Local Governing Body
At Woodlea Primary School, governance plays a vital role in ensuring that the academy continues to provide high-quality education and achieves the best possible outcomes for all children. Our Local Governing Body (LGB) works closely with school leaders to provide both strategic direction and robust challenge. Through regular monitoring visits and meetings, members have a clear understanding of the academy’s context, including the needs of the community we serve and the specific challenges and opportunities facing the school. This understanding enables them to focus sharply on key improvement priorities and ensure that these are consistently addressed. Governors review school performance, monitor progress against improvement plans, and evaluate the impact of leadership decisions. Records of meetings and monitoring activity demonstrate that governors ask insightful and probing questions, ensuring that leaders are held to account for the quality of education, pupil outcomes, safeguarding, and the effective use of resources.
Governors engage constructively with senior leaders, offering both support and challenge. They are not involved in the day-to-day running of the school but instead focus on longer-term strategy, ensuring that decisions are well-informed, evidence-based, and aligned with the school’s vision and values. In addition, governors undertake monitoring activities, such as school visits, conversations with children and staff and link roles, which further strengthen their understanding of priorities and provide opportunities to triangulate information. This ensures that their challenge is grounded in first-hand evidence as well as data and reports. Through this rigorous and reflective approach, the governing body plays a key role in driving continuous improvement and ensuring that Woodlea Primary School remains a safe, inclusive, and high-performing environment for all pupils.
Local Governing Body Members
Chair of Governors: Paul Abbott (1.9.26)
Pecuniary Interests: Owner/Director of SSR Ltd. UMT Secretary, Farnham Sea Cadets
Paul is an experienced company director with over 25 years' experience in the Civil Engineering and Highways sectors. His background is in concrete anchor technology, with responsibility for technical assessments and recommendations, sales, quality management, supplier management, accounts, corporate governance, compliance, HR, and training. Paul holds a BA (Hons) in Business & Management Economics from Oxford Brookes University and brings extensive experience in business leadership, governance, financial oversight, and strategic decision-making. In addition to his professional role, Paul serves as Secretary of Farnham & Aldershot Sea Cadets, supporting the administration and governance of the local unit. As a Governor, Paul is keen to use his commercial and governance experience to support the school and help ensure the best possible outcomes for its pupils.
Abigail Oliver (Headteacher)
Pecuniary Interests: staff member
Abigail Oliver is the Headteacher of Woodlea Primary School, with over 25 years’ experience in education and 15 years serving as a school governor in three different schools. She brings a strong understanding of both school leadership and governance, ensuring a clear focus on strategic development and accountability. Abigail values working closely with governors and recognises their vital role in supporting and challenging the school to achieve the best outcomes for pupils. She is proud to lead Woodlea, a unique school set in a beautiful woodland environment, where a nurturing ethos, inclusive approach and inspiring curriculum enable every child to feel happy, valued and able to succeed.
Staff Governor: Vicki Trinder (appointed 1.9.26 by Academy Trust)
Pecuniary Interests: staff member
Vicki has worked in education for over 20 years, gaining experience across four primary schools. During her career, she has held a range of roles including Class Teacher, SENDCo, Deputy Headteacher and Acting Headteacher. In her role as Deputy Headteacher, Vicki undertook a wide range of responsibilities, including safeguarding, performance management, assessment, residential trip planning, family liaison support and coaching netball. She also worked in partnership with the local authority to support school improvement projects. Vicki now works at Woodlea Primary School as SENDCo, where she continues to support pupils, families and staff to ensure that all children are able to thrive and succeed. Alongside her professional roles, Vicki has significant experience in governance, having served as a governor at three schools during her career.
Parent/Carer Governor: Jenny Botha (appointed 1.9.26 by Academy Trust)
Pecuniary Interests: Book-keeper, Robertet UK
Jenny is deeply committed to ensuring that every child at Woodlea feels happy, safe and fully supported. With a background in bookkeeping and previous experience on the PTA, she brings valuable practical insight and a strong understanding of the school community. As a parent with a child at Woodlea, Jenny is dedicated to working closely with staff and families to foster a positive environment where children enjoy their time at school while receiving the best possible education.
Parent/Carer Governor: Lucy Northwood (appointed 1.9.26 by Academy Trust)
Pecuniary Interests: none
Community Governor: Patricia Dean (appointed 1.9.26 by Academy Trust)
Pecuniary Interests: none
Community Governor and Safeguarding Governor: Rev Iain Robertson (appointed 1.9.26 by Academy Trust)
Pecuniary Interests: none
I am a born and bred Somerset man, who has been in Ordained Christian ministry for 21 years. Currently, I am the minister of St Mark's Church in Bordon. I am married to my wife Caroline and we have been in Bordon for 5 years. I am thankful for the opportunity to serve as a governor at Woodlea and hope and pray to play my part in seeing all at the school flourish.
LGB Meeting Attendance Data 2025-26
Meeting Dates:
Autumn 1: 15th October 2025
Autumn 2: 2nd December 2025
Spring 1: 26th January 2026
Spring 2: 9th March 2026
Summer 1: 11th May 2026
Summer 2: 13th July 2026
Abigail Oliver - 4/6 meetings attended
Frances Stroud - 3/6
Lucy Northwood 5/6
Vicki Trinder 5/6
Revd Iain Robertson 4/6
Patricia Dean 5/6
Alex Maxted (Interim Chair) 4/6
Derek Hills (Interim Chair) 1/6
Paul Abbott 1/6 (new to role)