Woodmansterne Governors (ID 1051)

• Dave Clark
  Chair 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 Mitchell
  Vice-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 Blackburn
  Chair 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 Agbalaya
  Co-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 Coles
  Parent 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 Hand
  Parent 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 Mitchelmore
  Governor
  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'Jai
  Governor
  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 Adams
  Governor
  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 Pisani
  Governor
  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 Findlay
  Governor
  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 Graham
  Staff 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 Palin
  Executive 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