The Woodlands School Board of Governors
How our Governors are elected
- All governors are elected to the Board by the Full Board membership.
- Parent Governors are proposed by the parent body and elected by parents if more than one parent is nominated.
- Staff Governors are proposed by the staff team and elected by staff vote if more than one staff member is nominated.
- Local Authority Governors are elected and agreed with the Local Authority.
- Trust Governors and Co-Opted Governors are elected by the Full Board of Governors.
Current Board of Governors
JASON CHARLES WILLINGHAM - CHAIR OF GOVERNORS and CHAIR OF FINANCE COMMITTEE - CO-OPTED GOVERNOR
Areas of Responsibility: Foundation Trust, Headteacher Performance Management, Life skills Curriculum (including English and Maths), Online Safety
Member of: Pay Committee, Appeals Panel
Attendance for 2025/26: 6/7
Pecuniary interests: None
Term of office: July 2023 - July 2027
Prior to moving to Devon, Jason managed a team for RBS in London. He is now a wages clerk and carer for his son who has now left Woodlands.
ANDREA SUSANNE HEMMENS - HEADTEACHER
Attendance for 2025/26: 7/7
Pecuniary interests: Friends of Woodlands School
Member of: None
Term of office: N/A
Andrea has worked in settings with children who have complex needs for over 30 years. She relishes the problem solving that this requires and is driven to see every child reach their potential. Andrea has been Headteacher at Woodlands School for 17 years and enjoys working on the multi-school Wood View site.
NICOLA JANE SLIGHT - VICE CHAIR - PARENT GOVERNOR
Areas of Responsibility: Disciplinary Panel, Exclusions Panel, Headteacher Performance Management, Foundation Trust, Sixth Form
Member of: Disciplinary Panel, Exclusions Panel
Attendance for 2025/26: 5/7
Pecuniary interests: Parent of a child attending the school
Term of office: July 2023 - July 2027
Nicky is a trained pharmacist and previously worked as a manager in Boots. Her son is a pupil at Woodlands school. Her aim as a Parent Governor is to use some of her professional skills to see every child reach their potential.
JOHNSON WENNER - LOCAL AUTHORITY GOVERNOR
Area of Responsibility: Headteacher Performance Management, Pay, Appeals, Safeguarding and Vulnerable pupils (including LAC)
Member of: Appeals Panel
Attendance for 2025/26: 3/7
Pecuniary interests: None
Term of office: March 2025 - March 2029
Johnson is currently a serving police officer. He has also been a qualified teacher, who worked in a mainstream primary school within Plymouth.
Prior to teaching, Johnson worked as a Cinema Manager; his day-to-day responsibilities focused on the operational running of the business, including health and safety, audit, finance, and HR matters. He also has a wealth of experience working as a Play Supervisor, running Playscheme settings for children with SEN and SEMH difficulties in South Wales, where he originally grew up.
DONNA MARGARET HOLLOWAY - STAFF GOVERNOR
Areas of Responsibility: Early Years, Parental Engagement, behaviour and physical intervention
Attendance for 2025/26: 7/7
Pecuniary interests: Member of Staff
Member of: None
Term of office: January 2024 - January 2028
Donna has worked for Woodlands School for over 20 years, as the school's expert on supporting communication skills. She manages all liaison with the Speech And Language therapists and ensures children have access to an appropriate and effective communication method. Donna is an expert in deaf-blind communication and has Level 2 BSL.
PETE JEWELL - PARENT GOVERNOR
Area of Responsibility: Safeguarding and Vulnerable pupils including LAC; Sensory and Complex Needs Curriculum, Headteacher performance management, Premium funding
Member of: Appeals Panel
Attendance for 2025/26: 7/7
Pecuniary interests: Parent of a child attending the school; Pete is on the executive committee at Devonport Services RFC
Term of office: July 2023 - July 2027
Pete is a registered social worker and approved mental health professional and work out of hours. Alongside this he runs Armada Social Work services and manages 12 social workers across the South West of England. Both roles require me to be organised and adaptable. Pete has previous experience as a governor.
Pete has been a foster carer for 20 years, with extensive experience of caring for children with disabilities, including their current child who attends Woodlands.
HANNAH HAMLIN - CO-OPTED GOVERNOR
Area of Responsibility: Life Skills Curriculum, Staff wellbeing, Premium funding,
Member of: Disciplinary Panel, Exclusions Panel
Attendance for 2025/26: 6/7
Pecuniary interests: None
Term of office: July 2024 - July 2028
Hannah works for Plymouth City Council as the Educational Psychologist (EP) lead for the Virtual School. She was also Joint Head of the EP Service for over 7 years and has had experience working in the Independent Specialist Education sector. Hannah is a trauma informed specialist.
LISA SEWELL - STAFF GOVERNOR
Area of Responsibility: Health and Safety, Parental Engagement
Member of: None
Attendance for 2025/26: 4/7
Pecuniary interests: None
Term of office: September 2024 - September 2028
Lisa has worked at Woodlands for over 7 years as an Education Heath and Care Assistant and became an HLTA in September 2023.
HEATHER LANDERS - CO-OPTED GOVERNOR
Area of Responsibility: Nursery and Early Years
Member of: Disciplinary Panel, Exclusions Panel
Attendance for 2025/26: 3/7
Pecuniary interests: None
Term of office: October 2024 - October 2028
Heather has experienced the joys and challenges of education across Primary schools for over 30 years. She led a two form entry school so gained knowledge of managing children, staff, families and ensuring a school is the heart of the community. She is also an independent visitor for Barnardo's.
SARA JORDAN - CO-OPTED GOVERNOR
Area of Responsibility: Health and Safety; Staff wellbeing
Member of: TBC
Attendance for 2025/26: Joined February 2026, 4/4
Pecuniary interests: None
Term of office: February 2026 - October 2028
Sara has had a career spanning over 37 years in education and before retiring. She spent 10 years as Head of an 11 - 16 local authority maintained special school in Plymouth - a role she absolutely loved. Prior to that she was a senior leader in a secondary school in the city. Sara brings with her a wide range of experience in the special school sector. She has previously been a governor in both mainstream and specialist settings.
If you would like to get in touch with our Governors, please do so via our Clerk to Governors at clerk@woodlands.plymouth.sch.uk or send your correspondence to the school address.
Former Governors
VICKY GREIG - Stepped down: July 2023
DIANE BYGRAVE - Stepped down: October 2023
CHRIS DIXON - Stepped down: May 2024
DR JONATHAN HARVEY - Stepped down: November 2025
TOBY OGDEN - Stepped down: November 2025
