Peasmarsh Church of England Primary School

I live locally and want to contribute to making a difference locally and can’t think of a better way than to help contribute to changing children’s learning and life-chances across Beckley CE and Peasmarsh CE Primary Schools, which together make up The Genesis Federation.  I come with experience of working on behalf of vulnerable children within and across the education, health and voluntary sectors which complements the wealth of skills, expertise and support other governors bring.  Our job is to champion children’s learning and achievement in each of our schools.

In my experience, what children and families say they need is simple and powerful:

I tell my story once

Support and services join up around me

People do what they say

I feel better, safer and able to learn and achieve

I believe that every child in each of our two schools, Beckley and Peasmarsh has the right to be safe and cared for, succeed in learning, thrive and mature into adulthood, able to contribute to the economy and their community in a positive way. I’m just starting to get to know the Genesis community but even in a very short time I’ve been hugely impressed when I met with the headteachers and some of their staff to see and hear their passion and commitment to make this a daily reality for children.

What matters to me is to think big for children, believe in them, and work together so that their rights are realised, their views shape decisions made about their lives and they respect the rights of others.  Together, as a governing body, we can make an important contribution to helping our school leaders ensure children are learning and achieving well, positive about themselves and their community and looking forward to a bright future.

I am pleased and proud to be chair of our Governing Body. Please do get in touch via either of the schools if you want to contact me.

Rose Durban 

email:chair@thegenesisfederation.co.uk

Andrew is a qualified Actuary and a member of the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries. He has recently semi retired from his role as CEO of an insurance company, after working in the insurance and banking industries for more than 35 years. Andrew has lives locally and has 2 adult children and 3 adult step-children. He was previously a parent governor at his childrens’ primary school in Brabourne. Andrew hopes that he can use the skills and knowledge gained over many years to help to support the Federation.

Rhiannon serves as a Parent Governor in the federation. She has been a teacher for 11 years and is currently Head of English at Rye College. Rhiannon has a passion for the creative and performing arts and believes they play an integral role in the academic, emotional and social development of a child. She is also an advocate for reading for pleasure and the promotion of this in schools.

Emma has been working at Peasmarsh school since April 2010 and has experience of teaching years 1-6.  In September 2015, she started her qualification to become the SENCO at Peasmarsh which she finished in August 2016.

Chrissie has two children; an older son who is now at secondary school having spent seven years at Beckley School and a daughter still at the School. A former Management Consultant and Company Director, she had a special interest in using data to help her clients develop strategy and drive change. Prior to becoming a governor, Chrissie volunteered for five years on the Management Committee of the Peasmarsh Flying Start Pre-School, including serving as its Chair and charity Trustee.

At the other end of the educational spectrum, Chrissie is a Lay Visitor for the Architects Registration Board, involved in the accreditation of architecture qualifications.

As a parent, Chrissie loves to be outside with her children and is passionate about the benefits of outdoor learning. She holds a degree in Experimental Psychology and continues to be fascinated by how children learn.

Ann-Marie is a trained Secondary school teacher but now works in educational publishing for Primary and Secondary schools.  She grew up in Hastings and has taught overseas for many years in Italy, Poland, Slovakia and Spain. She moved to Battle in September 2015. 

 Together with her husband she offers respite fostering across Kent and Sussex to children aged 4-18, often with special and complex needs. She has annual ski and sailing trips and but loves exploring the local area too.  

She began as a co-opted governor for two small Primary schools in East Sussex in December 2019, responsible for SEND and then EYFS.  She is particularly keen to ensure that all children are safeguarded well and can fulfil their full potential whatever their background, special educational needs or disabilities

Paul joined the Genesis Federation in December 2020 and has lived in Cripps Corner since 1990. He graduated in Natural Sciences/Physics at Cambridge then worked at Logica, a computer software company. In 1989 he become co-owner of a pharmaceutical services company based in Battle which analysed clinical trials, working for most of the major drug companies.  The company grew to nearly 100 staff then merged with a US company. In 1997 he started a software company based in Bodiam then Tonbridge, which he sold in 2011, since when he has worked as a freelance computer consultant before retiring.

In May 2021, Paul was elected to East Sussex County Council, as member for Northern Rother which includes Peasmarsh and Beckley schools.

Paul was a governor of Vinehall School for 13 years until 2019, concentrating on financial planning, strategy and key staff appointments. He was educated in the state system and with his mother, wife and two of his children as teachers has a long interest in education!  He believes strongly in the ability of education to give opportunities to all children to achieve their maximum potential, not only academically but in the life skills necessary to become fulfilled in this changing world. He is also involved in a number of local and national charities.