Governing Body
Ley Hill School Governing Body
Ley Hill School's Governing Body is made up of four elements - school staff, parents, local authority representatives and volunteers from the local community.
Governors act as a ‘critical friend’ to the school, asking challenging questions about performance and using their skills and experience to support the school in addressing its development needs. Together, we support the school's staff and pupils and identify priorities for improvement, ensuring decisions have the desired effect and are aligned with the school’s vision.
Governors give their time voluntarily and do so out of their commitment to Ley Hill School, the local community and to educational standards. Governors attend regular meetings and make visits to the school to ensure that successes are celebrated and areas of concern acted upon.
The Governing Body at Ley Hill School follows a circle model, working as a ‘whole team’. It has resolved to conduct all its business as a full Governing Body, and to work collectively without committees. The Governing Body meets six times per year formally, with one of these meetings dedicated solely to a review of the budget in the spring term. The remaining meetings are spread evenly across the year.
The purpose of Ley Hill School governance is to provide confident, strategic leadership and to create robust accountability, oversight and assurance for educational and financial performance. The Ley Hill School Governing Body has three strategic core functions:
Ensuring clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction;
Holding the Headteacher to account for the educational performance of the school and its pupils, and the performance management of staff; and
Overseeing the financial performance of the school and making sure its money is well spent.
In addition, as outlined by the National Governance Association, the Governing Body will ensure the voices of stakeholders are heard.
An agenda for each meeting will include all the tasks which the governing body is required to consider according to the Ley Hill governance calendar of activities and ToR (Terms of Reference). The Governing Body will confirm that all activities arising from the calendar have taken place during the business of the meeting, which will be recorded in the minutes. This means that governors have up to date information regarding the school and can offer timely support and challenge, as well as act should the need arise.
The Ley Hill Governing Body will delegate monitoring activities to ‘monitoring pairs’ or ‘individuals’. This could apply to statutory functions, and/or the priorities of the School Plan. In each case where a function has been delegated there is a statutory duty to report any action or decision to the Governing Body at the next meeting.
In order to ensure effective monitoring, Link Governors are assigned to monitor subjects, in particular those which have been identified as strategic priorities in the School Development Plan (SDP), as well as: whole school Teaching and Learning, Safeguarding, SEND, Health & Safety, and Finance. Governors will report back to the Governing Body, by completing Monitoring Reports and/or by giving verbal feedback at the next meeting which will be minuted.
There is an established Pay Panel, and provision is also made for governors to form committees to deal with Pupil Discipline and Exclusion, Staff Dismissal, Barring of a Parent from the School Premises, Applications for Special Leave, Complaints, Grievances, Pay Appeals and the Headteacher's Performance Review.
Agreed minutes from Governing Body meetings are open to scrutiny and interested parties are welcome to consult the Governing Body either in writing or in person.
Please find below our Terms of Reference and details of how our Governing Body is structured, including the names, categories, responsibilities and terms of appointment for each Governor.
Jenni Denial – Co-Chair - 20 May 2021 – Co-opted Governor
I joined the Governing Board as a Co-Opted Governor in 2021. I have 20 years of experience in teaching at large comprehensive secondary schools in London, beginning my career as a Teacher of Languages, before progressing to Head of Modern Foreign Languages. In 2018, I took on the role of Assistant Headteacher, and I now lead the school’s Quality of Education, Continuing Professional Development, Early Career Teacher development and New Staff Induction programme. In addition to these responsibilities, I oversee and line manage several curriculum and pastoral leaders, and I am also a Designated Safeguarding Lead.
Alison Rainey – Co-Chair - 23 March 2023 - Co-opted Governor
I joined the Governing Board in September 2022 as an Associate Governor and was appointed as a Co-opted Governor in March 2023. With over 20 years of experience in Human Resources, I am a Chartered Fellow of the CIPD and a certified coach. My expertise spans a wide range of HR disciplines, including leadership development, organisational change, and talent management.
I actively participate in a number of mentoring schemes, supporting individuals at various stages of their careers to develop their skills and confidence. Passionate about fostering personal growth and inclusivity, I bring a collaborative approach to my role on the Governing Board.
I am committed to contributing to the school’s success and ensuring that every pupil has the opportunity to thrive in a supportive and inspiring learning environment.
Ellen Gaunt – Vice Chair, Safeguarding - 18 October 2021 - Co-opted Governor
I have extensive experience working in state primary schools, initially in Early Years and later in pastoral care and safeguarding. Currently, I work for Children’s Services in one of the Safeguarding Teams, working directly with vulnerable children and families. My interests include walking and enjoying the local area, spending time with family and friends, dining out, and cycling when the weather permits. I am pleased to contribute to the local community as part of the Governing body supporting the school, having moved to the area from North-West London in early 2021.
Beth Clements – Wellbeing - 16 April 2021 – Parent Governor
My family moved to Chesham from Islington, London, a few years ago. I have run my own Executive Coaching business for the last 10 years, specialising in working with leaders in various sectors, including Financial Services, Banking, Asset Management, Professional Services, Legal, Technology, Retail & E-Commerce, Energy & Utilities, and Renewable Energy. Prior to this, I was a Drama Therapist managing the Creative Therapies Team at Centrepoint, the leading London charity for homeless young people aged 16-25 years old. I managed a caseload of young people experiencing mental health issues, responsible for their wellbeing and helping them reintegrate into society when possible. I look forward to supporting Ley Hill School in its success, as it is a fantastic school.
Louise Valota – Cyber Security/Website - 9 January 2023 - Co-opted Governor
Originally from Harrow, I now live in Chesham Bois with my husband and two young children. I hold a BSc (Hons) in Maths with Economics from Exeter University and a BA (Hons) in French Studies from the University of London, as well as a PGCE in Secondary Mathematics. Although I qualified as a teacher, I spent the first eleven years of my career working in Event Management at the QEII Centre London and then at the Barbican Centre. After starting a family in 2014, I retrained as a childminder in 2015, which I did until 2021, alongside working for a local estate agency. Once my children were in full-time education, I returned to an office environment and now work for a Multi Academy Trust with schools across the Hillingdon borough.
Sheena Gaunt – SEND/Pupil Premium – 20 April 2024 – Co-opted Governor
I became a co-opted Governor at Ley Hill School in April 2024 and hold responsibility for Special Educational Needs (SEND) and Pupil Premium funding, which is aimed at improving the educational outcomes of disadvantaged pupils. I am committed to ensuring that every child receives the support they need to achieve their full potential and thrive in their educational journey.
My career as a teacher spanned several decades, beginning as a science teacher for secondary pupils in a London Borough. After nearly 20 years, I pursued further studies in Psychology, which led me to focus on Special Educational Needs education. I served as the Strategic Leader for SEND in a large Learning Support Department in Buckinghamshire, working with young people with diverse needs, including learning difficulties, mental health challenges, and physical disabilities. My experience also includes advocacy for young people with SEND at both local and national levels, as well as involvement in initial teacher training at a London university. Additionally, I am a qualified educational assessor.
Growing up in a village in Kent and attending a local primary school, I experienced firsthand the importance of a supportive community in fostering a safe and nurturing educational environment. Ley Hill School embodies these values, and I am dedicated to supporting the school and its pupils to help them succeed and grow.
I feel that it is a privilege to be able to serve as a Governor at Ley Hill School and to be able to support the school to be the best that we know it can.
Charley Edwards – H&S – 5 February 2024 – Parent Governor
I have a corporate background in analytics and transformation where I programme managed the delivery of multiple million pound programmes of transformation for the MOD, held accountability for managing all the core central IT systems for easyJet and implemented the way of working for a newly established Tesco support centre.
I made the personal decision to retrain from my corporate consulting background to become a School Business Manager. I was fortunate enough to volunteer at a new free school in Berkshire, working with the teams to set the school operation up for its first intake: valuable experience in understanding how a school operates and the challenges it faces, particularly with COVID.
I joined a Bucks Grammar School as the SENCO Manager which has given me a new take on school operations and the needs of children, something I am personally invested in; supporting all children's needs, including their mental health, is paramount to all children in achieving their potential.
I then moved into Site Operations holding accountability for all Health & Safety requirements and am now a School Business Manager at a local school.
All these roles have helped build my experience and appreciation of all those involved in educating our future generations.
In my spare time I am an avid crossfitter and enjoy spending time with my 2 boys- usually building Lego or cooking!
Taalish Khan – GDPR/Cybersecurity – 17 June 2024 – Co-opted Governor
I am honoured to serve as the Cyber Security Governor at Ley Hill Primary School, contributing to the safeguarding of sensitive information and ensuring compliance with the highest standards of data protection. This role aligns seamlessly with my professional background in business development, customer relations, and strategic leadership across diverse industries.
I am passionate about utilising my expertise to enhance Ley Hill School’s data security framework, ensuring that student, staff, and stakeholder information is handled with care and diligence. As a School Governor, I look forward to collaborating with the board to address emerging challenges, implement robust data protection policies, and support the school’s broader mission of educational excellence.
This role also offers me an opportunity to give back to the community while drawing on my postgraduate degree in social science research methods from UCL's Institute of Education and years of experience managing diverse teams and stakeholders. I am excited to contribute to Ley Hill’s continued success and to ensure a secure and thriving environment for all.
Kuljit Bawa – Finance – 5 February 2024 – Co-opted Governor
I have been the governor responsible for finance since February 2024. I have a background in the technology sector where I started working in 1988. I have held board-level roles responsible with several UK-based software companies where I gained experience in managing budgets.
I am currently Managing Director for the EMEIA region at ActiveOps plc, a developer of AI-powered decision intelligence software used by international banks and insurance companies to improve the performance of their service operations teams.
I am honoured to be able to contribute to the community by using the skills I have obtained in industry to support the school.
I have lived in Ley Hill with my wife and twin boys since 2012. When I am not working, I enjoy reading, watching movies, eating out, and walking my border terrier
Victoria Smythe – 1 September 2024 – Co-opted Governor
I was delighted to have been appointed as a co-opted school governor in December 2024 and am very much looking forward to working collaboratively with fellow governors, school staff, parents and students at Ley Hill School.
My background is publishing, and I have spent 25 years in a variety of managerial and publisher roles at a global news and publishing company based at Canary Wharf. I go into the office once a week but mainly work from home and live just around the corner from the school.
I am looking forward to using my communication, collaboration and management experience to help the school continue to thrive.
Outside of work, I live with my partner Bill and we are slowly renovating a cottage that we bought five years ago. I love reading and creative writing and in my spare time I enjoy travel, music, photography and going on walks in our beautiful local countryside.
James Kendall – Teaching and Learning/Sports Premium – 1 January 2024 – Co-opted Governor
I am delighted to have joined Ley Hill School as a Co-op Governor in September 2024 overseeing Teaching and Learning and Curriculum. Having spent over 11 years working in the education sector as a teacher and senior leader in state and independent schools across the UK, Europe and the Middle East, I am excited to share my skills and experiences to help Ley Hill move from strength to strength.
I believe in the importance of a holistic approach to education and one that fosters a love of learning. This belief has been developed whilst teaching and leading in the International Baccalaureate's Primary Years Programme schools.
As well as holding a PGCE in Primary teaching, I hold a MA in Educational Leadership and Management from the University of London. I am grateful to be able to use these qualifications to support a local community school such as Ley Hill.
Originally from London, I now live in Chesham with my three-year-old son and wife. When I have free time, I enjoy all things sport, in particular watching football and American football and I am developing my DIY skills.
Governor Meeting Attendance 2022-23
Governor attendance record 2022
Contact
If you should like to bring anything to our attention, please do so via the the school office, marking the message for attention of the Governing Body or through our direct email address (chog@leyhill.bucks.sch.uk)