke Damerel Community College and now Wood View Learning Community which now spans over 15 years of experience. I also helped on the PTA for Stoke Damerel Primary, Secondary and Woodlands. I sat on the School Admissions board for Plymouth LA which gave me an insight into the school admissions policies. I have been involved with the campus since the Strategic Partnership Board was created in 2002 and have seen a huge growth in the partnerships of the schools. It is exciting as it is a flagship initiative for the government and the staff, parents and students all now have ownership of something unique.

I am a Mum of 2 children. Michael is going to Southampton University in September and my other son Lewis, who is disabled, is at Saltash College in further education. We have lived in Milehouse for 15 years. I was born in Plymouth and brought up on the Hoe and would miss the sea if I ever had to move away. My hobbies include writing short stories, creating porcelain dolls and reading.

Ryan Wisdom

I have lived in Whitleigh most of my life and attended Whitleigh Primary and Junior Schools. I left school at 16 to start an Electrical Engineering Apprenticeship and I am now a Senior Nuclear Engineer in the Dockyard, working for Babcock Marine Ltd.

I am married with 6 children and my twins and triplets currently attend schools on the campus. I became a governor to gain a greater insight into the workings of the schools, and to hopefully help with some of the day to day decisions.

Murray Barton

My name is Murray Barton, I will be 48 this year and I have three children. Two are young adults and one attends Whitleigh Primary School. I have circa 25 years' experience in construction management and currently run my own business – Barton's Professional Building Services.I volunteered to become a school governor to repay the school, in particular Woodlands, for their commitment to disabled children. With the work and dedication of Woodlands staff my child now attends main stream Primary School, where he receives ongoing support and no doubt will achieve his full potential within the umbrella of Wood View Learning Community, a success story in motion achieved by inspirational staff in a forward thinking learning environment. In my spare time I am a keen fisherman and boat owner.

Mrs Wendy Hooper

I have been married for 38 years and have four grown up children. I have been a foster carer for 21 years and I am a long term carer for a little boy who attends Woodlands school. I am passionate about my job as a carer and hope to bring the same passion to my role as a parent governor.

Captain Kelston Stanford

I am the local Salvation Army Officer (minister) in Whitleigh and have been working here since August 2008. Prior to working here, I have been appointed to Aberdeen as a regional youth work manager for the North Scotland area for 4 years and 3 years as a Salvation Army officer in Larne (Northern Ireland).

I am proud to be a governor at the Wood View Learning Community. It is a fantastic place in our community, and a tool to bring better learning facilities to the pupils and wider community that use the facilities. I firmly believe in community, and feel that being a governor of the Wood View Learning Community is a great way to give something back to our area.

I am married to Cindy, and we have a little boy who is currently at primary school.

Andrea Hemmens

I decided at an early age to be a teacher and have worked my whole career within the special education sector. I worked at a school for young people with behavioural and emotional difficulties, in the middle of the Wiltshire countryside, as a house mother and teacher. After lessons, I found myself cooking tea and reading bed time stories into the small hours! I moved to Plymouth and spent 11 years working at Mill Ford School and became a specialist Advanced Skills Teacher, supporting teachers across the city. I then moved to Woodlands to develop their ICT provision and after a few years, was fortunate enough to have a chance at the headship role. I have 3 wonderful teenagers at home and see them as a blessing. I enjoy going to the beach, gardening and reading when I get the chance, but my most favourite activity is spending time with the young people on Campus.