Governor Profiles

Shirah Blackwood

Coopted Governor

I have been a co-opted governor of Four Lanes Infant School since May 2018 just before my eldest child started school. As well as being a governor I am also a mum of two children (and two rather demanding guinea pigs), a part-time solicitor and a church volunteer. I love being involved with our local community and especially helping towards the wellbeing and education of our little ones!

Andy Busk

Coopted Governor (Vice Chair)

Co-opted governor since April 2015. I am a carpenter and run my own property maintenance company. 

I have two children. One who is about to join the infant school, and one who has now progressed to the junior school. 

I love to cook and think up recipes. I have an allotment and love to watch my plants grow badly. 

Natalie Chapple

Coopted Governor

Parent Governor (Oct 2019 - Nov 2020)

Co-opted Governor (Nov 2020)

I’m a director of my own cosmetics company, I used to be a Design Technology secondary school teacher.

I have an allotment and enjoy growing my own plants and vegetables.

Julie Docherty

Deputy Headteacher & Inclusion Manager

In my role as Deputy Headteacher and Inclusion Manager, I manage the groups, Special Educational Needs (SEN), Pupil Premium (PP) and English as an Additional Language (EAL). I also work with children to write monthly articles about what we are doing in school for the Chineham Chat and Loddon Link and train and support children in our Young Interpreter scheme. I am responsible for assessment and am the Newly Qualified Teacher (NQT) mentor for the school. I have been at Four Lanes Infant School since January 2016 in a variety of similar roles. I started as the SENCo for the Infant school at the same time as being the Inclusion Manager at Four Lanes Junior school. The role changed and I became the Inclusion Manager purely at the Infant school in September 2017. Since then I have been supporting staff to improve provision for children with SEN, PP and EAL. I became Deputy Headteacher in September 2020.

Prior to joining Four Lanes Infant School I have worked in a variety of infant and primary schools across Basingstoke, as well as a Pupil Referral Unit with children with a variety of needs and challenging behaviour. Prior to becoming a teacher I gained a Batchelor of Education with Mathematics with honours. After becoming a SENCo I gained the Postgraduate Certificate in Special Educational Needs Co-ordination accreditation with merit. Life is very busy with work, but when I get spare time I like to spend time with my husband and children, my son is at university and my daughter is at college. We enjoy long walks with our dogs and have other pets at home. I also enjoy reading when I get a quiet moment or two

Courtney Freedman-Thompson

Coopted Governor

I became a parent governor in 2017 when my children were in year 1, and then a co-opted governor in 2019. I am the Wellbeing Governor at the school - an area that I am massively passionate about – and was previously the SEND and EAL Governor. 

In my day job I am the Social Video Manager at Waitrose (where I've worked for the last 14 years), leading on the social & YouTube video and content strategy. My career background has included working as an editor on various magazines, and personal training/teaching fitness classes.

I have twin boys who are 8 and an adopted cat, Magic. I'm a massive foodie and love cooking with new ingredients and flavours. I also enjoy reading, and getting out in the fresh air and have a slight addiction to dark chocolate and crystals.

Jacqui Mallaby

Headteacher

I have been headteacher at Four Lanes Infants since 2015 having taught at a number of different Basingstoke schools before then. I was born in North Yorkshire and lived there until my twenties when I moved to Basingstoke and met my husband Glen. Before teaching, I worked in the Geo-chemistry and IT industries for a number of years. I have one grown-up son called Ed and one dog called Harry. Outside of school I love being outdoors, taking Harry for walks, target shooting, baking and spending time with family.

Joe McHale

Local Authority Governor

Local Authority Governor, I've been a Governor for just over a year and am the Finance lead.

In my day job I am an Accountant within the Civil Service.

I have 2 daughters, 1 is at the school and the other will hopefully be soon. Having 2 little girls means I now know rather more Disney songs than I used to, and can perform any song from Moana on request!

Gary Razzell

Coopted Governor

Co-opted governor who joined in April 2015, and is a lead on Pupil Premium and Finance.

Gary works in IT specialising in the digital workplace, collaboration and communication areas.

Gary is a cyclist, but the yellow jersey is under no threat as this is only a hobby which we’re all thankful of since the last accident cracked the helmet in half. Gary has 2 children and although neither of them attended Four Lanes Infant School, his passion for the School’s success is clear.

Melissa Vanzant-Birch

Coopted Governor

I joined the Board of Governors in October 2019 as a co-opted governor. I am a lawyer in the in-house legal team of a large Magic Circle law firm. I have two children who are both at Four Lanes, and I've really loved being a governor and getting to meet and know other parents and members of staff who are as invested as I am in the success of the school (if not more so!) In my very limited amount of free time, I really love to cook, bake (rustic is my aesthetic), and read!

Helen Whiting

Coopted Governor

Chair of FGB

I have been a governor at Four Lanes Infants for nearly eight years, having started as a parent governor when my daughter was in Year R.  I am now a coopted governor and am in my last year as Chair of Governors.  I have learnt so much during this time, about both the joys and the challenges of working in education and it’s been a privilege to support the school’s leadership team through many changes.  I’m famously emotional, and still cannot sit through an infants’ Christmas performance without a sniffle.

Before I became a mum, I worked for many years in the pharmaceutical industry as an HR Manager.  These days, when I’m not out walking our little dog, I am a very enthusiastic amateur pianist, enjoy sewing and baking, am learning Tai Chi and have been known to while away an afternoon (or two) playing Super Mario. 

Joy Vaughan

Staff Governor

Prior to working at Four Lanes I held the post of Office Manager at several IT companies, facilitating training, supporting work practise strategies and ensuring effective communication across teams. For 9 years I ran my own business delivering adult and baby singing classes, involving class teaching, planning, accounts and marketing as well as childminding.

Over my 9 years at Four Lanes Infants I have had the opportunity to work in a variety of roles such as class LSA, 1:1 support, HLTA, ELSA, Relax Kids Coach and Librarian. This has given me a wealth of hands on experience in each year group, supporting a range of needs of the children academically and emotionally. My experience throughout the school also affords me the opportunity to build relationships across school staff and gives me a good understanding of what happens in the classroom as well as behind the scenes.

I also support extra-curricular activities such as choir and recorder classes at school to enhance the children’s experience while with us.

Outside of my work life, I enjoy combining my lifelong involvement in uniformed youth activities with my passion for music and my background in theatre in order to support local productions. I am blessed with 4 wonderful children, an incredibly supportive hubby and 2 very chilled cats.