Chair of Governors

Mike McClintock – Appointed by the Members

I live very locally to the school and have a background in teaching, IT and training. I bring a wealth of real world experience to our Governors.  I now run my own companies and some rental properties locally, but have lived and worked overseas.  My partner has been a parent governor at a local senior school and is a Junior school teacher (with special responsibilities for IT) at a Bournemouth public school.  

Barras Stone - Appointed by the Members

I have had a long term interest in children’s' education both through my work and through being a parent and grandparent. I have been a school governor in Bournemouth since 1996 and with Pokesdown since 2000. I am now mostly retired, (with some part time work commitments), having worked in a range of industries including British Aerospace, Blue Circle Cement, the BBC, British Gas and Bournemouth University. I have lived within a few steps of Pokesdown school for many years and know it to be an amazing school, the atmosphere is wonderfully supportive of the children. They learn with enthusiasm and are a credit to their families. I am really proud to be a part of Pokesdown school.

Ashley St John – Appointed by the Members

I have lived in Southbourne and Pokesdown for the last 23 years. I am currently Vice Principal of a Secondary Academy in North Bournemouth, and have worked in that area for the last 19 years. Prior to that, I worked in a professional capacity for the Rugby Football Union. As a PE teacher, and a father of two girls who are keen dancers (one studying it at University), I am particularly passionate about the importance of sport and the Arts within education. I volunteered to be a governor as I wanted to put something back into our local community on a voluntary basis. I was very grateful to be offered the opportunity to be a governor of the school, and I hope that I'm able to help by applying some of my expertise from the secondary sector, into the Primary. 

Paul Lord – Elected by the Parents

As an ex-pupil of Pokesdown, with my eldest daughter just finishing her journey at the school, and my middle daughter recently starting, I am extremely grateful to be given the opportunity to contribute back to the school community. As a qualified Accountant I have passion for maths, but I want to ensure that children have a wide variety of learning opportunities, to become well rounded individuals able to adapt for the future. I have worked for a variety of companies, from large corporates to local childcare. I am hoping my experiences and learning from these will support the school making positive contributions in the children's learning and development.

Anne Piggott - Appointed by the Members

My Name is Anne. I was born in Cardiff and lived there for many years until I moved to live in beautiful Bournemouth in 1999. I have been a Primary Teacher for over 33 years, a job I absolutely loved. I was fortunate and privileged to spend my last 20 years of teaching at the remarkable Pokesdown Primary School, a school I care about with love and passion! This year I had early retirement and it is a privilege and honour to become a Governor again at this incredible school. There certainly is not another school like Pokesdown. It radiates love, laughter, vision, the list goes on and it is a joy to be part of helping the school develop from strength to strength. 

James Carnegie - Elected by the Parents

Having re-located to Southbourne from Surrey in 2019 with my wife and two children, both of whom are pupils at Pokesdown, I have been struck by the strong sense of community and welcoming attitude amongst parents and those we have met here. 

I am passionate about the educational experience our children have and the impact they in turn will have in society, both locally and globally. Having trodden a somewhat unconventional career path as a self-employed photographer and film maker, embedding myself amongst the Creative Industry and working around the world with people from many varied backgrounds, I hope my skills and experience lend themselves toward making a valid contribution during my involvement as a Parent Governor.

John Kidney - Co-opted by the Directors

I am John Kidney, I am married to Jo and have two adult daughters and two grandchildren.  I was born in Northampton and lived there for most of my life.  From the age of seven, I knew that I wanted to be a teacher. 

I am now retired after forty-five years in the teaching profession, mostly in primary schools in Northamptonshire. In 1992 I was appointed as Deputy Head at Alfred Street Junior School in Rushden, I served there for twenty-five years, eight as Deputy Head and seventeen as Headteacher.

Throughout my career, I served as teacher governor and then as headteacher governor.  I also served as a parent governor at my daughters’ school.   

In 2020 Jo and I, we moved to Southbourne to be closer to family and I am now a licensed lay minister at All Saints’ Church Southbourne, where I am Parish Safeguarding Officer and the church council lead for children and families. 

Prior to moving to Southbourne, I was a volunteer safeguarding trainer for Peterborough Diocese and chair of trustees for a Church of England care home. 

I am very pleased to have been invited to join the directors and hope that my experience will be of benefit to Pokesdown.