Governor Details

The governor’s role is to act as a ‘critical friend’ to the school, by monitoring the activities of the school to ensure that the children receive the best possible education in a safe and stimulating learning environment.

We are fortunate to have so many active and committed governors, many of whom have been connected to the school for many years. As you can see, the governors come from a wide range of backgrounds and bring a diverse range of talents and experience to the school and we rely on these skills to ensure that the governors fulfil their function. We are also very fortunate to have such a dedicated and talented staff of teachers and teaching assistants and the governors work in close partnership with the staff. If you have any questions, queries or comments about the work of the governors please do not hesitate to get in touch. We very much value feedback from parents about their experience and views of the school.

The Chair of Governors can be contacted via the school office

If you would like more details regarding appointments and resignations of governors, please click here to refer to The Propeller Academy Trust financial statements:

Wayne Tica - Chair of Governors

Originally from North Warwickshire, I now live with my wife and two boys in the nearby village of Harwell. Our eldest son attends Fitzwaryn School. I’m a Community Governor for Fitzwaryn, I act as the Careers Governor, and I’m linked with The Student Centre.
I own a Building Engineering Services company based in Buckinghamshire, and act as a Non-Executive Director for a Telecoms Infrastructure Design company based in Portsmouth. I occasionally work as a consultant with small business owners to help improve profitability or prepare them for sale.

David Shaw - Vice Chair

It was 1978 when I first arrived in Wantage to start work as a Scientific Research Officer at Grove Laboratories. Work at the laboratories set me on course for a career as a chartered engineer. It is also where I met my wife. Since finishing full-time work I’ve enjoyed the opportunity to work as a volunteer with the students in the Student Centre at Fitzwaryn School. Over the past four years I’ve had the pleasure of sharing students’ successes as they have dealt with life’s challenges.
I'm looking forward to becoming more involved in the school as a governor.

Jeanne Lapsley – Governor

I became a governor at Fitzwaryn when my son attended the school. I have significant experience of Education as in my professional career I worked as a senior education manager in a local authority with responsibility for Governance in schools, School Contracts, professional Staff Training, Headteacher Support, Parent Partnership Service, Equalities, Complaint resolution among other areas of responsibility. I have been a school governor for over 12 years, and have also been a member of an IEB moving a school from special measures to good within a year. I have considerable knowledge of school funding, staffing and curriculum. I am currently a member of the Oxfordshire Schools Funding Forum and am Safeguarding Governor at Fitzwaryn. I have been a governor in schools for more than 20 years leading Behaviour Management training across the Trust.

Becky Broomfield - Staff Representative

I started my teaching career in a mainstream school in Aylesbury, then worked at a SEMH school in Oxford. I started teaching at Fitzwaryn in 2011. Over the years I have taught across the Key Stages. I am currently working as the sixth form lead in the Student Centre.

Fiona Assersohn - Governor

I have lived in Wantage since 2004. I am medically retired but I was a mainstream secondary school teacher in Yorkshire. After I moved to Wantage I worked for an online school, teaching pupils who were unable to attend school, until I was unable to continue for medical reasons. I have been a primary school governor since 2015 which I have enjoyed immensely. The opportunities to learn and contribute in a small way make being a governor very rewarding.

Jim Sibbald - Governor

After 17 years commissioned in the British Army, in 2003, I moved to Wantage finding it a friendly and outgoing town. I was privileged to be elected a Town Councillor in 2007 and chosen 5 times as Mayor of Wantage, in 2010-2011 and from 2019 until May 2023 when I left politics. I am a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society, a Fellow of the Institute of Directors, and a Trustee of the Robert Stiles Almhouse in Wantage. My day job is as a Compliance and Security Officer for a multinational software house. I was commissioned as a Deputy Lieutenant of Oxfordshire in August 2023, becoming the Diversity and Inclusion lead for the Oxfordshire Lieutenancy in the Vale of the White Horse. This is my first appointment as a School Governor, and I am looking forward tremendously to engaging with my fellow Governors, the staff, students, and families.

Alan McPherson - Governor

I have lived in Wantage since 1993 and my family also live locally. I am retired from full-time employment, having over 40 years international HR experience primarily in energy companies. I am a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Personnel & Development. I enjoy gardening, have an allotment, and organise the allotment association.

I have been a school governor since January 2016 and have found it to be a rewarding experience. There is always more to do and more to learn. I enjoy the intellectual challenge, the engagement with other governors and school professionals, the opportunity for personal development, and the knowledge that I am helping make a difference to the life chances of young people. I encourage everyone to consider becoming a school governor.