Governors

ALEX WHITE

Interim Chair and Trustee

I have worked in sport, education and community development for 15 years and currently work for the Premier League Charitable Fund where I oversee the charity’s governance arrangements and quality assurance of our national school and community programmes.

My key areas of responsibility include safeguarding; equality, diversity and inclusion; risk management; and data protection. I am also Chair of Trustees for Street Child United, an international children’s rights charity, and a Trustee of Active Sussex, who are responsible for increasing sport and physical activity participation across the county.

As a local resident and parent, I am committed to supporting Ratton School and Ocklynge Junior School to achieve the best learning outcomes for all children.

JOHN PIERCY

Staff Governor

Having been at Ocklynge for 16 years now I am very excited to start my role as staff governor.  I have very much enjoyed working here throughout the years and felt now was the right time to use my experience of being at the school for these years and the opportunity to give something back.

I also was a pupil at Ocklynge between 1986 – 1990 and only have the fondest memories of my time here, and the staff.  My main highlight was being able to play football at Wembley as the school team won the National Football Finals and school trips to Paris and Wales (PGL).

My role at the school now is as a behaviour mentor where we help children who find some aspects of school life hard, I work in a wonderful team who have nurture at the forefront of this approach.

I live in Eastbourne and have a fiancé and 3 step children, 2 in senior schools and 1 at college in Brighton.

I am very much looking forward to contributing to the SDLT and Ocklynge in their continued progress.

James Woodward

Co-Opted Governor

I have been a school governor at South Downs Learning Trust since 2017. I have sat on both local governing committees at Ocklynge and Ratton. I work at Drusillas Park as their Head of Education, where my role principally involves hosting school visits and teaching classroom sessions. I have been there for over 18 years and see groups ranging from preschools to university groups. As a governor my main role is to monitor the Safeguarding procedures. I am originally from Somerset before moving to Sussex for university and settling in Eastbourne

Jennie Mathew

Co-Opted Governor

ALINA HICKMOTT 

Community Governor

I have been a primary school teacher for 10 years and I currently work in a large school in Seaford. I am passionate about providing high quality learning opportunities for all children.

I have experience of teaching all year groups in KS2 and I am excited to use this experience in my role as community governor at Ocklynge. I was a pupil at Ratton School and have great memories of my time there. 

I am mum to 2 children who keep me busy! I love watching them grow up and learn new things each day. I strongly believe all children should be given the tools and skills they need to be successful in their lives.

Alan Hebben-Wadey

Parent Governor