Welcome to our Governors’ section.

Please find below details of how our Governing body is structured, including the names, categories, responsibilities and terms of appointment for each Governor.

Newtown has a dedicated team of Governors who are either elected as Parent Governors, Community Governors, Local Authority Governors or staff Governors. They remain on the Governing Body for a period of four years and may be re-elected if no other candidates come forward. The Chair and Vice-Chair are elected annually. Vacancies for Governors are communicated through the School to the Parent Body and Hampshire County Council (HCC) Governor Services Team. All Governors are members of the Full Governing Body (FGB) and have full voting rights. They meet collectively once per month. Each Governor has a clear role in supporting and holding the school to account. These areas are reviewed annually. Each Governor reviews aspects of school improvement each term to monitor progress towards identified goals. This ensures that Newtown’s Governors ‘know their school’ and are able to challenge the school to achieve the very best outcomes for children.

Pecuniary interests are declared at every meeting.

Our Board of Governors

Our Governors - all about me

Mrs Glynis Wright- I have been a governor since 2016 and Chair of Governors since 2019.  Prior to becoming a Governor I taught in secondary education for twenty seven years and then worked for Hampshire Inspectorate and Advisory Service (HIAS)  for fifteen years.  I am passionate about developing the whole child and I believe that this is reflected in the ethos values of Newtown.  In addition to being a governor I have been a Church warden at Christ Church for four years and have been a core member of The Villagers Open Air Drama Group which performs Shakespeare in the outdoors and raises money for local charities.

Mr Richard Swain-

My name is Mr. Swain, and I really enjoy being a part of the Newtown C of E Primary School governing board.

By day, I'm the boss at your local Tesco, making sure everyone has what they need.  In the evenings, I help out quite a few schools through Hampshire County Council. 

I've got two wonderful children who have been part of the Newtown family, and I've been a parent governor here for almost four years now. 

When I'm not busy working or helping out at schools, I love taking pictures, doing DIY projects around the house, and spending time with my family.

I wish I had more time to read books, but there's just so much to do!

Oh, and here's a fun fact about me: I've actually flown a plane before! How cool is that?

I look forward to seeing you around school - don't be shy, and say hello!

Mrs Julie Westerby-I am the  Local Authority Governor.  I have been a governor at Newtown School since 2018 when I was elected as a local councillor for the Christchurch Ward (now called Leesland and Newtown Ward) I have worked previously in a local infants school and realised the valuable service that governors give in supporting the whole school family - staff, parents/carers and most importantly the children.  To see a young person grow and thrive is so rewarding and in a safe caring enviroment like our fantastic school makes me very proud to be involved in a small way.

Mr Neal Willis- Hello,  I am the staff governor at Newtown C of E Primary School. I have been a member of the board of governors since February 2025. I have been a member of the staff here at Newtown for over 6 years, working initially as a cover teacher across the school, and as a class teacher in Year 4 and Year 5. I have been working in schools for over twenty years, first as a teaching assistant in London, before completing my teacher training. I have taught at three other Gosport schools, before moving to Newtown C of E Primary School. My wide and varied experiences make me a good person to represent our wonderful staff team on the governing board.

Mrs Carrie Watson-

Mr Ian Wright- I have been a governor at Newtown since 2020.  I was a secondary school. teacher for 33 years teaching lots of different subjects.  On leaving teaching, I worked with the National Team rolling out Infant Free School Meals and with HC3s the former meals service.  I am regularly seen at Newtown supporting children with their Maths.  Away from the school I play golf when I can and am involved with The Villages in performing outdoor Shakespeare in Gosport and around Southern Hampshire.

Mrs Heidi Button- Heidi brings a unique blend of experience in Health & Wellbeing and Human Resources to her role as a School Governor. She’s passionate about supporting both pupils and staff to reach their full potential in an environment that values inclusion, wellbeing, and personal growth.

A qualified Personal Trainer and Yoga Teacher, Heidi specialises in working with women’s health, SEN children and adults, and individuals managing health-related challenges. Her work focuses on helping people feel confident, capable, and empowered — something she believes is at the heart of a positive school community.

Alongside her wellbeing work, Heidi is an HR consultant with CIPD Level 5 qualifications, supporting a range of organisations with recruitment, people management, and policy development. She brings strong communication and problem-solving skills to her governor role and is confident in balancing care with accountability.

Heidi is committed to helping create a school environment where every child feels supported, valued, and inspired to thrive.