Duncton CofE Junior School
Voluntary controlled primary school in Petworth (West Sussex).
Location
iSchool location from Get Information about Schools. Nearby schools are coloured by phase. Open Map+ for a full-screen map with neighbourhood deprivation (England only).About
Welcome to the Lavington Park Federation. We are formed of two thriving village schools based in Graffham and Duncton, serving a wide catchment area. Our schools are situated in the South Downs National Park and our children spend a considerable amount of time learning outside, either as part of their normal lessons or in Forest School sessions.
We personalise our creative curriculum to ensure that all children reach their potential based on their own curiosity and their interests. Graffham school has a very long history and was founded by the Rector of St Giles in the 1850s.
Graffham and Duncton Schools merged to become the Lavington Park Federation in 2005 and after 100 years as a community school, Graffham School was returned the school to a Church School in April 2014. Bishop of Chichester Martin Warner presided at a special service to mark the occasion.
Our schools are three miles apart and work in conjunction with each other, with the same Headteacher and the same Governing Body. We care about each child and their family, valuing our strong links between home and school, and are always supportive of the needs of families and children both emotionally and academically.
In the school’s own words, from the school website.
Enrichment
1 activityiFound on the school website by WhatSchool. Not verified by Governance Register; the school website is the authority.- Forest School
Awards
2 awardsiFound on the school website by WhatSchool. Not verified by Governance Register; the school website is the authority.- Duke of EdinburghPersonal development
- Healthy SchoolsHealth and wellbeing
Key facts
- URN
- 125980
- Type
- Voluntary controlled school
- Phase
- Primary
- Ages
- 7 to 11
- Gender
- Mixed
- Religious character
- Church of England
- Sixth form
- Does not have a sixth form
- Nursery
- No Nursery Classes
- Local authority
- West Sussex
- Constituency
- Arundel and South Downs
- Setting
- Smaller rural: Further from a major town or city
Governing body (11 current, 8 former)
Maintained school governing body.
Leadership
| Name | Role | How appointed | Term |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mr Roy Barden | Chair of Governors | Appointed by GB/board | since 2026 · until 2029 |
| Mrs Henrietta Junior Aparicio Former | Chair of Governors | Appointed by GB/board | since 2026 · term ended 2026 |
| Mrs Henrietta Aparicio Former | Chair of Governors | Appointed by GB/board | since 2026 · term ended 2026 |
| Mr Giovanni Soffietto Former | Chair of Governors | Appointed by GB/board | since 2023 · term ended 2026 |
Full governing body
| Name | Role | How appointed | Term |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mrs Barbara Smith | Governor | Appointed by GB/board | since 2026 · until 2030 |
| Miss Nell Gresley-Jones | Governor | Appointed by GB/board | since 2026 · until 2030 |
| Mrs Regan Rissik | Governor | Appointed by GB/board | since 2025 · until 2029 |
| Ms Jenny Godfrey | Governor | Elected by school staff | since 2025 · until 2029 |
| Mr Roy Barden | Governor | Appointed by GB/board | since 2025 · until 2029 |
| Headteacher Charles Beckerson | Governor | Ex-officio by virtue of office as headteacher/principal | since 2025 |
| Mr Rob Sherwood | Governor | Elected by parents | since 2024 · until 2028 |
| Vivien Turner | Governor | Appointed by foundation/Trust | since 2023 · until 2027 ends 2027 |
| Revd David Crook | Governor | Appointed by foundation/Trust | since 2023 · until 2027 ends 2027 |
| Mrs Emma Vernon | Governor | Appointed by GB/board | since 2020 · until 2028 |
| Mrs Caroline Smithers Former | Governor | Appointed by GB/board | since 2024 · term ended 2026 |
| Mr Andrew Mills Former | Governor | Appointed by GB/board | since 2023 · term ended 2026 |
| Mr Giovanni Soffietto Former | Governor | Appointed by GB/board | since 2023 · term ended 2026 |
| Mr Giovanni Soffietto Former | Governor | Appointed by GB/board | since 2023 · term ended 2026 |
| Ms Henrietta Aparicio Former | Governor | Elected by parents | since 2022 · term ended 2026 |
Source: Department for Education, Get Information about Schools (governance records, as at 25 October 2026). Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Names are shown as published; there are no addresses or contact details. Current and former are worked out from term end dates when the page loads. Object or ask for removal · Report an issue with this record