Governors

Welcome to our Governors’ section. 

Please find below details of how our Governing body is structured, including the names, categories, responsibilities and terms of appointment for each Governor.

 

Governors meet at least 6 times a year and dates are available from the school office.

 

Our Governors

The Governing Body is responsible for the long-term strategic direction of the school. It has statutory responsibilities that include agreeing the school budget and expenditure and ensuring key policies are in place. Governors do not get involved in the day-to-day running of the school. The governor’s role is to ask challenging questions and provide support in those areas in which they have particular expertise. In order to be effective in their role, governors are expected to attend training sessions and read all relevant documentation.

 

Governors at Brooklands fulfil this role through two separate focuses of Resources and School Improvement monitoring, they are chaired, strategic meetings and these committees currently meet termly together to:

 

• look after the termly expenditure, agree major financial outlays, monitor the budget profile and monthly spending; to review all areas of site maintenance and development, including security, health and safety. To sit on interview panels, agree new staff appointments, agree staff changes and amendments, review job descriptions, salaries, performance appraisal.
• review and agree school policies and school improvement priorities, assessment data, learning and progress of pupils and parental involvement.

 

Governors meet twice a term for full governing body meetings to support the strategic work of the school.    

 

The Governing Body of Brookland Junior School is made up of parents, staff, local authority and community representatives. As a rule, Governors serve for terms of four years on the Governing Body. Parent Governors are elected every four years by other parents. They bring the perspective of a parent to the Governing Body, but they speak and act as individuals.

 

If you wish to contact a Governor, please speak to the Headteacher. A Governor is usually present on school Open Evenings.

 

For further general information on the role and expectations of school governors visit the National Governors’ Association website www.nga.org.uk

 

Meet the Governors -

 

Mrs Mandeep Barton (Headteacher)

I have worked in primary education for 13 years after successfully completing my Law degree and PGCE. I started working at Brookland Junior School in September 2019. Prior to this, I worked in another local primary school. I started there as an NQT and left 9 years later after leading lower key stage two and achieving the SENDCo Award during my time as Inclusion Leader and a Senior Leader. Since being at Brookland, I have taught Year 6 and 3 and been Assistant Headteacher leading curriculum and assessment, all whilst being in the middle of a global pandemic. I am now the new Headteacher at Brookland and am thoroughly enjoying being a part of the Brookland community and am very excited to see the positive direction in which the school is going.

 

LEA Governor 

Chair of Governors

Mrs Lucy Direnzo- Term of office 27.11.19-26.11.23

Role - Chair of Resources and School Improvement Committee

I have been a governor of the school since 2015. I have four boys, two are currently going through the school, and two have left onto secondary school. I enjoy my role as a governor supporting the school and parents in achieving the very best for our children.

 

Co-opted Governors

Mr James Stephens - Term of office 21.10.2019 - 20.10.23

I am a Chartered Accountant, training and qualifying with KPMG. Before that I worked in the Banking sector and now in the finance department within a large retailer. I believe my background and experience will help the school make effective financial decisions. I am a proud Daddy to little Arthur and in my spare time I enjoy playing football and board games!

 

Mrs Alex Campbell - Term of office 15.05.2019 - 14.05.23

I joined the governing body at Brookland in the Autumn of 2019.  In addition to being a proud mum of two children, Isla and Albie, I am an English Teacher and Assistant Head (Professional Development) at a Secondary School in Hertfordshire.  I have been a teacher of English for approximately 15 years now and have taught in a range of different contexts: a state school on the outskirts of Bristol; an International School in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; and Independent schools in Bath and Hertford. I am heavily involved in facilitating teacher training in my current school, and am also responsible for Early Career Teachers. I therefore feel that I have lots of experience to bring to my role as Governor at Brookland.

 

Joy Liiv - Term of office 19.05.2022- 18.05.26

I am a semi-retired chemistry teacher who now has some spare time. I volunteered for a governor post at Brookland Junior School because all three of my children attended the school during the 1990’s and enjoyed their time there. I saw some local publicity about the recent Ofsted report and a request for new governors and here we are. I think, also, that I have the life and professional experience to having something positive to offer the governing body and look forward to helping the school move forward in a positive manner.

 

Parent Governors

Amy Claydon (Vice Chair of Governors) - Term of office 01.09.2021 - 31.08.25

Maria Vaciago - Term of office 19.05.2022 - 18.05.26

 

Staff Governor

Mrs Caroline Abraham (Senior Leader) - Term of Office 01.10.20 - 29.09.24

 

Associate Members

Mr Adam Pugh (Deputy Headteacher) - Term office 30.09.21 - 29.09.25

Miss Shelley Murphy (School Business Manager) - Term office 27.09.17- 26.09.25