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.

If you would like to contact governors, please email the clerk on clerk@southover.e-sussex.sch.uk, who will acknowledge your request and pass your query on to the right place. 

Welcome to our Governors’ section. 

Please find below details of our governing body, including the names, categories, responsibilities and terms of appointment for each governor. Our governing body structure has one committee, which is the Finance committee. 

Susanne Pollard - co-opted governor
July 2023 - July 2027

I was a foundation governor for 5 years from 2019 and have now been appointed as one of the co-opted governors.

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 curriculum.

Carol Taplin – foundation governor & co-chair of the Finance Committee
September 2025 – August 2029

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 link governor for Behaviour and Mental health.

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 at Southover and co-chair of the finance committee.

Rebecca Coles - co-opted 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, who are both at Southover.

I am the link governor for pupil premium and special educational needs and disabilities.

Natalie Grant – staff governor
September 2025

I have been teaching at Southover since 2019 across EYFS and KS1. I  am passionate about early education and I am currently Phonics and Early Reading lead at Southover. I have 2 children and live in West Sussex. 

 

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.

Helen Parkyns – temporary ex-officio foundation governor and chair
December 2024 - December 2028

I am a Foundation Governor, representing the Rector at TRINITY Church and appointed by the Diocese of Chichester. I had a child at the school from 2015-2022 and during that time was secretary and chair of Southover Friends, and am grateful for this opportunity to continue to serve the school community.

Professionally I am a transport engineer, working in areas of policy and programme management and am often called upon to explain complex technical issues to allow key decisions to be made.

Jason Tremlett – parent governor
March 2026 - March 2030

I am a Parent Governor at Southover. Professionally, as an actuary, I bring strong analytical and strategic thinking skills, with over 20 years’ experience in financial risk management, long‑term planning and governance. Alongside that, I’m also a classically trained artist, which adds a creative and imaginative perspective to my approach.

I live in Lewes and have one child at Southover, and I’m committed to supporting the school and its vision.

Denise Kong - Clerk to Governors

Full governing board attendance 2025-26

Member			16/9/2025	16/10/2025	8/12/2025	11/2/2026	16/3/2026	29/4/2026	6/7/2026
Joanna Munton		Co-op	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	Present	Present
Rachel Callow		Par	Present	Present	Present	Apol	Present	Present	Present
Helen Parkyns		Foun ExO	Present	Present	Present	Present	Present	Present	Present
Rebecca Coles		Co-op	Present	Present	Present	Present	Apol	Apol	Present
Noel Fadden		Head	Present	Present	Present	Present	Present	Present	Present
Natalie Grant		Staff	Present	Present	Apol	Present	Apol	Present	Present
Duncan Milham		Co-op	Present	Present	Present	Present	Present	Present	Apol
Michele Moore		Co-op	Present	Apol	Present	Apol	Present	Present	Present
Susi Pollard (Chair)		Co-op	Present	Present	Present	Present	Present	Present	Present
Carol Taplin		Foun	Present	Present	Present	Present	Present	Present	Present
Jason Tremlett		Par	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	Present	Present

Finance committee attendance 2025-26

Member			6/10/25	1/12/25	2/2/26	9/3/26	27/4/26	2/6/25
Noel Fadden		Head	Present	Present	Present	Present	Present	Present
Duncan Milham (Co-chair)		Co-op	Present	Present	Present	Present	Present	Present
Helen Parkyns		Foun	Present	Apol	Present	Present	Present	Present
Susi Pollard		Co-op	Present	Present	Present	Present	Present	Present
Carol Taplin (Co-chair)		Foun	Present	Present	Present	Present	Apol	Present
Jason Tremlett		Par	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	Present

Declarations of interest 2026-27

Member		Organisation	Type of interest
Duncan Milham		Blatchington Mill School	Employee
Duncan Milham		Southover Primary School	Child in school
Joanna Munton		Southover Primary School	Child in school
Rebecca Coles		Southover Primary School	Children at school
Noel Fadden		Southover Primary School	Employee
Natalie Grant		Southover Primary School	Employee
Jason Tremlett		Southover Primary School	Child in school
Michele Moore		-	Nil Return
Helen Parkyns		-	Nil Return
Susi Pollard			Nil Return
Carol Taplin		-	Nil Return