Serving Governors
Rev. Stuart Wood
Chairman (Trust Appointed Governor)
I have worked in Cambridge for 25 years, more recently as the Minister at...
I have worked in Cambridge for 25 years, more recently as the Minister at Barnwell Baptist Church (since 2004). I have been a Governor at Fen Ditton Community Primary School since 2008 and have been the Chair of Governors since September 2019.
I was a founding Trustee of Cambridge and District Youth for Christ, Cambridge Street Pastors and more recently, Abbey People. I am also a Trustee of SeeSaw PreSchool.
I served as Chaplain to Cambridge United Football Club for 12 seasons from 2005 through to 2017, and I am currently the Chaplain to the Cambridge base of the East Anglian Air Ambulance.
I am married with four boys and in my spare time I enjoy kicking a (round) ball around and watching films, when not out driving and walking our two dogs.
Elizabeth Harrison
Vice Chair
I have lived in Horningsea with my family for the last 20 years. Both my...
I have lived in Horningsea with my family for the last 20 years. Both my girls are teenagers now but attended Fen Ditton Primary School from reception to year 6. I am the EAL co-ordinator at a Cambridge school, teaching 4-16 year-olds.
I was on the Fen Ditton Governing Body for 7 years when my children attended the school and was pleased to be asked to re-join. I will always take an interest in developments in education as well as the welfare of my neighbourhood. I love living in this area and am constantly amazed at the community spirit found in Horningsea and Fen Ditton.
Chris Lindley
Parent Governor
I’m a parent governor living in Horningsea with my daughter and French...
I’m a parent governor living in Horningsea with my daughter and French partner. I work for a very small (just five of us!) software company producing DNA sequence analysis software for molecular biologists (DNA, proteins, genes and stuff like that!).
My interests are fairly eclectic. Cycling, boats, computers, music, old sewing machines, gardening and growing veg, walking, canoeing/kayaking and much more.
I joined the LGB back in 2020 but because of the pandemic I never got to meet my fellow governors in person until the middle of 2021.
My responsibilities as a parent governor include managing that vast number of policy documents the school has to keep and also I’m the link governor for the mental health audit that the school underwent at the end of 2021.
Henry James
Trust Appointed Governor
I joined...
I joined the governing body as a Trust Appointed Governor in January 2021.
I currently work for Hill Residential as a Development Manager, this includes managing the Marleigh housing development located within the parish of Fen Ditton. Around ten years ago I was involved in some part time work at Fen Ditton Primary Academy, assisting a visually impaired child during class and also getting involved in delivering P.E. I also have a personal connection to the Academy through my sister Charlotte who currently serves as the Deputy Head. I am delighted to get involved in supporting the Academy with an allocated focus on reviewing and monitoring Early Years.
In my spare time I enjoy watching sport, playing golf, travelling, watching live music and spending time with Otto my Hungarian Vizsla!
Mirriam Ferrer
Trust Appointed Governor (Associate)
I was born in Barcelona (Spain), and have a degree in Molecular Biology. I...
I was born in Barcelona (Spain), and have a degree in Molecular Biology. I also lived for several years in Amsterdam (The Netherlands), where I obtained my PhD (doctorate) degree in Cancer Molecular Biology. I then moved to Cambridge, where I worked as postdoctoral researcher at the MRC-LMB, before leaving academia and moving into industry, to work at Abcam, a life science reagents provider. I worked in business development and then in product management. Since 2017, I have been Head of Product Development at Cambridge Nutraceuticals, a small Cambridge company that sells food supplements.
My job requires excellent attention to detail and process check, as well as project management.
I am also currently the Secretary of the PTFA at Fen Ditton Primary School.
Stuart Hales
Clerk
I am the clerk to the Governing Body having joined the school at the start...
I am the clerk to the Governing Body having joined the school at the start of 2020. I have been a clerk for 15 years working in a number of primary schools around Cambridge and Ely.
I am married with two teenage children and in my spare time enjoy days out with my family, reading and the cinema.
Mark Askew
Headteacher
I began my teaching career in Newham, East London in 1998 after successfully...
I began my teaching career in Newham, East London in 1998 after successfully graduating from St. Martin’s University, Lancaster, where I studied for a Bachelor of Arts, with Hons, in Primary Teaching.
I taught in both mainstream and special schools in London where I gained valuable experience as a subject leader for Maths, ICT, PE, Design & Technology, as well as leading on Teaching and Learning. I then became a Deputy Head of another mainstream school in Waltham Forest, before relocating with my young family to sunny St Ives, Cambridgeshire in 2013.
This new chapter in my career has enabled me to gain further leadership experiences by working in a large primary school in Cambridge and having responsibilities for KS2, Pupil Premium and EAL. I became acting Headteacher at this school before securing the headship at Fen Ditton Community Primary School in April 2016.
Before I went into teaching I previously qualified as an electrician and worked for 7 years in the shipyard in Barrow-In-Furness, working on nuclear submarines. I often look back at fondness of my time in the yard and the journey I have been on to get to where I now find myself.
I feel privileged to be part of Fen Ditton school’s community and I am determined to help the school to become the best it can be. It has a wonderful family, caring ethos with four main school values of Respect, Kindness, Courage and Resilience.
Xavier Castelino
Trust Appointed Governor
I’m a recent grad, and moved to Barnwell with a couple of friends after...
I’m a recent grad, and moved to Barnwell with a couple of friends after uni. I initially joined the Board of Governors as Finance Governor in early 2021, but now mainly have responsibility for monitoring leadership and management at the school.
At university I was treasurer of Just Love Cambridge, a Christian charity aiming to equip students to engage with the world around them. I first came across the Barnwell/Fen Ditton area through some youth work we were involved in, and have been passionate about the area ever since!
Outside of my job as an auditor, you’ll normally find me out on my bike, listening to my range of music playlists or painfully supporting Arsenal.
Simon Wall
Trust Appointed Governor
I joined the governing body as a Trust Appointed Governor in March...
I joined the governing body as a Trust Appointed Governor in March 2020.
I currently work for Cambridge United Community Trust as Community Engagement Manager, so you might see me out and about in Cambridge running with our Jolly Joggers running group or exercising at our Community Bootcamp or playing football with our Premier League Kicks participants and walking footballers. Before working for the Trust I was a Primary School Teacher for over 20 years. I am married with two boys and in my spare time I enjoy playing and watching football, running and watching movies.