Our Governors

Sarah Franklin [CHAIR]
Foundation governor

Appointed by

Parochial Church Council

Term of office

01/09/24 - 31/08/28

Sarah was first appointed on 1 September 2011. She works as an editor, book designer and project manager. She has lived in East Oxford for more than 25 years and her two children both attended the school. At different times she has served as a school governor for Comper Foundation Stage School as well as for Mary & John.
About
Rebekah Stott
Headteacher

Appointed by

Ex officio

Term of office

01/09/21 onwards

Bex joined the St Mary & St John team in September 2021 as the Headteacher. “Being part of St Mary & St John CE Primary School is exciting and very rewarding. The team is incredibly hard working and dedicated. As a school with love and aspiration at its heart, we are always looking for ways to inspire every child and advance their learning. The Governing Body acts as the school’s ‘critical friend’ and their wide set of skills and experiences are essential to the school’s vision. With everyone sharing the same goal, we are a supportive and successful team.”
About
The Revd Martha Weatherill
Foundation governor

Appointed by

Ex officio (Vicar of Cowley St John)

Term of office

01/09/24

Martha is the local vicar at St Mary & St John Church on Cowley Road. She and the church team come into school regularly to lead whole school Celebrations.
About
Shakeel Ahmed
Foundation governor

Appointed by

Parochial Church Council

Term of office

01/09/24 - 31//08/28

First appointed on 1 Sep 2024, Shakeel joined the Governing Body this year. He has four children, two of them currently at Mary & John. He ran a family-owned pharmacy in East Oxford for 24 years, and is passionate about cricket, football and golf.
About
Stephen Dance
LA governor

Appointed by

Local Authority

Term of office

09/12/25 - 08/12/29

Tim Foster
Foundation governor

Appointed by

Parochial Church Council

Term of office

03/04/23 - 02/04/27

First appointed 13 May 2019. Tim has two children, both of whom attended the school. He is a trustee of a number of local charities and works as a business consultant, as well as developing personal and career development programmes for football managers.
About
Jane Godby
Staff governor

Appointed by

Elected by staff

Term of office

04/03/23 - 03/03/27

Jane has been a teacher at the school for 10 years. She has taught all age groups in her career but at Mary & John, Years 1–3. She started on the leadership team as Key Stage 1 Coordinator and oversaw the Hertford Street site. When the Key Stage 1 children moved down to the Meadow Lane site she became the Lower School Lead, working closely with the Upper School Lead and overseeing the transition of children from Key Stage 1 to Key Stage 2. She was for many years an associate member of the GB, and also stepped up to the Deputy Head role for two terms, before Ellie Armstrong joined our team.
About
Benjamin Klooss
Foundation governor

Appointed by

Diocesan Board of Education

Term of office

28/09/24 - 27/11/28

Ben has two children currently at Mary & John. He is a consultant at an international development consultancy and cares deeply about the East Oxford community and our school.
About
David Luff
Parent governor

Appointed by

Elected by parents

Term of office

14/02/25 - 13/02/29

David lives locally and has one son at St Mary & St John. He is a theatre producer and an advocate for arts and culture.
About
Tony Pound
Parent governor

Appointed by

Elected by parents

Term of office

17/05/23 - 16/05/27

Tony has two children at Mary & John. His background is in financial planning and he is passionate about health and wellbeing.
About
Charlotte Ryland
Parent governor

Appointed by

Elected by parents

Term of office

19/05/26 - 18/05/29

Charlotte is a parent governor with two children, one of whom is still at the school. She has worked in education for more than 15 years, and currently runs a small educational charity and an outreach centre based at Oxford University.
About
Ed Weightman
Foundation governor

Appointed by

Parochial Church Council

Term of office

01/09/24 - 31/08/28

Ed has lived in East Oxford for almost 20 years and has two children at the school. He is a solicitor and works on a wide range of legal matters in-house in the utilities sector.
About
Claire Gilbert
Clerk to governing board

Term of office

01/09/25 onwards

 

 

Governors who have left in the last 12 months

NAME: TERM OF OFFICE:
Laurence Price 19/01/22 – 18/01/26

 

Governor Roles

  • Membership of governor committees, working groups and other designated roles

 

Governor Meetings

 

Governor Conduct