Governors (ID 1262)

• Stuart Blunden
  Co-Chair of Governors
  Stuart Blunden

  Mr Blunden and his wife have been providing child care in the local area for more than 25 years. He has held seats at the Local Authority on the Schools Forum as a Maintained Primary Governor; served two elected terms upon W.S.C.C. Children’s and Young People’s Services Select Committee as a Parent Governor representative; held the position of Chair of Governors at East Wittering for 14 years; Local Authority Governor at Sidlesham Primary School for 7 years and formerly a member of the Executive Committee of the West Sussex GovernorsAssociation.

• Carolyn Brading
  Co-Chair of Governors
  Carolyn Brading

  Mrs Brading has an extensive background in marketing, communications and event management working for large international companies through to start-up businesses with experience in general management and project management.

  A previous West Sussex Foundation Governor, Mrs Brading is passionate that every child receives a high standard of education and reaches their potential.

  She is passionate about community, creating strong community links. She volunteers for a number of charities, groups and church activities, and is a Church of England Bishops Advisor. She is married to Chris, who is the Priest at St Mary’s in Sidlesham and has one son and Murphy their Great Dane. She loves spending time with her family and enjoys sailing, photography and baking.

• Kerry Blanshard
  Vice Chair of Governors
  Kerry Blanshard

  Mrs Blanshard has worked within Children’s Services for nearly 20 years, working in different local authorities around the country before selling back in West Sussex. She started her working life as a Family Support Worker and is now a Service Manager within West Sussex Children’s Services. Mrs Blanshard thoroughly enjoys her role working alongside children and families and leading a team of around 40 staff who work hard to support positive outcomes for children across the Chichester district. She is a very proud Mum of two girls, one who attends secondary school and another here at Sidlesham Primary School. Mrs Blanshard loves where she lives here in Sidlesham and enjoys exploring the local area with her two labradors.

• Sophia Koiston
  Headteacher
  Sophia Koiston

  Mrs Koiston is our headteacher. She has worked in education since 2011 and joined Sidlesham Primary School in April 2024. Prior to this, she worked as headteacher, deputy headteacher and SENCO in a variety of schools in West Sussex. Outside of school, she enjoys spending time with her husband and three children who all keep her very busy!

• Jess White
  Co-opted Governor
  Jess White

  Mrs White has worked in the events and marketing industry for several years. Before embarking on family life she was a Client Director for a global events and marketing agency. A Chartered Marketer with a Master’s in strategic marketing, Mrs White now works as a freelance consultant for a range of SME’s supporting them with all things marketing and business development. She also co-owns a live events business with her husband, which they founded together and that he runs on a day-to-day basis. Together they have raised several hundreds of thousands of pounds for children’s charities through events. A proud mother of two daughters, and a lover of the sea, if she’s not exercising, or running around after the children, Mrs White can normally be found curled up reading a good book!

• Ben Allen
  Staff Governor
  Ben Allen

  Mr Allen has taught at Sidlesham Primary School for the past five years. During his time here, he has taken on a range of responsibilities. From leading Maths and PE across the school, to being the school’s current Designated Safeguarding Lead. He has a keen love of all things sports and you will often see him running during his lunch break. Father to three small boys, he loves nothing better than going for a swim with the family.

• Laura Finch
  Parent Governor
  Laura Finch

  Mrs Finch has worked in the education sector for the last 16 years as a class teacher and a special educational needs Co-ordinator. She has experience of working alongside governors to develop school aims and visions, developing school curriculums and has a strong knowledge of safeguarding from her role of safeguarding lead. Mrs Finch is mum to twin girls and enjoys spending time with her family with walks at the beach.

• Cordelia Renouf
  Parent Governor
  Cordelia Renouf

  Mrs Renouf is a proud mum to two boys and a part time teacher. She trained at the university of Brighton and has been teaching for 17 years. Mrs Renouf has had experience of teaching both KS1 and KS2 as well as leading a variety of subjects across the curriculum. She grew up between London and West Wittering, where she spent many happy years mucking out stables and driving her horse around the countryside. Since becoming a wife and mother, she enjoys family life with her husband, two children and two yappy little terriers, cycling, walking and exploring the beach. In rare moments of alone time, she can usually be found baking or creating something!

• Scott Collier
  Associate Member of the Governing Body
  Scott Collier

• Caroline Harmer
  Clerk to Governors
  Caroline Harmer