Who are the Governors?
Charles Gordon - Chair
Amy Houghton - Vice Chair
I have been a member of the Governing Body since Sept 2017. Although I don't have any formal background in education, I have a very keen interest in community.
I am a mum to two girls, both who currently attend WSG, a wife to Matthew who works in banking in Bournemouth and a midwife at Salisbury Hospital. In my role as a midwife I am used to working with a wide team of multi-disciplinary professionals in order to keep women, families and their babies safe. I feel my role as a governor links well to my professional role both in this way, and also from a safeguarding perspective.
I have attended many different schools in my childhood, owing to my parents living overseas; everything from rural African primary schools, to British boarding schools. What all these schools offered me was a safe place to make mistakes, make friends and develop a love for learning, all things I am passionate about and which I think WSG offers it's pupils in abundance.
In addition I hold a second class honours degree in Physics and AstroPhysics from the University of Manchester and a first class honours degree in Midwifery from Bournemouth University. I am passionate about all children, from any walk of life, having the same educational opportunities and about fostering a love of learning from a young age so that children have the best chance of reaching their full potential. I endeavour to ensure WSG continues to offer this to all it's children.
David Cabrini-Back - Parent Governor
My is David Cabrini-Back and I am a parent governor for the school. I am married to Sara and we have two children, one of which started at WSG in 2020.
We currently live in Verwood but I have been on the south coast all my life, coming from Southampton and living in Bournemouth before moving to Verwood in 2013.
Professionally, I am currently a Physiotherapist at University Hospitals Dorset, but I have had two career changes. I started as a Chiropractor in 2004. After a period of time, I finished this and I then completed my PGCE in secondary school science teaching before working at a school on the edge of Southampton. I then completed my Physiotherapy degree at Bournemouth University before starting work at Royal Bournemouth Hospital.
These careers have enabled me to develop a wide variety of skills and knowledge which I hope to bring to my role as governor. Safe-guarding, data-protection, team-working, leadership and a strong awareness of the wellbeing of staff are amongst those, but the most important skill I feel I have picked up is a person-centred approach to decision making. It is this I hope to bring with a child-centred approach to my role as governor.
Jennifer Thick - Parent Governor