Governors Bio
Fay Hodder - Trust Appointed Governor & Chair of Governing Body
I joined the St Nicholas governing body in January 2023. I have 20 years of finance experience in a variety of leadership roles, I am hoping my knowledge in Finance, HR and facilities management will help me in supporting the school and staff to continue to achieve their objectives and goals. From the moment we started our journey with the school my family has been met with nothing but love, kindness, and encouragement. I will do all I can to assist the school to continue this culture for all future St Nicholas families.
Sarah Maggs - Trust Appointed Governor
From the moment my family joined the St Nicholas’ Family, we knew it was a warm and nurturing community where our two daughters could thrive. I am an experienced teacher, having worked in primary schools for many years, specialising in supporting children with social, emotional, and mental health (SEMH) needs. This passion has led me to now pursue further studies in psychological mental health, building on my expertise in education.
I’m delighted to serve as a governor, supporting the school’s fantastic staff team as both an experienced educator and parent. I look forward to working with the St Nicholas’ Team to support the school in continuing to flourish.
Chloe Mills - Parent Governor & Vice Chair
From the moment we stepped into St Nicholas’ as a family, we felt that it was the best match for us in terms of ethos and culture and we were so pleased when we found out that our eldest had secured a place in reception. It’s a privilege to be a parent governor, supporting the excellent staff team and I have an invested interest with two sons currently in attendance and one starting in 2023! I have worked solely in education throughout my career and I run a company delivering training for students, staff and parents in schools across the South. We are a leading company for revision and study skills and also spend time developing leadership and emotional intelligence in both staff and students. I hope that understanding school life from both the perspective of an educator and a parent means that I can help support St Nicholas’ to continue the great work that they do for the young people in their care.
Laura Spear - Parent Governor
Having been a parent at St Nicholas since 2020 I have been passionately committed to serving and engaging with the school and supporting them in continuing to provide such a fantastic learning environment for our children and I was excited and privileged to be able to join the St Nicholas governing body as a Parent Governor in September 2024. I am also the current co-chair of the School PTA and a SEND parent dedicated to supporting the experiences of our children and families during their time as members of the St Nicholas family. In my day job am an Occupational Psychologist with almost 20 years of experience working as a researcher in Defence supporting Armed Forces personnel in the breadth of the Employee Lifecycle. I hope my expertise in research, governance, leadership, and management will able me to support the school and governing body to achieve their full potential.
Yvonne Brooks - Foundation Governor
I retired recently. I worked for the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) as a Technology for Life Coordinator which means I helped visually impaired people make best use of technology such as phones, tablets, laptops and many others.
I am married to Tim for the past 44 years. I have three adult children, all of whom attended St Nicholas although the boys only for 4 weeks before moving onto senior school. Helen spent 3 happy years at St Nicholas. She is now, some 25 years later a mother of 2 girls herself, the eldest of whom is soon to start pre-school. This has lead to my interest in early years.
I became a governor as I was keen to strengthen the link between the local church of which I am a member and secretary of the PCC. I also remain very grateful of the part St Nicholas played in particular in Helen’s education and personal development and in return I want to give back to the school by being a foundation governor.
Sophie Bales - Foundation Governor
From the moment I stepped inside St Nicholas’ Primary School I felt this sense of warmth and kindness. I was so pleased when my daughter got a place and absolutely thrilled to be asked to be a Foundation Governor. I have been a primary school teacher for 15 years and taught in both KS1 and KS2. I have recently become an RE HUB Leader for the Diocese which I am really enjoying and hope that this experience will enable me to help St Nicholas’ to continue to flourish as a church school. I look forward to supporting the school in the great work that they do for both the current and future families of St Nicholas’.
Mrs Georgina Knights - Foundation Governor
I'm really pleased to have just joined the Governing Body at St Nicholas in October 2024. The school has been part of my life, all my life, having attended myself as a child along with my husband and all 3 of our children.
It's a privilege to become a Foundation Governor, my faith is central to everything I do and it is important for me to bring that into this role also. I currently work as a school Chaplain at a local primary and secondary school but previously was a midwife for nearly 20 years in the NHS. I bring many pastoral skills to the role and look forward to encouraging the already loving and nurturing environment of the school.
Lucy Hill - Headteacher & Ex-Officio Governor
I am the Headteacher at St Nicholas Primary School, having previously worked at the school as Deputy Headteacher since 2019 . I have been a teacher for 15 years and have experience in both key stages as well as leading English, Maths, Science and MFL. Since joining the school I have worked with the teachers to create our bespoke Global Explorer Curriculum. Previously I worked part-time at St Nicholas while I was seconded to the National Centre for Excellence in Teaching Mathematics (NCETM) as a Maths Mastery Specialist. I am also a qualified Professional Development Lead. In my role as Mastery Specialist I have supported around 20 local school to improve the teaching of mathematics towards a teaching for Mastery approach. My experience and skills ensure that I am well placed to support the school and Governing Body to continue to move the school forward.
Becky Pistell - Staff Governor
I have been teaching at St Nicholas since 2013. The school’s ethos and family feel was something I was really drawn to as a newly qualified teacher ten years ago and I still feel the loving environment walking through the door each day. I have taught throughout the year groups from Reception to Year 6 during my time here and have had varying roles in leading English, Music, PSHE and Science. Therefore, I felt I could utilise my teaching experience to support our school as staff governor.