Governors

Please find below details of how our Local Governance Committee is structured, including the names, categories and responsibilities for each Governor.

Mr Justin O'Byrne
Chair of Governors
Co-opted Governor

I am a parent to three children with our eldest currently in Year 2 at Widcombe Infant School and we are hoping for our other two children to attend the school too. Since being a parent at the school, I was struck by the friendliness of both the staff and families who are the school’s community. I am really proud to work on the Local Governance Committee (LGC) of the school. Seeing up close the dedication of the whole team working at the school is impressive and I want to play my part in helping the school to continue to thrive.

I started my professional life as a research scientist at the University of Bath, before moving to the Government’s largest funder of research and innovation. I spent the majority of that time working in international partnerships delivering large scientific infrastructure/instruments. I have been fortunate to be involved in very different projects ranging from work at a lab over 1 km underground at a working mine in Yorkshire, scientific instruments at CERN, to radio telescopes in remote regions of Australia and South Africa. I am currently on secondment to the Department of Science, Innovation and Technology working on a digital research infrastructure for the UK’s science and technology base. My work has brought me into contact with issues around governance, finances, and dealing with lots of different key groups, and I hope to bring this to the LGC.

Dragana Houston 
Vice Chair of Governors
Co-opted Governor

I am a parent of two boys, with the eldest currently at Widcombe Junior School and the youngest at Widcombe Infant School.I feel greatly honoured to be appointed as a Governor. The open culture of the school and the dedication of the staff have continued to impress me from my first visit. What is more, the school’s high standards and the range of learning experiences provided for the children to make them into life-long learners are truly praiseworthy.
My area of expertise is in business strategy, planning and transformation, with a background in data analysis, finance and marketing. I am currently at Bath Spa University and have previously led teams across a range of sectors. As a Governor, I hope to be able to use my expertise and experience to help the school’s future development.

Miss Alison Watts
Head Teacher

Mrs Sophie Turner
Staff Governor

Mrs Jo Shanmugalinga
SEND Governor
Co-opted Governor

I am a civil servant at the Department of Business Energy and Industrial Strategy, responsible for government funding for research and innovation and support for small businesses. I also chair the People and Operations Committee and am the departmental Race Champion. A significant part of my work in government relies on ensuring effective governance in government agencies, so that those organisations can excel in delivering their particular responsibilities.
Originally moving to Bath as a teenager, I went to Ralph Allen myself and now have children at Ralph Allen, Widcombe Juniors and Widcombe Infants. I have seen how all three have benefited from the outstanding and nurturing academic and social foundations provided by the Infant school at the start of their school journey. I am very much looking forward to working with the staff and governors to support the school in its continued success delivering an excellent education to all the children in its care.

Mr Jon Tickner
Disadvantaged Governor
Co-opted Governor

Primarily I’m a strategist and a creative for the media industry. I come up with ideas for content partnerships, develop pitches and consult on marketing and so on, and work on insight projects but I also work as a video producer. Partnerships usually mean content needs to be produced and I also commission cross-platform work, whether video, words or design.  I worked in the media publishing industry for 20 years and went freelance at the start of 2021.
Before I began consulting as a freelance, I joined two others and put together an event called Meanwhile… for Coventry City of Culture. The event was around the topic of illustrated Storytelling and we welcomed a great many families to enjoy street art, workshops and lectures across the weekend.   For this I put the bid together for Arts Council funding, as well as helping pull the logistical elements together, pitching for partnerships, sorting out licenses and so on. 
I have plenty of relations in the education sector, including my partner, a qualified yoga teacher and resilience coach, and a mother-in-law a SEND practitioner. I have a daughter in Year 1 at Widcombe Infant School.

Gareth Kajzer-Hughes
Health and Safety Governor
Parent Governor

I am the parent of two current, and hopefully one future Widcombe Infant School pupils. We live locally and have a strong personal connection and commitment to the well-being of the school and wider community. I have for the last seventeen years served in the British Army and I am currently the Commanding Officer of a Battalion based in Wiltshire. I have experience of leading diverse teams, planning and strategy, operations, and training. I believe passionately in the importance of an excellent education for all children. It is a privilege to become a Governor and to have the opportunity to support the school’s leadership team in delivering the best possible learning experience for all its pupils, helping them to flourish and achieve their individual potential.