DIANA SHELDON (Chair) (Safeguarding), Trust Governor

Appointed: July 2024        Term: 4 years

First Appointed : July 2020

My first connection with the school was when my eldest attended in year 2 during a short posting to Watchfield in 1986!  Obviously, many things have changed over the years including the arrival of the Defence Academy.  Since settling back in Shrivenham in 2011 I have known many children, parents and members of staff at the school. I am conscious of what a wonderful job is done in such a unique environment and everyone I know enjoys their time at Watchfield as well as having a great educational experience.

"Having been a teacher for almost 40 years, in many different schools, I am well aware of the challenges and pressures that face the staff and governors.  I am honoured to have been selected as a governor to have the chance to support all the hard work that goes on at Watchfield school in order that every child has the opportunity to reach their full potential in the time they are there."

AARON DEACON (Vice-Chair) (SEND), Parent Governor

Appointed: Mar 2024        Term: 4 years

I live locally and have been part of the community for six years. I have two children currently attending the school, with a third due to join soon, which gives me a strong personal connection and understanding of the school environment. I’ve been a governor at the school for around nine months and currently serve as Vice Chair as well as the Link Governor for Inclusion and SEND. I’m particularly passionate about continual improvement, helping the school evolve and perform at its best for every pupil. I wanted to use my knowledge, skills, and experience to support the school and its leadership team. Having close family members who have served as headteachers and executive heads, I’ve always appreciated the vital role schools play at the heart of a community. Being a governor allows me to contribute to that work and help ensure the best possible outcomes for every child.  

I work as Head of DevOps and Platform Engineering at Prolinx, where I lead teams focused on designing and delivering secure, scalable IT platforms. Outside of work and school commitments, I’m a keen Arsenal supporter and enjoy getting to games whenever I can. I also like relaxing with gaming and spending time with family - though I’ll admit I often find my-self working on one project or another.

YVONNE ANDREWS, Trust Appointed Governor 

Appointed: March 2024        Term: 4 years

I previously taught at Watchfield Primary School for many years, leaving my role as Blackbird’s teacher in December 2021 to join the Defence Cyber Academy as a cyber instructor. I was able to bring my teaching experience to the academy whilst learning the relevant cyber knowledge. In 2022, I became the leader of the cyber instructor team and responsible for ensuring the curriculum is delivered correctly. Although I no longer work in the Primary sector, I have retained a keen interest in the education of young children, and particularly the great work of Watchfield Primary School. Therefore, I was delighted to take up the role of community governor of WPS

DANNI WILLIAMS, Parent Governor 

Appointed: May 2025        Term: 4 years

I have two girls at Watchfield in Years 1 and 5. I wanted to be more involved in our children's education and help out where I can. I have worked in financial services for 15+ years looking after global accounts and partnerships. I'm currently working for a large fintech looking after their cross-border product for the UK. A lot of what I do in my job is strategic and I hope I can be of some use to make Watchfield as amazing as possible. I am new to the governor role and look after health and safety and the overall curriculum. As a family, we love to travel. We have explored the far east and have recently started skiing lessons in preparation for the winter season. We also spend a lot of time outdoors on our bikes or walking in our wellies. 

JOANNA RYAN, Staff Governor  

Appointed: June 2022        Term: 4 years

Upon qualifying as a teacher in 2015, Jo took up her first position at Watchfield and she has never looked back. Jo has spent the subsequent seven years teaching across KS2 and has just returned from maternity leave.  She is passionate about reading (both in and out of school!) and is currently enjoying being back at work as well as spending time with her new family. 

"I care deeply about this school and the families that we are privileged to meet and teach here.  I am excited to have the opportunity to work with the other governors to support the school over the coming years."

CLARE HARTLEY, Staff Governor

Appointed: Sep 2022        Term: 4 years

I have been a teacher for a number of years, working in schools in the UK and further afield. I have taught at Watchfield since 2014, with two years out teaching in the Middle East. Outside school, I enjoy reading and gardening. I run the choir at St. Andrew's church in Shrivenham and am passionate about choral music.

JOHN BOWEN, Trust Appointed Governor 

Appointed: May 2025        Term: 4 years

My son attends Watchfield Primary school and is having an excellent time in the duckling's class. I considered becoming a governor because I recently spent two years teaching at the Defence Academy and caught the educational bug. Supporting my local community and heling shape the educational environment for my, and all, children is important to me. I work for the British Army and my hobbies and interests include rugby, cricket, boxing, mountain sports, dog walking and reading.

JUDE SCUTT (Executive Head) 

Appointed: Sep 2022        Term: Ongoing

Within my role of Executive Headteacher, I have the opportunity to support the school from a strategic and operational position. I have 15 years’ experience of leadership in a range of context so I can bring a variety of skills and knowledge to support our school to be the best it can be.

NICK HATCLIFFE (Head of School) 

Appointed: Sep 2025        Term: Ongoing

I'm Nick Hatcliffe, and I'm excited to lead the wonderful team at Watchfield Primary School. I'm passionate about teaching, learning and making the most of outdoor education to inspire and engage children. I'm committed to driving continuous school improvement by building on our strengths, developing high-quality teaching, and ensuring every child has the opportunity to thrive. With over six years of experience as a school governor, I currently serve on the governing boards of two local primary schools, where I enjoy supporting leadership teams, sharing best practice, and working collaboratively to raise standards across our communities. I'm proud to work alongside our dedicated staff, families, and the wider community to continue developing our vibrant, inclusive and forward-thinking school.

SHAF MOLEDINA (Clerk to Governors) 

Appointed: Sep 2023        Term: Ongoing