Meet the Governors
Who are the Governors?
The Governing Body play a vital part in the running of the school. They are a group of volunteers who are responsible for holding the school’s leadership to account and make sure that the school is performing and improving.
A full copy of details about the Governing Body including minutes of meetings, visit the Governor page on KLZ. Alternatively, copies of all minutes can be found in the school office and are available on request.
If you would be interested in joining the Governing Body, contact the school for more information.
What do Governors do?
Governors form part of the Strategic Leadership of the school. For more information on Governors and their role in school, please read the Oakland’s Code of Conduct.
How do I contact them?
You can use the contact form opposite to contact the Clerk to the Governors. They will respond as soon as possible and within one working week. It is important that in the event of a complaint, the school’s complain policy has been followed that that you have spoke to the school directly.
School Governors

Nikki ASHBY
Term of Office
19 Sep 2016 – 20 Sep 2020
Business Interests
Works for Medway Council within the audit and enforcement team. Husband is employed by Sharps Signs.
Biography
As a parent of a child at Oaklands school, I became a Governor in September 2016 and this is my first Governor role. I work for a local authority in an audit and enforcement role which has been really useful. I am keen for all children to maximise their abilities and reach their full potential.

Adrian GULVIN
Term of Office
1 Sep 2016 – 31 Aug 2020
Business Interests
Local Councilor, Portfolio holder for Resources
Biography
Adrian is the school’s local authority appointed governor. He is a Marine engineer by profession and he now represents Walderslade Ward on Medway Council. He is the council’s portfolio holder for resources.
He chairs the Medway Community Safety Partnership and is a Trustee of Chatham Charities. As well as this, he is a member of Medway’s Health & Wellbeing board.

Levi WINTON
Term of Office
12 Sep 2018 – 11 Sep 2022
Business Interests
Employed as class teacher at Oaklands
Biography
Hello, I’m Miss Winton. I am a Key Stage 1 teachers and I am in my firth year of teaching. Before joining the Oaklands TEAM I worked at Heathrow Primary School. I have a passion for teaching maths and ensuring that all children are able to access all areas of the curriculum.

Shenda WEST
Term of Office
17 Jan 2018 – 16 Jan 2022
Business Interests
None
Biography
As a parent to both adult and a pre-school child, I have had a long term involvement in the schooling process. I applied to be a governor as I would like to make a difference. This is my first governor role and I have a lot to learn! I have a keen interest in data protection and a background in maths and I hope my knowledge will be useful. Every child is different and it’s important to recognise that and help the child grow and develop.

Venn RAMA, JP, MBA
Term of Office
20 Oct 2016 – 19 Sep 2020
Business Interests
Member of Fort Pitt Thomas Aveling Academy Trust. Director of Tambrell Properties LTD. Chair of Parkwood Residents Association.
Biography
Veen Joined the Oaklands school in September 2016. He is an experienced governor with more than a decade of involvement in school governance. He is passionate about education, raising standards of all our children and has a particular interest in children who are from a vulnerable background. He has worked in the civil service at a senior level for a number of years. He brings strategic knowledge and skills to the school. In his other life, he is a local magistrate, a restorative justice practitioner and a neighbourhood mediator, skills which are transferable in his role as governor.

Rita HOLDING
Term of Office
21 Sep 2016 – 20 Sep 2020
Business Interests
None
Biography
Rita has worked as a senior commissioner for both the UK and South African Scouting organisations. During this time, she was involved strategically for the organisation and was responsible for children aged 7 – 18 in three different branches. She supported a range of elements including chairing local and national meetings. She currently volunteers at Pip & Jim’s church, leading assemblies for primary schools as well as enjoying hobbies such as arts and crafts.

Emma MILLER
Term of Office
17 Jan 2018 – 16 Jan 2022
Business Interests
None
Biography
This is my first role as a school governor & I was delighted when I was offered the opportunity to join Oakland’s School. I work full time for the Ministry of Justice and part of my role is training and development. I am very focused on developing people to reach their full potential. I see my role as a governor at Oakland’s to assist the school with all that they need to develop each child to their full potential at each stage of their development.

Caroline WEBBER
Term of Office
25 May 2016 – 24 May 2020
Business Interests
Educational Consultant for Medway Early Years Ltd.
Biography
Caroline has a wide range of experience in both Governance and education, with particular focus on Early Years Education. Caroline has been a governor as several Medway schools and has worked as a qualified teacher and as the Early Years Child Care Manager for the Local Authority. Caroline currently works as an Early Years advisor to schools and Private Voluntary Independent settings across Kent and Medway.

Dennis McFARLANE
Term of Office
19 Sep 2016 – 20 Sep 2020
Business Interests
None
Biography
I have been a School Governors for Oaklands Primary School since 2010 and have held the position of Vice-Chair of Governors. Before that I was Vice-Chair and then Chair of Governors at Walderslade Primary School.
Outside of School, I am a Technical Manager for a Kent Farm and Food Manufacturer where I am responsible for Food Safety and Hygiene with a Team of QA and Technical personnel reporting into me.
As well as my passion for ensure children receive a high standard of education, I am a keen promoter and advocate of the Sciences from Bio-Chemistry to Particle Physics to Cosmology. In addition to this I am a big Formula 1 and motorsports fan and visit Brands Hatch regularly.

Barry SYMONS
Term of Office
Governor as long as still in post
Business Interests
None
Biography
I joined the school in April 2015 as the Headteacher and have become incredibly proud of the school and its community. Prior to joining Oaklands, I have worked in a variety of schools in many places including Yorkshire, Kent, Medway and internationally in America. Over my career, I have worked in several roles including Headteacher, Senior Leader, SENco and as a class teacher.

Daniel MOORE
Term of Office
20 Sep 2017 – 19 Sep 2021
Business Interests
Works for the KEMN Academy Trust
Biography
Daniel has over 6 years experience as a School Business Manager and 13 years experience working in education across both the primary and secondary sector.
Outside work, he runs a large charitable theatre group. He is passionate about helping young people and seeing them succeed.

Rosemary TAYLOR
Term of Office
24 Sep 2014 – 23 Sep 2018
Business Interests
None
Biography
Rosemary is retired having been a primary school teacher for 24 years at Oaklands.
She reserves a special interest in the continuing work of all those at Oaklands striving to provide the very best education and support for the children who attend and their families too.
Structure of the Governing Body
Mr Veen Rama (chair) | |
FINANCE & RESOURCES subcommittee Daniel MORE (Chair) Nikki ASHBY Adrian GULVIN Dennis McFARLANE Veen RAMA Barry SYMONS
| Full Governing BodyAdrian GULVIN Rita HOLDING Dennis McFARLANE Emma MILLER Daniel MORE Rosemary TAYLOR Caroline WEBBER Shenda WEST Levi WINTON Barry SYMONS |
Attendance Record 2018-19
The table below shows a record of who attended (Y), those who did not attend but sent apologies (A) and those who did not attend and no apologies were sent (N). Anyone not required to attend the meeting are marked as (-) for that meeting.
FGB | Finance | FGB 09.01.19 | Finance 23.01.19 | FGB 06.03.19 | Finance | FGB | Governor Day | FGB 10.07.19 | |
L Winton | A | ||||||||
N Ashby | Y | ||||||||
A Gulvin | Y | ||||||||
R Holding | Y | ||||||||
D McFarlane | Y | ||||||||
D More | Y | ||||||||
V Rama | A | ||||||||
B Symons | Y | ||||||||
R Taylor | Y | ||||||||
C Webber | A | ||||||||
E Miller | Y | ||||||||
S West | Y |
Associate Members without voting powers & Clerk
Mrs Allison MITCHELL
Clerk to the Governors
Mrs Catherine McLAUGHLIN
Deputy Headteacher
Mrs Louisa JONES
Assistant Headteacher
Mrs Liz STAMP
School Business Manager