Mrs Hilary Baker, Chair of Governors

I was elected as a parent governor in September 2010 and have been Chair since September 2011. I am currently a Community Governor which is a position nominated and confirmed by the Governing Body.

Please feel free to contact me through the school or Web Page. 

I have been living just outside Usk for over 30 years with my husband and 2 children, who both attended the school but are now over 20 and moving away into their own careers. Our family pastimes include walking, chicken and pig keeping and many sports – I still play hockey for Chepstow Ladies Hockey Club and also one of the Welsh Masters Hockey teams although it is taking longer to recover after each match!  I work for Safran Seats at Llantarnam on the edge of Cwmbran which means limited opportunities to get into school but I still manage to meet with the HT and staff and get in when I can to enjoy the activity and creativity going on.

My main contribution as chair of governors is to support the business management of the school. The budgets are always challenging and we have to make sure everything is as good as it can be to provide an environment that nurtures the children and staff and I continue to enjoy working with pupils, parents, staff and governors to take the school forward into a successful and rewarding future for all involved. 

I do support PTFA events when I can and have been found wielding the paint brushes while applying face paints at the various fairs for many years ... I became a parent governor in the first place because I was concerned that opportunities to make the most of communications between the school and all stakeholders were not always taken. Since then I have remained committed to improving the opportunities for the children and staff to develop and I believe the communication to, and involvement of, all stakeholders has improved dramatically over the last few years.

Nicki Lloyd,  Vice Chair of Governors

I became a parent governor in May 2021, 14 months after the start of the COVID pandemic. I joined the governing body after what must have been an extremely challenging year for them and the school. The dedication and enthusiasm to the children’s learning and wellbeing throughout this public health crisis has been nothing short of inspiring.

Looking forward to our “new norm” I hope to make a valuable contribution to the school, drawing on my knowledge and experience of working in a healthcare training environment for the last 14 years. I believe the views of parents and carers should have a platform to be heard and welcome any correspondence from the parent and carers community.

I live in Llangybi with my husband and 2 sons, one of whom started Reception in 2020. His little brother will hopefully be joining him in September 2022.

I work for Health Education and Improvement Wales (HEIW) which is a Special Health Authority that sits alongside Health Boards and Trusts. I manage GP Specialty and Further Training in Wales and have a special interest in sustainable healthcare and differential attainment.

Elaine Lewis, Monmouthshire Local Authority Governor

Appointed as a Local Authority Governor In July 2023.

In 2022, my husband and I decided to make Usk our home after my retirement. It's been a fantastic journey, especially as it has brought me closer to my family home in Llangynidr, Powys, where I attended Brecon High School.

Before coming to Usk, I spent the last decade of my career as the Headteacher of a multicultural comprehensive school in Twickenham, Southwest London. Education has always been my passion, and I'm committed to ensuring that every child receives the best possible learning experience.

Since settling in Usk, I've become actively involved in our local community. From crafting costumes for the Usk Panto Players to being a member of the Roger Edwards Education Trust. I've enjoyed contributing to various aspects of community life. I'm also pursuing a City and Guilds course in Creative Textiles, adding a creative flair to my retirement.

Becoming a Governor is an exciting new chapter for me. I'm well-aware of the responsibilities and importance of this role, thanks to my previous experience in education. My goal is to bring my diverse knowledge, skills, and educational background to support the school in maintaining its high standards.

I genuinely believe that every child deserves an exceptional education, and I'm eager to contribute to delivering just that. As a Governor, I look forward to being part of the team that ensures our school continues to provide a quality educational experience. I'm honoured to be here, and I can't wait to positively contribute to the growth and success of our school.

Meirion Howells, Monmouthshire Local Authority Governor

To follow

Professor Dianne Watkins, OBE

I was delighted to be appointed as a School Governor in January 2024 and look forward to working with the school to achieve its ambitions.

I am married with 2 children and 4 grandchildren and have lived in Llangwm, Usk for 30 years. I am an active member of the Usk WI, and currently serve as secretary. This has allowed me to interact with residents of Usk and to partake in local community events.

I have recently retired as Professor of Public Health Nursing at Cardiff University, where I held the position of Deputy Head of the School of Healthcare Sciences, with a focus on international development. I still hold an Emeritus Professor title which allows me to continue to contribute to academic work and to projects in Malawi. I was awarded an OBE for my work in nurse education and research across the globe, and hope that my 30 years’ experience in higher education will be of use in working with Usk Church in Wales Primary School.

My passion has always been education, improving the learning experience for young people and ensuring their voice is heard. I believe the role of a school governor is influential in shaping the school ethos, and thus the educational experience for children who attend the school. I look forward to working in partnership with staff and the school governing body to shape strategy and practice that help children reach their full potential through education, whilst ensuring staff and pupils feel valued.

Nicki Lloyd,  Vice Chair of Governors

I became a parent governor in May 2021, 14 months after the start of the COVID pandemic. I joined the governing body after what must have been an extremely challenging year for them and the school. The dedication and enthusiasm to the children’s learning and wellbeing throughout this public health crisis has been nothing short of inspiring.

Looking forward to our “new norm” I hope to make a valuable contribution to the school, drawing on my knowledge and experience of working in a healthcare training environment for the last 14 years. I believe the views of parents and carers should have a platform to be heard and welcome any correspondence from the parent and carers community.

I live in Llangybi with my husband and 2 sons, one of whom started Reception in 2020. His little brother will hopefully be joining him in September 2022.

I work for Health Education and Improvement Wales (HEIW) which is a Special Health Authority that sits alongside Health Boards and Trusts. I manage GP Specialty and Further Training in Wales and have a special interest in sustainable healthcare and differential attainment.

Charlie Marshall, Parent Governor

I became a parent governor in 2022, shortly after my kids joined the school. Because they joined from another school, I was really keen to get involved and help make sure it was a somewhere they would be happy and settle.

I started out my career as a journalist, but have since moved into writing, content creation and strategy, particularly in relation to sustainability, equity, and healthcare. 

Through my job I get to meet a huge variety of people with fascinating stories and experiences. I also volunteer as a mentor, helping disadvantaged young people through education and their early careers. This has really underlined to me the importance of a broad and engaging school experience, that goes beyond academics alone to stimulate and inspire young people, and build skills for the future workplace.

Dr James Osborne, Parent Governor

I became a parent governor in 2022 shortly after my daughter joined the school.

I used to run the code club at the school long before my daughter was born, however I had to give that up due to work commitments.

I am currently the Director of Learning and Teaching in the School of Computer Science and Informatics at Cardiff University.

I am responsible for various areas of curriculum development and have experience of teaching computing topics to students young and old over many years.

I have been involved in outreach programmes like code club, various supercomputing related ventures, advanced research computing, and working with big data.

I am a trustee on the board of the Roger Edwards Educational Trust which funds various educational endeavours for the benefit of the residents of Usk.

I am also involved in Usk Show and enjoy spending a week every year to help setup and take down the largest one day show in Wales.

Katherine Hoar, Parent Governor

I stepped into the role of a parent governor in 2022. As a parent of a child in Year 1, I am personally invested in the school's success and the well-being of every student.

With a background in Child Development and Psychology and currently working in school environments, I've seen the incredible impact that a positive school environment plays in a child's educational journey, overall well-being, and future success. Thus, I am passionate about fostering strong connections between the school, parents, and the wider community to ensure our children get the best support possible.

I am committed to ensuring that the voices of parents and carers are heard, fostering an environment where open communication is valued, and where the collective goal is to provide the best possible educational experience for our children. 

Rev'd William Savage, Foundation Governor 

Hello, I am Bill, however it is humbling when the children call me Reverend Bill and as a newly ordained minister in 2023, I still get surprised by that form of address.

I married a farmer's daughter 25 years ago and we moved back to her family home in 2001, so Usk has been my local town and place of worship for many years.

I retired from corporate life at age 60 and increasingly helped in the group of churches, especially during the Covid pandemic.

I was surprised and thrilled when I was encouraged, invited and successful in re-entering full time education to study for the priesthood.

I am a “self-supporting” Minister which means I am not paid, and my desire and hope is to serve and support the clergy team, under Revd Sally that serves the local community.

The school is at the very heart of the local community, and it truly is an honour to offer my service as Governor.

Rev'd Sally Ingle-Gillis, Ex-Officio Clergy Governor 

My name is Sally and the children call me Reverend Sally. As one of the local vicars it is my pleasure to be part of the board of governors. The special  atmosphere and ethos that church schools have, provides a wonderful opportunity for children to explore their own beliefs and to become spiritual people. 

Someone from the local churches team, usually me, leads Collective Worship once a week in the school, and the children often come to church for special services and occasions. Families are sometimes invited along too and it is always a pleasure to see you in church or out and about - I don’t seem to go anywhere without hearing a voice from away shout “Hello Rev. Sally!”. How lovely!

My wider role means that I have responsibility for the local church team who work in all the local Anglican churches so you may know me from family weddings, baptisms, and funerals.

I consider it a privilege to be involved in the nurturing of your children and understand how important these years are. My own children are all now grown up, but the time they had in primary school is still something we talk and laugh about. 

I am always happy to chat and can be contacted via email on sallyinglegillis@cinw.orrg.uk if you would like to discuss anything of a pastoral nature. 

If you would like to contact me about governor things then please do so through the school.

Mrs Hilary Baker, Community Governor

I was elected as a parent governor in September 2010 and have been Chair since September 2011. I am currently a Community Governor which is a position nominated and confirmed by the Governing Body.

I have been living just outside Usk for over 25 years with my husband and 2 children, Matthew and Sophie who both attended the school but are now over 18 ! Our family pastimes include walking, pig keeping and many sports – I still play hockey for Chepstow Ladies Hockey Club and also one of the Welsh Masters Hockey teams although it is taking longer to recover after each match !  I work for Airbus at Filton on the edge of Bristol which means a transnational daily commute and also means I miss most of the opportunities to meet people during the school day.

My main contribution as chair of governors is to support the business management of the school.  The budgets are always challenging and we have to make sure everything is as good as it can be to provide an environment that nurtures the children and staff and I continue to enjoy working with pupils, parents, staff and governors to take the school forward into a successful and rewarding future for all involved. 

I do support PTFA events when I can and have been found wielding the paint brushes while applying face paints at the various fairs for many years ... I became a parent governor in the first place because I was concerned that opportunities to make the most of communications between the school and all stakeholders were not always taken. Since then I have remained committed to improving the opportunities for the children and staff to develop and I believe the communication to, and involvement of, all stakeholders has improved dramatically over the last few years.

Mrs Kay Peacock, Community Governor

To follow