Meet Our Governors
The Governing Body of the West Exmoor Federation is made up of thirteen members. The school, the community, the church and the the local authority are all represented. The membership of the Governing Body is currently made up of the following people:
Vacancy - Chair of Governors & Local Authority Governor
Esther Bray - Vice-Chair of governors & Foundation Governor
My name is Esther. I grew up in Cornwall where I attended a small, village primary school. My secondary school education was in a larger comprehensive school, where I completed my A levels. I graduated from Cardiff University with a Masters degree in Pharmacy in 2003, then moved to Worcester where I worked as a Hospital Pharmacist whilst also completing a Clinical Pharmacy diploma. I moved to North Devon in 2007 to take up the role of Antimicrobial Pharmacist at North Devon District Hospital. I am married to Matthew. He is a dairy farmer and his family have always lived and farmed in the area. We have two boys who attend Parracombe, Henry who is in year 6 and William who is in Year 4. Ever since Henry started at the federation, I have been very impressed with both the quality of the care and education he has received.As a family, we attend Brookdale church in Ilfracombe. I am keen to support the federation in bringing Christian faith into the children’s daily lives. I have experience of helping at youth groups and the summer holiday club within our church. I enjoy learning about the running of the three schools and supporting the federation by being part of the governing body.
Foundation Governor - Vacancy
Jo Harrison - Co-Opted Governor
I moved with my husband, Harry, to Parracombe in June 2019 from Hertfordshire in order to take on a house renovation project and experience a change of lifestyle. We have three children, all in their 20s, having fled the nest and now living independent lives in various locations nationwide. I have prior experience in Governorship as a parent governor for my children's infant school and also as a staff governor at the secondary school where I taught Maths and was an Assistant Head in charge of pastoral care. I am looking forward to working with the staff and parents at the West Exmoor Federation and will be Link Governor for SEND, Years 3/4 at Parracombe and Children in care. When I am not project managing my house renovation, you will mostly find me endeavouring to grow vegetables or learning to surf as well as walking the coastal and moorland paths.
Martin Hallums - Parent Governor
Jennifer Henderson - Parent Governor
Having been a Primary Teacher in London for 11 years, specialising in EYFS and KS1, I believe I would be be able to provide valuable input and insight into the role. I have a passion for childhood development and a particular interest in art and outdoor learning.
Richard Huggins - Staff Governor
Jayne Peacock - Ex-Officio (Executive Headteacher)
 Early in my teens I decided that I wanted to be a teacher. This was, in no small part, due to having a younger sister who is profoundly deaf. I spent a great deal of time supporting her learning as she progressed through school and I found this to be extremely rewarding. However, I made a conscious decision not to go straight to University when I left school and spent two years working as the Personal Assistant to the Managing Director of a construction company. During this time I also worked on a voluntary basis for ‘Friends of the Young Deaf’, organising holidays and training programmes for disadvantaged hearing and deaf children/young adults; my involvement with this organisation continued until I moved to Devon. I graduated from Brighton University in 1993 with a Bachelor of Education (Hons) Degree, specialising in English and Special Educational Needs. My teaching career began in East Grinstead, West Sussex, before I took up a post in Hammersmith, West London, where I taught in a Unit for Hearing Impaired children. Eventually I returned to mainstream teaching in Lindfield, West Sussex, where I took on the role of Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator before being appointed as the Deputy Headteacher and eventually Acting Headteacher. During this time I also completed a Masters of Arts (Education) Degree and successfully completed the National Professional Qualification for Headteachers (NPQH). In 2001 I moved to Devon to take up the Headship of Lynton CE Primary School and, in turn, was appointed to the Executive Headship of the West Exmoor Federation in January 2007. Alongside my Headship of the federation, I also work as SIAMS Inspector. Previously I have worked as a remodelling consultant for the Local Authority, trained as an Ofsted inspector and been appointed, amongst other things, as a Local Leader for Education by the National College for Teaching and Leadership. I am married and have a son, Henry, who recently moved on to secondary school having attended Little Berries, Kentisbury and Parracombe Schools - I could not have wished for him to have had a better start to his school career.
Vacancy - Co-Opted Governor
Reverend Miles Welborn - Ex-Officio & Foundation Governor
I'm the Rector of the Lyn Valley Mission Community, a group of 8 Anglican churches in North Devon. I grew up in Berkshire and came to faith in my late teenage years and moved to Herefordshire. I took part in a ministry experience programme and was based in a rural parish before working at the Cathedral. I attended Ripon College Cuddesdon in Oxfordshire and completed a BA in theology before taking up my first ordained post in a group of churches in West Oxfordshire. My wife Katie, our son Jesse, and I moved to Lynton and I took up this new role in July 2024. I have worked with rural primary schools in Herefordshire and Oxfordshire and I'm really looking forward to being involved in the life of the West Exmoor Federation.
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