School Governors
The Goldfinch Local Governing Board has an essential role to play in working with the Trust Board to lead the school. The Governors promote the school’s values and help set the strategic direction. The Governors give their time, expertise and varied perspectives to the challenges the school faces.
Together with the Trust and the school leadership team, they aim to ensure that the school works hard to provide the best all-round education for every child. Goldfinch’s key values of Respect, Responsibility, Resourcefulness, Resilience and Reflection are as relevant to the members of Local Governing Board as they are to the children and staff.
For details about the Trust's Governance, please view the website HERE
The Annual General Meeting of the Dunraven Educational Trust is being held on Friday 13 December 2024 at 8.00am. The notice, agenda and how to register for the AGM will be available on the Trust's website here in the Autumn term.
One vacancy remains on the LGB for a second Parent Governor. To find out more about the role of the Governor, either for Goldfinch or one of our Trust's schools, please contact governance@det.org.uk
Meeting minutes and agendas are available by request. If you wish to request minutes for the Local Governing Board, please contact the Clerk by email governance@det.org.uk
The Role of the Local Governing Board
Goldfinch is proud to have joined the Dunraven Educational Trust in January 2019. The Trust is run by a Board of Trustees, who appoint the members of the school’s Local Governing Board. Working closely together, the Board of Trustees and the Local Governing Board have three core responsibilities:
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Ensuring clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction
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Holding the Headteacher to account for the educational performance of the school and its pupils
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Overseeing the financial performance of the school and making sure its money is well spent
The Headteacher is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the school.
Meet the Governors
Our Governors are:
Kate Bower
Chair of LGB and Link responsibility for Special Educational Needs and Disabilities
Kate trained as a Chartered Town Planner and following a successful career in planning, moved into the world of political PR, specialising in Property matters. Following a career break to raise her two children, Kate uses her experience and skills to assist a number of not-for-profit and charitable organisations including London First, Orchid Project, HomeStart and is an ambassador for HFT, a charity supporting people with learning disabilities. Kate was recently appointed to the Magistracy. She is a former Governor of a secondary school in Hertfordshire. She is very pleased to be supporting Goldfinch, in particular the children with SEN.
Term of office: April 2023 - April 2027*
David Burgess
Vice-Chair of LGB
David is the Publishing Director of The Legal 500, the largest leading law firm referral research group, which now spans 180 countries. He was recently named one of the world’s “Global leaders and influencers in legal business”, and sits on the board of the Association of Corporate Counsel Alliance in Washington DC. He travels extensively across the Americas, Asia Pacific and Europe speaking at conferences, and providing bespoke training for law firms and general counsel. David previously served as a governor at a Lambeth primary school for five years. He is committed to helping to provide the best school experience for children at Goldfinch and across the Dunraven Educational Trust.
Term of office: April 2023 - April 2027*
Jennifer Ledsham
Term of office: February 2023 - February 2027
Hamimah Semambo
Link responsibility for Health and Safety
Hamimah is a qualified nurse with over 10 years experience working in the NHS supporting the health and wellbeing of children and their families. She is passionate about equality for all and bridging the gap between poor health and poverty. Hamimah is committed to supporting the holistic wellbeing of children and she will bring her knowledge and enthusiasm of health to contribute in shaping the learning experience for the children at Goldfinch.
Term of office: April 2024 - April 2027*
Bob Soni
Term of office: January 2023 - January 2027
Ellie Roberts
Staff Governor
Ellie has worked at Goldfinch as the Year Six class teacher for three years. Before working at Goldfinch, she worked as a class teacher in a primary school in Penge, South London. Ellie has experience as the Science Lead at Goldfinch and has recently been appointed as the Maths Lead. Already working in the school, she has first-hand experience of the education system and knowlede of teaching and learning, and is committed to ensuring every hild receives the best education.
Term of office: June 2021 - June 2025
Charlotte McDermott
Parent Governor
Charlotte was appointed unopposed to the role of Parent Governor in March 2022. Charlotte is currently Vice-Chair of Friends of Goldfinch PTA.
Term of office: March 2022 - March 2026
Jacinta Waters
Link responsibility for Safeguarding
Term of office: May 2023 - May 2027
*denotes second term of office
Governors who have left in the last 12 months:
None to note.
We have a vacancy for a second parent governor. Any parents interested in finding out more about the role, please contact Kylie Burgess at governance@det.org.uk
