Governing Body
Welcome from the Chair – Sharon Taylor
Kings Copse is small Primary School situated in Hedge End that has a Visual Impairment Unit attached. It is the only school in the south of Hampshire to have this and was purposely built on one level, with wider doorways and space to accommodate children with a range of varying needs.
Every year, we see a new group of children that join the family of Kings Copse. As governors we watch them develop and thrive on what the school has to offer. The staff team are committed and dedicated to each and every child with the senior leadership team know every child by name and know the strengths of each and every child.
The school has fantastic grounds, with a range of gardens which are supported by the schools gardening club. Excellent apparatus for outdoor play and development, and a wonderful area for our Early Years and Key Stage 1 children to develop and engage through play.
The governors here at Kings Copse work hard to support and challenge the leadership team. We remain strategic in our role ensuring that we focus on the 3 key areas of governance –
1) Ensuring clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction
2) Holding executive leaders to account for the educational performance of the organisation and it pupils, and the effective and efficient performance management of staff
3) Overseeing the financial performance of the school and making sure that its money is well spent.
Children and parents may often see governors in and around school carrying out monitoring visits, meeting with children to find out about their learning and talking to staff to understand the progress and development of children in the school. We triangulate this evidence with that presented to us by the leadership team, to ensure that the school us performing as it should be.
At the heart of everything that we do is Safeguarding and along with the education and development of all the children, we have a responsibility to ensure that Safeguarding is effective across the school, that staff and children and safe from harm and that procedures and policies are followed as they should be.
We continue to be committed to the school and will do everything that we can to ensure that each and every child has a wonderful journey though Kings Copse.
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Sharon Taylor
Chair of Governors
Meet the governors
Hayley Ferguson – Headteacher
It has been an absolute pleasure to be the Head Teacher at Kings Copse since I joined the team in September 2017. With a career in education going back to 1997, I have worked across a wide range of schools in a wide range of areas, including in the north east of England and Essex before coming to Hampshire as deputy head of a 3 form junior school. I have taught across the primary range and have enjoyed and learnt from all of these experiences in education.
I am passionate about Kings Copse, always striving for the best for all, not least the children, but all of the staff too. I am incredibly proud of what we do every day together as a hard working team. Aiming high to achieve strong academic outcomes, along with building positive relationships with everyone are the core of what we work to achieve, so that all children can aspire to have bright and successful futures.
When I am not at work, my own three children keep me busy, and remind me of how important it is to value every child I work with as an individual. My family likes to travel in our motorhome, and we also like to fly to Spain to go and visit friends from when we lived there for 2 and half years. I also like to potter in the garden, particularly when it is warm and sunny!
Sharon Taylor – Chair of Governors – Parent Governor
I was elected as a Parent governor at Kings Copse Primary School in May 2021. I have worked in education for over 20 years, as a teacher of ESOL, Literacy and Functional Skills English and later GCSE English. I was also a Teacher Trainer delivering PGCE and Cert Ed programmes. Before the birth of my son, I was Head of Department at a large Further Education College, managing large numbers of pupils, ensuring achievement and success and managing budgets. This included a range of off-site provision. I became a school governor 9 years ago after being asked if I could support an Infant school that was struggling with its English and maths provision.
I later went on to become a trustee on a Multi Academy Trust and later a Chair of that Trust.
After the birth of my son, I moved into school governance as a career and have spent the last 6 years supporting schools across Hampshire, Portsmouth, Southampton, Bournemouth and the Isle of Wight with school governance, developing and training governing boards and providing advice and strategic direction as required.
I now work for Southampton City Council providing governance support across the city.
With my education background and school governance knowledge, I want to be able to support the school especially during these challenging times. I live in Hedge End and feel that it is time to support my local school.
Ritchie Latham – Governor - Vice Chair
I was appointed to the Kings Copse Governing Body in 2021. My career background is working in large banking organisations around the world and I hope that my experience, along with a strong desire to see the best outcomes for pupils, can be of use to the School.
I grew up in Hedge End (although I attended a rival Primary school) and my daughter is an ex-pupil of Kings Copse, so I am very happy to be able to do something that benefits the pupils, the school, and the wider community here.
I currently have responsibility for Safeguarding.
Francesca Endean – Co-opted Governor
I have been a co-opted Governor at Kings Copse Primary School since April 2019. I have taken on the role of Development and Training Governor. Although I am a co-opted Governor, I also have a child at Kings Copse School. I enjoy playing a proactive role in the schools ongoing educational success and ensuring that every child is given the opportunity to flourish. I currently run my own business, and have come from a retail management background, bringing with me to the role extensive experience in managing people and teams.
Andy Dickie – Parent Governor
I have been part of the governing body for Kings Copse School since October 2018. I have two daughters at the school. My working back ground for the past 20 years has been in sports coaching. 18 of these year's with Southampton FC. Primarily football but now every aspect of sports. For many of these years I worked in schools with all ages of children.
Having seen first-hand the importance of education right from day one of school to the very last day. I feel I have transferable skills which could help to ensure children are in an amazing environment, this is why I became a Governor.
Anna Adams - Parent Govenor
I joined the governing body in November 2022 as a parent governor. I have been a parent ot Kings
Copse for the last 6 years and will continue to be for another 4 years. I have been a teacher for 17years, with the last 10 years working as the Special Eductaional Needs Coordinator as well as a designated safeguarding lead. I also deliver the Early Carers Teacher Programme within the Multi Academy Trust that I work for. I decided to become a governor as I wanted to give something back to the school community. I feel
that with my education background I can support the school in striving to encourage the children to be the best that they can be.
Carmen Arguelles Segura – Community Governor
Hola! I’ve lived in Hedge End for almost 3 years, but have been in England for 8 years after moving here from Spain. I love the area and I really think being a Governor of the school is a great opportunity to contribute to my local community and to support young people’s futures.
Hayley Fortes – Community Governor
I grew up in Hedge End and live very close to Kings Copse. My 2 children attend theschool and are currently in years R and 3 and as such, I was really interested in learning more about what goes on behind the scenes of the school. I became a governor in February 2023 and am really enjoying being able to have an impact on the education of not only my children, but all of the pupils at Kings Copse.
Simon Hassett – Associate member
I was appointed to the Kings Copse governing body in November 2023 and I have three daughters at the school. I am the founder of a company based in Hedge End that provides hardware, software and educational resources to secondary schools in 14 countries. My 15+ years experience of starting and running companies means that I can offer insights and assistance in a number of areas within the school.
Sarah Matthews - Staff Governor
I joined the governing body in 2021. Having worked at Kings Copse since 2016, I was keen to find new ways to support the school and further my knowledge of school improvement. I absolutely love working with the children at Kings Copse and am passionate about making our school the best it can be for our pupils.
I have previously taught in Year 4; I am now the Year 6 teacher and I love the extra fun and challenges that come hand in hand with this year group. I am proud to be part of a strong and nurturing team of adults at Kings Copse who always strive for the best outcomes for our children, both academically and emotionally.
Before training to be a teacher, I worked as an LSA in a Southampton school for 3 years. I feel that my roles as an LSA, teacher, and now a governor give me a good insight into a range of different perspectives within our school.
Do you have a few hours each month to spare to support your local school?
We’re currently looking for new school governors to join the governing board at Kings Copse Primary School.
No governor or school experience necessary. You do not need to have a background in education or be a parent at the school. Training and support will be provided along with opportunity to develop your own skills.
If you are interested in volunteering, supporting your local community, and willing to support the school, then please contact Sharon Taylor – Chair of the Governing Board at Chair@kingsapps.co.uk
For more information about the school, please visit our website at Kings Copse Primary School