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Brackenbury Primary School

Part of the
Brackenbury, Kenmont and Wendell Park
Partnership

Governing Board

Brackenbury Governing Board

We want to take this opportunity to introduce ourselves and the role we play at Brackenbury.

The Governing Board has an important part to play in raising school standards. We set the strategic direction for the school, ensure financial accountability and monitor and evaluate school performance. While the Executive Headteacher and Head of School are responsible for the day to day running of the school, our role is often described as acting as “a critical friend”. We provide strategic governance to ensure that all children get the best possible education, constantly challenging the school to attain the best possible performance.

We have responsibility together with leadership team for agreeing the policies for the general running of the school. We fulfil statutory duties to ensure that the school is a safe, healthy and an inclusive environment. We provide support and challenge to the leadership team of the school on all issues that affect the learning and welfare of our pupils. We also have a responsibility to handle complaints, though it is important to note that individual problems should, at the outset, be directed first to your child’s teacher and then to the school’s leadership team.

The governing Board is drawn from the school staff, parents of children at the school, the community that our school serves, and people who have applied through – or been nominated by – the Local Authority. The usual term of office is four years but many governors stand for re-election and serve more than one term.

If you are interested in the work we do, would like to find out more, have any questions – or are interested in becoming a governor, please contact the school. You can also write to the Co-Chairs of the Governing Board, Mrs Alice Careless or Dr Jamie Carter via our school office.

The full Governing Board meets once a term, and there are sub committees dealing with Resources & Finance and Families, Curriculum & Achievement. Once approved, the Minutes of all our meetings are available from the school office.

The current membership of the Governing Board can be viewed online on Get Information About Schools this lists each govennors terms of office and appointing body.

 

Governoring Board Membership, Terms of Reference, Instrument of Governance & Declarations of Interest

Committee Membership and Terms of Reference

 

Committee Membership, Structure  and Terms of Reference

Declarations of Interest

 
Declarations of Interest – Governors 2022-23

Instrument of Governance

 Brackenbury Instrument of Governance

 

Governing Board Membership and Appointing Bodies

Further information about the board's membership, including the appointing body and dates of apporintment can be viewed on Brackenbury's Get Information About Schools Governance page. 

Governors Record of Attendance and Changes to Membership

2021/22 Academic Year

 Brackenbury GB Meeting Attendance and Membership changes 2021-2022

2020/2021 Academic Year

 Brackenbury Governing Board Membership Details and Attendance at Meetings Record  2020/21

 

  
 

Governor Pen Portraits

  • Dr Jamie Carter
    Co-Chair of Governors, Co-opted Governor

    Dr Jamie Carter

    I have lived in Hammersmith since 2008 and joined the Governing Body in 2019. I began my teaching career as a university lecturer and author before moving into secondary education, and have since held a number of academic and pastoral roles in schools across London and the South East.  I have a particular interest in character education and commitment to pupil well being, and am privileged to support this and all other aspects of school life in my capacity as co-chair of governors.   I currently work as a senior teacher and Director of Sixth Form at a local independent secondary school, and my family and I live a short walk from Brackenbury.

  • Ms Alice Careless
    Co-Chair of Governors, Co-opted Governor

    Ms Alice Careless

    Born and brought up in the local area, I was a pupil of Brackenbury in the 1980s. Both of my children have attended the school with my youngest moving on in July 2021. I joined as a parent governor in 2015 and am currently a Co-Opted governor and Co-Chair of the full Governing Board. I also sit on the Families, Curriculum and Achievement committee. I have spent the last 24 years working in a number of local government and charitable organisations providing advice and advocacy for the local community. I am currently working for a national charity providing welfare advice, financial assistance and wellbeing support.​

  • Dr. Charlotte Vidal-Hall
    Vice- Chair of Governors, Co-opted Governor, Health and Safety Link Governor

    Dr. Charlotte Vidal-Hall

    I have been a governor at Brackenbury for 13 years and recently became vice chair after 5 years as chair of the governing board.    I have lived in Hammersmith and Fulham since 1979 and have 4 children who all went to primary school in the borough. I was an early years and primary school teacher in local nursery and primary schools for 15 years before becoming an educational researcher. I now lead research projects at Ofsted where I have worked on projects including reading in secondary schools, managing behaviour in schools and the education inspection framework.

  • Ms Finola West
    Chair of Families, Curriculum & Achievement Committee, Local Authority Governor & Link Governor for Vulnerable children and SEND

    Ms Finola West

    I have lived in Hammersmith for over 20 years and my son attended Brackenbury school from Nursery to Year 6. I have been a member of the Governing Body for five years, initially as a parent, and now as the local authority governor. As chair of the Families, Curriculum and Achievement committee I take an extra interest in the curriculum Brackenbury pupils engage and achieve in, and how we work in partnership with our families and our local community. I have worked in education for over 30 years as a primary school teacher and now as a senior lecturer in primary education at a University in South West London.

  • Mr Andrew Frame
    Chair of Resources Committee, Co-opted Governor

    Mr Andrew Frame

    I am a co-opted Governor, having joined the board in February 2020. I joined with a genuine interest in education and a desire to use my professional skills as a Chartered Accountant to benefit the school community. I sit on the Resources and Pay Committees to support and challenge the leadership of Brackenbury covering finance, staffing and premises.

    I live on the same road as the school and have lived in West London for most of my life. I am married with a young daughter.

  • Ms Anna Fowler
    Co-opted Governor

    Ms Anna Fowler

    I have lived in Hammersmith for over six years and joined the governing board of Brackenbury in 2017. I hold an EMBA from London Business School and have a background in management consultancy. I work close by in White City in eCommerce.

  • Mr David Collins
    Executive Head Teacher, Ex-Officio Governor

    Mr David Collins

    I have been the head teacher at Brackenbury since September 2016 and Executive Head since September 2021.   Prior to that I was a Head teacher of a primary school in Hampshire.   I started my teaching career in 2001 in Hampshire and have taught and worked in a variety of Primary and Junior Schools.   I am a member of all the committees on the board and enjoy working with governors in setting the strategic direction of the school and celebrating the schools achievements.

  • Mr David Fricker
    Assistant Head teacher, Staff Governor

    Mr David Fricker

    I have worked at Brackenbury for many years as a class teacher.   I have been a staff governor since autumn 2019: I am a member of the Families, Curriculum and Achievement Committee.   I have worked in education for over twenty years, including teaching overseas and working at another school in the borough.   I believe in providing the best opportunities for all children; I feel Brackenbury provides a nurturing environment to allow all its pupils to succeed.

  • Mr Stephen McClay
    Parent Governor, Link Governor for Wellbeing

    Mr Stephen McClay

    My son is currently in Year 2 at Brackenbury so I have a genuine interest in making sure that the school is the best it can be, for the next five years at least! I have worked as a French teacher in London schools for 12 years, and I am currently the head of department at an independent school in Wandsworth. I serve as a member of the Families, Curriculum and Achievement Committee where I am committed to making sure that the pupils keep making progress and continue to be challenged and engaged. A Hammersmith resident for many years, I am originally from Glasgow, moving to London in 2008

  • Ms Georgina Ross
    Head of School, Staff Governor

    Ms Georgina Ross

    I have been at Brackenbury for twelve years having started as a classroom teacher and am currently the Head of School. I previously worked in a Primary School in Newham in East London for five years. I am a member of all of the committees on the board. I am passionate about all children having every opportunity possible provided for them to ensure they have the best possible school experience. I truly believe that Brackenbury provides these opportunities for all children.

  • Mr James Thomas
    Parent Governor, Link Governor for Safeguarding

    Mr James Thomas

    Through my two children I been a parent at Brackenbury School since 2012.   I became a parent governor in 2020, relishing the opportunity to use my professional skills to give back to a school I love. I serve as a member of the Families, Curriculum and Achievement Committee where I am dedicated to optimising pupils' progress and ensuring the teaching staff are accountable and supported in achieving this. Additionally I am the link governor for safeguarding, where I am responsible for creating a safe environment for Brackenbury's pupils. This means ensuring the school has systems to protect children from harm and ensure they receive safe and effective care at home and in school with a consideration of both their mental and physical health.

     

    I work in the communications industry, specialising in global strategy. I have been a resident of Brackenbury since 2008.

  • Dr Zainab Aboud
    Parent Governor, Link Governor for Data Protection

    Dr Zainab Aboud

    I have become a parent governor recently in 2022 as I have a huge interest in education and my son is currently at Brackenbury School.

    I serve on the Resources Committee and I am also a link governor for the Data Protection and my role is to ensure that the school is compliant with data protection law under the UK GDPR.

    I am a doctor working for the NHS and I would like to use my non-clinical skills to serve Brackenbury School.