Ridgeway School Governing Body 2024-2025

The Governing Body at Ridgeway School has always played a supportive and committed role, ensuring that the school meets all of its responsibilities. These include:

• A strategic role setting the general direction of the school, looking at how it should develop and grow
• A critical friend, working with the Headteacher and other senior staff to provide support and challenge.
• Accountability- monitoring the financial progress of the school and approving annual budgets.

There are 6 members of the governing body (plus the Headteacher) who attend 6 meetings throughout the year. Meetings are focused on both business and strategy and allow members to work together on current issues as well as developing new policies for the future. There is a wide variety of skills amongst the governors who include parents, staff, community and co-opted members.

One of the most rewarding aspects of a governor’s role is to visit the school during the day to monitor the work of the school and observe the children and work alongside the staff.

The Governing Body welcomes people from all backgrounds.  At Ridgeway the Governing Body is always seeking ways to increase its membership from people of a more diverse background in order to bring greater depth and challenge to governing body debates.

After graduating from Durham University and Imperial College, London, I worked in the Meteorological Office for about 8 years before embarking on a career in education. I taught Physics and Electronics and held various management and administrative roles at schools within Bedfordshire.

In my spare time I enjoy keeping fit at a local gym and by playing squash. I have been a member of Bedford Film Society for a number of years.

Having retired in August 2013, I joined Ridgeway School as a Community Governor, hoping to bring my educational experience into a different setting and to help take the school forward. 

Term of Office: September 2021-September 2025

Responsibility:Premises, Finance, Health & Safety and Training

Pecuniary Interests: None 

Having started my professional career in Education, teaching Science and Maths in both Cape Town and Hertfordshire. I subsequently move into more business focused roles in the pharmaceutical industry and am currently a consultant within a global consulting firm; supporting management teams to defined and deliver their business strategies.

I have lived in Bedfordshire since 2012 and have been fortunate to be involved with the Bedford Blues and complete a master’s in business administration at Cranfield university.

As a governor, I look forward to supporting Ridgeway schools’ leadership team to continue delivering and growing the value the school delivers to the pupils, parents, and the community.

On a personal front, you may find me out and about walking our Great Dane, Odin with my partner Genna or cycling in the Bedfordshire countryside.

Term of Office: July 2022 - July 2026

Responsibility: Curriculum

Pecuniary Interests: None 

Having been a teacher and part of the Senior Leadership team in my most recent roles, I have experienced first-hand the difference an interested and supportive Governing Body can make. 

I have a teaching degree in PE & Business from Brighton University.  I taught in Secondary schools for 20 years, was involved in the School Sports Coordinator Programme for Primary schools and I am currently running our family business.  We have been part of the Ridgeway family for 5 years and it is now time to offer my support more formally. 

I believe in the schools aims and ethos, and wish to be part of the group of likeminded people who will be supportive, critical and challenging in order to ensure they School Leadership Team achieve all they set out to do.   

I love being out and about. I was a lacrosse player, I still coach the juniors weekly, but can most often be found walking our dog in my spare time!

Term of Service: November 2020 - July 2024

Responsibility: Pay Review, Safeguarding, Curriculum and Headteacher Appraisal

Pecuniary Interests: None 

Caroline Watson Co-Opted Governor

After living in Sweden for a few years, my family moved to Bedfordshire, and we have been here ever since. I studied Law and Criminology and currently studying for AAT.  I work for the Government in International Human Resources supporting COVID-19 vaccination deliveries and analysis but have previously worked in Government Finance. I am a Mental Health First Aider and training in Trauma Risk Management. 

I have many members of my family who are teachers, headteachers or work in schools around the country. They would share their experience of School Governors and the importance of them. I wanted to bring my knowledge and skills to help the school, teachers and students achieve their goals.

In my spare time, I am either swimming, at the cinema or walking our Puggle Bruno with my Fiancé Jack.

Term of Service: September 2022 - September 2026

Responsibility: Premises, Finance, Health & Safety and Personnel

Pecuniary Interests: None 

Babita Khetriwal Parent Governor

Term of Service: September 2023 - September 2027

Pecuniary Interests: None 

Jon Ross Co-opted Governor

I bring over 30 years of experience in the publishing and advertising industry, having served as Managing Director and CEO in diverse global markets, including the UK, Germany, France, China, and the USA. Currently, I lead Fallow Associates, a growth acceleration consultancy dedicated to helping organisations achieve their potential.

As a governor, I am excited to support Ridgeway School’s leadership team in enhancing and expanding the value the school provides to its pupils, parents, and the wider community, whilst developing my own school governance expertise.

Since 2008, I have called Bedford home, relocating from Hong Kong with my wife and four children. In my spare time, I enjoy outdoor activities, all things sports-related, and nurturing my ambition of completing one more marathon.

Term of Service: September 2024 - September 2028

Responsibilities:  Careers

Pecuniary Interests: None