Governors
The membership of the governing body of Redwood Park Academy is determined by the Terms of Reference.
There are three types of governors:
- Co-opted Governors
- Parent Governors
- Staff Governors
Co-opted and Parent Governors are all volunteers who are not paid. The staff governors are all paid members of staff but do not receive any additional payments in connection with being a governor.
There is also a Clerk to the Governors who arranges and attends meetings and helps with legal and constitutional matters, but cannot vote on any matter at any meeting. This is a paid post.
Statutory information about the current governors can be found in this PDF and information about resignations can be found here.
Minutes from meetings of the Governing Body are available on request.
To contact our Chair of Governors please email:
roisin.gwyer@solentacademiestrust.info
Academy Governing Body
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Luci JohnsonPrincipal
Luci Johnson
A little about myself
I have been teaching for 16 years. I started my career as a PE teacher before joining a Pupil Referral Unit as an Assistant Head Teacher. It was here that I gained a passion for working with young people with additional needs so undertook the National Award for SEN at the University of Chichester and became a SENCO at a large mainstream secondary school. I then moved on to Redwood after relocating from East Sussex to join the team as Assistant Head with responsibility for Learning and Progress for Pupils and Key Stage Four before becoming Principal in 2020.
Hobbies and interests
I am a keen gardener and enjoy spending time at my allotment, where I put to good use tips and tricks, I have learnt from the pupils here at Redwood. I have 2 dogs and enjoy long walks and going away in my camper van surfing
What excites me about my role within the School/Academy
I am very excited that I have been given the opportunity to be Principal at Redwood. I have worked at the school for over 4 years now and firmly believe that the provision for our pupils and families is outstanding. The staff team work very hard to provide pupils with the opportunities to become resilient, mature, and independent young people who are confident to move onto further education, employment, or training when they leave us.
Being part of the larger Academy Trust also provides me and the school with support to be able to continually grow and develop our practice to positively impact on everyone we work with. Within the trust there is a huge wealth of experience and expertise around SEN and the joint approach to working together is that this expertise is shared across the 4 schools and across the City. The joint CPD day is just one example of how beneficial this collaborative practice can be, seeing staff from across all the schools working together strengthens the Trust's vision and values and is therefore at the heart of all the work we do.
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Roisin GwyerChair of Governors
Roisin Gwyer
I've worked for many years in libraries including public and health libraries and, most recently, at the University of Portsmouth. I finishedfull time work in December 2018 and now do occasional work around the country.I'm Pompey born and bred and have lived here for most of my life. I like living in Portsmouth, it's near the sea and a friendly city.I like exercise, especially Zumba, and try to do something active most days. When I sit down I read a lot of crime novels and knit the odd jumper(like Miss Marple!). I enjoy walking, going to the theatre, eating out and spending time with my grandchildren.From what I have seen of Redwood Park I think it is a great school providing excellent opportunities for its pupils. I enjoy attending school events and meetingparents and pupils. I hope the governing body can help Redwood continue to improve and build on what has been achieved so far. -
Kacper BochenCo-Opted Governor
Kacper Bochen
I am currently employed by IBM, and I carry out a role of Delivery Project Executive. I regularly travel around the country as one of my clients is based in Scotland.
I live in Portsmouth, and I have moved to the area in 2013 when I started University here. When I first moved here I never thought that Portsmouth may become my permanent home, and here I am seven years on!
My main hobby is baking and sharing the bakes with friends! With the high number of travel hours also comes great opportunity for reading, I have certainly increased the number of thrillers I have read over the past year.
I am really looking forward to getting involved in the local community and giving something back. I understand that there is constant change and challenges within the education sector and I am hoping that I will be able to help overcome some of those.
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Stephen CurtisGovernor
Stephen Curtis
I am a Bid Manager with Portsmouth City Council, this involves securing funding from central government to support strategic projects in the city. I have spent much of my career before that working in care services for adults with a learning disability within the NHS and charities like Mencap and Scope.
I live in Eastleigh with my wife and at weekends we offer respite foster care for children with special educational needs. We have four children and one grandson.I love watching live music, going to the football and walking my two dogs. I also am a Trustee for Havant Housing Association.I became aware of Redwood through pupils that have come to us for respite care. I saw for myself the achievements of pupils and the fantastic work the staff do to support them. I decided that I wanted to give my time to support. I aim to bring my experience as a foster carer and my knowledge around strategy and external funding to the role of Governor. -
Rosemary DeanGovernor
Rosemary Dean
I have been involved in secondary education throughout my career, working in a number of local schools. I became Head of English and latterly an Assistant Vice Principal. I also worked for Portsmouth City Council as an English Advisor and this role gave me the privilege of working with most of Portsmouth's secondary schools. After leaving teaching I worked for The Girls' Network, a charity supporting girls from less advantaged backgrounds. I currently do a small amount of training for PGCE English students from Portsmouth University.I have previously been a staff governor at Horndean School and a parent governor of my daughters' infant school. I understand the importance of this role in helping schools to maintain and improve standards and hope I can be of support to the school.I enjoy working on my allotment, walking and cycling as well as reading and spending time with family and friends.Both of my daughters attended our local secondary school and I have always been involved in education, both as a parent and as a professional.I am very much looking forward to my role as a governor for Redwood School and discovering more about specialist education. -
Kate BradleyParent Governor
Kate Bradley
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Courtney FrenchStaff Governor
Courtney French
I am a class teacher at Redwood Park Academy and there is no job I would rather be doing. My practice is ever-changing, for it is shaped by each and every young person I am luckily enough to meet and teach.
Giving young people a voice is a passion of mine. Previously, I have worked on youth programs which enabled young people to engage in social action. This involved helping young people to uncover social issues they felt strongly about but give them the confidence to be heard and to do something about it. I have also been a part of a Looked After Children's team, to ensure authorities hear the lived experiences of those who have been in the care system. This has then formed decisions and policies, to develop practices to give Looked After Children positive experiences.
I strongly believe that our young people are great individual's and deserve the best education from us. I have learned a lot since working for Solent Academy Trust and at Redwood Park, but I look forward to bring fresh, new ideas to the school. I seek to ensure we continue to offer outstanding educational experiences to our young people so they are happy healthy individuals who are fully prepared for a successful adulthood.
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Katie JasperParent Governor
Katie Jasper
While unemployed, I am a primary carer for my disabled mother as well as for my daughter who attends Redwood.
Prior to becoming a parent, my employment history mostly consisted of working as a Security Guard in aspects of retail, reception and in the RN Dockyard.
Hobbies and interests include: music, reading, board games, particularly ones that rely on team work and social deduction.
I enjoy being able to meet and work with others towards a common goal, make suggestions that could make a difference, be it a tool for staff (ie websites that can help with things like remote learning after the past year), or other tricks I've found that have worked for my daughter.
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Stephen HartridgeStaff Governor
Stephen Hartridge
I have been a TA in Redwood Park Academy since 2019. I have
previously worked in other SEND schools and Portsmouth City Council social services. I have a child with SEND.
I am interested in the development opportunities for TAs in Redwood Park. There is a wealth of talent and skill among the staff group that makes the TA team a valuable resource. I am also interested in the development of an engaging and relevant curriculum that prepared children for life beyond Redwood Park.