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Our Trust of Schools

Matt Davey

Chair of Governors

As Deputy Director of Faculty Operations, Matt sits on the Executive Board of the Faculty of Environment, Science and Economy at the University of Exeter and holds overall Professional Service leadership responsibility for the Business School and Departments of Engineering and Geography. Matt also leads professional service support for the Faculty’s external engagement and global activities.

Matt joined the University in 2009 as Business Manager, providing commercial support for the Education and Student Services Division. He moved to the Business School in 2011 as Head of Finance and Research, then taking on responsibility for strategic planning, marketing, and admissions activity.

Prior to joining Exeter University, Matt spent 8 years in the retail sector, firstly with Gap, then with Marks and Spencer’s, working across the fields of visual merchandising, merchandising, store management and project management.

Matt is also a Trustee of Exeter City Community Trust, Exeter’s leading health and wellbeing charity.

Barbara Sweeney

Co-opted Governor

Barbara has lived in Exeter for the past 40 years, working in management in the health sector and further and higher education sectors. Recently retired, she was the Clerk to the Board of Exeter College and prior to that served on the College Board with a particular interest in quality and standards –making sure that students are given the very best opportunities to achieve their best.

She is a trustee of Hospiscare and a publicly elected governor on the Council of Governors at the RD&E NHS Foundation Trust. She is also a member of the University of Exeter’s Academy of Nursing Public and Patient Involvement group.

Barbara and her late husband, Kieran, brought up their four children in Exeter, and since retiring she is keen to contribute, in a voluntary capacity, to improving health and education in the community.

She is a keen Chiefs fan and loves swimming and walking.

Kerry Cutland

Clerk to Governors

Kerry has lived in Exeter all her life. She attended St Thomas High School and then continued her education at Exeter College. She worked for South West Water for 17 years in various secretarial roles, becoming the PA to the Director of Information Services. Kerry has been the Clerk to Governors at West Exe School for 8 years and has a further role at West Exe School as Lead for Pastoral Administration and Events.

Kerry also has an administration role for her husband’s plumbing and heating business.

She has 2 children aged 18 and 13 who attend Exeter College and West Exe School.

Holly Hellier

Co-Opted Governor

Holly has worked at the University of Exeter in senior positions in the Human Resources Department since 2010. Holly and her team work with senior leaders to effectively implement good HR practices aligned to institutional strategy, and to provide operational support to all staff throughout their employment with the University. Prior to joining the University of Exeter, Holly worked in HR for acute and community NHS Trusts across Devon.

Holly holds a degree in Business Administration and is professionally qualified through the Chartered Institute of Personnel & Development.

Holly lives in Kingsteignton with her partner Matt, also a Governor at West Exe, daughter and step daughters.

Allan Hart

Co-Opted Governor

Allan and his wife, Janice, moved to Devon from London 30 years ago. Allan worked in the newspaper industry and his wife was deputy catering manager at the Hillingdon hospital group. They ran a vegetarian restaurant and after four, enjoyable but hard working years, they decided to sell up.

Allan spent time volunteering for a learning difficulty charity and secured a role in mental health, Janice changed direction, studied hard and now teaches horticulture at Bicton College. Working in the NHS, Allan became involved with the Unison union and has been an active member of the executive committee. Allan has been a governor at West Exe for a number of years and feels proud to have been part of the great improvement in all areas of School life.

The role of governor is challenging but very rewarding, and we are always looking for new governors.

Rosie Bates

Co-Opted Governor

Rosie Bates is a former student of St. Thomas High School, who went on to gain a degree in Tourism Management from the University of Plymouth. After a period of time working for the National Trust at their London Head Office, Rosie returned to Devon and has since held a variety of roles in the public sector with a focus on tourism and economic development. This included a period running the County Tourist Board ‘Visit Devon'. She is now working in the Growth and Enterprise Team at Exeter City Council, focussing on the Skills Strategy for the city.

Outside work, Rosie is a season ticket holder at the Exeter Chiefs, loves to travel and has an ‘out of control’ hobby as a florist! She lives in Alphington with her husband.

David Kernick

Co-Opted Governor

David Kernick studied Chemical Engineering at the University of Exeter before graduating in Medicine from the University of Wales. He has been a General Practitioner at St Thomas Health Centre for over thirty years and has had teaching and research commitments at the local medical school. His major interest is in migraine and headache and working with West Exe School, he has published a number of papers which form the basis of UK policy guidelines to support the management of headache in schools.

He is married with three children and lives in Longdown. Outside of work he enjoys tennis, tinkering with his vintage Austin cars and playing guitar in the St Thomas Health Centre band – “Bad Medicine.”

Sarah O'Shea

Vice Chair/Nominated Safeguarding Govern

Sarah was born and brought up in Exeter before following a career in primary teaching in London and then returning to teach in Exeter.

She has two grown up children who, after travelling afar, have both returned to live and work in Devon which means Sarah is very lucky to see her grandchildren and children regularly.

Later in her teaching career Sarah joined the staff at Exeter College, teaching across a wide range of courses and age ranges. During the last 15 years of working in the College, Sarah worked at leadership level as the Student Services manager for the College. In this varied role Sarah managed the College nursery provision alongside all things “student” including, leading on Child Protection and Safeguarding. In this role she was the FE lead in Devon and sat on the Local Safeguarding Board.

Recently, Sarah chaired the Local Governing body at Cranbrook Education Campus and thoroughly enjoyed the role. Sarah is looking forward to providing support and challenge in the role on the West Exe Local Governing body.

Clare Palmer

Parent Governor

Clare Palmer has 2 children and lives in Alphington with her husband.

Originally from Sheffield, she moved to Southport where she was educated before moving to Exeter at the age of 16.

Career-wise, Clare spent 25 years working for BT where she rose from working in a call centre part-time, to leading BT Global Anti Bribery and Corruption team.

Clare now works part-time as an Employment, Education and Training (ETE) coach for the Probation Service alongside running her own coaching and leadership business.

Clare’s belief is that with the right attitude and vision you can achieve what you desire.

David Towns

Co-opted Governor

David is a Co-opted Governor with a son who attended West Exe and moved on to Exeter College. Born and raised in London, David has worked as a business transformation consultant in both public and private sectors throughout the UK, Europe, North America and the Far East. David and his wife, Anji, lived in Spain for 12 years and they now live in Crediton.

Chloe Fox

Staff Governor

A graduate in Computer Science with a Master’s Degree in Education, Chloe worked for Intel and Accenture, working on projects which took her to California, Russia and China. Chloe trained on the school-centred route in London before moving back to her beloved Devon. Chloe has many roles within the school leadership and sits as an associated member of the West Exe School senior leadership team and supports South West Teacher Training as their Assistant Lead. Day to day, Chloe heads up the Enterprise and Marketing department with some of the best results in the region. Chloe has a wealth of experience in parent engagement, student voice, IT systems and balances this with her love of sport and two small children.

Jo O'Neill

Staff Governor

Jo has previously worked as a nanny, and a nurse working in maternity, children and adult wards providing all aspects of health care. Jo has worked at West Exe for almost 17yrs and was the first appointed safeguarding officer across Devon which led to other schools appointing staff in the same role. Jo has a wealth of experience in Safeguarding and Child Protection and is one of the longest standing Safeguarding leads across the Trust. Jo has three amazing children who she raised independently and who all attended West Exe and went on to university – one aged 25, achieving a Bachelor's degree in Marketing and Digital Promotion and owns her own business, one aged 23 achieving a Bachelor's degree in Wildlife Ecology and Conservation Science and is currently travelling in Australia and one aged 20 who is at university in Bristol studying Business.

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