Hermitage Governors

Our Governing body works very closely with the Headteacher and the whole school community to make sure that the school is always improving.

They can be contacted via the school office.

The Governing body meets twice a term.

The governing body is responsible in law for the school, but it has a strategic role and doesn’t get involved in operational matters like teaching or timetabling – these are the responsibility of the headteacher. The governing body holds the headteacher to account for her decisions by providing support and challenge, ensuring that all statutory duties are met and holding the headteacher to account for the impact of the school’s work on improving outcomes for all pupils.

Governing bodies have three main roles:

Ensuring clarity of vision, ethos & strategic direction
Holding the headteacher to account for the educational performance of the school & its pupils, and the performance management of staff
Overseeing the financial performance of the school and making sure its money is well spent

The governing body welcomes suggestions, feedback and ideas from parents/carers. If you are interested in becoming a governor, or would like to contact governors, you can write to the Chair of Governors, Richard Tyndall, via the School Office or by email:

Please click on the links below for further information:

Work of the governing body

Becoming a school governor

Headteacher

Name:	Sophie Alcock
Type of Governor:	Headteacher
Governor responsibility:	N/A
Time on the GB:	Since September 2021
What you do for a job and briefly what it involves:	I am the Headteacher of the school and I am in charge of making sure that everyone makes excellent progress and has a great time at school. I work with all of the staff to try to make sure that the school runs as smoothly as possible!
What you like to do in your spare time:	In my spare time, I like going to the theatre; reading and drawing. I love travelling to other countries and taking photographs. I also run a group of Guide units in South London, where I live?, which I really enjoy.

Chair of Governing Body

Name:	Richard Tyndall
Type of Governor:	Local authority Governor
Governor responsibility:	Chair of governors. Link governor for Finance, and Premises health and safety
Time on the GB:	Since November 2017
What you do for a job and briefly what it involves:	Freelance Consultant in local government sector
What you like to do in your spare time:	Enjoys going to the theatre, the opera, cycling, and France

Chair of Resources Committee

Name:	Ben Cockfield
Type of Governor:	Parent Governor
Governor responsibility:	Chair of Resources
Time on the GB:	Since February 2022
What you do for a job and briefly what it involves:	I work in data analysis in Canary Wharf, currently focused on the Bank of England's 'too big to fail' initiative which aims to prevent another Northern Rock style event. I hold an MSc Physics from Queen Mary university.
What you like to do in your spare time:	With 3 young children, spare time is a precious and sometimes mythical thing! I like comedy clubs, theatre, reading and yoga.

Chair of Teaching and Learning Committee

Name:	Helen Donovan
Type of Governor:	Co-opted Governor
Governor responsibility:	Chair of Curriculum
Time on the GB:	Since June 2021
What you do for a job and briefly what it involves:	I am a Community Manager at Tobacco Dock in Wapping. This involves supporting everyone who works at Tobacco Dock’s workspace and also outreach in the local community. My background is in education as Principal of Dyslexia Action in Bristol and with the Princes Trust in Mile End and BBC Children in Need SE region.
What you like to do in your spare time:	I have three grown up children and a scruffy dog called Minnie, who loves chasing the squirrels in Wapping Woods. Having spent 20 years teaching people to read and write, I completed a Masters in creative writing to see if I could write properly myself!

Name:	Melissa Jorgensen
Type of Governor:	Parent Governor
Governor responsibility:	Vice chair of Teaching and Learning Committee. Member of Resources committee.
Time on the GB:	Since November 2018
What you do for a job and briefly what it involves:	Full-time mum at the moment. Previously I worked in the Aviation Industry.
What you like to do in your spare time:	I enjoy Yoga and country walks and eating nice food!

Name:	Jagdish Menezes
Type of Governor:	Co-opted Governor
Governor responsibility:
Time on the GB:	Since November 2021
What you do for a job and briefly what it involves:	I am a Solicitor and work in a firm in the City, helping clients resolve disputes before the English courts and tribunals around the world. I prepare legal arguments and engage in written and spoken advocacy.
What you like to do in your spare time:	I enjoy playing squash, badminton, football, cooking, going on hikes and visiting new places.

Vice Chair of Pay Committee

Name:	Sayed Miah
Type of Governor:	Co-opted Governor
Governor responsibility:	Member of Teaching and Learning Committee. Member of Resources Committee
Time on the GB:	Since November 2019
What you do for a job and briefly what it involves:	Class Teacher/Technologies Lead
What you like to do in your spare time:	Keep fit and Sports - I play football. I am a Classic Car enthusiast. I enjoy cooking.

Name:	Kael Long
Type of Governor:	Staff Governor
Governor responsibility:	Member of Teaching & Learning.
Time on the GB:	Since November 2020
What you do for a job and briefly what it involves:	Phase Leader / Computing Coordinator
What you like to do in your spare time:	In my spare time I like to procrastinate on my allotment as well as grow the odd vegetable.

Name:	Zoe Smith
Type of Governor:	Parent Governor
Governor responsibility:
Time on the GB:	Since October 2022
What you do for a job and briefly what it involves:
What you like to do in your spare time:

Name:	Shahara Ali-Hempstead
Type of Governor:	Parent Governor
Governor responsibility:
Time on the GB:	Since October 2022
What you do for a job and briefly what it involves:
What you like to do in your spare time: