I am a retired primary school Head Teacher who has recently moved to Surrey from the Midlands to be close to my grandchildren, two of whom attend Grand Avenue. I have a wide range of experience in primary education and am really looking forward to supporting the school and contributing to the range of skills already within the governing body.

I am interested in all aspects of school life but my particular curriculum interest is Literacy. I also have a keen interest in special educational needs. I am passionate about the impact of participation by all children in the performing arts during their primary school years. I am Chair of the Governing Body and a member of both the Curriculum & Community Committee and the Resources & Finance Committee. I really enjoy visiting the school and getting to know the children.

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Erik Boesten

I am a father of two children attending Grand Avenue School, and care deeply about the education they and their fellow pupils receive. Becoming a Governor has provided me with the opportunity to give something back to the school which is playing such an important role in our childred's lives. Professionally I have worked in Human Resources for over 15 years and hope I can put my experience to use in helping the school to reach its goals. Having spent a few years on the Resources & Finance Committee, I am now contributing to the Curriculum and Community Committee.

Cath Tanner

Cath Tanner is currently joint Vice Chair of the governing body. She has been a governor for 12 years, first as a parent governor and more recently as a Co-opted governor. She has one daughter, Sophie, who attended Grand Avenue from Reception to Year 6 and is currently in Year 12 at senior school.

Cath works part-time as a midwife at Kingston Hospital. She became a Governor when Sophie was in Reception. "I became a Governor because I wanted to part of school life and help make a positive difference to the life of the children in the school. Over the years I have seen many major changes but the one constant has been the enthusiasm and commitment of all the staff, making sure the children are happy in the classroom, having fun as they learn".

Cath is also Special Education Needs Governor, which means she meets regularly with Mrs White, the school SENCO, to discuss SEN provision in the school, see the provision for herself attend Steering Group meetings and represent SEN needs in governing body meetings and committee meetings. Cath is also a member of the Curriculum Group which meets twice a term.

"Being a school governor is really challenging but it is equally stimulating and interesting. it's great being part of a small team who make important decisions about the school but who also work equally hard to make sure that we keep the needs of the children at the centre of those decisions".

Darren Beaver

I have two boys at the school, in Year 3 and in Reception. Being a Governor and member of the Curriculum & Community Committee provides the opportunity to offer my support to the school. I have been fortunate enough to find time to help both in school and on trips, providing me with an insight of the effort staff put into the school and into our children. In return the support of parents is vital and paramount in helping staff to achieve their goals for our children and I have seen the difference it makes.

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Daryl Close

I have been a governor since late 2013 having moved into the local area in late 2012. As a father with a young family I have considerable interest in the current and future education of children and with Grand Avenue I am looking to contribute to the ongoing development of the school.

My background is in finance and banking and I have worked for a number of years with a global consultancy in the areas of risk and people management. I currently Chair the Resources and Financing Committee.

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Kerry Lilienfeld

I really enjoy being part of Grand Avenue School! I have two children here. Having worked as a teacher and now as a childminder, I am very interested in children's education and development. I have always been keen to support the school in any way I can. As a parent I have helped with reading and classroom activities and experienced the real buzz in the classroom and as a class rep I get to take a very active role - working with parents, staff and children, supporting school fundraising and helping in general.

In my role as governor, I am now involved in another aspect of school life which is both interesting and challenging and I am now Chair of the Curriculum and Community committee. As a member of the governing body, I hope that I can use my previous experience in education as well as my interest as a parent to ensure that the school continues to provide the best opportunities for our children.

Kim Small

Kim Small recently joined the governing body as a Local Authority governor. She is a solicitor and a fellow of the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators who has been working in a legal advisory role in higher education for several years. She is a member of the Curriculum and Community Committee and has a keen interest in governance and equality and diversity issues. Kim is looking forward to using her skills and experience to work with the other members of the governing body to continue to drive the school's improvement. 

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Sophie Daniells

I have been a parent governor since November 2012 and was involved in the early stages of the playground development in both the KS1 and KS2 playgrounds.  I have two boys in Year 4 who attend various school clubs and use the out of school club.  I am Vice-Chair of the Resources and Finance Committee and a member of the School Voluntary Fund.  I work full time in a governance role for a government body.  I use my governance knowledge to ask questions that promotes accountability even if this means asking difficult and challenging questions.  As a parent governor I strive to put the interests of all children first.

Liz Smith

I currently have two daughters attending the school in Years 2 and 3. I am keen to help support staff and parents to ensure the school achieves all it can and am really excited to have been appointed as a Parent Governor. I have been a class representative and enjoy volunteering to help at all the fairs, swimming, reading, etc. I have worked as a teacher for the past 14 years, so have a good understanding of current educational policy and a sound knowledge of the Early Years Curriculum.

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Staff Governors:

(Ex-Officio) Mrs Margaret Barrington: Head Teacher and a member of the Resources & Finance Committee.

(Staff) Miss Debi Mavers: Y1 Year Group Leader. Leader of Learning with responsibility for Pupil Premium Children, Music and Phonic Development. Also involved with music in the borough. A member of the Curriculum & Community Committee.

(Co-opted) Nadine Jones: Teaching Assistant.

Associate Members of Governing Body:

Ms Anna McKenna: Deputy Head Teacher, leading on Assessment and curriculum and leads Middle leadership team. A member of the Curriculum & Community Committee.

Mrs Shona Pitcher: Deputy Head Teacher and Inclusion Manager, SENCO and Designated Teacher for Child Protection and Looked After Children and Y3 Year Group Leader. A member of the Resources & Finance Committee.

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- Parent governors are elected by the school parent population. Parents (including carers) of registered pupils at the school are eligible to stand for election as parent governors and can nominate themselves for this role.
- Staff governors are elected from all people who work at the school. The Head Teacher is automatic, any other staff member is by staff vote
- Local Authority governors are nominated by the Local Authority but are appointed by the Governing Body
- Co-opted governors are appointed by the Governing Body and are individuals who have been identified to have the skills required to contribute to the effective governance of the school
- Associate governors are current staff but this position can also be held by those with specialist knowledge or experience deemed by the Governing Body to be needed generally or in respect of specific projects. They are nominated and approved by the Governing Body but their term of office can vary and they do not have full voting rights

All governors are appointed according to the skills required within the Governing Body and their term of office is normally four years (apart from Associate Governors which can be a shorter period of time). A skills audit is undertaken annually.

Please see the Governors Code of Conduct: Governors Code of Conduct

Please click on the link here to see the dates of forthcoming Governors Meetings

Please see below the Annual Statement of the Governing body

Annual Statement for the Governing Body