BRIGHSTONE PRIMARY SCHOOL - Key Persons


Brian Mitchell

Job Titles:
  • Associate Member - Health and Safety
It was the search for our idyllic retirement location that brought us to the Isle of Wight 7 years ago, and my wife's love of gardening and my wish to be near a coastline made the decision to come here to Brighstone one of the easiest we have ever made. And what a wonderful community we have joined! My retirement from health, safety and environmental management didn't go quite according to plan, though, and I now give mainly pro-bono advice to not-for-profit organisations such as Brighstone CE Aided School and St Mary's Church. For me, it's an honour to have been asked to become a Governor of this school and I will do everything I can to support the hopes and ambitions of the pupils, the staff and my fellow governors.

Claire Slade-Carter

Job Titles:
  • Associate Member - Education Committee
I have lived on the island for many years, before moving to Brighstone in 2020, a welcoming and bustling village that we feel very fortunate to call home. I have a background in Speech and Language Therapy, and since starting my teaching career have taught both mainstream and special secondary education on the island, specialising in English and Religious Education, alongside managing student progress data. I have a real passion for education and supporting all young people, regardless of their background, to have the best opportunities available to them at school.

Emily Rufian

Job Titles:
  • Parent Governor - Education Committee
Returning to the Island in 2016 with my young family, we settled in the West Wight, and my son now attends Brighstone CE Primary School. Having been so impressed with the welcome the school extended to him during a challenging settling in period, there was no question when it came to applying to be a parent governor to be able to support the school. I look forward to taking on the challenge, and I aim to bring a different perspective to the role, as this is a completely new area for me professionally. I have a passion for championing small rural schools and the importance they hold for not only local families but the community as a whole. I also have a keen interest in positive and proactive SEN provision. I am looking forward to the opportunity to work with the wider team at Brighstone CE Primary School, supporting them to ensure a sustainable and thriving future for the school.

Heather Fairclough

Job Titles:
  • Foundation Governor - Education Committee

Jane Thomson

Job Titles:
  • Foundation Governor - Vice Chair of Governors - Chair of Education Committee
I have lived in the West Wight for 38 years with my husband and three children. I worked until recently as a Primary School teacher and Special Education Needs Coordinator in several schools across the Island. I am keen to support Brighstone CE Primary School to encourage an excellent education with a Christian ethos for all children which enables them to progress and achieve to their full potential.

Miss Jody Bacon

Job Titles:
  • Learning Support Assistant ( PT ), Midday Supervisory Assistant ( PT ) and Emotional Literacy Support Assistant ( ELSA )

Miss Lisa Abbott

Job Titles:
  • Clerk to Governors
  • Clerk to the Governing Body
I was brought up on the Island and love working and living here. Now living in the beautiful West Wight, my children have both attended Brighstone Primary and we deliberately chose a small school for them to attend. I am delighted to be working with the Governing body to support the school, which is at the heart of the lovely community that the village of Brighstone offers.

Miss Sharon Moore

Job Titles:
  • Learning Support Assistant With a Focus on Additional Support and Interventions ( PT ) and Midday Supervisory Assistant

Miss Summer Pelosi

Job Titles:
  • Learning Support Assistant and Midday Supervisory Assistant

Mr Ash Goldsmith

Job Titles:
  • Support Staff Member
  • Music
  • Sports Coach

Mr Matthew Worrall

Job Titles:
  • Cleaner

Mr Michael Freeman

Job Titles:
  • Site Manager

Mrs Debbie Pelosi

Job Titles:
  • Office Administrator
  • Senior Administrator

Mrs Elaine Sharp

Job Titles:
  • Bursar / School Business Manager

Mrs Fiona Johnstone

Job Titles:
  • Teacher ( PT ) School - Led Tutoring Tutor Computing Subject Leader

Mrs Grace Baker

Job Titles:
  • Teacher

Mrs Hannah Brear

Job Titles:
  • Support Staff Member
  • Reception / KS1 Learning Support Assistant ( PT ) and Midday Supervisory Assistant ( PT )

Mrs Kirsti Cousins

Job Titles:
  • Design and Technology
  • History

Mrs Linzi Denness

Job Titles:
  • Computing

Mrs Lorraine Eggleton

Job Titles:
  • Learning Support Assistant ( PT ) and Midday Supervisory Assistant

Mrs Rebecca Lennon

Job Titles:
  • Headteacher
  • Headteacher - Education Committee - Finance Committee
  • RWI Reading Leader
Having been teaching for 24 years, both on the mainland and on the Isle of Wight, I have taken on a range of roles throughout my career: class teacher, DT subject lead, English subject lead and Assistant Head, and I now have the privilege of being Headteacher here at Brighstone. I have been teaching in this lovely village school for 16 years since my husband and I moved to the island from Cheshire, and I love being a part of this friendly community. We have a strong and enthusiastic team here at Brighstone, where everyone has a passion for helping children thrive and be their best in a happy and supportive environment.

Mrs Samantha Sharp

Job Titles:
  • Art and Design
  • Geography
  • Maths Subject Leader Geography Subject Leader Music Subject Leader Y5 / 6 Teacher
  • Science
  • Staff Governor - Education Committee
  • Teacher ( PT ) Maths Subject Leader Geography Subject Leader Music Subject Leader
I am an Islander and throughout my teaching career I have taught from YR to Y8 in a variety of settings on the Island, mainland and abroad.

Mrs Sonia Green

Job Titles:
  • Support Staff Member
  • Reception / KS1 Learning Support Assistant ( PT ) and Midday Supervisory Assistant ( PT )

Mrs Susan Boyd

Job Titles:
  • Maths
  • Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Co - Ordinator ( SENCo ) History Subject Leader

Mrs Tina Dunn

Job Titles:
  • Learning Support Assistant ( PT ) and Midday Supervisory Assistant

Rev Jackie Maw

Job Titles:
  • Ex Officio Governor
I am Team Rector of the West Wight Mission Community. I am relatively new to the island and enjoy walking my dogs on the beach most days. I also enjoys cycling but am seriously considering an electric bike to deal with some of the hills!! Schools have played a significant role in my previous parishes. They play such an important role in our communities. I'm delighted to be part of this school community and continuing to nurture the strong relationship that there is with St Mary's. Children ask questions about life, the universe and everything, including God, with a directness we seem to lose as we get older. I look forward those questions as we learn and grow together.'

Sam Cambridge

Job Titles:
  • Parent Governor - Education Committee
My wife, Kate, went to Brighstone Primary School, so when we were looking for a school for our son, Brighstone Primary was top of our list. We feel passionate about education and the importance of a strong foundation for learning. I myself have volunteered with Freshwater & Totland Scouts for the past five years, and I help with football coaching on Sunday mornings. I've always looked to help the school wherever I can, so I was delighted to have the opportunity to become a parent governor.

Steve Fairclough

Job Titles:
  • Foundation Governor - Chair of Governors - Chair of Finance Committee - Safeguarding Governor
I retired in 2017 to Brighstone from a 25 year career in teaching (the last 14 years as Headmaster). I have kept busy in "retirement", tutoring maths and science for GCSE and A level and coaching hockey and rugby at Ryde School.

Tony Saunders

Job Titles:
  • Local Authority Governor - Finance Committee
My wife and I moved to Brighstone in early 2020 after I retired following over 40 years in management. I am a Chartered Accountant and have used those skills whilst working in largely high-end retail, publishing and printing. I subsequently worked as a trustee for a number of years for three charities: The Rowans Hospice at Purbrook, The Kings Theatre in Southsea and The National Railway Heritage Awards.