John Corcoran

Parent Governor

John is a CFA® Charterholder and a Fellow of the Personal Finance Society.

He is a partner in a city-based wealth management firm within which he serves on the investment committee and has ultimate responsibility for the firm’s risk management and regulatory compliance processes.

He joined the school as a Parent Governor in 2015

Brian Valentine

Co-Opted Governor

Brian was appointed as a co-opted governor in January 2017. He is a retired actuary who had a career in life insurance most recently in reinsurance, where he was a director in a large multi-national firm. He also held positions in marketing and finance.

Brian has lived in Westoning since 1989 and coaches pupils at chess club. He has been Bedfordshire chess champion on two occasions.

Ekta Bhasin

Co-opted Governor

Ekta has lived in Westoning since 2013, with her husband and two sons. She is a Parish Councillor (from Jan 2016) and a School Governor since May 2019. Ekta has held various senior leadership roles within the retail sector; managing large scale change programmes and business start-ups. She decided to take a break from the corporate world after the birth of her first son to follow her passion for holistic wellbeing. She is a certified NLP life coach, yoga instructor, massage therapist and nutrition & lifestyle counsellor, and is currently studying to be an Ayurvedic Doctor. Ekta is enthusiastic to serve the community and feels her role as Governor provides her with the opportunity to add value in shaping the best education and environment for the school. 

James McGrattan

Parent Governor

James has two children at Westoning Lower School and joined the board of Governors in July 2019. James has served in a number of commercial roles in the automotive and logistics industries and is currently leading up UK sales and marketing function for a global logistics firm. He is also a coach for Westoning FC where a number of children from WLS are members. 

Sarah Burrows

Co-opted Governor

Sarah began an Art degree in London, but changed course and trained as a professional chef. She gave up work to bring up her three children, and then trained as a Nursery Nurse. She soon completed her degree to qualify as a teacher and worked in a number of schools, before finally coming to Westoning Lower School in 2002.

Jacqui Boyle

Head teacher

Jacqui graduated from Westminster College, Oxford in 1997. She has taught Reception - Year 6 in Hertfordshire, Bedford Borough and Central Bedfordshire. Jacqui gained her National Professional Qualification of Headship in 2007 and was Acting Head of a Catholic School in Bedford for 2 years before starting at WLS in September 2010. Jacqui has two children (11 and 7 ) who attend Pyramid Trust schools.

Kirsty Pepper

Parent Governor

Kirsty has worked in the social housing sector for over 15 years, holding various Director roles and is currently Managing Director for the East of England area within a large housing association. She brings experience of working in a regulated sector alongside expertise in strategic leadership, business planning and customer experience. Kirsty is our lead Governor for Health & Safety and has been a parent Governor since July 2020. Kirsty moved to Westoning in 2018 with her husband and son. As a family they enjoy outdoor adventures, exploring new places and film nights in.

Elaine O'Shaugnessy

Parent Governor

A parent governor, Elaine has two children attending Westoning Lower School. Currently a teaching assistant in a primary school, she works with children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) as well as taking on a more general support role within the classroom. She is passionate about education and providing an environment where children feel safe, secure and happy, providing them the best possible foundation with which to learn. Elaine had a career in corporate public relations and communication prior to deciding to follow her passion for working with children and go into education. Additional experience Elaine brings to the role of parent governor includes a previous position as Vice Chair of the governing board at a local primary school, and volunteering with local charity, Home Start.

Gina Hocking

Staff Governor

Gina joined WLS in 2006. In her earlier career she worked in the Hotel Industry in a Management / Finance capacity for a number of years before having her family. Once her children started school she retrained and gained educational qualifications to enable her to change career and work with children. Gina is currently a TA  at WLS. Her hobbies include baking, gardening and playing tennis.

Suzie Bumfrey

Clerk to Governors

Suzie is an Early Years Teacher, SENCo and Manager in a local Pre-School and has 16 years experience working with children and families. She has a Media and Communication degree from the University of Greenwich and recently undertook training in Early Intervention for Children 0-25. She officially took on the role as Clerk in March 2016 and completed the National Clerks Development Programme in January 2018.