Governance

Jane ClaydenChair of Governors
Jane Clayden is a CIPD qualified generalist HR administrator for a national company, with experience spanning, tactical and operational HR activities.
Alex GooderhamGovernor
Alex Gooderham is a Responsible Individual at New Forest Care where he oversees a number of Residential Care Homes as well as leading Safeguarding Procedures for New Forest Care.
Lisa Mason-HewittAssociate Governor
Lisa Mason-Hewitt is a very experienced Headteacher from a local mainland Junior School.

Her focus is supporting the school with Teaching & Learning and Curriculum Development.

Duncan SmithExecutive Headteacher
Duncan Smith is the Executive Headteacher of New Forest Care Education. He has worked in a range roles across a number of mainstream and SEN schools during his 30 year teaching career, working at New Forest School since 2014.

Duncan was Headteacher of New Forest School from 2017-2022 leading the school to it’s second consecutive OFSTED Outstanding judgement.

Tracey O'ConnorClerk To Governors
Tracey O’Connor is an experienced Clerk to Governors who currently works with a number of local schools in the Waterside area.
Mark FryDirector of Education
Mark Fry is Director of Education at New Forest Care. Mark has a career in Education and Residential Child Care which spans almost 30 years including the Headship of New Forest School from 2012-2017 where he lead the school to its first OFSTED Outstanding judgement.

Mark has also served as a trustee for Social Farms and Gardens and as a trustee for Inspire Learning.

David CrowleyHeadteacher- New Forest School
David Crowley is the current headteacher of New Forest School. Previously David held the position of assistant headteacher at a large, local mainstream secondary school.
Nicola PeaceHeadteacher Forest Edge School
Nicola Peace is the Headteacher of Forest Edge School holding a PGCE and MAEd in SEN and Inclusion alongside being a Qualified Holistic Integrated Creative Arts Therapist
Nicola is an experienced SEN teacher who specialises in working with young people with autism and within a speech and language setting. She is a qualified sports coach in a wide range of different sports.
Owen BursonHeadteacher New Forest Alternative Provision
Owen Burson is a qualified teacher with an MSc in Educational Leadership, a Fellow of the Chartered College of Teaching, and a qualified SENDCo.
He is undertaking a doctorate with a research focus on ‘adaptive educational assessment for autistic young people’.
Georgina WesthorpeAssistant Head & SENCO
Georgina Westhorpe is a Deputy Head and inclusion manager for an Isle of Wight federation of primary schools.