Governors mission statement

It is our job to support and challenge the school in its aim to maximise its pupils’ potential in all subjects as well as to prepare them with the skills they will need to cope with a fast-changing and complex future. 

Aims: to assist and provide support to the school in its mission to be even more than an outstanding school, with an equally aspirational governing body. To work closely with and be a ‘critical friend’ to the Senior Leadership Team

Equality statement: 

To celebrate our cultural diversity and an understanding of all the groups within it. We see all learners and their parents and carers as of equal value: • whether or not they are disabled • whatever their ethnicity, culture, national origin or national status • whatever their gender and gender identity • whatever their religious or non-religious affiliation or faith background • whatever their sexual identity. 

Linking Governors to subject areas. Governors are linked to specific subject areas. We believe this is an excellent way of giving individual governors a regular opportunity of seeing the ‘school in action’ while expanding their awareness and knowledge of each important area in greater detail. 

Meet the Governors

"Meet the Governors" sessions run during parent evenings. They are an opportunity to chat to governors as well as to raise any issues, positives or ideas parents might have. All issues raised are reported back to the head or governing board as appropriate for discussion and action where necessary.

Schools Financial Benchmarking

https://schools-financial-benchmarking.service.gov.uk/

Governor Biographies:

Debbie Lawrence (Chair of Governors)

Debbie is a Parent Governor and has been on the board since her son James started in Reception in 2015. She has filled roles as chair of the Finance and Premises meeting, vice-chair to the FGB (Full Governing Board) and was recently elected as Chair. She is also the Safeguarding Governor. Debbie has done a fair amount of fund raising for the school in her time on the PTA organising 2 Summer Fairs and selling Christmas Trees.

Debbie works full time for Refinitiv (previously ThomsonReuters) as their Chief Data Officer and brings her strong Financial, Commercial and communication background to the Governing Board.

Sarah Jones

Sarah has been Headteacher at Sheringdale since 2015. Previously she was a Headteacher for 5 years at a school in North Kensington where she also chaired the Headteacher’s Consultative. She has served as an Ofsted Inspector since 2015. During her teaching career she has taught from Nursery to Year 6 and in a variety of leadership roles. Sarah is passionate about excellence in Public Services and providing a high quality, inclusive, creative and caring education for all children.

Anna Peace

Anna qualified as a lawyer at Clifford Chance and has since moved to an in-house legal role at the England and Wales Cricket Board. Passionate about paving the way for a fairer education system so that all children have the best chance at a bright future, she joined the Sheringdale Governing Board in September 2018 to bring her experience in policy and regulation into the education sector alongside her legal career.

Jason Ofori

Jason has worked in education for 10 years. He has fulfilled the roles of SEN 1:1 assistant, teaching assistant, class teacher, Assistant Headteacher and Deputy Headteacher. Jason is extremely passionate about closing the gap between the most disadvantaged children and is a keen advocate for all students receiving high quality education. Jason's biggest desire is for every child to be equipped with the necessary tools to be socially mobile irrespective of their socio-economic background.  

Karen Thomas

Karen was elected Parent Governor in 2018. Her daughter started Sheringdale in Reception and is now in Year 6.  Karen is passionate about quality, diverse, inclusive education for all. She believes schools should be a happy place where every child has an equal opportunity for their skills and talents to be discovered, encouraged and nurtured.  A marketing professional for 20 years, Karen has worked for large well-known UK brands and small independent companies. She is creative, commercial and analytical.  She brings her academic experience, corporate skills and knowledge from extensive reading about child development and psychology, trauma, parenting and education to the Governing Board.

Jo Robinson

Jo has been a teacher for over 25 years and followed two previous generations into education.  She has had the chance to teach all year groups from Reception to Year 6 and has always been passionate about providing the best possible education for the children.  She believes in giving every child the opportunity to learn and succeed in a creative, safe and stimulating environment.  She has been responsible for various subject areas and leadership roles over the years and is very focussed on raising the children’s awareness of sustainability and the environment.  Her hope is that we can give the children the knowledge and enthusiasm to look after the planet for future generations.

Dylan Bourguignon

Having been fortunate to benefit from the power of education, Dylan is passionate about the ensuring everyone has those same opportunities. He has been school governor in primary schools since 2003 and in his previous school he took on several roles including Chairing the Finance Committee and supporting transitions (doubling pupil intake and from Local Authority school to independent Academy). When he moved to Southfields he was keen to support a local primary school and was thrilled to be co-opted by Sheringdale in 2018.
Dylan is founder of SO-SURE, an insurance provider focused on creating win-win solutions for consumers. Prior, he was a strategy consultant and private equity investor. When not working, he is found on tennis courts or with his wife and daughter.

Duncan Roberts

Duncan Roberts has lived in Southfields for over 30 years. He is married and has two children, one who is in Yr 6 and one who has just started Yr 8: both attend local Wandsworth schools.

Duncan has worked in education all his life and he was the Headteacher of Honeywell Junior School for over 20 years before he retired in January 2020. The Honeywell schools, both Infant and Juniors, worked with Sheringdale on some projects in the past and Duncan is therefore aware of what a highly successful and highly regarded school Sheringdale School is. He hopes to be able to use his experience in education to help and support the school and Duncan will use his skills in educational management, the curriculum and teaching and learning to develop Sheringdale and prepare it for future challenges. Duncan also anticipates that as a local resident he will be able to support the school in other ways.

Duncan enjoys sport, films, music and he monitors current affairs with interest. He has stated that he relishes “family time” and he is keen for his two boys to be active and discerning members of London’s vibrant community.

Duncan has stated that he excited to become a member of the Governors and he looks forward to meeting the wider school community in the near future.

Tom McElroy 

Tom is a chartered accountant working in the financial services sector. 

Having been brought up in a family of teachers, he has observed some of the challenges faced in education.

He joined the Governing Board in 2017 with the aim of applying some of his financial experience to benefit the school.

Tom is eager to help ensure the pupils of Sheringdale have the best foundation for success regardless of their background.

 

Governors who have served over the past 12 months

Governing Board meeting dates 2020/21

FGB:

Finance and Resources Committee

11th Nov 2020

CSS Committee

Pay Committee