Rob Seager

Chair of Governors & Safeguarding Governor

I started as a parent governor and stayed on when my children left the school and it is nearly 19 years since I started working with the school. I have a strong interest in the delivery of the curriculum, both its core and the enrichment that the school weaves into its core teaching, as well as how children's progress is monitored. I was actively involved, for many years, in monitoring the morning and after-school clubs for the school. I am currently chair of governors, a role I started just before the lockdown. I have found this role has increased my understanding of the school, its functioning, and the pressures under which it works hugely. I am now retired from a job as a senior lecturer at Loughborough University specialising in wireless communications and smart textiles and I have been able to bring colleagues into school with activities such as solar-powered cars and remote-controlled robots. I have been fortunate, and privileged, to spend time in school, and on both, the year four and year six residentials, with many classes and staff members, observing how our young children are developed by the school.

David Donegani

Vice-Chair of Governors

My four children have all left school now. Three of them attended Holywell School at some point and two of them went through their time in education with a ‘Statement of Special Educational Needs’; I am passionate that all children in school have access to the best and most appropriate education possible, whatever their needs. I am Vice-Chair of the Governing Board and am also a governor of Ashmount School in Loughborough. I live close by and am involved with Holywell Church, next door to the school. I work part-time within the aerospace and IT sectors and am also involved in the governance of other Christian Charities.

Chris Bulloch

Chair of Finance & Personnel

I joined the Governor team in November 2017 in my son’s first year at school. I’ve always harboured respect for educators having lasting memories of some fantastic teachers and schools during my education that have left an indelible mark on me, and since my children were born I have wanted to get actively involved in their education and to make a positive contribution.

 I have worked in manufacturing, and running factories for the last 7 years, and have a lot of experience in managing limited resources and making difficult decisions in driving towards excellence, a concept that applies directly to the education sector of today. Before that, I project managed the development of a major UK Space Exploration Instrument originally intended to be on the upcoming European Space Agency ExoMars mission, so I’m also very comfortable with being a non-specialist in esoteric surroundings!

 As a Parent Governor, in addition to wanting the best education for our children, I am particularly interested in the promotion of healthy lifestyles and the development of well-rounded children.

Mark Needham

Finance & Personnel and Premises Audit & Risk

Having been Chair of Governors from 2014 to 2019, I am now enjoying the experience of having retired to the back benches of the governing body but still being part of this excellent school.

I believe that the school does a great job nurturing the children in their care and that when they leave at the end of year 6, they have been given the best possible chance to develop academically and socially so that they can move on to their next schools with well-founded confidence and resilience to tackle the challenges ahead. All three of my children came to the school and certainly benefitted from what they learned here. I love playing my small part in this process and visiting the children in class to witness firsthand the skills they are developing.  I hope to remain a governor with Holywell for the foreseeable future and continue to be hugely grateful to all involved with the school for making it the success it undoubtedly is.

Liz Chahal

Chair of Teaching & Learning

I became a governor at Holywell in June 2016 just as my daughter was leaving the school. It has been very interesting to gain some deeper insights into what goes on behind the scenes and I feel privileged to have an opportunity to contribute to the school's ongoing development. I live very near to the school and am currently employed as Chief Executive at the Community Advice & Law Service in Leicester, a registered charity that provides specialist social welfare advice. Having lived in and worked in several different countries before coming to Loughborough. I particularly value the international ethos at Holywell. It is always a great pleasure to visit the school and see the enthusiasm that the children have for learning.

Smita Jenna

Teaching and Development governor. Chair of Audit and Risk Committee

I have recently joined the governing body and enjoy working with a committed team that is striving towards one goal - to ensure that all children enjoy their learning experience and achieve their full potential. I have over ten years of experience in the higher education sector with a background in financial management and human resources. In my spare time, you will find me championing Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education initiatives. I am particularly interested in promoting STEM subjects and raising the aspirations of young people.  

Donna Welburn

Inclusion: SEN & HLT Governor and Wellbeing Governor. Vice-Chair of T&L

I joined the governing body in March 2022, I have two children one is already at Holywell and the other will be starting this year. I have a keen interest in education and SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities) and making education accessible to all. As the Operations Director at the Learning Support Centre, I feel confident I can support the school at a strategic level. I have worked in SEND, supporting learners with learning differences and disabilities for over 16 years. After finishing my degree, I worked as a Support Worker and Mentor, I then went on to be a Disability Advisor in Higher Education and then went on to manage the support function in a Further Education college where I led the disability support, LAC (Looked After Children), student development, health and wellbeing and counselling teams. Throughout my career, to date, I have worked with a wide range of people in my role, which is what makes my work so interesting. This includes working with parents and young people to access support and services available.  

Reveka Athanasiadou

Parent Governor

I joined the governing body at Holywell as a parent governor towards the end of 2023. I have two children currently in year 2 and my younger daughter will hopefully be joining the School in a couple of years.

I am a dual-qualified solicitor. I first qualified as a lawyer in Greece and practised law there for 9 years before I moved to the UK in 2012. In the UK I started working in the Higher Education Sector as an in-house legal advisor and at the same time I qualified as a solicitor in England and Wales. I now work as a commercial solicitor in the Leicester office of a national full-service law office with many clients from the education sector, amongst which schools and universities, advising on data protection, procurement, intellectual property and commercial contracts.

As a parent, I have a genuine interest in ensuring that children at Holywell get the best education they can in the short and longer term. I will contribute to the strategic governance of the school with my previous and current experience as a lawyer.

Dr Ahmed Salim

Parent Governor

I joined the Governing Body in January 2024, having previously served as a Governor at Sixth Form College. My daughter joined this School in the 2023/24 Academic Year. I work at the world’s leading manufacturer of construction and mining equipment. In terms of my interests, I’m actively involved in promoting STEM subjects to the students. I have been leading different programs at my workplace to support students in different countries to fulfil their full potential in becoming future Engineers / Technicians. I’m looking forward to utilising the skills and knowledge I have gained so far to support Holywell Primary School further.

Lee Dobinson

Governor Nominated

I joined the governing body at Holywell in March 2023, having previously served as a Trustee/Governor at a large secondary school. I am married with a grown-up daughter and two teenagers and now retired following 35 years of experience in automotive management. I will use my skills and experience to support Holywell as a school well-regarded by pupils, parents, staff, and the local community.

Leah  Aulton

Staff Governor

I have been a teacher at Holywell Primary School since 2011 and was also fortunate to have been on ‘the other side as a parent too. My three sons loved being pupils at Holywell and it has set them in good stead for the future. Whilst at Holywell, I have taught in both Years 1 and 2 and now I am teaching in Foundation Stage. I am also the Foundation Stage and Key Stage One Lead and a member of the Senior Management Team. I have had many opportunities to lead different subjects during my time here at Holywell.  I have also been lucky to lead Art, which coincides both with my interests and the belief that the subject plays an important role in a child’s development and well-being.

Sarah Fazzani

Staff Governor

I have been a member of staff at Holywell since August 2012, and have taught in Upper Key Stage 2 (Years 5 and 6).  During this time, I have led Music at Holywell and, more recently, have assisted in the coordination of Writing.  In August 2022, I broadened my responsibilities by taking on the position of Teaching and Learning Lead and joined the Senior Management Team with responsibility for the whole school curriculum.  This coincided with taking up the position of Staff Governor and I am looking forward to being able to support the school further in this role.

Leanne Orgill

Staff Governor & H&S Governor

I have been working at Holywell since 2013 as a Nursery Nurse in the Foundation stage. I am proud of the school and look forward to getting an insight into the running of the school through my role as Staff Governor. I aim to be a voice for both staff and children when decisions about the running of the school need to be made.

Ed Petrie

Staff Governor Accounting officer