Parent Governors
Mark Duffy
David Shaw
Keith Speed
Louise Hammerton
Vacancy x 2

Staff Governors
Lindsey Abbott
Paul Baker
Tom Cooke
Steve Allcott

Community Governors
Jim Dymond
Alison Green
Pam Parker
Vacancy x 1

Local Authority Governors
Melvyn Buckett (Vice Chair)
Robin Gray
Dawn Hewitt
Jane Pratt (Chair)

Clerk to the Governing Body
Wendy Hawkins

Jane Pratt MBE (Local Authority Governor)
I have been a school governor for over 22 years including six at The Connaught. Why? Because I think every child deserves to have a very good education, is able to fulfil their ambition and have the right to become a useful and responsible citizen. By serving as a member of the governor team we can, together, have a significant influence on the future of our young people – just by asking the right questions, having very high expectations and never accepting second best.

I was, until late 2011, a member of the Hampshire Governor Services Associate Tutor Team, and supported and advised governing bodies to develop their capacity to act strategically and develop effective monitoring processes. In 2011 I was appointed as Chair of an Interim Executive Board of a secondary school in Notice to Improve.

I was very proud to be awarded an MBE for voluntary service to school governance in Aldershot in 2009.

Paul Baker (Staff Governor)
I became a Governor following the departure of Mr Hannah and the restructuring the school went through. I felt I needed to be more active in ensuring the continued development and improvement of The Connaught School.

Having worked there now for 11 years, I'm passionate about seeing the reputation of the school continue to improve, whilst ensuring the highest standards of education for all our pupils.

Mark Duffy (Parent Governor)
I have a vested interest as my three children attend the school. I strongly believe that is takes a good combination of staff, parents and pupils to make a school then the child successful. I have served in the Army for 18 years and have amassed an amount of personal and leadership and management skills. I volunteer with the Army Cadet Force and have experience with working with young adults. I understand the youth and understand their views and priorities, which enables me to better work with them.

Jim Dymond (Community Governor)
I am a retired teacher. I became a School Governor because I miss the company of teaching colleagues and students. I hoped that I would be able to offer the Connaught School some of the expertise I have accrued in my thirty years in the profession.

Robin Gray (Local Authority Governor)
I am a former senior civil servant who worked in various government departments including the Treasury and the Dept. of the Environment and also served as a Local Government and a Parliamentary Boundary Commissioner. I have been a freelance management consultant since 1993 working mostly with public sector organisations.

I became a governor originally because he wanted to give something back to the school my daughters attended. I have now been a secondary governor for about 18 years, including five years at the Connaught. In those 18 years, I have chaired finance, marketing, pupil disciplinary, personnel and community committees as well as serving on pastoral and curriculum committees. I chaired the GB of one school from 2000 to 2011. In 2011 I was also appointed to an Interim Executive Board at a primary school which had gone into special measures. I have chaired Hampshire Governors Association since 2004 and in that role have been a member of various county committees concerned with education issues. I am currently a member of the Schools Forum and Hampshire Children’s Trust Board.

Alison Green (Community Governor)
I have been a Governor at The Connaught school for more than 10 years. I began as a Parent Governor when the youngest of our three sons was in year 10. I am now a Community Governor. I have always been interested in education, training as a teacher and doing supply work at The Connaught and two other local schools for many years. I am now retired.

I am Chair of the Pupil Wellbeing committee and also on the Personnel Committee.

Pam Parker (Community Governor)
I was asked to become a Parent Governor nearly 6 years ago. Since both of my children have now left I wanted to continue to be a Governor so became a Community Governor so that I could carry on my role and watch the school grow into the great school it has become and I am pleased to continue to do so.

Keith Speed (Parent Governor)
I was appointed a parent governor in October 2009 and have a daughter in year 10.

I work in the retail motor industry and was keen to get involved with the school in my spare time. Being a governor has given me a real insight to the challenges facing a modern school and I am glad to be able to support the school and make a contribution to the school’s development.

Since becoming a governor I have joined the Finance and Environment Committee, volunteer with the Duke of Edinburgh award unit and enjoy helping at many of the school’s events.