Who We Are -
Governor Profiles

"You, together with your staff and governors, have created a strong team that always puts the needs of pupils first."

Ofsted

2018

Pier Anscombe

I have been a staff governor since 2005. I qualified as a nursery nurse with the NNEB qualification in 1986 and spent16 years working as a private nanny for different families, many of whom I am still in contact with to this very day! Many of the families kept saying I should be a teacher. I decided to retrain as a teacher and graduated with BA Hons with QTS in 2004. My first interview was at Our Lady of Lourdes and I was offered the job as Reception teacher, and I am still here!

I wanted to be a staff governor to be a voice for staff, to act as a conduit between the staff and the governing body and help the school grow and flourish and achieve its aims.

Bola Alysia Ayonrinde

Hello, I’m Bola Alysia and I am a Foundation Governor at Our Lady of Lourdes. Although my history at the school began in September 2020, it didn’t take long for me to notice the wonderful community and environment created for the children. My son regularly comes home saying he has had “the best day ever!”

I work as a Deputy Headteacher in a primary school in East Sussex. I have over 10 years’ experience in education, both in the UK and abroad. In addition to this, I have a Masters in Children’s Literature, during which I was published in a book based on equality and diversity. My experience within education includes leading several curriculum areas, coupled with my passion for celebrating diversity and inclusion, across and beyond the curriculum.

In my spare time, I enjoy drawing, painting and playing my many instruments (flute, harp and djembe).

I am delighted to be part of the governing body, working together to help the school shine as brightly as it can for the benefit of each and every pupil.

Paul Barber

Hello, I’m Paul and have been a Governor since my appointment as Headteacher in January 2020. I’ve been teaching for 20 years in a variety of settings and have been fortunate to enjoy the opportunity to study for both my Advanced Skills Teaching status and latterly my NPQH Headship Qualification. I feel excited to be working with such a committed team as we constantly seek to be the best that we can be.

Emma Briggs

Hello, I’m Emma and I have been a parent governor at Our Lady of Lourdes since December 2019. I have a long history with the school, both my children currently attend, as did my niece and nephew and so did I many years ago! Our Lady’s means a lot to me and I am very happy to be given this opportunity to be a governor of the school.

I work in the NHS currently as a project manager at Worthing Hospital. This role requires a lot planning, risk assessment and mitigation and analysing data, so I am bringing these skills to the governing board as required. I’m excited to be able to support the school continue to be the best school it can be!

Chikodili Emelumadu

Hello, my name is Chikodili and I am a co-opted governor – which is just a fancy way of saying I was recruited by the school because I have certain skills which OLOL deems desirable. I am a writer, have worked as a journalist and broadcaster, and, can often be found engaging people in conversation. Currently, I am an SEN tutor at a school here in Brighton. I have two guinea pigs and like dogs. If I was an animal, I’d probably be a leopard because they are stocky and full of muscle, and can leap up into trees carrying three times their body weight. I enjoy using words and learning new languages as well as reading books. Reading is fundamental. Feel free to stop me and discuss books anytime.

Mel Fane

Hi I’m Mel and I have been a Foundation governor at Our Lady of Lourdes since January 2017 although my connection with the school goes alot further back than that as I used to be a pupil here! Both my children attended this school and I felt that I wanted to give something back and so I joined the team of governors, I sit on the Resources committee and am currently the Chair.

I work in the NHS and my background and skills are in buildings and people management and Health and Safety.

I enjoy being a governor and value to the opportunity to support our wonderful school.

Giulia de Rosa

I have been a Foundation Governor at Our Lady of Lourdes School since 2012 and at the moment I am Vice Chair of Governors. I am a retired teacher, having taught, mainly in South London, for 40 years. For the last fifteen years of my career, I was the Headteacher of a Catholic Primary school which served three parishes.
I thoroughly enjoyed my time as a teacher, despite the growing paper work and data management, and value the opportunity to continue to be involved in education.

Bryan Rossi-Anderson

I joined the governing board as a parent governor in 2021 because I was hoping that I can bring my experiences to bear in this role and support its continual growth in excellence. I am an experienced strategic and operational manager, working over two decades as a senior leader within the children, young people, education and communities sector. Leading to achieve the planning, delivery and successful management of dynamic and innovative services, I have extensive experience of partnership working with statutory and non-statutory agencies and commissioners at a national, regional and local level.

I have worked with a national literacy charity that recruits, trains and vets volunteers to work in primary schools with children who have fallen behind with their reading. In previous roles I have been also responsible for business development, sharing best practise across a suite of programmes; developing links with state and free schools, and have managed a diverse and talented pool of staff and freelancers to deliver various programmes working in educational settings.

As droll as all that sounds, I am an avid graphic novel collector; I do a podcast on comics; love social media, and practise Muay Thai Boxing when time permits.

Dee Simson

LA Governor

I have been a part of the Our Lady of Lourdes School family since 1987, firstly as a parent & member of the PTA and, for over 25yrs, as a Governor. Since 1999 I have been a Councillor on Brighton & Hove City Council and have worked on helping to improve education in all our schools. I currently sit on the Children, Young People & Skills Committee also the Cross Party School Organisation Working Group.

My priorities have always been ensuring that Our Lady of Lourdes provides the best teaching & learning environment possible with access to all the resources pupils need to reach their full potential

Helen Snow

Foundation Governor

Hello I’m Helen, You might associate me with Theatrix the Theatre skills club or perhaps the dance teacher that choreographed the dances for Let’s Dance over the past few years but behind the scenes I have been a Governor for 6.5 years.

Some would say I’m theatrical and they would be right. I’m passionate about the arts. I’m a vocal coach, a drama teacher and Vice Principal of a local charity, Dementia Support East Sussex where I facilitate singing and movement sessions for people living with dementia.

I first came on board as a Parent Governor when my eldest son was in year 1. My youngest son is currently in year 6 preparing for the transition to high school.

I have various roles within the governing body and sit on a number of sub committees or as I prefer to call them, ‘working parties’. (It has been known that we partake in the odd tasty treat during some of our meetings that can equate to a social, party like atmosphere )

My main roles include being Chair to Quality and Standards committee, Safeguarding and Child Protection link governor and Personal development and Wellbeing link Governor. I recently became a Foundation Governor as I also have close links with the parish and community. It’s an honour to support our wonderful little school.

Ian Watson

Hello! My name is Ian Watson and I was a Foundation Governor at the school from January 2014 to August 2020. During this time I had a few roles. I spent a time as Vice Chair and a member of the Resources Committee, but am now enjoying being an Associate Member to the Admissions Committee and chairing that committee. I was involved in planning the update of the school’s IT system and those lovely interactive whiteboards in the classrooms.

When not at school on Governor duties I am at school doing Taekwondo.

Who We Are - Governor Profiles