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Waterman Primary
Waterman Primary
Rochford Life: Alan, first of all, thank you for giving us your time. You have recently become Chair of Governors here. How has that come about?
Alan: Yes, I’ve just been appointed Chair of Governors here at Waterman Primary School. I’ve got over thirty years experience as a Governor and as a Chair of Governors. I hadn’t been a Chair of Governors for about seven or eight years but I decided after helping at my grand-daughter’s school at Ingrave in Brentwood that I would join that governing body. That was about two and a half years ago. Because I’d had this break of four or five years that I’d redo the training as if I were a new governor and get right up to date. I did all the induction courses for six months and then had various responsibilities such as Head Teacher Performance Management Committee, I oversaw Art and Design and ICT at the school.
Alan: Yes, I’ve just been appointed Chair of Governors here at Waterman Primary School. I’ve got over thirty years experience as a Governor and as a Chair of Governors. I hadn’t been a Chair of Governors for about seven or eight years but I decided after helping at my grand-
RL: What changed?
Alan: I simply decided to leave that school, and because I’d done everything but wanted to carry on, I contacted County and they suggested that they would look for a school for me that was possibly looking for more experience on the Governing body. I did actually look at another school but it wasn’t for me. Then they suggested me coming here, if I was prepared to drive from the Benfleet area where I live, and I said if it was the right one, I would.
Alan: I simply decided to leave that school, and because I’d done everything but wanted to carry on, I contacted County and they suggested that they would look for a school for me that was possibly looking for more experience on the Governing body. I did actually look at another school but it wasn’t for me. Then they suggested me coming here, if I was prepared to drive from the Benfleet area where I live, and I said if it was the right one, I would.
RL: So you then came here?
Alan: That’s right. I was shown round the school and I liked what I saw and felt it was the type of school that I wanted and so asked if I could become a governor here. I attended my first meeting just as an observer and was elected on at the end of the meeting. I could actually see that we needed more experience in the governing body. I told Rachel at the end of the meeting that I would be anything but the Chair but in the end said I would do it.
Alan: That’s right. I was shown round the school and I liked what I saw and felt it was the type of school that I wanted and so asked if I could become a governor here. I attended my first meeting just as an observer and was elected on at the end of the meeting. I could actually see that we needed more experience in the governing body. I told Rachel at the end of the meeting that I would be anything but the Chair but in the end said I would do it.
RL: And since then?
Alan: I’ve made several pop-in visits to the school and listened to some of the children read; I’ve made one official full-day visit. One of the things I like to do is have a meal with the children; it’s a good way of talking to the children when they are not in the classroom, although I have been in the classrooms. Now we’re looking for more governors. I’ve attended a coffee morning and one of the Mums has now agreed to be a governor; she’s got a pack to look at and hopefully at the next meeting in June she’ll become a governor. What I want to do now is meet the parents of the new intake children because that’s where I would like to get another two governors from, so we build from the roots up.
Alan: I’ve made several pop-
RL: You say you liked what you saw when you first came?
Alan: Yes, Rachel is doing some absolutely stunning work here and so is all the staff. They are all a team. It doesn’t matter whether it’s the head teacher or a midday assistant or washing up in the kitchen, it’s all part of the Waterman team, and there’s going to be lots of exciting things happening here next year. I think we’ll have a really good governing body and often the difference between having a ‘Good’ Ofsted and an ‘Outstanding’ Ofsted is the strength of the governing body. I’ve only been at the school five minutes but I’m already very proud of it
Alan: Yes, Rachel is doing some absolutely stunning work here and so is all the staff. They are all a team. It doesn’t matter whether it’s the head teacher or a midday assistant or washing up in the kitchen, it’s all part of the Waterman team, and there’s going to be lots of exciting things happening here next year. I think we’ll have a really good governing body and often the difference between having a ‘Good’ Ofsted and an ‘Outstanding’ Ofsted is the strength of the governing body. I’ve only been at the school five minutes but I’m already very proud of it
RL: So plans for the future?
Alan: We’re going to be taking six of the Year Six to Thriftwood Scouts Centre for a three day residential (http://www.thriftwood.org.uk/), so we’ve got that arranged. A friend of mine is the head ranger there, so he’s going to make sure they have a really good time. So I’m here, and I’m here to stay and I really am a hands-on type of person and I try to lead by example if I can. I know the school has had bad publicity in the past but it has changed and people have got to realise that! I’m happy to meet with anyone, any new parent who would like to come along and meet someone who’s not on the academic side but can talk heart to heart, so they can phone me or e-mail me (see above).
Alan: We’re going to be taking six of the Year Six to Thriftwood Scouts Centre for a three day residential (http://www.thriftwood.org.uk/), so we’ve got that arranged. A friend of mine is the head ranger there, so he’s going to make sure they have a really good time. So I’m here, and I’m here to stay and I really am a hands-
RL: Alan, forgive me, you almost seem to be too good to be true! What motivates you, what makes you do this?
Alan: Children! My two children started off in schools in Basildon. (My daughter is now 42 and my son is 39). As a child my daughter wasn’t particularly happy in the school that she was at and a new school opened in the area that we’d just moved into, so we went down for an interview and I was very impressed by the head teacher. My son started as a new intake and my daughter started in the Juniors, the very first day the school opened. After my son eventually left, I approached the head teacher and said I’d like to give a little bit back to the school for what you’ve done for my children, and it’s grown from there. My wife and I now have eighteen years of experience of taking children away to the Isle of Wight on residential weeks, but I tend to do it myself to keep the cost down. We do a lot of free things. I’m all for children having these varied experiences. I’ve now got two grandchildren and I’ve got involved again because of them, so I’m motivated by children.
Alan: Children! My two children started off in schools in Basildon. (My daughter is now 42 and my son is 39). As a child my daughter wasn’t particularly happy in the school that she was at and a new school opened in the area that we’d just moved into, so we went down for an interview and I was very impressed by the head teacher. My son started as a new intake and my daughter started in the Juniors, the very first day the school opened. After my son eventually left, I approached the head teacher and said I’d like to give a little bit back to the school for what you’ve done for my children, and it’s grown from there. My wife and I now have eighteen years of experience of taking children away to the Isle of Wight on residential weeks, but I tend to do it myself to keep the cost down. We do a lot of free things. I’m all for children having these varied experiences. I’ve now got two grandchildren and I’ve got involved again because of them, so I’m motivated by children.
RL: So I presume you are now retired?
Alan: Oh no! My business is distribution. I suppose I’m a glorified ‘white van man’. One of my contracts is Primary Times which is a magazine that goes out to all the primary schools in Essex and we have to deliver that within about three or four days of it being printed. I’ve also got a ‘paper round’. I’m sixty three this coming weekend, but the paper round is actually distributing the Jewish News all round north London every week. I’m not Jewish but it’s just a contract that I have. I have plenty of spare time. Both myself and my two grandchildren are members of the RSPB so I’m very keen and interested on the eco-garden that we are forming outside in the grounds here. I’ve spoken to the RSPB about if they can help the school out and I hope that that will be coming.
Alan: Oh no! My business is distribution. I suppose I’m a glorified ‘white van man’. One of my contracts is Primary Times which is a magazine that goes out to all the primary schools in Essex and we have to deliver that within about three or four days of it being printed. I’ve also got a ‘paper round’. I’m sixty three this coming weekend, but the paper round is actually distributing the Jewish News all round north London every week. I’m not Jewish but it’s just a contract that I have. I have plenty of spare time. Both myself and my two grandchildren are members of the RSPB so I’m very keen and interested on the eco-
RL: But it’s a bit of a trek having to drive over here from Basildon area?
Alan: Well I was born in Billericay hospital, and my parents lived in Vange in one of the first council estates of Basildon. I’m a trustee of our community association, but it’s just the fact that I didn’t want to stop being a governor and Essex asked me to come along here and look at it, and I’ve found a new home.
Alan: Well I was born in Billericay hospital, and my parents lived in Vange in one of the first council estates of Basildon. I’m a trustee of our community association, but it’s just the fact that I didn’t want to stop being a governor and Essex asked me to come along here and look at it, and I’ve found a new home.
RL: What will be the difference here in a year’s time, do you think?
Alan: There are already going to be some staff changes, which I think most people know about, but there will be some new governors and a stronger governing body and today we’ve just met our new Clerk. The governing body has had no official clerk, and we need an official clerk to give us advice, policies and community items and stuff like that, and we’ve just met her, a very professional lady coming on board. Hopefully with the new governors we’ll see a much stronger school. It’s really providing support for all the work done by the staff of the school. I say to everybody, I have four priorities: the first priority is to the children, the second priority is to the head teacher, the third priority is to the staff and the fourth priority is to the parents, and all of those will get my full support for the school.
Alan: There are already going to be some staff changes, which I think most people know about, but there will be some new governors and a stronger governing body and today we’ve just met our new Clerk. The governing body has had no official clerk, and we need an official clerk to give us advice, policies and community items and stuff like that, and we’ve just met her, a very professional lady coming on board. Hopefully with the new governors we’ll see a much stronger school. It’s really providing support for all the work done by the staff of the school. I say to everybody, I have four priorities: the first priority is to the children, the second priority is to the head teacher, the third priority is to the staff and the fourth priority is to the parents, and all of those will get my full support for the school.
RL: How regularly do you foresee yourself coming into the school?
Alan: Apart from the usual things, I’ve arranged half-termly meetings with our SENCO, our special educational needs co-ordinator. I’ve looked at the register of children needing special education and that will be monitored by me.
Alan: Apart from the usual things, I’ve arranged half-
RL: You are especially interested in special needs?
Alan: Every child matters and each one is unique, but some children need different help and I want to make sure that every child gets the help that they want, and if some children need it because of dyslexia or some other reason they can’t keep up with the rest, then it’s my job to make sure that everything is put in place to try and give those children the best start in life that they can possibly have. So for me it’s looking at the ones that are struggling, that’s the place for me to be. I’ve already got to know a lot of the children’s names and I absolutely love the school. But we are a support and we need these new parent governors to help us provide that.
Alan: Every child matters and each one is unique, but some children need different help and I want to make sure that every child gets the help that they want, and if some children need it because of dyslexia or some other reason they can’t keep up with the rest, then it’s my job to make sure that everything is put in place to try and give those children the best start in life that they can possibly have. So for me it’s looking at the ones that are struggling, that’s the place for me to be. I’ve already got to know a lot of the children’s names and I absolutely love the school. But we are a support and we need these new parent governors to help us provide that.
RL: Well thank you Alan for sharing and giving us your time. The future looks very interesting. It’s been a delight to watch the school over the last eighteen months, and we’ll watch with great interest, not only the development of such things as the gardens and the wildlife pond, but also the ongoing life of Waterman’s. Thank you again.
Waterman Primary School,
The Boulevard, Rochford,
SS4 1QF
Head: Mrs.Welch
01702 546237
www.watermanprimaryschool.ik.org
admin@waterman.essex.sch.uk
admin@waterman.essex.sch.uk
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“Meet the new Chair of Governors”
Talking with Alan Sparks, recently appointed Chair of Governors of Waterman School
(28th May 2012)
Talking with Alan Sparks, recently appointed Chair of Governors of Waterman School
(28th May 2012)
Just recently, as we noted with the most recent interview with the Head, the school has a new Chair of Governors. Having watched over the school for the last eighteen months, we now asked Alan to share with us something of who he is, why he’s here, and his hopes for the future of the school, from his vantage of Chair of the Governors.
