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Mary Rose Academy


Governors

The membership of the governing body of Redwood Park Academy is determined by the Terms of Reference.

There are three types of governors:

  • Co-opted Governors
  • Parent Governors
  • Staff Governors

Co-opted and Parent Governors are all volunteers who are not paid.  The staff governors are all paid members of staff but do not receive any additional payments in connection with being a governor. 

There is also a Governance Professional who arranges and attends meetings supporting legal and constitutional matters, but cannot vote at any meeting. This is a paid post.

Statutory information about the current governors and resignations can be found in the Governance Documents section below.

Committee Link roles are allocated in areas such as Safeguarding, Health and Safety, Quality of Education, Wellbeing to name a few, for more information about these roles please contact  sat.governance@solentacademiestrust.info

Minutes from meetings of the Academy Committee are available on request.

To contact our Chair of Governors please email: carol.tarr@solentacademiestrust.info

Mary Rose Academy is part of Solent Academies Trust.  to view the Trust's Governance/Financial and Gender Pay Gap Reports please click this button

Statutory Information 

 

Academy Committee 

 

  • Faye Watton-Lawrence
    Principal

    Faye Watton-Lawrence

    A little about myself

    I have been working in special education for the majority of my career, initially in London and now in my home city of Portsmouth. I am currently in my third year working with the Solent Academies Trust, initially at Redwood Park, I then transferred to be Assistant Headteacher at Mary Rose, becoming Head of School in 2020. I completed a Postgraduate Diploma in Autism in Education in 2015, with a focus on innovative strategies for supporting self-regulation in children with Autism. My focus is, and always will be, on supporting our pupils and their families to achieve the happiest, most independent and fulfilling futures possible.

    Hobbies and interests

    I am married and live in Southsea with two young daughters. Having left London for a life by the seaside, I enjoy long walks and days out at the beach with my family. I am a keen baker and love sharing my cooking with family and friends - as well as the staff and children at Mary Rose!

    What excites me about my role

    It is my absolute privilege to work alongside the pupils, families and staff at Mary Rose. What a joy to work in an environment where no day is ever the same and where having fun is central to everything that we do. The team at Mary Rose is a superb example of how hard work, determination, creativity and nurture combine to make something very special. Together they ensure that every child is given the best opportunity to shine possible - no one could ask for more

  • Carol Tarr
    Chair of Governors

    Carol Tarr

    I retired in 2018 after a career spanning 31 years with Portsmouth City Council. For the past 20 of those years I specialised in Home to School Transport ending my time as Transport Operations Manager.

    From my early days in the role I have seen many changes as the service grew from being a small team of just two of us in a job share through to leading a team of five office staff and 130 Passenger Assistants.

    I am Portsmouth born and bred, married with a grown up daughter.

    I am an avid knitter making anything from cat toys to fundraise for a local cat group to knitting children's jumpers which are distributed through a food bank.

    I have seen first-hand the fantastic work that Mary Rose Academy carries out and the difference they make to pupils and families. I relish the opportunity to serve as a governor so I can continue to support Mary Rose Academy in any way that I can and hope to be able to draw on my past work experience to help me in this role.

  • Leone Hill
    Co-opted Governor

    Leone Hill

    I come from Portsmouth and have always worked in this area. I was vice chair of governors at East Shore School and campaigned for a new special school. I joined the shadow governors for the new school and then the Mary Rose governors.

    It is great to be associated with such a wonderful school where young people can achieve so much.

    I have worked for Jobcentre Plus, part of the DWP, for many years helping people find employment, training and support. I also help employers, large and small, with their recruitment. Our work is largely with people who may find it harder to get back to work because of the various issues, barriers or difficulties they have. This includes people with health conditions and disabilities.

    Supporting young people (18-24) into jobs and apprenticeships is also a priority. Part of my job is to work with all sorts of local organisations in the area including the council, charities and support groups to make sure our clients have the best possible chance of gaining the skills they need to move into work. It is really rewarding when people land a job especially when they have had to overcome lots of barriers achieve their goal.

    Away from work I spend a lot of time in North Wales but haven't yet managed to master the language!

  • Melissa Blignaut
    Staff Govenor

    Melissa Blignaut

    I om excited to become a Staff Governor for Mory Rose Academy. I believe it will provide me with a valuable opportunity to gaining deeper knowledge and understanding of the school and its future development. I am passionate about advocating for marginalized communities, I am eager to be involved as a Governor and contribute to making a positive impact. By sharing my unique perspective as an adult with disabilities, from a different ethnic background than the majority of my colleagues, I hope to provide a different viewpoint and enhance the conversation.

    Hoving previously worked as a SEND TA for 7 years and currently, in my second year of teaching, I am thrilled to be port of the rollout of our enhanced curriculum and bespoke pathways of Mary Rose. I am committed to ensuring that no pupil gets left behind by personalising our approach of assessment and tracking progress. I recognise the importance of the strong relationships thot Solent Academies Trust has built within Portsmouth and value the input of families and their lived experiences.

    I look forward to further developing my leadership skills and contributing to the following areas: advocating for pupils and their families, promoting inclusive language and attitudes towards disabilities and neurodivergence, ensuring representation and equality for all pupils, and providing equal opportunities for pupils to thrive.

  • Emma Holmes
    Governor

    Emma Holmes

    Following a short career in adult social care, I made the move to education in 2016. Since then, I have worked as a Learning Support Assistant before training to teach in 2017. When I completed my training, I work for five years at a Special School in Winchester, as well as being part of the safeguarding and governing team there. I currently work at a special School in Waterlooville as well as being a Safeguarding Governor at another special school in the area.

    I am passionate about supporting children with physical and therapy needs and supporting children with developing their communication in whatever way that may be. I hope that my experience working in a special school as well as my governing experience will enable me to help support Mary Rose Academy through my Governor Role. Outside of the exciting world of education, I enjoy travelling, cooking and going to the theatre with my husband.

  • Arul Tharmarajah
    Parent Governor

    Arul Tharmarajah

    I was born in Sri Lanka. I studied my first degree (BBA) and worked in Sri Lanka and Africa in the IT and Manufacturing sectors. I studied for my MBA in the UK where I worked until becoming a full time carer to my disabled twin daughters who attend Mary Rose Academy.

  • Vicky Cleaver
    Parent Governor

    Vicky Cleaver

    I am a qualified teacher with experience working with foundation and KS1 children, most recently I worked with Portsmouth Football club delivering training programmes to young people classified as, or at risk of becoming NEET (Not in education, employment or training). As a Parent Governor I would like to contribute to the support systems ensuring our children get the most out of their education.

  • Nicholas Gibson
    Co-Opted Governor

    Nicholas Gibson

    I was born and raised in Portsmouth, attending Omega street school in the early 1960s and lived in Omega street. I started working for a stevedoring / ship broking company in 1976 specialising in shipments to the Channel Islands. I have been fortunate enough to remain in shipping all of my life, working in Portsmouth docks as the General Manager and eventually serving as UK Director for a channel island company based in Jersey.

    I formally retired in 2021; however, I still remain actively fulfilling the role of consultant to Ferryspeed serving the freight market for the CI.

    Upon retirement I applied to the judiciary to volunteer as a Justice of the Peace (Magistrate) I am delighted to say, following my training, was appointed to the Portsmouth bench where I sit two to three times a month.

    Although now divorced, I was married for 35 years and have four grown up sons and four grandchildren, ages ranging from 8 to 3.

    I am an avid reader and love to read books of any description.

    I love music and play the piano and guitar but must add for my own pleasure.

    Following my association with the PCC charity Shaping Portsmouth, I mentored two groups of students at Littlegreen Academy. I found the whole experience incredibly rewarding and formed a bond with the school and Trust. I enquired how I could continue, and the role of governor was suggested, considered and I accepted. I am happy to bring the experience of my working life coupled with my new role as Magistrate to the role of Governor on Mary Rose Academy Committee

  • Kate Buckingham
    Staff Governor

    Kate Buckingham

Governance Documents