Sarah Dibben

I have been Headteacher at Ashley Infants School since 2012 and absolutely love this school! I feel very lucky to be surrounded with a dedicated and hardworking team of people and fantastic children.

It is a pleasure to work with our governing body, a team of people that bring a varied skill set, fresh thinking and a genuine desire to ensure Ashley Infant School is doing its absolute best for the children who attend here. 

In my spare time I enjoy walking my two dogs, spending time with my family, visiting new places and visiting my little beach hut for a cup of tea and a hot dog by the sea!

Amy King

I am the Deputy Headteacher at Ashley infant school and joined the school in 2016. I really enjoy the variety that my role brings, including being a governor. As a school we want to give every child the best possible start to their school life, to develop a love of learning and memories that will stay with them as they move on to Junior school and beyond. When I’m not at school I can be found at the beach, in all seasons and weathers, with my two dogs!  I also have two teenage children to keep me on my toes!

Emma Embleton

Currently, I am a Year 2 class teacher at Ashley Infant School and have been teaching here for nearly 6 years.  I have been a staff governor for just over a year, but at my previous school I was a governor for a further four years.  I really enjoy the role as I feel it helps to make a difference for the children.

I feel very privileged to work at Ashley Infants and enjoy every aspect of teaching and working as part of such a fantastic Ashley team. The most important part of my role here is seeing the children grow and progress, while fostering a love of learning and self-confidence. 

When I’m not at school I really enjoy being a Mum to my three children, going to the beach and visiting new places.

Roxi Prior

I joined the Ashley Infant School governing body in 2021 as a Parent Governor, and am now Chair of Governors. My original motivation for joining the governing body stems from the desire to help and support the school to continue to provide the best possible educational experiences for the children. Being a governor has meant I have developed and built on skills that I didn’t have previously. I feel honoured to be part of such an enthusiastic and dedicated team.

When I have time outside of parenting our 3 young children, my hobbies include baking, exploring the New Forest and attending live music events.

James Williamson

Originally from London, myself and my family moved to the New Forest in 2021 and it has been a fantastic decision! I currently work as a Deputy Headteacher in a school in Southampton and have been working in education for the past 15 years. It’s a real privilege to able to play a part in shaping young people’s futures and there is never a dull moment.

I enjoy being outside and regularly run, play football and cycle as well a fishing and going for walks. My other main hobby is cooking and love nothing more than being in the garden with the BBQ. I have 3 children and two dogs which all keep me very busy. 

Ben Bridle 

I am a new Governor, having joined the team in 2023. I am a parent governor as my eldest son is in Year 1. I wanted to become a Governor as I wanted to play a part in my local community and have an active role in my son’s school along with a passion for all children to have equal opportunity to access to the best in education.

In my day to day work, I am a Senior Leader for Nationwide Building Society, coaching and leading a variety of branch teams in and around the Winchester area. I have been at Nationwide for nearly 15 years, covering a variety of roles, but always in retail, supporting customers with their financial needs, which in today’s climate is so important through the cost of living challenges.

Outside of work, it’s all about our family bubble. My wife and I have three beautiful boys and living here in Ashley enables us to spend as much time as possible either in the Forest or on the beach.

Sam Flynn

I am a new Governor, having joined the team in 2023. I am a parent governor as I have a son in Reception. I also have a daughter at Ashley Junior School.
I wanted to become a governor to give something back to the community that we moved to in 2020 and to become more involved in the school.
I'm a Detective in Dorset Police within the Safeguarding Unit and am extremely passionate about the safeguarding of children.
I have been a Police Officer since 2004 and have worked within the Safeguarding field of policing for the last 8 years.
I live in Ashley and love that we have the beach and forest on our doorstep. I spend as much time there as I can with my family and enjoy finding new places to visit.

Hannah Awesome

I am passionate about giving back to the local community and believe Ashley Infant School plays a crucial role in shaping our children's futures. Influencing their early school lives is important to me, and my heart lies in seeing our school community thrive.

Born profoundly deaf, I am a strong advocate for accessibility and inclusion. I believe that no one’s disability should limit them. Having a niece with Down’s Syndrome has given me first-hand insight into the struggles within education for children with special educational needs (SEN). AIS’s Resourced Provision is vital, and I am committed to ensuring that these children receive an education and experience as excellent as those in mainstream classes. As the link Governor for SEN and resourced provision, this is an area I am particularly invested in.

For the past 18 years, I have worked in the charity sector and currently serve as the Events and Community Fundraising Lead at the National Deaf Children’s Society.

In addition to my professional commitments, I stay busy with local foodbank initiatives and cherish time with my family. I am happily married with two children, one of whom is currently at Ashley Infant School. I love spending time at the beach and being outdoors in general, with camping in bell tents being a family favourite.