Governors
Background
School governors are one of the country's largest voluntary groups with around 345,000 school governors contributing to strategic development and raising standards of achievement at over 30,000 schools.
School governors are members of their school's governing body which is a "corporate body". A corporate body has a legal identity that is separate from its members and as a result, individual governors are generally protected from personal liability as a result of the governing body's decisions and actions, provided they act honestly, reasonably and in good faith.
Individual governors have no power or right to act on behalf of the governing body except where the whole governing body has delegated a specific function to that individual or where regulations specify that a function is to be exercised in a particular way.
School governors are drawn from different parts of the community, such as parents, the Staff, the Community and other groups. This helps to ensure that the governing body has sufficient diversity of views and experience but does not mean that governors of a particular category "represent" that group on the governing body. For example, Parent Governors do not act as a representative of the parents at the school and do not report back to them.
If you would like to contact the Chair of Governors, you can do this by email: office@woodmansterne.london or by post: Woodmansterne School, Woodmansterne Road, London, SW16 5UQ. Please mark your correspondence 'Private and Confidential - for the attention of Dave Clark: Chair of Governors'.
Who we are
Woodmansterne Governors (ID 1051)
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Dave ClarkChair of Governors and Chair of Salaries Committee
Dave Clark
Having been a teacher for thirty-nine years, including twenty years as a secondary Headteacher, Dave brings a wealth of experience of the education sector. He is confident in areas as diverse as leadership and management, curriculum development, finance and estates. Dave has a particular interest in inclusion and on retirement from teaching was commissioned by a large urban local authority to look into the causes for pupil exclusion and how rates of exclusion could be reduced.
Date of appointment: June 2018
Appointed by: Governing Body (Co-opted)
Committees: Dave is a member of the Attainment and Achievement Committee, the Finance & Resources Committee and Chair of the Salaries Committee.
Business Interests: None
Dave is the Governing Body's Responsible Officer and the link governor for Science. -
Juliet MitchellVice-Chair of Governors & Chair of Finance & Resources Committee
Juliet Mitchell
Juliet lives close to the school and is involved with several local community organisations. She has been on the governing body at Woodmansterne School for many years, and is currently Vice-Chair. She has been with the school through its growth to the current all through school. A career at the bar provided her with an insight into many areas of life. She is keen to foster links to exploit the varied opportunities available to children of all ages and abilities.
Date of appointment: June 2018
Appointed by: Governing Body (Co-opted)
Committees: Juliet is a member of the Pupils, Parent, Staff and Community, the Salaries Committee and the Chair of the Finance and Resources Committee.
Business Interests: None
Juliet is also the link governor for Humanities -
Chris BlackburnChair of Attainment and Achievement Committee
Chris Blackburn
Having worked across various functions in a retail setting, Chris brings his experience in procurement, operations and finance to the board. His experience in managing properties across London has enabled him to support the school as Health and Safety link governor. Chris has always had a strong interest in education and addressing educational disadvantage having worked in a school in the suburbs of Paris.
Date of appointment: June 2019
Appointed by: Governing Body (Co-opted)
Committees: Chris is the Chair of the Attainment and Achievement Committee and a member of the Finance and Resources Committee.
Business Interests: None
Chris is also the link governor for Health and Safety -
Faye AgbalayaCo-Chair of Pupils, Parents, Staff & Community Committee
Faye Agbalaya
Faye has been a governor at Woodmansterne for 8 years and is a parent of two children at the school, one in primary and one in secondary. Faye works as a senior leader in social housing and has experience of managing a wide range of services including complaints, facilities, tenancy management, financial inclusion, debt management and customer services.
Date of appointment: June 2018
Appointed by: Governing Body (Co-opted Parent)
Committees: Faye is the Chair of the Pupils, Parent, Staff & Community Committee and a member of the Finance & Resources Committee.
Business Interests: None
Faye is also the link governor for Safeguarding and E-safety -
Samantha ColesParent Governor (Elected) Co-Chair of Pupils, Parents, Staff & Community Committee
Samantha Coles
Samantha is a parent of Woodmansterne and her son has been at Woodmansterne for all of his education, and has started secondary phase. Samantha has been impressed by the school in particular its person centred approach. As a parent governor, she can bring her extensive experience of teaching in Higher Education, passion for the arts, management & communication skills. Samantha currently holds the role of associate dean of student journey at Chelsea, Camberwell and Wimbledon college (part of university of the arts London).
Samantha works with students transitioning into university and is aware of some of the challenges that face young people within academic learning. Having a passion for arts subjects and having experienced the transformative impact that education and especially working in the arts can have, Samantha hopes to bring this knowledge to her role.Date of appointment: June 2022
Appointed by: Governing Body (Elected)
Committees: Sam is the Chair of the Pupils, Parent, Staff & Community Committee and a member of the Finance & Resources Committee
Business Interests: None
Samantha is also the link governor for Art -
Eve HandParent Governor (elected)
Eve Hand
Eve is from a family of educators and is passionate about State education and it's ability to transform lives. As a lifelong Lambeth resident who attended local state schools, she is very familiar with both private and state schools in the area. She enjoyed a successful early career in the City and as an accomplished linguist, now follows her passion of travel, working as a freelance Travel director. She brings this extensive business experience to her role on the governing body. She has two children at Woodmansterne school and has always been an active member of the PTFA. As one of two Parent Governors, she is there to ensure the parent voice is both represented and heard and is also the link governor for Careers.
Date of appointment: November 2020
Appointed by: Governing Body (Elected)
Committees: Eve is a member of the Pupils, Parent, Staff & Community Committee
Business Interests: None
Eve is also the link governor for Careers and MFL -
Damian MitchelmoreGovernor
Damian Mitchelmore
With 15 years of experience as a history teacher, head of faculty and senior leader in a range of secondary schools in south London, Damian has a strong understanding for the opportunities and challenges of education today. For the last 5 years, Damian has worked as managing director of an education consultancy business called OLEVI. In this role, he acts as a strategic partner and coach, empowering both school and trust leaders across its network of 1,500 schools, to clarify and realise their strategic visions to achieve better outcomes for the staff and students they serve.
Date of appointment: March 2022
Appointed by: Governing Body (Co-opted)
Committees: Damian is a member of the Attainment & Achievement Committee and the Salaries Committee.
Business Interests: None
Damian is also the link governor for Maths -
David N'JaiGovernor
David N'Jai
A Director in a Youth Mentoring Organisation which supports young people and families, David is passionate about the positive futures of the next generation. Having worked in the media industry for a number of years, particularly Journalism, sharing skills of how to use media to articulate effectively with young people is important to David. After working for a number of magazines and newspapers, he decided to start his own Community Interest Company. Having one child in Secondary and another starting Primary in September, he is passionate about the welfare of the school and the community that it serves. For his day job, he works for a Government Organisation in a Leadership position.
Date of appointment: March 2022
Appointed by: Governing Body (Co-opted)
Committees: David is a member of the Pupil, Parent, Staff & Community Committee
Business Interests: None
David is also the link governor for English -
Harry McNeill AdamsGovernor
Harry McNeill Adams
As a former maths teacher who now works in education policy, Harry brings a wide range of personal and professional experience to his role as a governor. He is passionate about tackling educational disadvantage and is particularly interested in inclusion and improving the experiences of pupils with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities. As a long-time resident of Lambeth, Harry is excited to join the Woodmansterne community on its journey to becoming a large all-through school where children can be the best version of themselves.
Date of appointment: February 2023
Appointed by: Governing Body (Co-opted)
Committees: Harry is a member of the Attainment & Achievement Committee
Business Interests: None -
Nicole PisaniGovernor
Nicole Pisani
Nicole Pisani is a chef who has worked at Yotam Ottolenghi's Soho restaurant NOPI and Anna Hansen's The Modern Pantry in London as head chef. Nicole gave up these roles to engage in helping future generations of children eat well and develop healthy food habits. She co-founded the charity, 'Chefs in Schools' to inspire change in school food by freely sharing knowledge of what works well, both in kitchens and classrooms, to schools across the country. Nicole played a key role in getting Chefs in Schools off the ground at Woodmansterne, we have never looked back.
Date of appointment: May 2021
Appointed by: Governing Body (Co-opted)
Committees: Nicole is a member of the Pupils, Parent, Staff & Community Committee
Business Interests: Co-founder and Executive Chef at Chefs in Schools -
Caroline FindlayGovernor
Caroline Findlay
Caroline has been an active member of the school community and governing body at Woodmansterne School for many years. She has been with the school through its growth to the current all through status. Caroline is a swimming instructor and has coached many people (young, old and the amazing Skye!) in our community and works to support people into employment. Caroline champions the importance of sport in developing healthy minds, resilience and in promoting active and healthy lifestyles. Caroline is passionate about inclusion and SEN and works effectively to both challenge and support school leaders in inclusive practice.
Date of appointment: 14/06/2022
Appointed by: Governing Body (Local Authority)
Committees: Caroline is a member of the A&A Committee.
Business Interests: None
Caroline is also the link governor for SEND. -
Desreen GrahamStaff Governor
Desreen Graham
Desreen is a SENDCo at Woodmansterne school and has been working here for 6 years.
Date of appointment: September 2021
Appointed by: Staff
Committees: Desreen is a member of the Attainment and Achievement Committee
Business Interests: None -
Samantha PalinExecutive Head (Ex-Officio)
Samantha Palin
Sam was appointed as Executive Headteacher in April 2016 and has overseen 2 builds at Woodmansterne and its substantial growth to a 2 form entry primary and thriving secondary school. Prior to this, Sam worked at a high-achieving girls' school in Surbiton and had previously held senior positions at several local secondary schools in Wandsworth and Croydon. Sam has also worked as a consultant for Education London supporting school improvements in English at key stage 4.
Date of appointment: April 2016
Appointed by: Governing Body (Ex-Officio)
Committees: Sam is a member of the Finance and Resources Committee, the Salaries Committee and alternates attendance at the Attainment & Achievement Committee and the Pupils, Parents, Staff & Community Committee.
Business Interests: None
Associate Governors
Marie Nassor (Head of School - Secondary)
Katherine Kelly (Head of School - Primary)
Eleanor Donegan (Finance and Facilities Manager)
Andrea Keenoy
Parent Governors
Samantha Coles
Eve Hand
Staff Governor
Dee Graham
Ex-Officio
Samantha Palin (Executive Head)
Responsibilities
The governing body has a range of duties and powers and a general responsibility for the conduct of the school with a view to promoting high standards of educational achievement including setting targets for pupil achievement, managing the school's finances, making sure the curriculum is balanced and broadly based, appointing staff and reviewing staff performance and pay and much more.
The governing body has considerable discretion as to how to discharge its responsibilities but is required to constitute itself in line with the regulations and to appoint a chair and vice chair. The governing body may delegate certain of its responsibilities to certain governors or committees of governors, although in general, it is not compelled to do so.
Categories of Governors
Depending on the category of the school (Community, Foundation, Voluntary Controlled, Voluntary Aided), the governing body will be made up of different numbers and categories of governors. At Woodmansterne, we have governors drawn from the following groups
Parent governors - selected by election (or appointment if insufficient people stand for election) and drawn from parents and carers of children at the school.
Staff governors - selected by election from teaching and support staff paid to work at the school
Co-opted governors - appointed by the governing body to represent community interests and develop the strength of the body
Committees of the Governing Body
The governing body can delegate certain of its responsibilities to committees or individual governors. At Woodmansterne, we have the following committees:
- Achievement and Attainment Committee
- Pupils, Parents, Staff and Community Committee
- Finance and Resources Committee
- Salaries Committee
For a list of who is on each committee click here