Mr Nick Vosper - Chair of Governors
Nick qualified as a microbiologist before working in a number of technical and managerial positions in the biotechnology industry. After living and working in Europe and the United States he returned to the UK as managing director of a multi-national biotech business; a position he held for 10 years before retraining as a science teacher in 2005. He worked at schools in Harwich and Clacton before joining Notley High School & Braintree Sixth Form in 2009 as faculty leader in Science. He lives in Cavendish and retired recently in order to spend more time on his hobbies (sailing, playing and recording music and travel) and church (he is Church Secretary at Hedingham Baptist Church). He is married to Madeline, a retired primary headteacher, and they have three boys, all of whom live and work in various parts of the country. He is enjoying being involved in the life of SVCS.
Declaration of Business Interests: employed as cover teacher at SVCS on occasion, when required.
Mr Paul Luxon - Vice-Chair of Governors
Paul worked in the Marketing Communications sector for over 36 years and was the Managing Director/CEO of a FTSE 100 subsidiary from 2001 to 2019. Paul brings a wealth of business and communications experience to the SVCS LGB. Paul moved to Clare with his wife Heidi in 2019 after taking early retirement, and has two grown up children (his eldest son, daughter-in-law and youngest son's partner are teachers). Paul also volunteers for Clare's CLASP charity, driving the community bus, helping out at the Senior Centre and driving for CarAid. CLASP provides support for the older and more vulnerable members of our community, with the aim of enhancing their quality of life and social interaction.
Declaration of Business Interests: None
Saracha Barksfield
Saracha moved to Clare with her family seven years ago, although she has been visiting family in Suffolk since the 1970s. She has three children who have all attended Clare Community Primary School before attending Stour Valley. Prior to having children, Saracha studied Sculpture (HND) and she has a BA and MA in Archaeology from Southampton University. She is currently a governor at both Clare Community Primary School and Stour Valley Community School and she also manages her son’s rugby team.
Declaration of Business Interests: None
Emma Gower
Emma is a parent governor, and she has a daughter in Year 10 at Stour Valley Community School. Her daughter thoroughly enjoys her education at the school, and Emma wanted to become more involved with the school on some level so applied to become a parent governor.
She works locally for a wine merchant, and she has lived and worked in Suffolk for most of her life, so she knows the local area well. She has also previously been involved with committees and governance of a primary school.
Declaration of Business Interests: None
Adam Morris
Adam is the newly appointed KS3 Coordinator of Science and has come to us from Notley High School and Braintree Sixth Form where he was the KS4 Science Coordinator. In addition to this, he has experience teaching Biology at A- level and fulfilling the Extended Project Qualification Coordinator role. Adam takes an interest in the science behind learning and the current literature related to improving areas within his subject and across the school. Adam is very ambitious and wishes to progress up the leadership ladder in the years to come. Away from work, Adam plays many sports (football, cricket and golf to name a few) and has coached in some of these sports too.
Declaration of Business Interests: Teacher at SVCS
Mandy Messenger
Mandy is a retired maths teacher and a parent of a previous Stour Valley student. She has lived in Clare since 2006 and has been a trustee and treasurer for the Clare Playing Field Association. Before retiring Mandy was a teacher for 9 years and before that was a research consultant and Chartered Software Engineer. She has a lifelong love of learning and over her life has collected three Masters degrees - however she has promised her husband that she will stop now. Mandy can be found avidly reading novels, walking the countryside with her dog or explaining how dyslexia can be viewed as a super skill.
Declaration of Business Interests: Messenger Maths (private maths tutor)
Mrs Miffy Warrack
Originally from Essex, Miffy moved to Clare 17 years ago to raise three boys, two of whom have attended Stour Valley Community School. Miffy has a degree in Geography & Environmental Studies and previously had a career in marketing, specialising in marketing communications within the IT sector based in Bristol. She now combines family life with teaching the piano at Clare Community Primary School. She is involved in local community groups such as Treble C choir, Clare Walkers and she is also chair of Clare Swimming Club.
Declaration of Business Interests: Clare Community Primary School - Freelance Music Teacher
