Professor Darren Smith

I have been Chair of the governing body since 2015, and a member of the governing body since 2014.  I moved into this wonderful village in 2010 and all of my three children have attended Long Clawson Primary School. I recognise the important role that the school plays in the wider health and well-being of the community. I am committed to sustaining excellence in the school, and supporting high quality learning experiences via a diverse creative and challenging curriculum and caring environment to enable all children to flourish at the school. I am focused on my strategic and operational roles on a number of committees. It is an absolute pleasure to work with the other governors, Head and staff to maintain the very high standards of the school, and foster the ethos of a 'love of learning'. 

Mrs Clare Vernon

Clare joined the governing body as a Foundation Governor in October 2019 covering a 1 year sabbatical. She sit on the following committees - Health and Safety, Finance, Personnel and Safeguarding and RE.

Mrs Melanie Oldershaw

Melanie joined the governing body as a foundation governor in January 2015. Her experience in education includes working as a school nurse, school counsellor, teacher and school registrar in both the maintained and independent sector. She is the Year 2/3 governor, oversees the EYFS and history curriculum and is on the following committees: curriculum development, pay and conditions, dismissal, appeals and grievance. Melanie and her husband have lived in Long Clawson for 13 years and are active members of various village groups.

I am delighted to have been invited to join the governing body of our village school. The enthusiasm and commitment of the staff encourages the pupils to work hard, practise consideration for others, gives them an awareness of their role within the community, as well as preparing the children for the next stage in their academic career.

Mrs Carole Brown

Carole became an LA Governor at the end of 2016. She is the Vice Chair of the Governors and sits on the Curriculum and Standards, and Finance committees. She has specific delegated responsibilities as a Governor for SEND, Year 6 and numeracy.

I have lived in Long Clawson for the last eight years and have found the people here to be most welcoming. Having retired from a time consuming career in Retail and Customer Marketing, I now have the opportunity to be more involved in village life.I wanted to join the Board of Governors to support the team here, as I see our village primary school as an integral part of this community and want to work with the other governors and staff to enhance the standing of the school and its pupils. I believe that the time spent at primary school can provide lifelong friendships for both children and parents, as well as delivering the educational results, extra-curricular opportunities and social skills that every child in the school needs to be ‘the best they can be’. I enjoy supporting the school and the pupils to achieve these goals. In spending time with Year 6, I have found attending sports tournaments with them to be particularly rewarding, seeing fantastic team spirit and skilled sportsmanship in action.

Professor Glen Arnold

Glen became a Co-opted Governor in December 2017. Glen and Lesley moved to Long Clawson in 1997 and their two sons both attended Long Clawson School, Belvoir High and King Edward VII. “They loved their school days. The local schools provided a firm foundation for study at top universities and fulfilling careers. I am grateful for this opportunity to serve the school I hold in high regard and which gave our family so much as our boys were growing up.

I see my role as supporting the Head Teacher, the teachers and other staff to continue to give unstinting service helping our young people develop into well-rounded individuals with abilities not only to read and write, but to investigate, think independently and make sound judgements – and, just as importantly, to have lots of fun! As long as I’ve known it the school has been a place where children grow in an atmosphere of harmony with others, each lending a helping hand along the way; a place where life-long friendships are forged, imagination sparked and love of learning imbued.

I hope I can contribute by aiding the staff, focused as they are on treating every pupil as an individual, each with unique qualities, each needing tailored guidance and encouragement to realise their full potential."

Glen’s background: Professor of Corporate Finance, Professor of Investing, book author, resigned from university to concentrate on investing, investment newsletter writing and book writing.

Mrs Sarah Hatherley