Governors (ID 1315)

• David Piercy
  Chair of Local Governing Body
  David Piercy

  I am delighted to serve as a Governor at Castledon. I am passionate about education and will do my very best to support the school to help them ensure that every child and young adult receives the highest quality experience.

  I have over 30 years of experience as a teacher, currently working as a Headteacher of a secondary school in Southend-on-Sea.

  Throughout my career, I have held a range of roles across different schools, giving me a broad understanding of different types of school.

  In addition, for the past 12 years, I have also worked as an Ofsted Inspector. This has provided me with a valuable insight into education and will hopefully allow me to support staff and pupils at Castledon.

  I look forward to working with the pupils, staff, leadership team, governors and the Trust to help the school continue to thrive.

• Sally Watkinson
  Vice Chair of Governors
  Sally Watkinson

  I worked for a number of years as a Child and Family Social Worker and Team Manager in various roles with experience in child protection and looked after children. I am now retired but have retained my passion about ensuring that every child has the right to reach their full potential in a safe, nurturing environment.

• Vicky Thomas
  Staff Governor
  Vicky Thomas

  My journey with Castledon has spanned over 11 fulfilling years. As a teacher in the Sixth Form, my focus has been on empowering young minds with essential life skills, striving to make these skills practical for our students. Additionally, I teachPSHE, equipping students to make informed life choices.As a mentor for both new and existing Teaching Assistants I provide ongoing training and support to these valuable team members.

• Nicky Howard-Ravenspine
  Parent Governor
  Nicky Howard-Ravenspine

  Passionate about civil rights and fairness, I bring extensive experience to my role as a school governor.As a parent,I've witnessed first-hand Castledon's effective support for young people, understanding the impact of bespoke pathways for students with SEND.Retiring in 2017 from my position as an IT Team Leader at a city law firm, I've dedicated myself to supporting neurodivergent children, addressing issues like gender, ADHD, and anxiety.

  As a parent governor, I'm a relentless champion for young peoples rights, ensuring their voices are not just heard but respected. With a unique blend of personal experience and professional expertise, I'm committed to fostering an inclusive and supportive environment for all students at Castledon.

• Louise Wall
  Louise Wall

  I have been a History teacher in a Zenith Trust secondary school for over 20 years and SENCO for over 16 years. I am passionate about ensuring all students and staff are supported to reach their potential.

  I visited Casteldon prior to them joining our Trust and I was so impressed with everything I saw that I am now excited to be joining the governing body to support the great work being done.

  In my role as SENCO I work alongside a number of professionals in schools, the local authority and health and social care. I also work across the schools in our Trust leading the SEND Community of Practice and will bring these skills and experiences to the role.

• Joel Shaljean
  Joel Shaljean

  I lead a whole-school approach to behaviour and wellbeing called Therapeutic Thinking Essex and have been a teachersince the mid-1990s. I started in mainstream education then moved to Special Education in 2010, taking up a position as Deputy Headteacher in a similar setting to Castledon in the north of the county. I am passionate about finding solutions for children with complex needs and am employed by the Essex Special Schools Trust to support schools to do this. I also train staff to facilitate this training in their own settings. I support schools with issues to do with policy and planning around developing school culture and inclusion. I have been a trustee at Castledon for four years now and enjoy having the opportunity to support the development of the school in my role.

• Jacques Bottjer
  Jacques Bottjer

  I have worked in education for over fifteen years, beginning my career as a primary school teacher with a particular specialism in English before moving into school leadership. I am currently the Headteacher of a Catholic primary school in Basildon, where I have also served as Designated Safeguarding Lead, and have previously been a governor of a large primary school in Essex. I am currently completing a Level 7 qualification in senior leadership, with the intention of progressing to a Master’s degree in senior leadership in the near future.

  I am passionate about ensuring that every child has access to an excellent education, with high expectations for all and a particular focus on removing barriers for those who are most disadvantaged. Alongside my work in education, I am actively involved in charitable and community work through the Knights of St Columba and fundraising within my own school community. I am delighted to be joining Castledon as a Governor and look forward to supporting its pupils, staff and wider community.