The 2012 Springfield Governors

This page is currently being updated - not all governors appear here at the moment.

 Group Photo

Mrs L. Evans - Headteacher

I have invested the last 20 years of my life into Springfield School, satisfying my ambition to offer a high quality secondary education to as many Portsmouth children as possible. I have always felt that I owe a great deal to this city where I was brought up and benefited from the many opportunities provided by a state school eduction.

During my tenure I have been whole heartedly supported by a great team of governors, many of whom have stayed on the governing body for over ten years. We are a team and I appreciate the time they each give to ensure the continued good practice and success of this school.

My hobbies, when I have any spare time, include a range of sports and healthy pass-times. As Head I cannot afford any time off so try to keep fit!

The greatest pleasure I get from my day to day work is seeing the small differences that we can each make to young peoples passage through their teenage years. This still makes me tingle.

Mr S. Cook - Vice Chair of Governors

I first became involved with Springfield School in 1996 when my son joined in Year 7. I was involved with the Parents Association and was then persuaded that becoming a governor was a good idea. I became Vice Chairman on one of those occasions when everyone else took a step back, leaving me as the willing volunteer.

My role as Chairman of the Curriculum Committee has meant I have been closely involved in strategic decisions affecting the make up and development of the school’s curriculum. I am immensely proud of what the school has achieved, both in terms of examination results and in maximizing the potential of every pupil who comes through the school. I am the link governor for the Music and PE departments and as such, take a very close interest in our sporting achievements and our many excellent concerts and productions.

Outside of school I run an entertainment company based in Havant, play golf, with varying degrees of success and follow two of football’s serial underachievers, Havant & Waterlooville and Lincoln City, whom I have supported since I was at school in deepest Lincolnshire.

Mrs L. Cartner - Support Staff Governor

Born in Portsmouth I attended Portsmouth Southern grammar School for Girls.  After leaving school I worked in the IT industry in Portsmouth and London until the birth of my youngest daughter in 1992.  From 1992 until 2004 I took care of my two daughters and worked as a freelance writer.

In 2004 I returned to working outside the home and worked at The Hayling School for two years.  In 2006 I joined the support staff at Springfield as the SEN TA. I continue to write in my spare time and have had two non fiction books and twenty six short stories published to date.

I believe school governors have a vital role to play in supporting education, both in their specific schools, and in the wider education community. It is for this reason I put my name forward to serve on the Springfield governing body.

Mr S. Marsden - Teacher Governor

It often surprises the pupils when I tell them I started working at Springfield 22 years ago as a science teacher.  They know me now in my Head of ICT role.  Between science and ICT I worked in Portsmouth Outdoor Education as a sailing and outdoor pursuits instructor.  I have also worked in agrochemical research for ICI, as a small arms range warden for the Royal Air Force in Germany and in Kingston Prison teaching navigation to prisoners – so a fairly varied career path!

I wanted to become a governor to give something back to the school and society that has been so much of my life over the last two decades.  I enjoy being a governor. ICT is such a major part of school and young peoples’ lives that I also feel that it is important to have ICT interests represented on the governing board.

In my spare time I enjoy an array of outdoor activities – particularly canoeing, skiing, cycling and walking with my Cocker Spaniel (he likes coming on the canoe with me too). I also enjoy photography.

Dr A. Baree - Parent Governor

I moved to Portsmouth in 2008, due to job relocation and like many parents, my wife and I chose to live close to Springfield because of its excellent reputation. Our daughter is now in her second year at Springfield and we just received the joyous news that our son has also been accepted for a place at the school. I think our son was more elated then we were on receiving the news and this I believe sums up the eagerness of both parents and students alike in trying to gain a place in Springfield.

Since moving to Portsmouth I jave always thought that I would like to do something for the Community. The opportunity came in 2010 when Springfield was looking for parent Governors and with the encouragement of my wife, I applied for this voluntary position. With my short time as a parent Governor, I have been amazed at the professionalism of the Governing body; all meetings have a well defined agenda, policies are regularly reviewed and discussed in great detail, dwindling budgets from the City Council are balanced well, plenty of proactive forward planning etc.

Despite my busy career as a specialist/consultant engineer working in the space industry and as the father of four children, I do feel honored to be able to contribute some of my time as a governor of this successful School.

Ms S. Martin - Parent Governor

I currently work for Children’s Social Care; previous to that I worked for the Youth service. I am passionate about young people and personally believe getting a good educational start is so important. I have been a Parent Governor since 2010; my decision to become involved was based on my belief that as a parent I am part of the wider educational community, my hope is that some of my knowledge and skills will benefit the young people who attend our school. As a previous student at the school I achieved grades that were certainly not predicted for me when I was 6 years old, in part this was based on the excellent teaching I received. As a Parent Governor I have the opportunity to see, hear and experience the teaching our children receive, I am lucky to have this insight.

In my spare time when I am not working or being a parent, I try to keep fit and go to the gym, I have recently started tap dancing lessons which I enjoy immensely.

Mr J. Jethwa - Parent Governor

I moved to Portsmouth from Birmingham in 1995, since then I have worked at Southern Electric, firstly as a Customer Service Advisor then with in their IT department and now I am Business Analyst at the Havant office working with both IT and Customer Services. My current role involves travel between our offices in Perthand Cardiff which does not give me much spare time.

I became a Parent Governor when my son joined Springfield over 7 years ago and have since been elected by parents twice, he left School to go on to Havant College and my daughter is now in year 10.

Before joining the Governing body I was under the impression that it would be hard work and that I did not have any spare time, however I have found that I have been able to make time for a great school which is enabling me to do some good for the community. Being a Governor has given me the opportunity to see the wide range of activities the school is involved in and the commitment by the staff and pupils of the school.

Mr A. Cufley - Community Governor

I have been a Governor at Springfield for 7 years now and before that supported Solent First School as a Parent Governor for a number of years. However, my association with the school goes back to 2001 when the first of my two children came here.

I now have the privilege of being the Chair of the Site and Community Sub-Committee and enjoy helping to keep the fabric of the school to the highest standard possible as well as maintaining Springfield’s excellent reputation within the local community. I am the link governor for Design and Technology and am always pleased to see the benefits gained by the pupils from the investment the school makes in this subject area.

I work for the city council and have always lived within the school catchment area. I therefore like to think that I know the city, its history and amenities extremely well and am an avid fan of Portsmouth Football Club.