Fran Chevis – Foundation Governor

Fran has lived in High Halden for over twenty years and is an active member of St Mary’s Parochial Church Council (PCC), which she represents as Foundation Governor for the Flourish Together Federation. Both of Fran’s teenage children attended High Halden School from Reception through to Year 6, giving her a long-standing connection with the school community. Over the years, she has supported children’s activities in the village including Messy Church, the 9 o’Clock Club toddler group, and holiday clubs.
As a preschool Forest School leader and Early Years practitioner, Fran brings a deep understanding of the importance of a nurturing, safe and inspiring school environment. She is committed to strengthening the links between the schools and their church communities, encouraging the Christian character and vision that underpin the Federation.

Reverend Sue Rose – Ex-Officio Foundation Governor

Revd Sue was licensed as Rector of Bethersden, High Halden and Woodchurch in October 2020. She and her husband Mike, who is also ordained, minister together across the three village churches. They have adult children and a grandson living in Sussex.
Sue enjoys leading collective worship and visiting classes regularly, giving her the chance to know pupils well in her role as both priest and governor. Before ordination, Sue worked in senior management roles in the NHS and later as a Director for a software company serving health and social care.

Rob De-Keyzer – Staff Governor

Rob joined High Halden in September 2022 and is currently the Year 5/6 teacher as well as subject lead for PE, geography and history. He has taught for seven years across different phases, holding leadership roles in maths, KS1, and lower KS2.
Rob lives in Ashford with his wife (a teacher at Woodchurch) and their two young sons. He is passionate about inclusive teaching, developing a broad and balanced curriculum, and ensuring sporting opportunities are available to all children.

Clare Silcock – Chair of Governors

Clare lives in Woodchurch with her husband and two teenage sons, both former pupils of Woodchurch CE Primary School. She joined the governing body in 2019, previously serving as Chair at Woodchurch before taking on the Federation role.
Clare has been an active member of village life since moving to Woodchurch ten years ago, serving as a Parish Councillor and Chair of the PTA, and supporting her sons’ football teams in High Halden. She is passionate about the difference strong village schools make to pupils and their communities, and brings enthusiasm, drive and a clear focus on ensuring the very best primary school experience for every child.

Nik Le Maréchal – Chair of Finance, Co-opted Governor

Nik has been a governor since 2013. He has over twenty years’ experience in banking and finance in a range of customer and management roles.
Nik lives locally and has three children, one of whom currently attends High Halden while the older two have moved on to secondary school. A keen cricketer, he also coaches junior teams in the community. Nik brings financial expertise and a strong commitment to supporting the schools in their ongoing improvement.

Louise Collins – Local Authority Governor

Louise has been a governor since 2015 and is the parent of two children now in secondary school. She works in the global retail sector for a large lifestyle brand, specialising in planning, data analysis, health and safety, and compliance.
Her professional background provides valuable skills in organisation, resourcing and accountability, which she brings to her governor role in ensuring the schools remain well-managed and forward-looking.

Hilary Ndongong – Parent Governor

Hilary lives in Woodchurch with her family and has twin daughters currently at the school. She is an experienced English teacher with a particular interest in pastoral care and holistic development.
Since moving to Woodchurch in 2019, Hilary has been keen to contribute to village and school life. She believes children thrive when they are happy, supported and inspired both at home and in school, and is committed to helping pupils flourish as confident, motivated and thoughtful young people.

Richard Holden – Co-opted Governor

Richard lives in Woodchurch with his family. Two of his three children currently attend the school. He works in the travel industry, specialising in technology, with more than 20 years’ experience in project management and strategic planning.
With a strong personal interest in the arts and sports, Richard is keen to support the Federation in broadening opportunities for pupils and ensuring both schools continue to grow and succeed.

Amy Mealham – Parent Governor

Amy has lived in High Halden since 2015 with her husband and two children, both of whom attend the village school. She became a governor in 2018.
Amy works as a Senior Investigator, overseeing the management of criminal cases. She brings strong analytical and auditing skills to her role, alongside a passion for education and a belief in stimulating, supportive environments where children can develop as individuals and achieve their best potential.

Kelly Burlton – Executive Headteacher, Ex-Officio Governor

Kelly joined High Halden as a newly qualified teacher in 2004 and has held numerous leadership roles including ICT lead, English coordinator and Senior Teacher. She became Headteacher of High Halden in 2013 and, from 2019, began supporting Woodchurch CE Primary as Acting Executive Headteacher. She is now the substantive Executive Head of both schools.
Kelly lives in Singleton with her husband and young son. She brings a wealth of experience in leading school improvement, alongside her deep knowledge of both schools and communities.

Gina McKay – Foundation Governor

Gina moved to Woodchurch in 2020 with her husband. They have a grown-up son and two teenage grandchildren. Before retiring in 2011, Gina worked for 41 years in education, supporting children across early years, primary and secondary.
Passionate about lifelong learning, Gina enjoys sharing her skills with the children at Woodchurch and has supported Year 2 in school, as well as working with the local museum. Her hobbies include gardening, cooking, and making personalised cards for family and friends. Gina is committed to ensuring all children have access to high quality education that inspires curiosity and confidence.

Peter Brabner – Co-opted Governor

Peter grew up in Eastbourne before studying Physics at university in Kent, later completing a PGCE at Christchurch University. He has taught for five years and joined Woodchurch in 2023, leading music and modern foreign languages.
He lives in Cranbrook with his partner, a midwife and community nurse, and enjoys music and walking. As a first-time governor, Peter is enthusiastic about supporting pupils and families and contributing to the Federation’s vision for education.

Gardner Crawley – Co-opted Governor

Gardner has lived in High Halden since 2007 and has deep roots in Kent, where he has lived for over 70 years. He has three grown-up children and two teenage grandchildren. Educated at Maidstone Grammar School and later at Queen Mary College, London, Gardner trained as a civil engineer and continues to work in the field.
He is Chairman of the Rother Valley Railway Heritage Trust and also manages his family’s small sheep farm in Bethersden. His motivation for becoming a governor came from volunteering with High Halden’s Class 5/6 reading programme and supporting the Tenterden Rotary Christmas Story Competition. He is keen to help both schools nurture well-educated, motivated children.

Charlotte Burgess-Foundation Governor

Charlotte lives in Woodchurch with her family, and her three children attend Woodchurch CE Primary School. She is an active member of Gateway Church in Ashford and is passionate about supporting the federation’s Christian vision in her role as a Foundation Governor. Charlotte works as a Customer Accounts Manager for a construction company also based in Woodchurch, bringing communication and organisational skills to the governing body. She enjoys gardening and leads a lunchtime gardening club at the school. Charlotte is committed to creating a positive environment for all pupils and is passionate about helping children flourish both academically and spiritually.