Governors

The Governing Board at Forest Park School supports and challenges school leaders to ensure that the school fulfils its statutory responsibilities and delivers the best possible outcomes for every pupil. This includes oversight of safeguarding, finance, special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), equality, compliance, staffing and educational performance.

The Governing Board is responsible for setting the school's vision, ethos and strategic direction. Governors provide strategic leadership, scrutiny and accountability, ensuring that decisions are made in the best interests of pupils and that public funds are used effectively. The Headteacher is responsible for the day-to-day operational management of the school and for implementing the strategic priorities agreed by the Governing Board.

As school governors we focus on six key questions:

Where are we going?
Setting the school's vision, values, ethos and strategic direction.
How do we know how well we're doing?
Using data, evidence and monitoring to evaluate progress and outcomes.
Are leaders doing what they should?
Providing challenge, support and accountability to school leaders.
Are pupils safe and properly supported?
Maintaining oversight of safeguarding, SEND, wellbeing and inclusion.
Are we using resources properly?
Ensuring effective financial management, staffing and value for money.
What could go wrong, and are we prepared?
Overseeing risk management, compliance and organisational assurance.

Our aim is to work with the Headteacher and senior leadership team to drive strategic development and raise standards for all the pupils and young adults at Forest Park School.

Chair of Governors

Paul Shields - appointed September 2023

Email: paul.shields@fpshants.co.uk

My connection with Forest Park began in 2008 when my daughter joined what was then Forest Edge School. Her younger brother followed a few year later, and both enjoyed a very happy time at the school.

Before becoming a governor, I spent 15 years in the travel industry, working in product management and procurement for specialist long-haul tour operators. I later established my own consultancy, providing sales and marketing support to luxury hotels and tourism businesses around the world.

Outside work and governance, I am a keen road cyclist and have taken part in a number of races in France, as well as charity rides in Spain, France, South Africa and Namibia. I am also a lifelong rugby supporter and have enjoyed coaching youth rugby. More recently, I can usually be found on the touchline watching my son's matches and wishing I was still young enough to join in!

Vice Chair of Governors

Sue Thomas - appointed March 2024

I was delighted to join Forest Park School’s board of governors in 2020. Throughout my career, I was committed to creating an environment where everyone could reach their full potential. I will draw on this philosophy, together with my healthcare and business experience and skills, to support the school’s continued success and development.

From 2017, I served as the Designated Clinical Officer for Special Educational Needs and Disabilities across several health boards—a role I thoroughly enjoyed. In 2017, I earned an MSc in Integrated Governance for Health and Social Care from the University of Westminster. I retired from nursing in 2024 where my career spanned the NHS, social care, and independent and international healthcare.

I moved to West Wellow in 2018. As I approached retirement, I wanted to give back to the community, particularly in the field of Special Educational Needs, which led me to apply to become a school governor.

Forest Park School is a remarkable place where every pupil is recognised as an individual and supported to develop their skills and learning at their own pace. The school always feels welcoming and positive.

Parent Governors

Michelle Roberts - appointed September 2024

My name is Michelle and with my husband we have two children one is at Forest Park and our youngest is just starting mainstream school.

I am proud to be a governor at Forest Park school, a school that does amazing things for its children.

I love to see what can be achieved and how it’s achieved. It’s great to be a little part of the huge amount of work that goes into a school. I would love to make a difference and be able to advocate for children who don’t have a voice.

I was previously a hairdresser and then trained as pharmacy dispenser before starting a family and becoming a full time mummy. Nowadays I love to do arts and crafts we also love baking together.

Joel Young - appointed January 2023

Co-opted Governors

Tim Buxton - appointed October 2022

Lisa Drake - appointed October 2025

Janet McCann - appointed February 2026

I have worked with children with Special Educational Needs for 40 years. This has been in both teaching and leadership roles in schools across the country. Having greatly enjoyed this work, and now retired, I am very happy to have taken up a role as governor. I have previously been a governor at two other special schools.

I very much enjoy working as part of a team to fulfil the duties of the governing body and am passionate about providing the best possible opportunities for learning and development within the school. It is always a pleasure to come into school and meet all the members of the school community and this very much contributes to understanding the needs of the school.

Staff Governor

Jo Pizzo - appointed September 2023

I have been a proud member of the Forest Park team since 2016, when I first joined the school as a Learning Support Assistant and in 2019 I began my teacher training here. Since qualifying, I have continued my journey at the school as the teacher of Cherry Class on the Secondary site.

I specialise in working with pupils with profound and multiple learning disabilities (PMLD) and am passionate about supporting pupils to develop their communication and independence, to enable them to express themselves and make choices.

Alongside my classroom role, I am a member of the school’s Personal Development curriculum team and am the whole-school lead for Relationships and Sex Education (RSE), reflecting my strong interest in supporting pupils’ wider personal development and helping them build the skills, understanding and confidence they need as they grow towards adulthood.

I became Staff Governor in 2023 and really value the opportunity this gives me to contribute to the continued development of Forest Park beyond my own classroom, sharing my experiences to help inform Governing Body discussions and decisions.

Headteacher

David Thomas

Clerk

Louise Tedford - appointed May 2026

Contact: louise.tedford@fpshants.co.uk