WeST Community Council Members
From 1st September 2025 Westcountry Schools Trust will be moving away from the HAB structure to a new governance model of 11 WeST Community Councils (WeST CCs). To find out more, please visit our governance page HERE.
WeST CC 1 |
WeST CC 2 |
WeST CC 3 |
WeST CC 4 |
WeST CC 5 |
WeST CC 6 |
WeST CC 7 |
WeST CC 8 |
WeST CC 9 |
WeST CC 10 |
WeST CC 11 |
| Callington Community College | Camelford Primary School | Coombe Dean School | Eggbuckland Community College | Morley Meadow Primary School | Chaddlewood Primary School | South Dartmoor Community College | Ivybridge Community College | Holbeton Primary School | Manor Primary School | Ashburton Primary School |
| Sir James Smith's School | Otterham Primary School | Plymstock School | Hele's School | Wembury Primary School | Boringdon Primary School | Ugborough Primary School | Stowford Primary School | Buckfastleigh Primary | ||
| St Breward Community Primary School | Sherford Vale School | Plympton St Maurice Primary School | Yealmpton Primary School | Woodlands Park Primary School | Ermington Primary School | |||||
| St Teath Community Primary School | Oreston Community Academy | Woodford Primary School | ||||||||
| Austin Farm Primary School |
WeST CC 1
Robert Benzie
Appointed by: Trustees
Date of Appointment: 17 July 2024
Term of office expires 16 July 2027
No business or pecuniary interests declared
Deborah Saunders
Deborah has been in primary education for twenty years.
She currently works as a Trust Improvement Officer for a local trust of primary schools. She leads on NPQLT training and assessing for primary and secondary teachers and has led the Visible Learning School Improvement Programme in her trust since 2016.
Deborah has been a KS1 Moderator for 10 years.
She has been a member of the local governing body in her educational roles and is a co-oped governor for a primary school in Devon.
Appointed by: Trustees
Date of Appointment: 1 Feb 2023
Term of office expires 31 Jan 2026
Declaration - Employee of An Daras Trust
Christiaan Stirling
HAB 2 SEND Champion
Over the past three decades Christiaan has worked in a range of primary schools as a teacher and Headteacher, he has extensive experience of the education sector and a detailed knowledge of supporting children in care in schools. Christiaan volunteered as a school governor for over 20 years and has worked with Westcountry Trust schools in this capacity since 2015.
He now runs Exciting Education Limited which offers training and direct support to schools, families and fostering organisations to help children untangle life’s problems, increase their emotional resilience and plan for the future.
He also jointly leads the Emotional Logic Centre, a Devon based charity run by medical and education professions, helping people to grow stronger through emotional turmoil. As part of this role, he advises and trains school leaders, pupils and families across the UK and overseas. Christiaan is a qualified Emotional Logic Coach, Chair of Plymouth City Council’s Fostering Panel and Vice Chair of the Cornwall Panel.
Outside of work, you’ll often find him exploring the moors with his family or out on the waves with his body board.
Appointed by: Trustees
Date of Appointment: 12 June 2023
Term of office expires: 11 June 2026
Declaration: Exciting Education Ltd, Emotional Logic Centre
Ruth Krolik
Appointed by: Trustees
Date of Appointment: 1 June 2024
Term of office expires: 31 May 2027
Andrew Fergusson
Appointed by: Trustees
Date of Appointment: 1 June 2024
Term of office expires: 31 May 2027
Hannah King
Appointed by: Trustees
Date of Appointment: 1 June 2024
Term of office expires: 31 May 2027
WeST CC 2
Kate Dyer
HAB 5 SEND Champion
Appointed by: Elected by parents/appointed as parent WeST CC Member
Date of Appointment: 1 June 2024
Term of office expires: 31 May 2027
Karen Whalley
Appointed by: Elected by parents/appointed as parent WeST CC Member
Date of Appointment: 11 June 2024
Term of office expires 10 June 2027
No business or pecuniary interests declared
Adam Mitchell
Appointed by: Elected by parents/appointed as parent WeST CC Member
Date of Appointment: 1 June 2024
Term of office expires: 31 May 2027
Lisa Ward
Appointed by: Elected by parents/appointed as parent WeST CC Member
Date of Appointment: 1 June 2024
Term of office expires: 31 May 2027
WeST CC 3
Samantha Hewitt
Appointed by: Elected by parents/appointed as parent WeST CC Member
Date of Appointment: 1 Feb 2023
Term of office expires 31 Jan 2026
No business or pecuniary interests declared
Child / Children attend a WeST School
Claire Johns
Claire is a chemistry teacher at Plymstock school and has worked in the Plymouth area for over 10 years. She is a parent of a child in primary school and has a keen interest in the 2-19 educational journey.
This is Claire's first experience of governance and she is looking forward to learning more about WeST schools.
Appointed by: Trustees
Date of Appointment: 1 Feb 2023
Term of office expires 31 Jan 2026
Declared - Teacher at a WeST school
Child / Children attend a WeST School
Gregory Thomas
Gregory (Greg) works for the NHS Devon Integrated Care Board with a focus on children and young people with diagnosis of Mental Health, Autism or Learning disabilities. A registered Mental Health Nurse and psychotherapist, he is qualified in both CBT and EMDR therapies. Greg has published three single author research papers relating to children and families mental health.
Through his work, he has learnt a lot from the lived experiences of children, young people and their families. Greg has seen that every child/young person is good at something. It may take them a bit of time to find what they are good at, but once its discovered it helps them to strive, thrive and find their place in the world.
Prior to Greg's role in the WeST HAB, he was a member of the local tier of governance at Plymstock School for two years.
Appointed by: Trustees
Date of Appointment: 1 Feb 2023
Term of office expires 31 Jan 2026
No business or pecuniary interests declared
WeST CC 4
Jacklyn Barry
Appointed by: Trustees
Date of Appointment: 19 Feb 2024
Term of office expires 18 Feb 2027
No business or pecuniary interests declared
WeST CC 5
Adrian Montague
Appointed by: Elected by parents/appointed as parent WeST CC Member
Date of Appointment: 21 May 2024
Term of office expires 20 May 2027
No business or pecuniary interests declared
WeST CC 6
Rob Frankow
HAB 4 Chair
Robert works as an information technology (IT) consultant in the finance industry and has been in IT for over 25 years. He is also a mobile DJ and provides discos for schools across the local area.
Robert has been active in the local tier of governance for over 8 years, most recently as Chair of a WeST primary school LGB.
Robert is passionate about education and believes every child deserves the best education possible.
Appointed by: Trustees
Date of Appointment: 1 Feb 2023
Term of office expires 31 Jan 2026
Declared - Spouse employed in WeST school
Jane Pawson
Jane currently works at the Theatre Royal, Plymouth as the Head of Artistic Planning Projects, which means that she oversees all their work with children, young people, education institutions and communities.
She is new to education governance. Jane joined the WeST CC has she was keen to bring her experience of working with young people through a creative medium to support local schools, whilst also increasing her understanding of the current educational landscape. Jane is a parent to a child who has recently started in foundation in a WeST school, she is pleased to say they are having a wonderful time.
In addition to this new governance role, Jane is also a trustee of a local charity called Elder Tree, a befriending charity supporting people over 50 to live full and independent lives.
Appointed by: Elected by parents/appointed as parent WeST CC Member
Date of Appointment: 1 Feb 2023
Term of office expires 31 Jan 2026
No business or pecuniary interests declared
Child / Children attend a WeST School
Daniel Robinson
HAB 4 SEND Champion
Appointed by: Elected by parents/appointed as parent WeST CC Member
Date of Appointment: 1 Feb 2023
Term of office expires 31 Jan 2026
No business or pecuniary interests declared
Child / Children attend a WeST School
WeST CC 7
Dominic Course
HAB 1 Chair
Appointed by: Trustees
Date of Appointment: 1 Feb 2023
Term of office expires 31 Jan 2026
Business interest - Dacors Ltd
Declared - Director at Link Academy Trust
WeST CC 8
Alison Evans
Appointed by: Elected by parents/appointed as parent WeST CC Member
Date of Appointment: 1 Feb 2023
Term of office expires 31 Jan 2026
No business or pecuniary interests declared
Child / Children attend a WeST School
WeST CC 9
Caroline Johnson
Caroline is an experienced English teacher and has held several roles including literacy leader, KS4 coordinator and Associate Leader. She is now Director of Transition at Ivybridge Community College (ICC) which involves close work with the feeder primary schools in the area. She is particularly interested in the coherence of the 2-19 learning journey.
Prior to Caroline’s role on the WeST HAB, she was a staff governor in the local tier of governance at ICC, a position she held for 5 years and found incredibly rewarding.
Appointed by: Trustees
Date of Appointment: 1 Feb 2023
Term of office expires 31 Jan 2026
Declared - Teacher at a WeST School
Child / Children attend a WeST School
Fearn Kenyon
Vice Chair
Fearn is a qualified social worker with over 12 years’ experience in child protection and safeguarding. She has been a Family Court Adviser with Cafcass since 2015 and is currently on a secondment in management. Fearn has a particular interest in trauma informed practice and promoting protective factors for all children. Fearn runs listening circles for professionals with the National Association of Therapeutic Parents.
Prior to her role in the WeST CC, Fearn was a member of the local tier of governance at Holbeton Primary School for a year.
Appointed by: Trustees
Date of Appointment: 1 Feb 2023
Term of office expires 31 Jan 2026
No business or pecuniary interests declared
Child / Children attend a WeST School
Jane Bellamy
Appointed by: Trustees
Date of Appointment: 21 May 2024
Term of office expires 20 May 2027
No business or pecuniary interests declared
Fearn Kenyon
Appointed by: Trustees
Date of Appontment:
Term of Office expires:
No business or pecuniary interests declared
Hannah Holdgate
HAB 2 Safeguarding Champion
Appointed by: Elected by parents/appointed as parent WeST CC Member
Date of Appointment: 1 Feb 2023
Term of office expires 31 Jan 2026
No business or pecuniary interests declared
Child / Children attend a WeST School
WeST CC 10
Lynda Budd
Appointed by: Trustees
Date of Appontment:
Term of Office expires:
No business or pecuniary interests declared
Max Johnson
Appointed by: Elected by parents/appointed as parent WeST CC Member
Date of Appointment: 25 August 2024
Term of office expires: 24 August 2027
Child / Children attend a WeST School
WeST CC 11
Rebecca Cosgrave
Rebecca has been a school governor in one form or another for 13 years. In that time she also been a chair of governors for a primary school and a governor of a secondary academy.
Her day job is also in education as an English adviser for Devon Education Services which involves supporting schools across the county and beyond.
In this role, from time to time, she is commissioned to work professionally in WEST schools. She has two children who have both benefitted hugely from the quality of education they received at a WeST school and Rebecca is delighted to have the opportunity to give back where she can.
Appointed by: Trustees
Date of Appointment: 1 Feb 2023
Term of office expires 31 Jan 2026
No business or pecuniary interests declared.
Abigail Fear
Appointed by: Trustees
Date of Appointment: 19 June 2024
Term of office expires 18 June 2027
No business or pecuniary interests declared
Chris O'Reilly
Appointed by: Elected by parents/appointed as parent WeST CC Member
Date of Appointment: 11 June 2024
Term of office expires 10 June 2027
No business or pecuniary interests declared
| Name | Date of Appointment | Date of Resignation |
| Jason Bleazard | 1 Feb 2023 | 12 January 2024 |
| Joanne Jennings | 16 Oct 2023 | 2 July 2024 |
| Akbar Badshah | 1 Feb 2023 | 15 July 2024 |
| Neil Bloxham | 1 Feb 2023 | 15 July 2024 |
| Sarah Fear | 1 Feb 2023 | 15 July 2024 |
| Sarah-Beth Read | 1 Feb 2023 | 2 October 2024 |
| Esther Gerlach | 1 Feb 2023 | 16 November 2024 |
| Alexandra Stafford | 1 Feb 2023 | 9 December 2024 |
| Kate Luxford | 1 Feb 2023 | 16 December 2024 |
| Caroline Chapman | 1 Feb 2023 | 16 December 2024 |
| Michael Bushe | 1 Feb 2023 | 16 December 2024 |
| Tom Imber | 1 June 2024 | 29 January 2025 |
| Christopher Lowe | 1 Feb 2023 | 6 February 2025 |
| Margaret Savage | 8 November 2024 | 4 March 2025 |
| Nick Evans | 1 Feb 2023 | 22 April 2025 |
| Simon Mahoney | 23 Jan 2024 | 22 April 2025 |
| Rob Molesworth | 21 May 2024 | 26 June 2025 |
| Amy Miller | 1 Feb 2023 | 7 July 2025 |
| Robert Rush | 1 June 2024 | 27 August 2025 |
| Jacqui Spencer | 1 Feb 2023 | 19 September 2025 |