Latest Governors' Update
The governors' role is to work with Noel Fadden and the rest of the team to set the strategic direction of the school, to monitor the educational performance of the school for the benefit of all pupils and to make sure the school's budget is well spent
Please do feel free to contact the governors on any strategic matter either by email to the chair on Susi Pollard spollard@southover.e-sussex.sch.uk (chair) or in person. You can see photos and bios of each governor on the website and you will find many of us in the playground at drop off and pick up.
Welcome to our Governors’ section.
Please find below details of how our Governing body is structured, including the names, categories, responsibilities and terms of appointment for each Governor.
Andrew Barnard - Local Authority appointed Governor October 2021 – October 2025
I am the local authority governor. I have a child at Southover (Robin), live in Lewes and work in London for the Cabinet Office. I also sit on the finance committee and bring with me experience of working in a range of analysis and data related roles. My background also includes support to charities, most recently for an education charity that promotes and supports PSHE.
Susanne Pollard - Chair and Foundation Governor
Sept 2019 - July 2027
I am Foundation Governor, nominated by Trinity Church Southover and appointed by the Diocese of Chichester in July 2019. Due to the nature of this appointment, I have a responsibility that the school demonstrates its' commitment to Christian values and a Christian ethos.
My training and experience is as a special educational needs teacher specialising in teaching children and young people with severe and profound multiple learning disabilities. As well as teaching, I have been a department manager giving me a perspective on supporting staff and the senior management team. I am the link governor for SEND
Carol Taplin – Foundation Governor & co-chair of the Finance committee
September 2021 – August 2025
I have been a governor at Southover since 1997, when my three children were all still at the school. I am a Foundation Governor appointed by the Diocese on the recommendation of TRINITY Church Southover, and as such have a particular responsibility for ensuring that the school, as a Church of England school, remains distinctively Christian. I am a member of the Finance Committee, and am the governor linked to Safeguarding, helping to ensure that the school fulfils its responsibilities to safeguard all the children at the school – this also covers staff training in areas such as Prevent.
Michèle Moore - Co-Opted Governor
April 2023 – April 2027
I am delighted to be a member of Southover’s board of governors. My professional background is in adult training and development and my last role was as Head of People Development with a large contract catering company. I have been particularly involved in leadership development and managing change.
I am the governor linked to Curriculum, ensuring that it is broad and balanced and supports children to build their knowledge and apply that knowledge. I am supporting the school to find more external funding. I share the monitoring of Wellbeing with Burt Browne.
Burt Browne – Vice-chair and a co-opted governor
September 2021 – September 2025
I am privileged to be the vice-chair and a co-opted governor, nominated and appointed by this esteemed board. I have a primary-aged child. I grew up in South Africa before life in Lewes and work across England as a civil engineer. My training includes a BSc (Hons) in geology, and a management and leadership PGDip, I am professionally registered in the UK as a civil engineer and occupational safety and health practitioner. I am currently an MBA candidate reading at Durham University, EBS University in Germany and the University of San Francisco. I've also taught English as a Second Language in Taiwan, prior to work as a teaching assistant for children with SEN needs and being a youth worker in England. My background also includes volunteering for Curiosity Sussex, an
education charity that promotes and supports Science, Technology, Engineering, and Maths (STEM). I am the link Governor for health and safety monitoring in this respected and admired school, I am the link trustee of the Lewes Co-operative Learning Partnership and for supporting well-being at Southover.
Duncan Milham - Co-opted Governor & co-chair of the Finance committee
December 2023 - December 2027
I have had the honour of being a parent governor since 2019 and I have two little girls at Southover. Professionally I have been a secondary school maths teacher since 2003 and I am currently working at a large comprehensive in Hove. I grew up in Lewes and I still live here now. I am the link governor for mathematics teaching at Southover and co-chair of the finance committee.
Rebecca Coles
Parent governor April 2023- April 2027
I am a co-opted Governor for Southover, with a Civil Service background in strategy and policy delivery.
I bring 20 years’ experience of developing national government policy on domestic and international affairs, and managing departmental strategy and spending review activity.
I live in Lewes and have two children. One has been at Southover since 2021 and the other will hopefully be joining in 2023.
I am the link governor for pupil premium
Gill Fenton – Staff Governor
December 2022 – December 2026
I've been a Class Teacher and Music Coordinator at Southover for many years and am currently Phase Leader for Years 5 and 6. Currently, I teach in both Falcon (Year 6) and Nightingale (Year 5) classes. I have 2 'grown-up' children at College and University.
Rachel Callow - Parent Governor
September 2022-September 2026
I am excited to be the new Parent Govenor at Southover. I have two children at the school, currently in Years 2 and 6. I have also been a Primary School Teacher since 2004, with experience of teaching all the Year Groups across a wide range of different schools in London and in Sussex.
I am the link governor for attendance.
Noel Fadden – Headteacher, ex-officio Governor
I have taught in Birmingham, Hastings, Eritrea and Vietnam over the years as well as gaining an MA in International Education at Sussex University. I have been at Southover since 2006 as Deputy Head and Acting Head and have taught in all year groups from Y1 to Y6. I am delighted to have been the headteacher at Southover since September 2017 and am proud of the way the school community works together to enable the children at Southover to achieve in all areas.
Zoe Short – Associate Member
May 2023 - May 2027
I am Deputy Headteacher and SENCO at Southover and have been a governor for a number of years, starting as a parent governor in 2007 and now as an associate governor. I have taught and governed in different schools so bring to the governing body experience of the education system.
Over the years, I have been special educational needs governor and safeguarding governor and part of the performance management of headteachers. I combine the understanding of the education issues schools face, a staff perspective and that of a parent. I am currently responsible for monitoring the improvement of the school's communication with all stakeholders.
Sam Wass - Parent Governor
March 24 -
I am Sam, father of Freddie, who is at Southover. I work as a psychologist and neuroscientist, specialising in early years. I run a research lab in East London (https://www.uelbabydev.com/) where we study children from underprivileged social backgrounds to understand how early home and early educational environments affect early brain development. I also work with neurodivergent children (including Autism, ADHD and anxiety). I also do a lot of work in education – eg I have given a keynote address at the World Education Summit, acted as an expert spokesperson for the Department of Education and Department of Health, and had articles and podcasts about my work in the Times Educational Supplement. A few years ago I also appeared as an on-screen scientist in five series of the Channel 4 TV show The Secret Life of 4- and 5-Year-Olds. As part of my work I try hard to stay up to date with the recent scientific research literature on child development, and hope to be able to use this to help contribute as a Parent Governor at Southover.
I am the link governor for Early Years
Denise Kong - Clerk to Governors
Declaration of Interest and Attendance Sept 23
Finance committee attendance
Southover School 2022-23
