Governors

Excalibur Academies Trust is committed to ensuring that all schools within the Trust maintain their individuality whilst benefiting from the support of being part of a multi academy trust. Every school has a Local Academy Committee, governors are volunteers from the parent body and local community. The purpose of the the Academy Committee is to support and challenge the Principal to ensure that the best outcome is achieved for every child.

The focus of the Academy Committee is on the standard and quality of education, the welfare, behaviour and attendance of students and the relationship between the academy and the local community. Parent governors are elected by and from the parent community, staff governors are elected by their colleagues, community governors are local people appointed by the Academy Committee and foundation governors appointed in conjunction with the church.

Meet the Governors

Ruth Honey, Chair of Governors, Foundation Governor

I have been a governor at Lambourn school since 2012 and seen many  changes at the school including being involved in its transition to an academy. I have been Chair since October 2018. I am a foundation governor which means I have a special responsibility for ensuring the Christian distinctiveness of the school. I am involved in a number of activities at St Michael and All Angels.

I have lived in Lambourn for about 14 years and run a family stud farm next to the school. We breed, train and compete event horses.

I have a history degree from Oxford and a MBA from Rochester University, New York. My employment background culminated in being legal director and senior corporate lawyer for a multinational company selling consumer goods and pharmaceuticals. This meant I was involved in strategic decision making across many parts of the business as well as strictly legal matters. I also had the opportunity to live and work abroad in Europe and the USA.

I have 3 grown up children.  All my children have had to overcome the challenge of dyslexia in varying degrees so I have witnessed various strategies for this at close quarters. I have seen education in action in a number of different locations and systems. One of my children received their entire primary education in Montessori schools.

I am passionate about children learning to love to learn and that Lambourn should be a place that unlocks each child’s full potential and gives them wings.

If you would like to contact Mrs Honey please email her on [email protected]


Ross Pengilly - governor

Ross Pengilly – Parent Governor

In my professional career I work as a UK Strategic Account Manager in the Car Rental Industry.

My current role, as a national strategic account manager, has given me the experience required to influence and make important strategic decisions so I was excited to be given the opportunity to help set the school’s vision, ethos and strategic direction.  Prior to this I was a manager for six years in which time I developed very strong operational and development skills which I will use to benefit the school, especially in my Health and Safety role as a governor.

I am involved in the local community as well as local clubs, such as Hungerford Rugby club. My family will be attending the school for well over the next ten years, I therefore have a strong interest in helping to improve the performance of the school.

Alison Webster – Community Governor 

I have lived locally in Upper Lambourn for the past 15 years and have been in the teaching profession for almost 30 years. I have taught across the primary range prior to my current role and am currently in my second headship at Thatcham Park CofE Primary School.

I am passionate about all schools providing the best possible provision for all, developing the ‘whole child’, and welcome the opportunity to be part of the strategic governance of my local school to help contribute to ensuring all young people are ready and prepared for the next stage in their education whilst fulfilling their extraordinary potential.

In between the demands of working, I enjoy time as a family, enjoying the outdoors, holidays and have also been known to ‘dabble’ in up-cycling!

Working in and around schools all of my life, I have an interest in school governance and have joined the Lambourn Local Academy Committee to see what I may bring to the team from my skills and experiences.