Governor Name

Governor Type

Term End Date

Mr. Jon Hann

(Chair of Governors)

Mrs. Grace Olugbodi

(Vice Chair of Governors)

Co-opted

05/02/24

Mr Ian Wallace

(Vice Chair of Governors)

Miss Kerry Geary

Headteacher

N/A

Mr Robert Davies

Co-opted

25/11/24

16/05/26

05/07/26

N/A

Jon Hann - Chair of Governors

I qualified as a teacher back in the 1980s, and also hold a number of qualifications in relation to school leadership.

I have been a teacher for over forty years but finally retired in July 2022. I was the Deputy Headteacher at The Phoenix Primary School and Nursery for eight years. I worked closely with the current Headteacher and was proud to see the school judged as Outstanding by OFSTED in 2019.  As well as teaching in primary schools, I have also taught in a secondary school and abroad at the very beginning of my career.

Throughout my career, I have always been committed to ensuring young people achieve their full potential. I believe that successful schools are the ones who put children at the heart of everything they do. 

Fun fact or personal interest:

I enjoy long distance walking and recently walked the length of Hadrian’s Wall, raising money for the British Heart Foundation.

Dr. Grace Olugbodi

Qualifications: BSc Computing (1st Class Hons), MSc Financial Markets with Info Systems, PhD (Honorary Doctorate in recognition of helping children fall in love with Mathematics).

I have been associated with the school for almost 7 years as a Governor. I am a Former Chair of Governors of Phoenix and enjoy supporting the school. I have held a range of previous roles on the Phoenix Board of Governors, such as Creative Curriculum Governor, Chair of Finance Committee, Governor in charge of Teaching & Learning and Governor in charge of Safeguarding. I am also a Former Trustee/Director of Lee Chapel MAT Board.

I love helping children get the best out of their Education, helping to create more life chances and increasing opportunities for a successful future.

Fun fact or interest:

I’m an ex-Investment Banker and Software Programmer.  I have 15 years+ Business Experience. I love games, chess and singing.

Mr Ian Wallace

Robert Davies

Qualifications: BA Hons Economics

I have been a Governor at Phoenix Primary school for 2 years, having joined the board in November 2020. My background is in Financial Services, and my current role is as a Consultant in the Wealth Management and Insurance sectors. I have lived in the Basildon/ Laindon area for almost 30 years.

I am keen to contribute back to the community and I think it's important that young people are given equal opportunities to thrive and succeed. It's great working closely with members of the Phoenix staff, who care passionately about the children that attend the school. 

Fun fact or personal interest: I am a keen runner and have completed 2 marathons. I am also passionate about cricket (and most other sports), and I am captain of Basildon & Pitsea Cricket Club's 1^st XI

Karen Batterham

I have a BA and a counselling qualification.

My background is in secondary education and I was a teacher for 43 years. During that time, I taught a variety of subjects but my passion was always the performing arts.  Teaching drama and producing many school plays and musicals was challenging but immensely satisfying.  I believe that drama and music can be a huge influence on a child's school life.  I was also a Head of Year and thus closely involved with the pastoral side of education and in promoting good attendance.  I believe that close links with parents can be of immense benefit.  In the end, parents and teachers have the same aim: they want the best for their children.

I wanted to become a Governor at Phoenix, because I was impressed with what I have seen since my granddaughter, currently in year 3, joined the school.  The success of the school is something I would like to be part of maintaining.

Fun fact or personal interest:

I enjoy walking- something I can thank the pandemic for, and I am a keen theatre goer.

Rachel Stanley

Qualifications: BA Hons In Performing Arts and Level 3 PTLLS in Education and Training

Throughout my career I have had a passion for teaching and young people. I have taught at a number of secondary and further education establishments in London Boroughs. I since moved on and am now currently working in the corporate world, working for an Energy supplier for B2B Business.

I have always been passionate about education and I love to learn. Therefore, when my daughter joined Phoenix and there was an opportunity to be a parent Governor, I jumped at the chance to work with this amazing school.  I want to support the School's mission of supporting children to enter the school to learn and leave to achieve.

Fun fact or personal interest:

In my spare time I love to knit and I enjoy going to the theatre.

Marie Kirkham

I am the Teaching Staff Governor here at the Phoenix Primary School and Nursery. I have worked at the school since 2010 and am currently one of the Deputy Headteachers and a SENCo. I absolutely love working at the school and being part of the community we serve. I have experience of school governance as both a parent governor and community governor at another Essex school and feel like I can provide an excellent link between staff and governors at our school.