Governing Body - King's Academy Ringmer
Governors play a vital role in ensuring the best possible education for every student by creating a robust accountability for our academy leaders, ensure clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction, hold the Principal to account for the educational performance of the academy and its students, the performance management of staff and oversee the financial performance of the academy and making sure its money is well spent.
Contact information:
Anne Needham - Chair of Governors - anne.needham@kingsacademies.uk
Denise Kong - Vice Chair of Governors - denise.kong@kingsacademies.uk
Stacey Fountain - Clerk to Governors - stacey.fountain@judicium.com
King's Academy Ringmer is a part of King's Group whose Trustees hold the ultimate responsibility for the governance of each school.
The Department for Education’s governance handbook identifies the essentials of effective governance as follows:
- Ensuring clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction;
- Holding the headteacher to account for the educational performance of the school and its pupils, and the performance management of staff; and
- Overseeing the financial performance of the school and making sure its money is well spent.
King's Trustees delegate certain key roles and responsibilities to the school’s Local Governing Body (LGB) and these are set out clearly in the Scheme of delegation, which can be seen on the King's Group website.
Anne Needham - Chair of Governors
I’m a retired teacher with 30 years teaching experience and my last post was as Head of Philosophy, Religious Education and Global Perspectives in a Kent secondary school. Strangely, I first qualified as a PE teacher, life certainly has its twists and turns! I have a Master of Arts Degree and I still work in education as a Lead Trainer with Cambridge Assessment, part of the University of Cambridge. In this capacity I train both teachers and trainers in how to deliver effective teaching and have 12 years’ experience working internationally including USA (5 to 6 times a year - almost to the point of being a resident), Kazakhstan, Mauritius, India, Sri Lanka, Argentina, Egypt, Turkey, Jordan and UK. In this capacity I have written extensive materials for all the training and designed and written numerous syllabuses. I have also mentored and guided teachers and trainers. My areas of expertise would probably lie in enquiry based learning, active learning, 21st Century skills and transferable critical thinking skills although this is not an exhaustive list.
I have also been an Examiner and Examiner Team Leader for the last 8 years and was an Examination Paper Setter until January 2015.
I am passionate about all the work I do and I can’t envisage ever leaving education. I’m really looking forward to sharing whatever experience I can with the board of governors and the school and being part of the future journey of Kings Academy Ringmer.
Denise Kong - Vice Chair of Governors
After graduating from Oxford University with a degree in Maths and Computer Science, I came to Sussex to start a family. I worked part time in IT events and journalism, until I was unfortunately widowed. In order to be able to spend more time with my children, I took a job in Admin at Ringmer Youth Centre. Since then I have worked as a youth worker, as a Duke of Edinburgh's Award Leader at Ringmer, and then in Attendance/Behaviour/SEND at The Cavendish School in Eastbourne, before I returned to my original interests in numbers/computing when I became the Data Manager/Timetabler at Cavendish. In 2010 I became a school governor at Laughton Community Primary School, and in 2011 I became the Chair. My various roles in schools have helped me form a holistic view of a school as a governor.
In 2014 I was elected to the East Sussex Governor Representatives' Group and now chair this group, which represents governor interests across East Sussex. In this role, I work with Headteacher representatives from schools across the area as part of the local area Partnership's (EIP's) steering group.
I enjoy meeting lots of different people in my role as a school governor and find it particularly rewarding when people start to work together and exchange ideas about how to make education work really well for our young people.
My email address is denise.kong@kingsacademies.uk or you can contact through the clerk to governors.
Marilyn Hall - King's Governor 
I taught secondary science/chemistry for almost 20 years. Initially worked as a main-scale teacher, before a brief stint as a National Strategies Science Consultant for West Sussex County Council followed by a final role as Assistant Principal at a large secondary school in East Sussex.
I left teaching to complete a PhD in Education, which explored the impact of government policy on science teacher classroom practice. I now work part-time as a researcher for the Civil Service.
I believe that a good education enables young people to get the best out of their lives, become lifelong learners, and make a positive contribution to society; schools are at the heart of making this happen.
Davina Wakelin - Governor
I have over 22 years of experience in education, including the last three years as Head of School at a primary school.
Growing up in Ringmer and attending Ringmer Secondary School (as it was called then) as a child, I have a strong connection to the local community and a deep appreciation for the role King's Academy plays in shaping young lives.
Throughout my career, I have worked in various educational settings, gaining extensive experience in leadership, curriculum development and fostering a positive learning environment for all children. As a Head of School I have led teams, supported staff development and ensured that children achieve their fullest potential academically and personally.
Now, I am eager to give back to the community that shaped me by serving as a Governor. I am passionate about supporting King's Academy to provide outstanding education and opportunities for every child, and I believe my experience and understanding of education will enable me to make a meaningful contribution.
Jess Tye - Governor
I am an Investigations Manager at the Advertising Standards Authority, where I have worked for over a decade. Prior to that, I worked for the Crown Prosecution Service in London and in the benefits team at Bristol City Council. I studied for a History degree at Bristol University and later on for a Graduate Diploma in Law at University of Westminster.
Contributing positively to the community through my work has always been important to me. My current role involves significant focus on the protection of children and other potentially vulnerable groups from ads which might cause them harm, particularly online. Recent work I’ve been involved in includes tackling irresponsible ads for cosmetic surgery abroad, researching harmful ads appearing in apps aimed at children and leading our work on online scams. I have experience engaging with a wide variety of stakeholders including government, industry bodies and tech firms and am a trained media spokesperson. I am acutely aware of the importance of media literacy for young people navigating an online world with all the challenges it can present.
I moved to Lewes in 2021 and particularly enjoy making the most of the countryside on our doorstep. I’m excited to work with the governors and school to help ensure that its pupils are provided with a high-quality education which enables them to discover and explore their talents and take on the world.
Natalie Moorhouse - Staff Governor
I have been the Head of Humanities at Ringmer since 1997 during which time the department has evolved from just History and Geography to encompass RE, PSHE and Careers Education (and in the past, Sociology, Psychology and Law).
Having grown up in Brighton, I read History at Cambridge University and taught in two schools in the West Country before returning to Sussex. One of the consequences of having worked at Ringmer for so long is seeing so many generations of students become adults, and it is always a delight to hear about what they are up to now.
Sul Regan - Parent Governor
While I was studying at the University of Lancaster, English and Theatre (BA (hons), I often volunteered with children with SEND during the holidays, and this led me naturally into training to be a teacher.
I spent 5 years teaching years 1 and 2 in two North London Primary schools, during which time I learnt British Sign Language (BSL). I was then able to take a teaching post in the well-renowned Frank Barnes School for Deaf Children – the only school in the South East that required staff to use BSL at all times, even in staff meetings! Being immersed all day in BSL I became fluent and would even sign in my sleep! During this I completed an Advanced Diploma in Deaf Education, becoming a Qualified Teacher of Deaf Children.
Moving to Brighton, I taught Year 1 and 2 at Hamilton Lodge School for Deaf Children.
Following this, I spent three years in New Zealand, where I was the SENCO and Teacher of
Deaf children at Christchurch Girls’ High School. This was an amazing opportunity to experience inclusion in another country, and to learn New Zealand sign language – I even got to interpret for the Prime Minister!
Returning to the UK in 2006, I joined my current service; the council’s Brighton and Hove
Inclusion Support Service (BHISS). The Sensory Needs Team for Deafness is a team of specialist teachers who support the inclusion of Deaf and Deafblind children. We support families from diagnosis until the child leaves education, supporting communication development, technological understanding and liaison with schools. We provide INSET for staff in nurseries, schools and colleges, and work directly with Deaf children, ensuring their inclusion in mainstream and special school settings.
I became the manager of the service in 2016, joining the Senior Leadership Team for BHISS. In this strategic role, I am involved in shaping and improving the inclusion support for all children with SEND in the city.
David Terry - Parent Governor
I am a former Ringmer school pupil myself and educated to postgraduate level, including a Master’s degree.
After leaving (a few years ago now!), I embarked on a career that allowed me to travel and work around the world in several countries before returning to the UK and eventually back to Ringmer in 2015. I have worked in a number of industries, such as healthcare, including medical devices, pathology and hospital planning, the energy sector (smart meters), the financial sector and policing. I have also worked with, advised and supported a number of small businesses.
Father to three grown-up daughters and a guardian to my grandson. I currently work in London as an IT department manager and have a lot of experience in transformation. I have previously been a local councillor, founder of the local Community Land Trust and currently volunteer as a junior rugby coach at Lewes.