Governors
For more information regarding Central School Trust School Governance please view:
As part of a multi-academy trust (MAT), Central Schools Trust, Damson Wood Nursery and Infant School has a Local Governing Body and the MAT Board.
If you would like to make contact with the local governors of this particular school, please address your correspondence for the attention of the Chair of Board of Governors, and send it to the main office of the relevant school.
Any correspondence for the chair of the Multi-Academy Trust should be marked for the attention of the MAT Chair and sent into the main office at Balsall Common Primary School.
Chair of Local Governing Body & Parent Governor - Mrs Lisa Evans
Community Governor - Mrs Kate Hull
Staff Governor, Teaching Assistant - Mrs Genette White
Staff Governor, Headteacher - Mrs Emily Hume
Parent Governor - Mr Jody Dawson
Community Governor - Mrs Dawn Woolven
Parent Governor - Emma Bastock
Clerk to Governors - Mrs Clare Hinde
Assistant Headteacher and SENCo (Associate Governor) - Miss Emily Hull
If you are interested in becoming a member of our Local Governing Body, please contact the school on 0121 705 8652 or email our Clerk, Clare Hinde, on g2chinde@balsall-common.solihull.sch.uk for further details.
Meet our Local Governing Body
Lisa Evans - Chair of the Local Governing Body
How long have you been a governor?
This is my fourth year as a parent governor at Damson Wood; I now have one child at the school - Eira in Year 2. I became the Chair of Governors in September 2018. Prior to that, I was a governor at a local special school.
What is your background?
I have lived in Damson Wood for over ten years. In my day job, I am a primary school teacher. I also have a Masters degree in Educational Leadership and Management.
What is your favourite thing about Damson Wood?
The inclusive ethos and the wide range of experiences the children can experience.
What is your favourite thing about being a governor?
I feel privileged to be involved in the work of the school and to have seen the fantastic improvements that have been made over the last few years.
Kate Hull - Community Governor
How long have you been a governor?
This is my third year as a community governor at Damson Wood.
What is your background?
I have always been involved in finance, as I worked for numerous years in a bank and as an accountant. I started working on a Regeneration Project in North Solihull and I began to think about the impact that a great education can have.
What is your favourite thing about Damson Wood?
As a volunteer at Damson Wood Infant School, I was so impressed by its lovely calm, organised and friendly atmosphere. Their visions and aims for every child to make progress and reach their potential are fulfilled through amazing opportunities and fresh ideas.
What is your favourite thing about being a governor?
I am enjoying learning more about primary education and this wonderful school. It is an opportunity to keep myself up to date with legislation, learn new skills and remain engaged with education today at a challenging time.
Genette White - Staff Governor
How long have you been a governor?
This is my tfourth year as a staff governor at Damson Wood. I have been a Teaching Assistant (TA) at Damson Wood for six years after working at Hatchford Brook for two years.
What is your background?
Previous to being a TA, I worked for a large finance company as a debt counsellor. A job that I fell into after travelling and working abroad for many years! I knew as my children became toddlers I wanted to work in education. Whilst working part-time in finance, I took on another part-time job at a pre-school in Dorridge and attended college to re-train as a Teaching Assistant. Both my children came to Damson Wood and thrived here. The year my son went on to Coppice, I was lucky enough to get a full time job here. I have undertaken lots of training here and am very proud to have had Autism Lead and Mental Health First Aid training as well as becoming a Forest School Leader, which I love doing with the children. Outside school, I love running and going on long family walks with our dog, Oscar.
What is your favourite thing about Damson Wood?
I am very passionate about Damson Wood and I know what a fabulous school it is. I love living within the school community and the fact my children came here strengthens the ties and the small part I play in keeping the school great.
Jody Dawson - Parent Governor
How long have you been a governor?
I joined the Damson Wood Governor board in the Summer 2019 so this will be my 2nd academic year
What is your background?
I was born and bred in Nottingham and I am very proud of my roots but I have lived in Solihull and Birmingham for over 10 years now and very much consider myself a Silhillian and a Brummie. My work involves supporting people and families in the community affected by Dementia. I have a daughter who attends Damson Wood and a Son who will shortly follow.
What is your favourite thing about Damson Wood?
The culture, atmosphere and community.
You can feel all of these the second you set foot in the school, I just love the passion and desire of the team to nurture an environment that creates a positive space to learn, develop and play.
What is your favourite thing about being a governor?
Getting an insight into the passion and dedication the team put into Damson Wood.
It is genuinely a privilege to see the effort put into our children’s school.
Emma Bastock - Parent Governor
How long have you been a governor?
I joined in November 2019 so this will be my second year.
What is your background?
I was born in Devon but have lived most of my life since the age of 2 in Solihull. My husband attended Damson Wood many many years ago. I work as an HR professional, most of my experience is in retail but after the birth of my son I changed roles and am currently an HR manager for a secondary school. I live locally and my daughter attends Damson Wood and my son will also attend next year. I am a keen runner and play hockey for a local team.
What is your favourite thing about Damson Wood?
It is a very inclusive school where all the children and parents feel welcome. You as a parent are part of their learning journey and communication is excellent. I feel that the staff really care about the children and their school journey, not only academically but also to promote values that will stay with them for life. My daughter has flourished since attending this school.
What is your favourite thing about being a Governor?
I am part of the school community and want to see it continue to do well and flourish. I enjoy being able to support and contribute and give something back to the school and the amazing team that inspire our children .
Dawn Woolven - Community Governor
How long have you been a governor?
Since January 2019. In addition to this, I have eight years’ worth of experience of being an Associate Governor at Coppice Junior School where I was Assistant Head Teacher and SENCO.
What is your background?
This is my twenty-first year in teaching! I started off my career at Stanville Junior and Infant School, and then moved to Greswold Primary School before I moved to Coppice Junior School, where I worked for over sixteen years. Currently, I am an Advisory Teacher for SISS Autism Team where I travel across the whole of Solihull, advising schools on their provision for children aged from 4 to 16.
What is your favourite thing about Damson Wood?
I love the fact that it is an inclusive school, where everyone is welcome; you can ‘feel’ the ethos as you walk around the whole building and there is such a sense of pride from staff and children. It is such a friendly and welcoming school. My own children came here and I wanted to give something back to the community that I have lived in since I was 7 years old.
What is your favourite thing about being a governor?
It’s early days yet, but I love finding out about all of the amazing things that Damson Wood has to offer all children. I also like to challenge and question to ensure that the children are at the heart of everything that Damson Wood does.
Emily Hume - Headteacher & Staff Governor
How long have you been a governor?
Since 2016 when I joined Damson Wood as Headteacher. Prior to that, I was Assistant Headteacher at Balsall Common Primary School, our partner school in the Central Schools Trust. I was thrilled to have the opportunity to take this leadership role here, whilst remaining part of the CST.
What is your background?
I have been a teacher for almost 13 years, working in schools around Solihull and in Auckland, New Zealand.I was lucky enough to work at Coppice Junior School for 4 years so feel I know our local community very well.
What is your favourite thing about Damson Wood?
Having been a pupil at Damson Wood (many years ago as you can see from the photo below!), it is a very special place to me.I love the community spirit here and the support of our parents is amazing. I appreciate the drive of our incredible team of staff who work to continuously develop the education provided by Damson Wood. Above all, I love our pupils whose kindness, curiosity and ethusiasm make our school what it is!
What is your favourite thing about being a governor?
I have really enjoyed working with our dedicated team of voluntary governors to improve Damson Wood over the last 3 years. Their dedication and passion for our school has supported me to lead Damson Woodeffectively. I also sit on the Multi-Academy Trust Board where, alongside our LGB Chair, Lisa Evans, I am able to represent the views and needs of our school within the CST, which is vital for our success.