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New Christ Church

Church of England Primary School

Love Ourselves, Love Each Other, Love our World

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Please click here to find out more about our Governors

 Mark Croft   -  Chair of Governors

 

I passionately believe that all children should have access to a first-class education in a local school and will do my best to ensure all pupils receive that in a caring, fair, and inclusive manner. I have previously had several years' experience in Governorship at Secondary School level where I served as a Governor, Head of Curriculum, and for several years as Chair of Governors. I moved from Caversham 18 months ago after spending almost 4 years living and working in China. My son William joined Bonsai class in 2021. I ran a cub pack for 9 years in Hungerford and am now involved with Reading 52nd Scouts. Professionally I am a Marketing Director for a high-tech company designing electronic chips.

  Hazel Jones   - Vice Chair of Governors

 

I became a Foundation Governor back in late 2013 just before my first child was born, roped into the role by a neighbour who was a governor at the time! I was working then as Head of Estates and Facilities at a Further Education college in Hampshire, and was asked to get involved, as my skills in property would help the school, as the Christ Church Centre was shortly due to open. I'm a surveyor by qualification, and spent several years working for large development companies building shopping centres and business parks before my role at the college. Working at the college gave me a good insight into how education works and what Ofsted inspections were really like from the teachers perspective. 

 

I currently have one child at NCC, and had a baby at the start of the pandemic last year, which proved an interesting challenge whilst juggling with home schooling like so many of you! I have taken a break from working in surveying whilst my kids are small, and currently run my wedding and celebration cake business from home. I am the governor link for Health and Safety in the school, and have recently taken on the role of Phonics / Literacy link too - I am so passionate about reading and books, and was such a bookworm as a kid, it seemed a natural fit for me to do this - reading and looking at books with our children is so important! In my spare time (what's that?!) I enjoy reading, baking, musical theatre, drinking (lots of) good coffee, playing badminton and attempting to stay upright on my paddle-board - I love being by the sea. 

 

I have learnt so much being a governor and continue to do so - I am certainly not an expert, but I hope I fulfil the 'critical friend' role for the school in supporting our amazing head teachers and staff, whilst having an insight and say in our children's education.

  Mariam Bugri  

I feel very lucky and privileged to be part of the NCC family. When I first joined as a parent governor, I had absolutely no clue what the role required. But I liked the school and was determined to use any skills I had, to help the school provide quality education for our kids.

My background is a bit unusual. I started off as a commercial pilot but decided to go back to school to do an MBA and ended up in IT. I mainly focus on Quality Assurance in Digital Project Delivery and work with a geographically diverse team. 

I felt my combined experience in a range of fields would be valuable as a governor. Instead, I'm the one who has learnt so much about school improvement as well as the challenges schools face in providing quality education to name a few. As link governor for Special Education Needs and/or Disability, Pupil Premium and Website. I'm especially proud of the provision we have in place for our learners - regardless of their ability even though our resources are hugely limited.

 

Governors hold strategic responsibilities for the development and improvement of the school and ensure a clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction. I must say the amazing work our senior leadership team and indeed all the teaching/support staff put into their roles makes it a very satisfying and rewarding thing to do. I'm constantly in awe of their dedication and hope more people would consider joining us.

 

  Pam Lynch

 

My name is Pam Lynch and I commenced my role as a School Governor in March 2022. As a dedicated and compassionate Governor I have the experience of and access to a large, diverse cross-section of the community. I have a positive energetic attitude towards change as the school inevitably transforms to meet the future demands of the population.  

 

I am originally from Hammersmith and came to Reading due to my parents relocating to work at the Royal Berkshire Hospital. I have grown up in Christchurch and still live in the area. I attended and was confirmed at Christchurch.

 

I was previously a Governor at the Royal Berkshire Hospital for 5 years. In which I was involved in initiatives across the entire patient pathway in addition to those ensuring ongoing development of staff excellence and I was involved in Senior Staff recruitment and ward accreditation processes.  As school Governor I am passionate about championing the educational initiatives provided by the school for the children. We are a dedicated group of individuals who have the skills and experience to support the staff and pupils whilst at New Christchurch School.

    Lucy Markwell- Staff Governor

 

I have started as a Staff Governor in July 2024 and am excited to support the school in a new way. New Christ Church is a fantastic school and I am very proud to work in a school family so dedicated to ensuring every child thrives and succeeds in the best way for them. 

 

I have been teaching for nearly 20 years and have had a variety of leadership roles during this time. I am currently Curriculum Lead for New Christ Church which is my dream role. I believe every child should have access to a curriculum that inspires and excites them and helps them to find their passion to pursue for the rest of their lives be it musical, artistic, sporting or academic. I am also determined that every child should leave our school with the literacy and maths skills they need to access whatever path they choose as adults. 

 

Enjoyment and success in reading is the key that opens many doors for our children’s mental health, well-being and academic achievement. Part of my current role is to give our children access to quality texts, authors and role models alongside the best teaching and learning we can. I am proud to work alongside a dedicated team of staff who strive for this every day.

 

Outside teaching, I enjoy reading autobiographies of funny people, visits to the theatre and making bread. I am the very proud Mum of two children who remind me every day of the importance of a school that nurtures them holistically as well as educates them for the future.

 Lucie Elliot-Gurr   Staff Governor

It is such a privilege to be a Staff Governor at NCC. I have had this role since October 2023. I am so passionate about the work we are doing at our school; to give quality education, achieve inclusion and a sense of belonging for every child. The teachers are amazing and I hope I can be their voice as a Staff Governor.

 

At NCC, I lead Phonics, Music and EYFS and get to teach our wonderful Bonsai (Reception) class. I have taught in all year groups in several different schools during my time as a teacher. I studied BA (Hons) Primary Education with English at Winchester University.

 

In my spare time, I love to play the trombone, piano and flute. I also enjoy horse riding, yoga, travel and being active outdoors!

    Vishal Nigram

 

Education has played a huge role in shaping my life, and I believe every child deserves the same opportunity to grow, learn, and feel valued in a supportive environment. That’s why I’m excited about the opportunity to serve as a school governor. I want to be part of a team that helps create the best possible learning experience for every pupil, not just academically but socially and emotionally as well.

I currently have a child at NCC, and being part of the school community has given me a real appreciation for the dedication of the teachers and staff. I see firsthand the care and effort that goes into making the school a place where children feel safe, encouraged, and inspired. I’d love to support that work in any way I can. I’m also interested in how we can make education more engaging while ensuring teachers have the time and resources to focus on what truly matters and that's helping children grow in confidence and reach their potential. By working closely with the leadership team, staff, and families, I hope to contribute in a meaningful way and help make a positive impact on the school community.

 Margo Mallett - Clerk to Governors

 

Having spent 20 years working as an architect in London, I decided it was time to take a break from construction and commuting in favor of something equally stimulating and purposeful. I joined New Christ Church as Clerk to the Governors in January 2025. Living just a short walk from the school, I am already enjoying the contrast in commute times. I have a keen eye for detail and enjoy meeting deadlines—two skills I hope can assist with the smooth operation of New Christ Church's Governing Body. I look forward to continuing to get to know this great school and its governance in the coming months.

Trust Link

New Christ Church Primary School is a member of the Oxford Diocesan Schools Trust.

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