My name is Liz Ford, I am a Foundation Governor, and I identify strongly with the Diocese of Chichester’s aim that Church Schools should be “Deeply Christian, serving the common good.” I really value the opportunities I have had to serve our communities through my work as part of the Governing Board, and my time visiting the schools and volunteering at school events. I have really enjoyed getting to know the children and teachers in both of our schools, and have been impressed by their ethos, and the way that they value their pupils as whole persons.

It is my privilege to continue to serve our school communities as Chair of the board. I am eternally grateful that education is free and available to all in the UK. I am thankful for the School Leaders, Teachers, Teaching Assistants, and all Staff Members who invest so much of themselves into providing our children with this education. And I am committed to playing my part in our school communities to promote the schools’ visions and values, for the benefit of all, and work together to secure the best education and opportunities for our children.

As a member of Herstmonceux Free Church, I have had the pleasure of leading church assemblies at Herstmonceux C of E School for some years. I am originally from South Wales, but have lived in Herstmonceux for 14 years and am really thankful for this lovely community. I have experience in charity volunteer work in Romania and with the homeless in Eastbourne. I am a partner in our family farm, and have two children, both of whom attend Herstmonceux C of E Primary School.

Being a Foundation Governor for Sussex Spires Federation feels like coming home. I was a pupil at Old Heathfield Primary School, which later became ASSR.  My boys attended ASSR and some years later I was employed as a TA/Reception Year Practitioner.  Having had a long association with ASSR, I am looking forward to forging the same connections with all schools in the Sussex Spires Federation.  

I have over 25 years’ experience within the Education sector having a BA (Hons) in Professional Educational Studies. I have worked across all age ranges from Nursery to Post 16. For the last 10 years, I had my own training company specialising in Residential Child and Adult Care.  

For me, it is important that children receive effective teaching meeting their individual needs. With appropriate planning and teaching, effective learning takes place. This allows children to flourish and have a sense of belonging within a safe, secure and caring environment. 

I am a Christian and a member of Heathfield Benefice Mothers’ Union. As a Foundation Governor, I am part of the Ethos Group and I continue to develop the links between school and the churches in Heathfield Benefice, through my association with Mothers’ Union. In my role as Foundation Governor, it is important to ensure all Christian values are being met.

Having visited The Gambia many times, I have close connections with nursery schools and medical facilities. I have also had the pleasure of training Early Years practitioners in Gambia on a range of subjects including class behaviour management, effective communication, and the importance of play and observation.  

In my spare time, I enjoy a range of creative activities but especially quilting, sewing, scrapbooking and card making. 

I am Executive Headteacher of the Sussex Spires Federation schools (Herstmonceux C of E Primary School and All Saints’ and St Richard’s C of E Primary School) and we are currently partnered with St Mark’s CE Primary School.  I am responsible for overall leadership including the strategic decisions and processes across the schools whilst the Heads of School deal with the day to day management and leadership.

The Federation/Partnership enables leaders to work together in a way often not possible across schools which enables a synergy of leadership experience and expertise; it also provides opportunities for teachers and children which would not be possible in individual small schools. Our aim as a federation is to work together whilst retaining the individuality of each school.

It is a joy to work with the children at all our schools, they make me smile every day, and working with children there is always something new to learn. I have been a governor in a range of schools as well as the federation and so fully appreciate the commitment and hard work that governors put in to their role.  Governors from different backgrounds and different experiences enrich the leadership of our schools.

My priority is always to do my best to enable all in our school communities to be they very best they can be. I am completely committed to the children in our care and love seeing them learn and flourish during their time with us.  They are the reason I do my job and they are at the heart of everything I do.  Sometimes as Executive Headteacher I face difficult decisions, but if I’m ever in any doubt, I simply ask myself, “What is best for the children?”

I have many years’ experience of teaching in small village schools with mixed age classes as well as experience teaching in a large two-form entry primary school in London. I have also been a headteacher and currently teach part-time in another village school. My own children have attended a primary school in Uckfield and it has been valuable to acquire a parent’s perspective on primary education. I attended Church of England primary and secondary schools as a child and greatly value the strong moral and spiritual foundation that this experience gave me. I have not always been a teacher: I have experience in residential property having worked in sales, lettings and property management for estate agencies in central London. I would like to offer my experience to help guide the schools strategically forward to achieve the very best education for the children as well as ensuring the unique nurturing experience that being at a small village Christian school brings. 

I am worked in education my entire life- initially in Inner London schools for 10 years before moving to the London Borough of Merton where I was a Headteacher firstly at a small one form entry First school and then at a growing primary school which went from 2 forms of entry to 3 forms of entry during my time as Headteacher. 

I retired from Headship in 2019 and currently work as an Educational Consultant supporting schools in Merton and Sutton. My husband and I moved to Pound Green a couple of years ago and I wanted to offer support to the local community within an area in which I have knowledge and an interest. I would say - after 40 years working in schools - to have been very fortunate to have enjoyed my time supporting children and families and hopefully making a difference to their lives. 

When I am not working, I enjoy walking our lively sprocker spaniel on the local countryside walks and reading a good book.

I am a mother of two and grandmother to three. I am an active member of the PCC. I am a volunteer at St Mark's and in the community. Prior to retirement, I worked in Special Education Needs (SEN) education and paediatric palliative care. I have qualifications in counselling and British Sign language (BSL).  I have taught BSL and two other forms of sign language to children and adults with SEN. In my spare time I give counselling to patients undergoing a specific form of neurological surgery due to being the first person in UK to have this surgery myself - I am well qualified.

I am Vicar of the Heathfield Benefice, which includes the churches of All Saints', St Richard's and St George's. Before becoming a parish priest, I had a career in project management in the heritage and cultural sectors, latterly specialising in learning and development. It is a privilege to be a Foundation Governor. There has been a strong relationship between All Saints' and St Richard's School and the local churches for many years and I look forward to helping the Federation's schools continue to grow and flourish. 

I am Deborah Scott-Bromley and I am Rector of Herstmonceux and Wartling. I have been a parish priest in Hampshire and at Malmesbury Abbey, Wiltshire. I am a Sussex person by birth and am glad to be back on home ground.  I am married and have a son and daughter and three grandchildren.  I have been a governor at three primary schools and one secondary school and have always found it very rewarding. I'm looking forward to getting to know the children, staff and parents of Herstmonceux and helping where I can. 

I was appointed rector of the Parish of Buxted and Hadlow Down in September 2020. Previously I served in the Anglican Church of Canada for 20 years in Dawson City, Yukon; Vancouver, British Columbia; Christopher Lake, Saskatchewan; and Westport, Ontario. Whilst serving in the Diocese of Saskatchewan, I also served as Director of Youth Ministry. I took a sabbatical in 2015 and was appointed as a Visiting Scholar at Pusey House/St. Cross College, Oxford where I looked at the Pursuit of Holiness as a Mission Imperative for the Local Church. I hope to assist with the integration of the Christian faith into the life of the schools in my parish.  

I am the father of a pupil in year 5 at Herstmonceux and of two teenage boys. I am the Director of the Quality of Life Foundation, a charity committed to making health, wellbeing and social impact central to how we create and care for our homes and neighbourhoods. I was also formerly a children's author, with experience of visiting schools around the country.  

I am a full time parent to two young children, one at All Saints' and St Richard's, and the other not yet in school, and we have lived in East Sussex for three years. Before having my eldest child, I worked as a Learning Support Assistant to children with additional needs in a mainstream junior school. Prior to that, I was a research assistant at Leicester University in the Institute of Child Health, researching child mental health with a focus on child centred practice. I have a degree and Masters in Psychology and Psychological Research Methods, and a PhD specialising in doctor-patient communication in child and adolescent mental health services. I am passionate about child development, using the outside in children's learning, the value of play, and the mental health and wellbeing of children and young people. I also have an interest in home and alternative education, and flexischooling. I volunteer at ASSR with reading and at forest school and love spending time with the children - I always leave smiling! I am a Christian and regularly attend Christ Church in Horam, and have also held the position of safeguarding officer at our previous church in Warwickshire. I hope to put some of the knowledge I have gathered over the years into my role as parent governor and help the federation to continue to provide a safe space where our children can thrive and flourish.

I am proud to hold the position of Federation School Business Manager. I thoroughly enjoy the work that I do and am particularly passionate about identifying and securing funding opportunities that directly benefit our pupils. Whether through grants, partnerships, or innovative budgeting, I am committed to ensuring that our resources are used in the most effective way to create a positive and effective learning environment for our pupils and to make opportunities available to every child.

As a member of staff and part of the wider school community, I bring a practical perspective to the governing body, helping to align strategic decisions with the operational realities of school life. I am committed to contribute to the continued success and improvement of our federated schools.