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Meet The Governors
Cerne Abbas VC CE First School is part of an informal collaboration of schools including Prince of Wales First School, Cheselbourne Village School, Broadmayne First School ,St Mary's Charminster, Winterbourne Valley First School & Sunninghill Prep School. It is called the Learning First Alliance.
Our Governing Body diversity is predominantly white British. There are currently 8 female and 4 male Governors. The age range is 80's-30's
If you wish to contact a Governor please email the clerk on office@cerneabbas.dorset.sch.uk or ring the school office 01300 341 319
Our Co-Chairs can be contacted directly on the emails below
 | Co Chair of Governors I have four children and three grandchildren, my husband and I retired to the village nearly 10 years ago. In my career I managed a range of early years settings within Hampshire. Taught, assessed EYE practitioners and apprentices at further education colleges. My project in the village was to start the Little Giants Preschool in the village.
Having worked in the Early years sector for over 35 years I enjoy being a governor for the school, where I hope to continue supporting its valuable work for the community. |
Valerie Champion - Co-Chair valeriec@cerneabbas.dorset.sch.uk | All committees Special Responsibilities Safeguarding |
| Local Authority Governor | 13/09/2025 - 12/09/2029 |
 | I have worked at Cerne Abbas CE VC First school since 2014, initially as the Head of School and then I became the substantive Head Teacher in 2017. I have been in teaching for over 30 years and my experience includes being an Acting Head Teacher and a Co-Head teacher in previous settings. I have 2 children, my son who is studying for a Master's Degree in Occupational Therapy and my daughter who has just completed her degree at University in Bristol. I attend a local church in Dorchester and my passions include running and keeping fit. |
| Catherine Cresswell | All committees |
| Head Teacher | 01/09/2014 - present |
 | I am retired and have been living in Cerne Abbas for 14 years. My career has been in Education and has offered a wide range of teaching and learning experience - primary and preschool, International schools, British Council language teaching and a University where I taught and helped to develop HR and management qualifications, I was also involved nationally in the development, verification and implementation of higher level management NVQs in industry. My favourite area of education remains with Primary and pre school and I consider myself fortunate to be involved with the dedicated team at this school. Other interests include travelling, sewing, cooking, furniture restoration and lots of activities with grandchildren, all of whom live locally |
Judy Burnham - Joint Vice Chair judyb@cerneabbas.dorset.sch.uk | Committees - Teaching & Learning (Chair) Pay & Personnel (Chair) Special Responsibilities - English |
| Foundation Governor | 05/05/2025- 04/05/2029 |
 | Retired Clinical Oncologist Involvement in Medical education and committee experience - Accredited teacher for London University Practical approaches to training and teaching and demonstrating the success of these methods is of particular interest to me. Interests - Trained to licentiate standard in Piano and music theory. Gardening and Forestry, Stone and slate carving, Fishing |
Barbara Southcott
| FR&E committee Special Responsibilities - Health & Safety, Music, RSHE |
| Co - opted Governor | 03/12/2022- 02/12/2026 |
 | I live in Cerne Abbas with my wife and 3 children , 2 who are at the school. I am a Chartered Quantity Surveyor working for Wessex Water and have a vested interest in career support for our children and young adults with responsibility across several areas. I manage Wessex Water's QS degree apprenticeship programme and am founder/chair of an RICS Collaboration Initiative comprising major employers in the region, who provide support to candidates on their pathway to becoming professional. I am also an official RICS mentor, as well as a Wessex Water Enterprise Advisor for a local Dorchester middle school. |
Justin Rush - Joint Vice Chair justinr@cerneabbas.dorset.sch.uk | Committees - FR&E - Chair Special Responsibilities - Computing & E Safety & Science |
| Foundation Governor | 16/09/2026 - 15/09/2030 |
 | I am Jonathan Still, Vicar of Cerne Abbas since 2011. |
| Rev Jonathan Still | Special Responsibilities - Religious Education |
| Ex- officio Foundation Governor | since 01/06/2016 |
 | Hello, I’m Fergus. My son is in year 2 at Cerne Abbas school and my daughter will follow in years to come. A friend of mine who was a school governor said it was the best thing he had done to become involved with his children’s school, so here I am. I am very proud to be part of the board of governors giving support to the great work the school is already doing. My son has really enjoyed his first year and that is down to all of the effort given by those involved in the school. I am keen to bring my enthusiasm for sport and fitness to help with Physical Education, particularly when based outdoors. I enjoy the outdoors and will support the school in creating a space for all children to enjoy movement and activity, increasing their health wellbeing. |
| Fergus Grimes | Special Responsibilities - PE & Forest School, Educational visits monitoring, DT & Art |
| Parent Governor | 23/04/2024 - 22/04/2028 |
Jonny Woodthorpe Joint Vice Chair jonnyw@cerneabbas.dorset.sch.uk
| Member of PPC committee Special responsibilities - Inclusion |
| Co-opted Governor | 10/09/2024 - 09/09/2028 |
| Reception teacher and Early years lead. Additional responsibilities in school include RWInc lead, Art and Music subject lead | |
| Heather Stephens | |
| Staff Governor | 10/09/2025 - 09/09/2029 - currently on sabbatical |
| Ali Digby | Member of PPC committee |
| Parent Governor | 05/02/2026 - 04/02/2030 |
 | I have 3 children, 2 already at the school and the other hopefully will be joining soon. For most of my career I worked across different local authorities to commission the provision of learning & development, most recently for Children's Services at Dorset Council, working across Early Help, Fostering, Care & Protection and Family Hubs to meet the needs of the children and families we supported. Since starting a family myself, I have supported my husband and become joint director with his damp proofing business within the building trade. I am hoping that my past experience within children's social care and more recent business management skills will help support the school to continue its already great work |
| Charlotte Dare | Member of FR&E commitee Special responsibilities - EYFS |
| Co-opted Governor | 17/09/2026 - 16/09/2030 |
| I have lived in Sydling Saint Nicholas since 2015, moving to Dorset from London to teach Classics at Sherborne School. Over a decade in education, I have taught at primary and secondary levels across Essex, London, Dorset, and Somerset. My early career was spent as a Crown servant: commissioning from Sandhurst into the Royal Army Medical Corps with operational deployments in Iraq and Kenya, before moving to strategic work at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office on the Afghanistan desk. Following the birth of my daughter in 2021, I studied Neuroscience in Early Years, subsequently training and qualifying as a Solution Focused Clinical Hypnotherapist. I now work with clients online, predominantly supporting young adults’ mental health. With my daughter now at Cerne Abbas First School, it would be a privilege to bring my various educational, clinical, and strategic experiences to the Governors’ table in support of our wonderful school. | |
| Georgie Free-Hill | Special responsibilities - Maths, French |
| Co-opted Governor | 17/09/2026 - 16/09/2030 |
| John Paterson | Special responsibilities - History & Geography |
| Co-opted Governor | 17/09/2026 - 16/09/2030 |
| Andrea Schafer | As well as being clerk, I work in the school office |
| Clerk to Governors | 01/09/2015 |
Cerne Abbas CE VC First School - Governing Body
Summary of Relevant Business and Pecuniary Interests 2025/2026
| Name of Governor | Name of Business | Nature of Business | Nature of Interest |
| Barbara Southcott | No business interest declared |
| |
| Catherine Cresswell | No business interest declared | Education | Head Teacher |
| Ali Digby | |||
| Rev Jonathan Still | No business interest declared | Parish Vicar Governor at Buckland Newton School | |
| Judy Burnham | No business interest declared | ||
| Justin Rush | No business interest declared | Parent | |
| Valerie Champion | No business interest declared | ||
| Fergus Grimes | No business interest declared | Parent | |
| Jonny Woodthorpe | Business interest declared | Company Director of Treow - children's social care Charity Trustee - Longmead Community farm | Parent |
| Heather Stephens | No Business Interest declared | Teacher at Cerne Abbas CE VC First School (staff governor) |
A positive, purposeful and enthusiastic atmosphere