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 Carolyn Watson- I am a co-opted governor, and have been a governor since 2024.I spent my working life as a teacher, mostly in Early Years, a job that I really loved. I worked in several schools in Gosport and Fareham, including at Newtown. I am so pleased to continue my involvement with the school as a governor. Now that I am no longer working in school day to day, I am a trustee of a charity which supports children with life limiting conditions and their families, and bereaved parents.I also now got time to renovate my house, read the books Ive always been meaning to, and enjoy trips away in my campervan

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 Gemma Allen - After serving as a parent representative at Newtown for the past two years, I was delighted to step into the role of Parent Governor. Becoming more involved in the school community has been a natural progression for me, and I’m excited to continue supporting the children, staff, and families. Professionally, I work as a mortgage advisor within an estate agency and have done so for over 10 years. This experience has given me a strong understanding of finance, as well as the ability to work closely with people from all walks of life. Before this, I spent several years as a swimming teacher, so I’ve also had the pleasure of working with children in a different setting. I have a little boy who attends Newtown and absolutely loves his time here. At home, we also share our lives with my husband (my little boys dad) and Buddy, our lively cockerpoo. During my time as a parent representative, I’ve joined many walks and school trips, and I’ve always found the children of Newtown to be polite, friendly, and welcoming. I’ve really enjoyed getting to know them, and I look forward to supporting the school even more closely in my role as Parent Governor.

Mrs Aspinall - I have worked in education for over 30 years, both in the UK and internationally.  I am qualified in Applied Neuroscience and currently work at Baycroft School. I am  the founder of NeuroInclusive.UK, creator of the Ecological Inclusion Framework (EIF), and author of Designing Homes for All Brains. My professional interests include neurodiversity, particularly autism and ADHD, and creating environments that support learning, wellbeing, and inclusion. Outside of work, I enjoy walking my  dogs and spending time with family and friends. I have a strong Christian faith and am an active member of Haven Church, Gosport, through which I  serve as a Foundation Governor.