Ladbrooke JMI School - Our Governors

The Governing Body (GB) was reconstituted in September 2015 and has 12 members: 3 Parents, 1 LEA, 1 Staff, 1 Head and 6 Co-opted Governors. The Governors are mindful that they need to focus on three core strategic functions: 1. Ensuring clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction 2. Holding the Head Teacher to account for the educational performance of the school and its pupils, and the performance management of staff 3. Overseeing the financial performance of the school and making sure its money is well spent.

The Governor Role

An effective governor is:

Committed to maintaining and improving the school's standards of education
Prepared to commit time and energy to the work of the governing body
Prepared to visit the school during he working day
Able and willing to work harmoniously with others
Prepared to challenge, but in a constructive, not confrontational, manner
An advocate of the school in the wider community
Aware of the need to keep up to date with developments in the world of education
Keen to participate in briefing sessions
Prepared to stand by collective decisions even if s/he held a different point of view

The role of the school governor is to:

Support the school but not uncritically
Explain its policies to parents and the community but not blindly
Watch its standards but with care, humility and an open mind
Help to settle its disputes fairly and conscientiously
Oversee its policies and use of its resources but not in tiresome detail
Attend meetings
Visit the schoolServe on a committee
Be attached to an area of the school's work
Participate in executive decisions of the Governing Body
Undertake training and development
Work within an agreed code of conduct
Represent the school within the local community
Maintain confidentiality as required

BUT

You should do these things as a Governing Body not as an individual governor. And in all such matters you should work with knowledge and understanding of the school.

Who are our Governors?

Clare Brazil

I have been a governor since October 2018. Initially I began as a parent governor But I am now a co-opted governor. I have one daughter, Emma, who has left Ladbrooke and is now at Chancellors and one daughter, Katie, who is currently in Year 6.

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 now a local maths teacher.

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 fourteen 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 time 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 who attended 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 30 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 is in Year 3 and I have beeen a Parent Governor since 2020.

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.

Jon Mackley – Joint Vice Chair of Governors

I have a son who attended Ladbrooke and joined the Governing Body at Ladbrooke School as a Parent Governor in 2017. I am now a Co-opted Governor as well as Vice Chair. Within the role, I lead on Health and Safety and Diversity.

Professionally, I have worked within the Insurance Industry for over 25 years in a number of management and customer facing roles, and I use the skills and experience I have gained in my role as a Co-opted 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. Before retiring, I was a senior executive for one of the UK’s leading providers of software to Local & Central Government, the social housing sector and the Police.

Dr David Swedensky

I attended Ladbrooke JMI School many years ago, before it moved to the current premises. I now have 5 children, all of whom are past or present pupils and by the time my daughter goes to secondary school I will have been a Ladbrooke parent for 20 years! Previously the treasurer for FOLS, I joined the Governing Body as a Parent Governor in 2024.

I studied Mathematics at St Catharine's College, University of Cambridge, earning a First Class MA (Cantab), MMath Distinction and PhD. Since then I have worked in the financial industry as a Quantitative Analyst and Software Engineer for over 20 years.

As a Governor I hope to bring my numeracy and IT skills to the table and add the perspective of an educational layperson to ensure the work done by the Body is understable to all.

Mark Turner – Chair of School Improvement Committee

Before retiring, I was a civil servant for more than 20 years and worked 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.

Governors’ Written Statement of Behaviour Principles

Introduction

Section 88 of the Education and Inspections Act 2006 requires the Governing Body to set the framework of the school’s Behaviour and Discipline Policy by providing a written statement of behaviour principles, taking into account the needs of all pupils.

The purpose of the statement is to advise and guide the Headteacher in drawing up the Behaviour Policy by stating the principles which governors expect to be followed. It follows the guidance issued by the Department for Education in September, 2012, and will be reviewed in line with the Behaviour Policy review, and in response to any changes in legislation and DfE guidance.

Principles

The Governing Body believe that the Behaviour Policy should be underpinned by the schools aims outlined on the school website:

To provide a safe, nurturing and welcoming environment which meets the needs of every child
To provide our children with a stimulating, creative, challenging and inclusive curriculum
To enable our children to take responsibility for their learning and to develop the ability to work independently and cooperatively
To enable our children to develop a sense of citizenship through our agreed school values
To enable our children to develop care for and respect themselves, others and the world around them
To encourage partnerships with parents and the wider community

Statement in Practice

The Behaviour Policy, based on the school aims, should enable and encourage children to develop self-awareness, to feel safe, to have respect for themselves and others and to look after their school and its surroundings, thus allowing our learning community to flourish.

The Governing Body firmly believe that the best way to ensure high standards of behaviour and discipline is to recognise achievement and celebrate success. However they also recognise that on occasions sanctions are necessary to demonstrate that behaviours which disrupt learning or impact on safety are not acceptable. These sanctions are used to express the disapproval of the school community; to deter other pupils from similar behaviour; and to ensure the health and safety of the whole school community. It is recognised that the application of rewards and sanctions must have regard to the individual situation and individual pupil, and that the school is expected to exercise discretion in their use.

The Governors expect the Behaviour Policy to be in accordance with their responsibilities under equality legislation: for example, by making reasonable adjustments in its application to vulnerable pupils. It should also support the school’s commitment to improving outcomes for all pupils, eliminating all forms of discrimination, harassment and bullying, as well as promoting equality of opportunity, the welfare of pupils and good relations across the whole school community.

Contents of the Policy

The Behaviour Policy should include the following:

• The school’s expectations;

• Examples of behaviour to be encouraged;

• Examples of inappropriate and unacceptable behaviour;

• A clear explanation of the systems of rewards and sanctions;

The Governing Body are aware of their statutory duty to provide clear advice and guidance to the Headteacher in respect of the following: teachers’ powers to search, to use reasonable force, and to discipline pupils for misbehaviour outside school.

Whilst recognising that these are extreme measures, to be taken in exceptional circumstances, the Governors advise that for the protection and safety of the whole school community they should be carried out only in accordance with the specific guidance issued by the DfE. It is recommended that training be provided on a regular basis to the staff, to assist them on the rare occasions when it may become necessary to exercise these powers.

This statement has been drawn up by Governors in consultation with staff, parents and pupils. The Governors believe that it is by working together that we will encourage children to reach their full potential, and become independent, contributing and responsible members of society.

Please click on the link below to find access the minutes of the full governing body meetings.

Acadmic year 2024-2025

September 2024

December 2024

March 2025

May 2025

July 2025

Acadmic year 2023-2024