Meet the Governors

I have recently joined as a governor at Harrison School and am on the Learning & Teaching committee, having previously been in education as a college lecturer whilst studying for a PGCE. These days I work as a software developer at a local IT company that provides a platform to host eLearning to businesses across the country. Besides wanting to offer my skills and experience, I have a vested interested in the success of the school with my son having started in year R in September ’21. In the short time I have been governor, I have been impressed with how the school is run and the hard work that goes on behind the scenes.

A life long resident of Fareham I have experienced many changes, the challenges faced by the "outside world" indicate that education needs to equip all children to be adaptable and knowledgeable to progress in the ever changing society in which we live. 

My history is within the surveying and education environment and I appreciate the ongoing changes that constantly develop. I believe education is life long and the challenges and opportunities need constant appraisal and action. Clearly this can be influenced by our education hence my interest in understanding the provision education can make. Being a Governor at Harrison School is exciting as principles and actions are constantly examined and developed enabling the first class educational experience for the children of Harrison to excel. As a Governor, this enables a contribution to this process to be made and discusses the school proposals and progress, "as a critical friend". 

I have been a Governor at Harrison Primary School for many years and enjoy experiencing the exciting environment which the management and teachers provide. I believe the children have an extraordinary opportunity to excel and provide for  a secure future, enabling a foundation to a successful Secondary education. The positive support and nurturing for children is demonstrated in the children's attitudes and behaviour which is always displayed routinely. I cannot praise the staff enough, in their constant efforts to provide a stimulating learning environment where children appear happy and challenged to provide their up most efforts. I feel immensely proud of Harrison Primary School and confident that the outstanding provision awarded is confirmation of the supreme efforts made to secure every child's aspirations and future.

I would recommend being a governor to everyone who cherishes the opportunities to contribute the opportunities education can bring to our children at Harrison.

I have been a Governor since 2019 and I currently act as the Development and Training Governor (DTG). In my role I support the governing body in navigating the training opportunities available to us to be able to understand, and adequately support, the challenges faced by the school leadership team.

I decided to become a Governor because the school system has greatly changed over the years and, as someone unfamiliar with school-life in the UK, I was curious to understand how education works in this Country. The best part of being a governor is being able to experience the environment, the work and the rationale behind the everyday life of our children (I have a child in Y3 and I am, for this year, the link Governor for Y5).

This gives me the opportunity to learn myself, but also to question what I see and identify possibilities for continuous improvement from the point of view of my own personal and professional experience. I am a Marine Ecologist by profession and my day-to-day job involves data analysis and technical writing. There is always something new to learn and I greatly enjoy being involved with the work of a team of professionals that supports the development of the curious ‘lifelong learners and open minds’ of the future.

I have been a Governor at the School for 25 plus years, and two of my Grandchildren attended Harrison. I was the Office Manager at the School for 27 years and a Staff Governor for 10. I was keen to keep a connection with the School after my retirement and was fortunate to be able to continue as a Governor.

I am Chair of Finance & Resources. Part of this Committee’s remit is to oversee School Budgets, and to ensure that the School is able to fulfil its financial obligations. We also have a responsibility to ensure that financial decisions are made in the best interests of all the children.

I have seen the School grow and evolve over the years into a successful and highly regarded place with happy and engaged learners. We do our best to improve constantly and it is a privilege to be part of this journey.

Hello,

I’m Katie, I have been a governor since Feb 2019. I currently am the safeguarding governor and I am aligned to the Year Cohort 3. I sit on the Full Governor Board and the Learning and Teaching Committee. 

I am a serving Police Officer within Hampshire Constabulary, having 20+ years of policing experience. I currently work within the Youth Offending Team covering Portsmouth, Southampton and the IOW. I work as part of a multi-agency team in order to help prevent young people from offending/re-offending. 

As safeguarding governor I draw upon my professional experience to help support the Designated Safeguarding Lead. The DSL and I discuss policies and procedures to make sure that all pupils are safe and to ensure any risks are identified and referred to relevant partner agencies – ensuring confidentially at all times.  From my observations Harrison is a safe and nurturing environment. All staff are aware of their duty of care in regards to safeguarding.  Training is always ongoing to ensure all staff are fully up to date on all aspects of safeguarding. I maintain my understanding of ‘Safeguarding’ through continuous professional/personal development.

My Son joined Harrison in 2018 and this prompted me to enquire about becoming a governor. I was curious as to what a governor did and I wanted to become more involved within the school.  Being a governor has provided an amazing insight into the workings both strategically and operationally within Harrison Primary. As a year link governor I have the pleasure to observe lessons and witness the teaching of pupils from year R to the current year 3. I would like to continue this role until the cohort finish their Harrison journey at the end of year 6. It is very reassuring to see how much dedication, professionalism and care goes into the teaching and the support of every pupil. It is a great privilege to be a governor and it is very rewarding knowing that you are having an positive impact.

I was very pleased to be elected as a Harrison governor in January 2023, with a specific role as a Curriculum governor. I also sit on the Finance and Resources Committee. This has given me an incredible insight into the operational aspects of how the school is run. In my day job, I am an analyst for the Ministry of Defence.

I became a governor in order to give something back to the school and community which has given so much to my family. My daughter is a former pupil at Harrison and my son is currently a pupil here, so it is an honour to contribute more directly into the school. It is remarkable to see the amount of thought, work and caring that is put into every facet of the school life by all of the staff for the benefit of every pupil.

I look forward to understanding more about how the school operates and getting to play a small role in the future of Harrison Primary School.

I became a governor in 2021, and am on the Learning & Teaching Committee. Some of the governors are attached to specific year groups, and I am aligned to Year 1. I work as a Cost Manager at a large UK Bank, and also volunteer as Chair of a local Scout Group. Since getting started in the Governor role in a very challenging time, it's great to see how professional and committed all of the team in Harrison are. I wanted to get involved as a Governor as both my children have attended the school (eldest son now in Year 9 at Cams Hill and my daughter still in Harrison in Year 4), and I do believe in the importance of quality education and developing young people to their best potential.  

I joined the Harrison Primary School Board as a Local Authority Governor in November, 2024.  Previously, I spent five years as a co-opted Governor at the John O’Gaunt Secondary School in Hungerford, Berkshire.   Although I am now retired, I have been active in the business community, running a marketing company for over 20 years.  Having moved to Fareham in 2017, I am active in both the Fareham Sailing Club and the Fareham Rotary Club.  In common with all new governors at Harrison, I am impressed with the work that goes on, often unseen, that puts the school at the top of the league.  I hope that whatever skills and experience I may offer will contribute to its ongoing success.

I was elected as a governor in May 2024 and am a member of the Finance & Resources Committee. Harrison was my primary school, and my daughter now attends so I have a close affinity to the school. I have over a decade of experience working in the environmental services sector as a marketing and communications professional. My work in sustainability has ignited a commitment to actively combatting climate change whilst generating social value within my local community. When the opportunity arose to join the board of governors, I was excited to be bring my skills to contribute and support the team to build upon and nurture the already mature culture and values that the school lives by to create the best environment for our children to flourish.

I was elected as a governor at Harrison Primary School in September 2024 and currently serve on the Learning and Teaching Committee and the Headteacher Performance Panel as well as being Link Governor to the 2022/2023 cohort. 

As a parent with two children at Harrison Primary School—my eldest having started in 2020—I am passionate about contributing to the school, and as a New Zealander that relocated to the UK in 2019 it has been a great way to meet people in the community. Before becoming a governor, I served for four years as a senior member of the PTA, first as secretary and later as communications lead. While I have stepped back to focus on my role as a governor, I remain part of the committee in a less active capacity.

 
I strongly believe that every child deserves the best possible education, regardless of their circumstances. Growing up, I was fortunate to have role models within my school who supported me and nurtured my education. It’s incredibly rewarding to now work alongside a governing body and school staff who are so dedicated to ensuring the success of our children.

 
Professionally, I bring over 20 years of management and leadership experience in marketing and business development and I am recognised as a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Management (FCIM). My background spans the arts and major events, and since 2019, I have been working in the legal sector.

 
I am honoured to play a role in supporting the continued success of Harrison Primary School.

I was elected as a governor in November 2024 and am a member of the Teaching and Learning Committee. Both of my children attend Harrison Primary and have thrived since they started. As the Head of School for two infant schools in Portsmouth, I am deeply passionate about the transformative power of education in shaping life opportunities. With 20 years of experience as a governor in my professional career, I fully understand the crucial role this position plays in supporting and developing schools. Since my children joined Harrison Primary, I have been consistently impressed by the school’s culture and ethos, which inspired me to join the governing body. It is a privilege to serve as a parent governor, contributing to such a committed school community that continually strives for excellence and positive outcomes for all students.