Our Governors

Jane Branson

Chair of Governors

Jane is Chair of Governors at Willingdon. She has worked in schools in East Sussex since 1994 and spent nine years as an English advisor. She is now an independent education consultant, supporting local schools on improving the teaching of reading, writing, grammar and talk. She is also part of the local authority’s governor training team and co-chair of governors at a local primary school. Jane is co-vice chair of the governing board, and a member of the HT performance management panel. She chairs the governors’ Curriculum Group and is co-chair of the Vulnerable Learners Review Group.

Brett Levett

Co-Vice Chair, Safeguarding Link Governor & Information Governance Link Governor

Shannon Marchesani

Co-Vice Chair, LA Governor and HR & Health & Wellbeing Link Governor

Emily May

Headteacher

I achieved a History Degree from Roehampton Institute, University of Surrey and completed my PGCE in History at Christchurch University.

I have worked in a number of Kent and London schools from a top performing outstanding grammar school to schools in special measures and requiring improvement. I enjoyed being a Head of History and Director of Key Stage Five for many years followed by a Deputy Headteacher.

I believe that we are all life long learners and I embrace CPD at all levels to ensure that we are providing the very best for each and every child. I really enjoy having the chance to teach a History Year Nine group this year.

Finally, I believe in talent managing my staff to provide them with similar opportunities that I was afforded throughout my career by fantastic colleagues who invested in my personal development. I hope I can pay that forward to my staff and students. 

James Martin

Parent Governor, Finance Link Governor & Data Link Governor

Tom Lawson

Co-Opted Governor & Training Link Governor

The Hon TNM Lawson MA, is Headmaster of Eastbourne College and Trustee of Cavendish Educational Trust. Tom is a lifelong teacher, first at Winchester College from 1998 until 2013, teaching A-level Economics and history, literature, arts and culture through the school’s non-examined humanities course. He became a housemaster in 2005 and Under Master (head of boarding) in 2011. From Winchester Tom moved to Christ’s Hospital school in Horsham where Tom was Deputy Head. He became Headmaster of Eastbourne College in 2016.

Tom was brought up in London and the midlands but lived all his adult life in Hampshire and Sussex. Tom attended Westminster Cathedral Choir School and Eton College before going up to Christ Church, Oxford to read PPE.

As well as Willingdon Community School, Tom is a governor of Marlborough House school. His other charitable / previous employment included being on the board of a putative free school, Rivendale School Trust, an intern for the Small Business Committee of the US House of Representatives, researcher for the Social Market Foundation, Westminster, and for the Institute of Community Studies, Tower Hamlets where he conducted research which was the genesis for Tower Hamlet’s Summer University, now ‘Futureversity.’

Tom’s interests include politics, cars, food and family life. He is a member of HMC and the ASCL.

David Wakefield

Co-Opted Governor, CEIAG Link Governor

Alison Flynn

Co-Opted Governor and SEND and RSHE Link Governor

Jeremy Woodham

Associate Member

Naomi Savage

Co-Opted Governor

Sarah White

Associate Member

Rowanne Brown

Staff Governor and Pupil Premium Link Governor

Sam Tomalin

Clerk to Governors

Sam has been at Willingdon for the last 6 years as the Headteacher’s PA and has been the Clerk to Governors for 5 years.

She moved from London to Eastbourne with her 4 children 6 years ago and has worked previously in a large London primary school and with the NHS.