Meet the Governors

About the Board of Governors

The Governing Board consists of people who are members of staff, parents, representatives of the local authority and the community and who have a wide range of backgrounds and experiences. The Governing Board works as a team and accept collective responsibility for decisions made at meetings. We want to work in partnership with Mrs. Fry and all staff to ensure that the school provides high quality education for all children. It is our objective to make Pangbourne Primary School the school of choice for Pangbourne families.

• Melissa Fry
  Headteacher
  Melissa Fry

  Period of Office: from 4 January 2011

  I am enjoying the role of Headteacher at Pangbourne Primary School and have been in post since January 2011.

  After successfully completing my NPQH (National Qualification for Headteachers), I was very excited to become Headteacher at Dorchester St. Birinus C.E. Primary School in Oxfordshire before moving to Pangbourne Primary School. I was also a teacher for 13 years in West Berkshire and this included working as numeracy consultant for schools across the county.

  During my time as a teacher, I taught all year groups from Foundation Stage to Year 6. In May 2000, I was invited to a reception at Buckingham Palace by the Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh to recognise my achievement in schools. For 3 years in the middle of my teaching career, I moved to Alabama in the USA and was a finance officer for a corporation and executive director of a school.

  In my spare time, I love to paint very large pictures of racing cars.

• Stephen Duffy
  Chair of Governors, Pupil Premium
  Stephen Duffy

  Period of Office: 10 March 2021 - 9 March 2025

  I have lived in Pangbourne for many years and one of my children attends Pangbourne Primary School. I have extensive experience working in the field of HR for large organisations and the skills and knowledge I have gained are ideal for the challenges of being a governor.

  I believe the governing board can help ensure that all children attending the school have an enjoyable and rewarding primary education.

• Susan Thomas
  Parent Governor, Data/Teaching & Learning
  Susan Thomas

  Period of Office: 3 July 2019 to 2 July 2023

  I am a parent governor, with two children currently at the school. I work in the commercial division of a big international food company whose UK head office is in Reading and have lots of experience building plans based on data as well as managing people, projects and budgets. I have a particular passion for children's well-being, including their physical and mental health, and am excited to get involved wherever I can in helping this excellent school thrive.

• Fiona Wilson
  Staff Governor
  Fiona Wilson

  Period of Office: 11 October 2021-10 October 2025

  I have worked as a teacher at Pangbourne Primary School since 1994 and I have been a staff representative on the governing board for over 20 years. My role as staff governor is to feedback information from meetings to staff in school, and to give guidance to governors concerning the school curriculum and the School Development Plan.

• Camille Howard
  Co-opted Governor
  Camille Howard

  Part of the Finance and Data/Teaching & Learning Committees.

  I have over 14 years' experience working in the education sector across Devon, London and West Berkshire. I have held various roles within primary schools including class teacher, phase/subject leader, and Deputy Headteacher.  

  I relocated to the neighbouring village of Upper Basildon in 2020 and am currently taking a short break from teaching while my children are young. Keen to remain involved in the education sector in some capacity, becoming a Governor was an exciting opportunity to support a local school.  

  I am passionate about securing the best outcomes for the pupils and school community at Pangbourne Primary and feel privileged to work alongside the talented and dedicated team to help achieve this.  

• Kelly Mullenger
  Parent Governor, SEND
  Kelly Mullenger

  Also part of the Data/Teaching & Learning Committee.

  I have lived in Pangbourne since 2006 and my 3 children all attend our primary school. I am a secondary school teacher and currently work with many local families tutoring Maths and Science to their children.   I am passionate about education and learning and enjoying using my skills as a Governor to play a role in supporting the staff and children through their primary school experience.  

• Phil Horton
  Co-opted Governor
  Phil Horton

  Part of the Premises/Health & Safety Committee, Staffing Committee and Pay Committee.

   I joined the PPS Governors' Board in 2019 shortly before my retirement after 40+ years working in the automotive industry, both at home and abroad. I've lived in Pangbourne for six years so, although I have an 18 year old daughter, she did not attend PPS. I am, therefore, a fully independent governor who aims to contribute some broad non-educational experience to the FGB.

• Matthew Syddall
  Local Authority Governor
  Matthew Syddall

  I live and work at The Oratory School in Woodcote where I am currently the Deputy Head Academic. Prior to that I taught at Reading Blue Coat School where I set up their Classics Department. I have therefore lived in and around the Reading area since 2006 and am experienced in the leadership of schools at both middle and senior leadership levels. I am a relatively new governor to Pangbourne Primary School but very much look forward to working with both the governing body and the school leadership.