Governance

Jane ClaydenChair of Governing Board
Jane Clayden is a CIPD qualified generalist HR administrator for a national company, with experience spanning, tactical and operational HR activities.
Alex GooderhamSafeguarding Governor
Alex Gooderham is a Responsible Individual at New Forest Care where he oversees a number of Residential Care Homes as well as leading Safeguarding Procedures for New Forest Care.
Lisa Mason-HewittGovernor
Lisa Mason-Hewitt is a very experienced Headteacher from a local mainland Junior School.

Her focus is supporting the school with Teaching & Learning and Curriculum Development.

Duncan SmithExecutive Headteacher
Duncan Smith is the Executive Headteacher of New Forest Care Education. He has worked in a range roles across a number of mainstream and SEN schools during his 30 year teaching career, working at New Forest School since 2014.

Duncan was Headteacher of New Forest School from 2017-2022 leading the school to it’s second consecutive OFSTED Outstanding judgement.

Tracey O'ConnorClerk to Governors
Tracey O’Connor is an experienced Clerk to Governors who currently works with a number of local schools in the Waterside area.
Mark FryDirector of Education
Mark Fry is Director of Education at New Forest Care. Mark has a career in Education and Residential Child Care which spans almost 30 years including the Headship of New Forest School from 2012-2017 where he lead the school to its first OFSTED Outstanding judgement.

Mark has also served as a trustee for Social Farms and Gardens and as a trustee for Inspire Learning.

David CrowleyHeadteacher - New Forest School
David Crowley is the current headteacher of New Forest School. Previously David held the position of assistant headteacher at a large, local mainstream secondary school.
Nicola PeaceHeadteacher - Forest Edge School
Nicola Peace is the Headteacher of Forest Edge School holding a PGCE and MAEd in SEN and Inclusion alongside being a Qualified Holistic Integrated Creative Arts Therapist

Nicola is an experienced SEN teacher who specialises in working with young people with autism and within a speech and language setting. She is a qualified sports coach in a wide range of different sports.

Owen BursonHeadteacher - New Forest Alternative Provision
Owen Burson is a qualified teacher with an MSc in Educational Leadership, a Fellow of the Chartered College of Teaching, and a qualified SENDCo.
He is undertaking a doctorate with a research focus on ‘adaptive educational assessment for autistic young people’.

Mark has also served as a trustee for Social Farms and Gardens and as a trustee for Inspire Learning.

Gerogina WesthorpeGovernor
Georgina Westhorpe is a Deputy Head and inclusion manager for an Isle of Wight federation of primary schools.

Chair Of Governors Correspondence Details

The chair of the governing body can be contacted via the published email address or in writing to:

Chair of Governing Body
Forest Edge School
New Forest Care Ltd
West Shore House,
West Street, Hythe,
SO45 6AA