Our Governors

Eric Hemming

Chair of Governors

Eric Hemming was co-opted in July 2019.  He has been involved with corporate governance in public and private healthcare organisations as an executive and non-executive director since the early 1980s.  After he retired to IOW he became a school governor in primary academies, including as Chair of Governors in Shanklin.  He brings business and organisational management skills, including coaching and mentoring senior managers.  He is Chair of Governors at Arreton & Oakfield CE VA Primary Federation, a governor at Hunnyhill Primary School, a non-executive director of Healthwatch IOW and a founding member of the board of Ed-WISE IOW, the Island’s charitable community benefit society dedicated to enhancing the education and life chances of IOW children and young people.

Jane Wilford

Head Teacher

My name is Jane Wilford and I am the Headteacher at Wootton Community Primary School. I have been a part of the education system since leaving school many years ago, first working as a Nursery Nurse before moving onto teaching. Since moving to the Island, I have taught across the whole Primary range before becoming a Specialist Leader of Education. This role enabled me to work with colleagues from many island schools before joining Greenmount Primary as a Deputy Head. I am excited to be leading the school forward as we begin a new exciting phase working with the whole school community.

Becki Kujabi

24/02/2018-23/02/2022

Co-opted Governor

I work at Little Herons Pre-school which is on the same grounds as Wootton Community Primary School where I have worked for nearly 20 years and lived in the village for the same amount of time. My daughter attended the school over 15 years ago, so over the years I have seen many children grow up into delightful young people and feel this is in part due to Wootton Primary School and the community feel and values it promotes.

Debs Blake

21/12/2018-21/12/2022

Staff Governor

My name is Debs Blake and I am currently the Year 5 Teacher at Wootton Primary School, having worked here since January 2016.  My other responsibilities include overseeing the leadership of the Science.

Prior to working at Wootton, I worked as a class teacher at St. Thomas of Canterbury Primary School,  Assistant Headteacher at Hunnyhill Primary school and then I spent ten years working as a teacher for the Isle of Wight Family Learning Service (Adult Community).

I am a mum of two children who both attended Wootton Primary school before moving to Secondary School.  I also attended Wootton Primary as a child myself.  I have previous governor experience at this school where I held the role of Chair of Governors for 4 years.

Lesley Holmes

20/01/20 – 19/01/24

Co-Opted Governor

Alison Starnes

I am delighted to be Clerk to Governors for Wootton Community Primary School, a role that commenced in September 2020.

An an experienced clerk (since March 2014), I also look after four other governing boards on the Island and thoroughly enjoy the work.

Prior to clerking, I worked in a number of admin-based roles, and as a volunteer for a charity where I took minutes for trustee meetings.

In my spare time, I play the violin in the IW Symphony orchestra, enjoy reading and walking, and have my own book blog which is published online. I also support Portsmouth Football Club.

I am Island born and educated, with a degree in English literature.

Ben Cracknell

18/09/2018- 17/09/2022

Local Authority Governor

I volunteered as a parent governor at the start of the 2017 academic year. I have worked in local government and as a university lecturer both on the mainland for the last 15 years.

Lorraine White

22/11/19 – 21/11/23

Parent Governor

Valentina Macchi

22/11/19 – 21/11/23

Parent Governor

I landed on the Isle of Wight about a year ago after travelling and living in various parts of England, and I now know I wouldn’t want to live anywhere else but here!

My background is working with children whilst running a forest school in Sussex, where I helped them to embrace the outdoors, whilst also learning within that space and organising events with extraordinary tutors. I now write Isle of Wight based novels inspired by the people I have had the blessing to meet in my life, the boatyard we run and are developing in Wootton, classic powerboating and the timeless beauty of this Island.

Being a Governor is a wonderful opportunity to learn more about the hard work and passion the school put into our children, what an inspiration the team is and how grateful I am that my son loves Wootton Primary!