Who are our Governors?
Debbie Bedford
I am the Local Education Authority governor for Ladbrooke. I am mum to Phoebe who left Labrooke school this year and to Jasmine in Y5. As well as looking after the girls, I am a part time primary school teacher specialising in working with children who have additional educational needs. I have been on the Governing Body for the past 4 years, initially as a parent governor, and really enjoy supporting our wonderful school. I have recently taken on the role of SEND Governor.
Clare Brazil
I have two daughters at Ladbrooke, Emma in Year 6 and Katie in Year 2 and I became a Parent Governor in October 2018.
I studied at the University of Hertfordshire after leaving school for a BSC (Hons) in Mathematics and Computer Science. After leaving University I went on to run and manage my own Hydraulic Engineering business for nearly ten years. I sold the business in 2011 and worked as an Operations Consultant around the country, however I decided not to return after Katie was born. When Katie started school, I returned to education to obtain my PGCE and I am about to qualify as a Secondary Mathematics Teacher. I have previously volunteered at the school in Y3 and Y6 and currently help with Choir after school on Tuesdays.
Alex Corke - Chair of Resources Committee
I first joined my wife Donna on the Governing Body as a Parent Governor in 2009 and watched our two children thrive during their time at Ladbrooke. Our children first discovered their passion for badminton within the Ladbrooke School hall, and haven’t looked back since.
Now a Co-opted Governor, I am also a former pupil myself, so have links with the school going back many years. I chair the Resources Committee, where I have been able to bring to the role the experience that I have gained in my role as an Audit Manager in a large accounting practice. I have worked with clients in the education sector as they have faced challenges presented to them by new regulations both financial and non financial.
It has been a pleasure to observe the continued progress of the school over the past eight years, both from the perspective of a parent and as a governor.
Donna Corke
Originally from Kent, I grew up with a passion for Art. Aged 18, I studied at Maidstone College of Art before coming to Hertfordshire to study for a degree in Scientific Illustration at Middlesex University. I continued at the University to qualify with a P.G.C.E. in Art and Design. For the next six years I worked in a Stevenage Secondary School as an Art Teacher and Head of Year. I then took a career break to concentrate on family life with my husband Alex and children - Charlie and Lilie. Both children attended Ladbrooke. Whilst they were flourishing here I was given the opportunity to step back into Education. I began with a voluntary assistant role in Year 6 before taking on a Learning Assistant position where I spent the next six years working 1:1 with a child with Autism and a child with ADHD. During this time I completed a Return to Teaching course which enabled me to make the transition from secondary teaching across to primary teaching.
During my past 11 years at Ladbrooke I have taken on several roles: Vice-Chair of FOLS, 1:1 Tutor, Specialist Teacher for Dyslexia and part-time Year 6 Teacher. I continue to widen my knowledge of SEND issues and my knowledge of the Grammar Curriculum has definitely expanded! It is a privilege to be part of a team that is so committed to the well being and education of our children.
Philip Cunningham – Chair of Governing Body
I have a daughter at Ladbrooke School and became a Parent Governor in 2014, later becoming a Co-opted Governor. I became the Chair of the Governing Body in 2015.
I’m a Chartered Civil Engineer specialising in strategic planning, transportation work and project management. I worked for local authorities and in private practise before setting up my own consultancy firm 25 years ago. I endeavour to utilise my analytical and management skills and experience in my role as a school governor.
Ladbrooke School rightly has a very good reputation with fantastic children supported by exceptional staff and parents and carers. It is rewarding to be a small part of the continuing success of the school and to hopefully help the school improve still further for the benefit of all the children that attend the school.
Kevin Dobson
My son Jack joined the school in Reception this year 2020 and I have recently become a Parent Governor.
I have worked in education for nearly twenty five years, teaching for ten years in the state system across a range of primary schools in Ealing and Harrow. I then went on to be Deputy Head at Grimsdell, an Independent pre-preparatory school, part of the Mill Hill School Foundation. I am currently Head of The Hall Junior School (Reception-Year 3) which is part of The Hall School in Hampstead.
I look forward to being able to use my experience to support the school with its continued success and development.
Lesley Gawen – Joint Vice Chair of Governors
My association with Ladbrooke spans over 30 years from 1986 when my first child started in the nursery. In the early years I served on FOLS and from 1995 joined the Board of Governors initially as a parent governor.
Professionally, I qualified as a buyer and have worked within the electricity industry sourcing spares for power stations and as a food buyer for Sainsburys. Prior to retirement, for 10 years I managed a local accountancy office.
I have served as Chair of the Governing Body for many years, and am currently Vice Chair and Safeguarding governor. I am immensely proud to support the Head and staff of this school in my role as governor.
Jon Mackley – Joint Vice Chair of Governors
I have a son in Y5 and joined the Governing Body at Ladbrooke School as a Parent Governor in 2017.
Professionally, I have worked within the Insurance Industry for over 25 years in a number of management and customer facing roles, and I hope to be able to use the skills and experience I have gained in my role as Parent Governor.
Greg Huntley
My children attended Ladbrooke more than a decade ago and my wife, Carol, is a part-time Teaching Assistant at the school. I became a school governor having been on FOLS for a number of years and have remained a governor, as I believe my skills provide an alternative perspective on school management and governance.
In my professional career I started out in the IT industry nearly 40 years ago and am now a senior executive for one of the UK’s leading providers of software to Local & Central Government, the social housing sector and the Police.
Mark Turner – Chair of School Improvement Committee
I have been a civil servant for more than 20 years and currently work at the Business Department working on Industrial Strategy for manufacturing sectors. I began my working life as an undergraduate apprentice engineer at Rolls Royce graduating as a gas turbine engine designer. I’m a Chartered Engineer with a Masters degree in Business Management from Warwick University.
I’m married and live in Potters Bar with four children, two grown up and two at Chancellors School. I have been a Co-opted Governor at Ladbrooke since 2013.
When not working I enjoy gardening and playing the saxophone.