Jason Hill
Community Governor 

Chair of Governors

I’m Jason Hill and I was very happy to be appointed as a Community Governor in September 2021.  In this role, I am linked to the ICT and Technology departments and also chair the HR committee.

I originally come from the West Midlands, having gone to school in Worcester and then to Demontfort University in Leicester.  I’ve worked in the Information Technology domain for the last 30 years in various roles from technical to leadership and have spent some of my time living and working in Australia.

I currently work for SUSE Software as Director of Program Delivery.  During my career, I’ve worked in most areas of IT across a range of companies.  Prior to my current role, I have run several large Professional Services teams for two very large software companies, providing support, training and consultancy services to customers across Europe, Middle East and Africa on a commercial basis.  Beyond just technology, this has exposed me to a lot of different competencies such as managing and developing people, legal, financial management, customer relations, communications along with working with different cultures.

From a personal point of view, I moved to Exmouth in 2019, with my wife, three children and two dogs.  In my spare time, I enjoy running, cycling and being out on the water on my paddleboard.
 

Liz Lee
 Governor

I am married with two grown sons who both attended Exmouth Community College and went on to University and are now in full employment.  I work part time for a local business and am a Trustee for two local charities.  I was a Governor at the College for nearly twenty years and retired four years ago after a period of over seventeen years as Chair.

In my spare time I like to keep-fit and have completed four London Marathons and numerous half marathons raising thousands of pounds for both local and national charities.

I feel passionate about comprehensive education and have always supported the College when I was a parent and Governor and continue to keep a keen eye on its development.
 

Daryl Wilkerson
Parent Governor

I have worked in the education sector since 2002, and I am currently an Associate Professor of Exercise Physiology and the Director of Education of the Department of Sport and Health Sciences at the University of Exeter. I have one child who attends the College, and a further two who will attend in the coming years. I am passionate about education and the opportunities it affords our young people. As a Governor, I feel I would be able to draw upon my experience and passion and contribute to the goal of improving the College’s performance.

Claire Fegan
Parent Governor

I am a Parent Governor at Exmouth Community College, having been elected in October 2022.  My eldest son is in Year 7 and my youngest will follow in a few years time.  I have been really impressed with my interactions with the college so far and look forward to being part of its future moving forward.  I am the Link Governor for Happy Days Nursery and the REACH centre.

I gained a BSc in Psychology from the University of Cardiff and then completed a PGCE in primary teaching at Bath Spa.  I was a primary teacher then deputy head in Bath, and became a designated Specialist Leader of Education, supporting other local schools with English, maths and curriculum work.  During this time, I was a staff governor for my school.

In September 2016, I became Head of School at Sidmouth Primary and relocated with my family to Devon.  Since September 2022, I have been a School Improvement Officer for First Federation Trust, working across a family of 20 schools in Devon and Dorset to offer challenge and support to ensure children get the very best education.  It is this experience I hope to bring to the role of governor.  I am currently completing a Masters in Education Leadership and Management.

Margaret Turgoose

Community Governor

I first became a Governor at Exmouth Community College in January 2010; until 2016 as a Parent Governor and then a Community Governor. I was also a Governor at Lympstone Church of England Primary School from 2006 until August 2015 and was Chair from 2012. I was Chair of Governors at ECC from September 2017 until August 2023. Prior to that I chaired the Personnel Committee, the Pay Committee and the Principal’s Performance Management Committee and was the link Governor for Maths and English. I left the Governing Board in the summer of 2023 and joined an Interim Executive Board for a small Federation of Schools in East Devon for the academic year 2023 – 2024. I rejoined the Governing Board at ECC as a Community Governor in October 2024, for this academic year. I will step down from the Board again in July 2025. I am also a Member of Education South West a multi academy trust based primarily in South Devon.

I went to a fairly, large comprehensive school in Newquay in Cornwall and graduated from Southampton University with a degree in Business Economics and Accounting in 1985. I worked for over 20 years in the public sector, primarily for The Post Office, where I was fortunate to have the opportunity to experience a wide range of management roles. Amongst other things, I managed teams of people, was responsible for several million-pound budgets, headed up customer service for Post Office Counters Ltd and led a number of major change programmes. I have also done a lot of work in recruitment, training and performance management. More recently, I worked in a management consultancy which had contracts with Local Authorities in different parts of the country and for twelve years worked with my husband in our own small management consultancy business until we “retired” in 2023.

Both my children went to Exmouth Community College from Years 7 to 13 and I really valued what the College provided them in terms of the range of subjects and opportunities offered and the support they received from the staff who taught them. I was keen to become a Governor in order to provide whatever support I could to help the College continue to thrive within the communi

Amber White
Staff Governor

I was delighted to be appointed to the Board of Governors at Exmouth Community College as a Staff Governor in October, 2023. 

I was previously a student at the College and will eventually be a parent of a year seven student in the September of 2027. I have worked mainly in Pastoral and Behaviour in my four years at the school and have started to expand my skills and knowledge in areas of SEN and student rewards/events.  

I feel I have insight from multiple points of view on a variety of topics and am keen to lend a hand in any way that will collectively, with the other governors, improve the education and wellbeing for the young people of our community. Exmouth is a special place to me, and I wish to help make it a special place for the next generation.  

Sarah Pickering
Parent Governor

I have worked in SEND education for over 25 years and have a drive to improve outcomes for the most disadvantaged learners. I am from the North West of England but have lived in Devon for 14 years: so yes, still a newbie. All three of my children have attended ECC and my youngest intends to stay on for post 16.

My degree is in music and I have a keen interest in all the arts.

Darren Evans
Community Governor

I am really pleased to be appointed as a Governor at Exmouth Community College.  I have worked within Education for over 25 years and my passion for ensuring that every young person has the opportunity to achieve is my main focus.

I started my teaching career as a Physical Education Teacher in West Sussex and swiftly moved to Head of PE along with a pastoral leadership role.  Moving back to Devon 20 years ago I have worked in a number of Colleges in a variety of Teaching and Leadership roles. 

My current role is the Head of Bicton College where I lead the curriculum teams and the day to day operations of a large Further Education College.

In my spare time I like to keep active with my family and am a keen runner, completing many half marathons and also the London Marathon.

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Linda Brown
Member

My family has been directly involved with the College for over three decades. My three children were pupils and in September the first of my grandchildren will join the College. I was a parent, and latterly community governor, for over twenty years. I served as chair of Human Resources for the majority of the time, but also focussing on curriculum. Supporting the transition of the College to Academy status was a busy, but very interesting, period and we all learnt a great deal!

I have been focussing on my family and work for the last few years but now that I have retired from the Civil Service I am delighted to be once again a member of the Governing Board.

I think the young people of Exmouth deserve the best education that we can provide and that is what I have always been committed too.

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Alison Maddaford
Member

A 14 year career in the teaching profession covered teaching in a Secondary Modern, a Grammar School, 2 Polytechnics at degree level and the first woman teacher at Devonport High School for boys in Plymouth. In Okehampton I set up A level Geology and was Head of 6th form (now post 16).

Retiring from teaching to become a Funeral Director I was then elected as a Governor at Okehampton Community College, and as a town councillor the Council representative on Okehampton Primary School Governors.

In funeral service I was part of a team that developed an NVQ and subsequent full educational programme including a degree programme.

In Exmouth I was elected to Exmouth Community College Governors and gave 12 years service mainly on ‘Premises’. I was also a Foundation Governor at St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School in Exmouth.

For some 20 years I have been a panel member for School Admissions Appeals and School Exclusions Appeals for Devon County.

My wide range of experience in education has given a depth of perspective to every challenge the College has faced. This and my experience of running my own business for nearly 30 years will help in the new role as a Member.

And in between times I am a member of the Rotary Club of Exeter Southernhay and play Croquet, (currently Club Chairman) and even find time to garden.

Clare Babbage
Member

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Robert Worrell
Member

Following a 4-year secondment in Hong Kong, my then young family and I moved to Exmouth in 1985 as part of a company reorganisation. Although we expected to stay for only a few years, we have remained and enjoyed living here ever since! Before that time, I had studied electrical engineering at ONC and HNC level, and completed a “sandwich” degree course at Bath University, facilitating a professional career in engineering planning and operations management in the telecommunications and railway industries.

Our three daughters all undertook their secondary education at the Community College, becoming well-rounded young ladies in the process as well as gaining places at their chosen Universities. My wife, Trish, worked in the Adult Education Department of the College for many years, while I was previously a member of the Governing Body for some 14 years, as Chair of Finance. I am delighted to once again have the opportunity to be involved in the life and management of the College.