Governors
Ms Mary Smith
Ms Smith is a Co-opted Governor and is also Chair of the Governing Body. She sits on the Pay & Staffing Committee. End of term of office - 20 Nov 2025.
C/O - Steyning CofE Primary School
Shooting Field, Steyning, West Sussex
BN44 3RQ.
01903 813 420
I am a lawyer practicing in Brighton. My family moved to West Sussex in 2007. I have worked with children for most of my professional career and feel the importance of a good education should never be underrated. I volunteered to be a Governor in 2017 a decision I have never regretted.
My interests are in literacy and sciences in particular STEM for girls. My ambition is to ensure that Steyning Primary School continues to provide the best education for all of their children, encouraging them to have a love of learning, so that they can develop to their full potential.
Mr Chris Webb
Mr Webb is a Co-opted Governor and is also Vice-Chair of the Governing Body. He is the chair of the Pay & Staffing Committee and also has a particular interest in literacy. End of term of office - 2nd October 2028.
I joined the governing body back in 2016 when our eldest son started at the school. With all three of our children now at Steyning C of E Primary, it's a great pleasure to be involved, working closely with the other governors and the amazing staff at the school. I'm currently Vice-Chair and Chair of the Pay and Staffing Committee, and I hold various monitoring roles.
In terms of my work and background, I'm a Co-Founder of a PR and Creative consultancy that specialises in health.
As one of the governor literacy champions, I love reading with my children and particularly enjoy the amazing collection of stories by Julia Donaldson.
Mr John Gadd
Mr Gadd is a Co-opted Governor. He has a particular interest in teaching, learning & curriculum. End of term of office - 3rd July 2028.
I became a Governor at Steyning Primary for a number of reasons – my daughter attended, my wife had previously been a governor, I live in the village and I wanted to use my education experience to benefit the school.
I am a co-opted governor with a particular interest in teaching, learning and curriculum.
I qualified as a teacher in 1984, and worked in three primary schools in Surrey as a class teacher, deputy head, and variously as subject leader for Geography, Science and PE. I first became a school governor in 1991, and have completed a Master’s degree focused on the working practices of highly successful governing bodies. Since 1996 and 2022 I served as a Headteacher in three West Sussex primary schools as well as working to support other schools locally and nationally, and mentoring new Heads.
I’m now a governor in two West Sussex primary schools, a branch official for the NAHT, lead consultant for Initial Teacher Training for a Teaching School Hub, and enjoying more time to garden, play sport, and be part of the Steyning community.
Mr John Marchment
Mr John Marchment is a Co-opted Governor. He sits on the Pay & Staffing Committee. End of term of office - 5th July 2027.
John Marchment is a semi-retired Chartered Engineer, who after many years in management and technical roles in manufacturing, completed his full-time career in Further and Higher Education teaching materials science and business studies. He now spends two days a week mentoring management staff and helping out in the busy cycle business run by two of his sons in Partridge Green.
His interest in SPS is mainly due to having 3 grandchildren who are, or have been, educated at the school. His role as a governor is to be a maths specialist and to support the staff teaching year 5.
Whilst not being a proper steam enthusiast, he volunteers one day per week at the Bluebell Railway machining small parts for steam locomotives.
His favourite children’s book has always been Kenneth Graham’s The Wind in the Willows but loves reading anything by Julia Donaldson with his grandchildren.
Mrs J Dunford
Mrs Dunford is Co-opted Governor. End of term of office - 3rd July 2028.
I'm a mother of two young boys and also a member of staff at Steyning C of E Primary. Over the last seven years I have watched Steyning Primary grow into the amazing school that it is today. I wanted to become a governor to help make sure our kids get the very best head start in life.
Mrs Caryl Vine
Mrs Vine is a Foundation Governor (Ex-officio) and has a particular interest in RE and Collective Worship. (Ex-officio). She sits on the Pay & Staffing Committee. End of term of office - 13 July 2026.
I am a retired teacher having taught in primary schools for many years. Although I taught all subjects, my main responsibility was music. I am so pleased to be part of a school that has such a lively musical tradition.
My hobby is also music having sung in choirs, played in brass bands and musically directed shows. I have five grandchildren who I love spending time with. My husband Derek was also a teacher and enjoys volunteering in the school.
My favourite books are influenced by my grandchildren and include Harry Potter and all of Julia Donaldson's publications.
Mrs Kate Burnett
Mrs Burnett is a Foundation Governor who has been nominated to sit on the Governing Body by the Parochial Church Council. End of term of office - 2 January 2027.
My career has always been teaching music, both instrumental and in the classroom. I have taught nursery to adult students in the state and private sectors.
In 2007, I was appointed Head of Music at a prep school in London, which meant leaving Cardiff and returning to my home town of Steyning.
As I have now retired (2022), and have a Grandson at Steyning Primary School, I felt that becoming a foundation governor would be a good opportunity to support the school and promote links with the church.
I stay very active in my retirement, teaching piano, singing in several choirs, walking the beautiful South Downs, and at the end of the day enjoying a good read.
Mrs Emily Scozzi
Mrs Scozzi is the Staff Governor for the Governing Body. End of term of office - 13 Oct 2025.
Mrs Scozzi joined Steyning Primary School in 2014 after completing her BA Education (Hons) at Brighton University, with a specialism focus of Maths.
Mrs Scozzi has taught across Key Stage 2, with a personal highlight being the three trips to PGL Isle of Wight with Year 6. She has had the role of ‘Staff Governor’ for 4 academic years now and enjoys seeing how the wider aspects of school life are organised and managed.
Having been a pupil at Steyning Primary School herself, Mrs Scozzi is proud to now be teacher in a school that centres around community and celebrating each child’s unique abilities and passions.
In her spare time, Mrs Scozzi enjoys baking; spending time with her family and travelling to a variety of hot countries. Her favourite book is ‘Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire’.
Mrs Lizzie Salisbury
Mrs Salisbury is a Parent Governor. End of term of office - 9 June 2025.
Lizzie is a parent of 2 children currently attending SPS with a 3rd starting in 2022.
Lizzie has a background in office management, horticulture and farming and is currently employed as a Teaching Assistant in SPS reception class.
Lizzie became a governor after seeing the excellent way the school includes and encourages all children and wanted to be involved in the further progression and development of the school in the coming years.
Mrs May Langan
Mrs Langan is a Parent Governor. End of term of office - 19 Jan 2025.
May was appointed as a parent governor in January 2021 and has four children, three of whom attend Steyning Primary School. She grew up on a pig farm in Buckinghamshire with her ten siblings.
May has an interest in equality, diversity and inclusion and has completed training in Anti-Racism, Cultural Safety and LGBT+ Competency.
Her favourite children’s book is ‘You’re a Bad Man, Mr Gum!’ by Andy Stanto.