The governing body is made up of the Headteacher and people from various different groups who have an interest in the success of the school, including parents, staff, the local authority and the community. The governors welcome a range of viewpoints, and make decisions together about a variety of issues. Between them, governors have a wide breadth of skills and experience to enable the governing body collectively to support and challenge the school leadership. As vacancies arise, specific skills are targeted to fill gaps in the governing body. As a result, key professional skills are represented from law, accountancy, architecture to educational skills.

Chair of Governors: Jenny Knight

Vice Chair: Austen Cook

Chair of Impact Committee: Paul Buckley

Chair of Resources Committee: Austen Cook

Headteacher: Mandy Hook

Clerk to Governors: Leyla Kizilcay

Parent Governors

Mary-Jane Newton

Dan Sparrow

Rebecca Williams

Magali Matsumiya

Staff Governors

Lisa Ing (Support Staff)

Kerrie Butler (Support Staff)

Community Governors

Austen Cook

Jenny Knight

Margaret Stevens

Paul Buckley

LEA Governor

Jo Sandelson

Associate Governors

Louise Eames (Business Manager) - Resources Committee Only

Margaret Stevens,  Community Governor

I am a Professor of Economics at Oxford University. Earlier in my career I was a secondary school maths teacher and an advisory teacher for the use of computers in Oxfordshire schools. I have lived locally since 1988, and was a Parent Governor at Wolvercote when my children attended the school in the 1990s. I was elected Chair of Governors in September 2014.

Jenny Knight, Chair of Governors, Community Governor
My career was in primary education as a teacher in Primary, First and Middle schools, in London and Oxfordshire. This has included Headship and Deputy Headship Roles. I have lived in the area for over twenty years and both my children attended Wolvercote School. Following my retirement from full time work, I have become a part time tutor with the Workers Education Association, teaching courses related to primary education. I am governor with responsibility for Special Educational Needs and Disabilities.

Austen Cook, Vice Chair, Chair of Resources Committee, Community Governor

I live in Wolvercote and have two children, one currently at the school. I am a chartered accountant and have a degree in IT. Since 2004 I have been working as an independent consultant for local government children and adult social care. My work involves protecting front line services from government cuts, by delivering efficiencies. I currently work for both Gloucestershire and Oxfordshire County Council.

Paul Buckley, Community Governor

I am a retired academic engineer, and currently a local councillor. After posts in Oxford, Strasbourg and Manchester, I returned to Oxford in 1990, and have lived in Wolvercote ever since. Until retiring in 2012, I was a Professor of Engineering Science at Oxford University and Tutorial Fellow of Balliol College. In May 2017, I was elected to Oxfordshire County Council, where I am proud to represent Wolvercote and part of Summertown. I am the governor for behaviour and attendance.

Dan Sparrow, Parent Governor

I live in Wolvercote and am the parent of 2 boys, one of which is old enough to attend Wolvercote school.   I am an operations manager for a healthcare diagnostics company and my professional experience is in IT & business consulting. 

Mary-Jane Newton, Parent Governor

I started my career teaching learning impaired children and adults before moving into educational publishing and business strategy. I'm currently Regional Market Development Director at Oxford University Press and a member of the International Education board. I relocated from Hong Kong in December 2019 with my daughter and having received the warmest welcome, I'm pleased to give back to Wolvercote Primary School and the local community. 

Rebecca Williams, Parent Governor 

I have two children, one of which is still at Wolvercote primary. I have been a primary school teacher for over 12 years, and am currently working in another local school in Key Stage 1. I have a particular interest in STEM subjects and increasing diversity and gender equality in this area.

Magali Matsumiya, Parent Governor

I moved to Wolvercote in June 2021 and have two children at Wolvercote primary. I am a secondary school physics teacher and have worked in both state and international schools. Prior to teaching and children, I worked at the Jenner Institute in Oxford and played ultimate frisbee for local and national teams. I am the link governor for science. 

Jo Sandelson, LEA Governor

I have lived with my family in Wolvercote for twenty years and my son attended Nursery at Wolvercote Primary.  I am a cartoonist who published the first ever daily topical strip in The Times, as well as a weekly strip for The Observer.  I have also drawn for global corporations including Ernst & Young, Saatchis and American Express.  I wrote and illustrated a children's book, The Barmies, the first of the Cattleford Tales series.  As a painter, I have exhibited widely, drawing on research into cave and rock art in Australia, Borneo and France.  In May, 2022, I was elected as a LibDem Oxford City Councillor for Wolvercote Ward.  My teaching experience includes English and Art at primary level in Italy, as a Speech and Language support for Early Years at Orchard Meadow Primary, Blackbird Leys, and as a volunteer with Soundabout, helping children and young people with severe and profound learning needs.  I am honoured to be a Governor of Wolvercote Primary School.