Meet the Governors

Sanjai Desai - Co-opted Governor (Chair of Governors, Resources Committee's member) - Elected 06/11/2019 - 05/11/2023

Julie Carrick - Parent Governor (Vice-chair of Governors, Chair of the Resources Committee) - Elected 12/09/2018 - 11/09/2022

Elaine Le Gros - Headteacher 

Paul Gardiner - Co-Opted Governor - Elected 20/10/2020 - 20/10/2024

Charles Bamana - Parent Governor - Elected 20/10/2020 - 20/10/2024

Governors that have left during the last 12 months:

Muhammad Hussain

Ian Etherton

Steve Birt

Charlotte Hout - staff governor

Clerk to Governors 

To be confirmed

Declaration of Interests

Members of the Governing Body are requested to declare any interests which are pecuniary or non-pecuniary prior to any meetings.

Governors who have declared an interest;

Julie Carrick - declared a non-pecuniary interest. Julie is a trustee and committee member at St Pauls Playgroup, Gloucester.

Governors are required to inform the Governing Body of any relationships with school staff to include spouse, partners or relatives.

Governor Profiles - Sanjai Desai

I am the current chair of governors at Widden school.

Originally from Bolton Sanjai moved to Gloucester in 1992. He is married with 3 children. He owns a consultancy business specialising in business turnaround and transformation as well as stakeholdings in other ventures. He is a Chartered Accountant and read Pure Chemistry at University.

Sanjai was the former Chairperson of the Aspire Sports and Cultural trust and contributes a significant amount of his time to not for profit organisations in the county. A FA Level 2 coach he formed Redmarley Youth football Club in 2014, which has grown to just under 200 players aged 6 to 16. A number of older players coming from Widden, where he continues to mentor them into good citizens.

Sanjai was delighted to accept the opportunity to be a Governor at Widden because of his background which enables him to add value to the various stakeholders and believes it is an opportunity for him to use some t his skill and contacts for the benefit of the school.

He is extremely proud of his mother who was awarded an MBE in the Queens’ birthday honours for services to the NHS and Social care and hopes to mirror some of that good work in the local community in and around Widden.

Governor profiles - Julie Carrick

I am the vice-chair of governors.

I am now in my tenth year as a governor at Widden, and am the Chair of the Resources committee.  I grew up in the Stroud area, and moved to Gloucester in 1999.  I worked for the Library service for 7 years, and the Railway for 8 years (where I met my husband) and am now a stay-at-home mum.  One of my sons attends Gloucester academe, and the youngest has now left Widden and moved on to Marling school in Stroud.  I run the Stay and Play sessions in the Children’s Centre, and have a particular interest in Maths.

Governor Profiles - Clare Thomas

I studied English, and after university worked for the BBC as a television director for many years, and after we moved to Stroud I was as a business manager for engineering companies.  For the past two years I’ve worked at Beaudesert Park School, and I still do some consulting work too.  I am married with two sons, and my husband is a maths teacher.   

I got to know Widden School because of the exchange visits Year 4 have with Beaudesert.  Having always been interested in schools and teaching, being a governor is a great opportunity to get involved with and to contribute to a school – it also means I am constantly reading and learning more!   I am on the Resources Committee where we look at how the business side of the school is run – this includes finances, facilities and staffing.

Governor profiles - Fiona Womersley

I was born and brought up in a prep school, which was founded by my parents and is now run by my brother.  I chose not to become a teacher but then married one and spent 27 years living in schools!  My husband was headmaster of Beaudesert Park in Minchinhampton for 21 years and I worked at the school where I had various roles, the most important of which was to lead the safeguarding.  We retired from Beaudesert in July 2018.

I first met Mr Cooper in 2013 when we set up a link between Beaudesert and Widden.  I was immediately struck by the warm and friendly atmosphere, the purposeful environment, the dedicated staff and the fact that the children are at the heart of everything.  The Year 4s of each school have continued to have an exchange day each year so that the children can experience each other’s environments. 

I was delighted when Mr Cooper asked me if I would help the governing body and my first impressions of the school have never wavered.

Governor profiles - Sally Dillon

I have recently become a co-opted Governor of Widden Primary School and am a member of the Curriculum and Standards Committee. I have worked in Education in Gloucestershire for many years, both as a teacher and Headteacher and, now that I am retired, I am happy to keep that involvement as a Governor.

In getting to know Widden, I have been very impressed by the vibrant nature and enclusive ethos of the school and hope that I can bring my experience to support the school in any way that I can.

I know the Gloucestershire area very well and I have two sons, both now grown up, who went to local schools. I have four grandchildren who bring my husband and me great joy, but also keep us very busy!