Governors
Our governors work in partnership with the Head Teacher and senior leadership team to set the school's vision, ethos, and strategic direction. They act as a critical friend, supporting the school while constructively challenging it to ensure continuous improvement, high standards, and accountability. ​
​
The Governing Body plays a central role in school improvement planning and is fully involved in reviewing the Learning Improvement Plan (LIP) and shaping future strategic priorities.
​
Our Role
The Governing Body has several key responsibilities:
-
Ensuring the school has clear aims and values supported by the whole school community
-
Monitoring how these aims are reflected in the day-to-day running of the school
-
Focusing on raising standards of achievement and promoting high expectations so that every pupil reaches their full potential
-
Contributing to the development and review of the LIP
-
Ensuring school resources are allocated effectively and in line with agreed priorities
-
Establishing and reviewing policies that provide a framework for the Head Teacher and staff
-
Ensuring systems are in place to monitor progress toward targets
-
Reviewing evidence of progress and evaluating the effectiveness of policies and practices
-
Comparing school performance over time and against similar schools
-
Taking advice from the Head Teacher before making strategic decisions
​
Composition of the Governing Body
​Queensbridge Primary Governing Body is made up of 11 governors:
-
3 Parent Governors
-
5 Co-Opted Governors
-
1 Local Authority Governor
-
1 Staff Governor
-
The Head Teacher
Governors bring a wide range of skills and experience. They are enthusiastic, proactive, and committed to maintaining and improving excellence in all aspects of school life.
​
All governors are appointed for four-year terms and may be reappointed at the end of their term.
​
Committees, Link Roles, and Working Parties
The Governing Body meets once per term for the Full Governing Body (FGB) meetings. Governors may also serve on committees or take on specific link responsibilities.
​​
Resources Committee
-
Setting and monitoring the school’s annual budget
-
Ensuring best use of available resources
-
Overseeing staffing matters
-
Monthly budget reviews with School Manager (since September 2024) to analyse expenditure breakdowns
Teaching and Curriculum Committee
-
Writing and reviewing all curriculum-related policies
-
Monitoring priority areas within the School Development Plan
-
Reviewing teaching, learning, and assessment strategies
-
Termly learning walks during school hours, enabling governors to observe school priorities in action
​​
Link Governors support specific areas such as safeguarding, special educational needs (SEN), pupil premium, heath & safety, monitoring budget, and literacy/numeracy, attending additional meetings as required.
​
Working Parties
Working Parties are formed on the occasion of dealing with specific issues, contextual changes and school community population needs. A working party may include governors, staff, parents and/or other experts. For the academic year 2025-2026 we have the following working parties:
-
Hard to reach parents / carers- a new strategy ongoing from 2025
-
Sustainability ongoing- Greening our playground continues from 2025 to date
-
Research Retrieval Practice ongoing (support and set up Hackney Education Assessment Forum) to address cognitive load
-
DFE/ National Support School work (working parties). We were the school who trialled the DFE Mark Less, Mark Better pilot 2020- bill boards 2021, reducing teacher workload and disseminating our practice to other local authorities
-
Education Endowment Foundation projects
​​
Diversity
Queensbridge Primary Governing Body is committed to equality, diversity, and inclusion. Our governors bring a wide range of experiences, skills, and perspectives, helping to ensure effective decision-making and representation of our whole school community.
​
Contact
To contact the Governing Body, please email the Clerk to Governors:
Email: clerk@queensbridge.hackney.sch.uk
​
Statutory Documents
​
Governing Board Membership 2024-25​
Governing Board Membership 2023-24
Governing Board Membership 2022-23​​
Governing Board Membership 2020-21
​​
Register of Business Interests- Pecuniary Interests 2024-2025 Governing Body
​​​
School employees that have a gross annual salary of £100,000 or more in increments of £10,000. In 2025-26 is 1.
​
Please see the school's profile on the Schools Financial Benchmarking website
Meet Our Governors
Sarah Bailey OBE
Head Teacher
Sarah Bailey OBE is an experienced Executive Headteacher and National Leader of Education with over 20 years of headship. She has been Head Teacher of Queensbridge Primary School since 2006, leading the school through multiple Ofsted inspections and significant organisational change, including growth from one-form entry to 2FE, then 3FE, and a return to its current 2FE. She also leads Mapledene and Queensbridge Children’s Centre, rated Outstanding in Early Years since 2008. A former National Teaching School (Future Stars) lead, Sarah specialises in inclusion, early years, restorative practice, school improvement, and leadership development. She has supported schools across several boroughs, contributed to 70+ Ofsted inspections, and is a DfE System Leader for Pupil Premium and UCL Specialist Partner for ITT. She holds a Master’s in Special Educational Needs and was awarded an Order of the British Empire in 2015 for Services to Education.
Noelia Rufete-Gil
Chair of Governors | Research and Statistics Officer
I feel privileged to be a governor at Queensbridge Primary School, a community school where creativity, equality and diversity is at the heart of everything that they do. I volunteered to become governor as I wanted to assist the board of governors and staff in continuing to make Queensbridge a school in which children thrive. On a personal note, I believe education is the main catalyst for change in society. Both of my parents were educators and I believe providing a good education is the best chance we have at enabling children to fulfil their potential.I believe that the role of a school governor is key to assist to set the direction so that the school continues to improve and thrive whilst supporting the senior management in making crucial decisions. I feel that my skills set as an educational analyst working for Hackney Education and my extensive professional experience in the education sector has enabled me to successfully fulfil the role of a school governor.
Helen Jerrold
Vice Chair | Finance Director
Helen is a finance professional with over 15 years of experience. Helen gained her finance experience within the accountancy firms Ernst & Young and BDO Stoy Hayward. During this time she supported clients in the compliance and policy aspects of managing international work forces. Since 2008 Helen has been the Finance Director at the staffing, media and learning services organisation, the Red Snapper Group. Here she has managed financial and governance matters during the groups rapid growth from a small business to one providing services to a large section of the public sector and commercial organisations. As a governor Helen brings financial and management skills both from her formal training such as her MBA but more importantly from her knowledge of advising and running businesses and teams with her particular focus on compliance, finance, policy and systems.Helen also has a love of sport and believes in its importance in the development of social as well as physical skills. Having been involved in gymnastics and a range of other sports as a youngster, Helen can often be seen out on her bike or putting in a few lengths at the Lido.
Naomi Ter-Berg
Chair of Teaching and Curriculum Committee | Initial Teacher Education Tutor, Equality, Disability and Inclusion Lead
​
Danielle Cline
Staff Governor | Class Teacher
I am an experienced teacher with 14 years in the profession. I trained and began my career in Essex and have worked at Queensbridge since moving to London. Alongside my classroom teaching, I have led across a range of curriculum areas and am actively involved in the PTA, supporting the wider school community through fundraising and events. I have a strong interest in nature and outdoor learning, having previously coordinated science, and I now focus on leading mathematics within the school.
Mark Lowe
Chair of Resources and Finance Committee | Program Director of Access Governance & Onboarding
Isil Sansoy
Co-Opted Governor | Psychotherapist
I am an integrative-existential psychotherapist with 15 years of experience working in the public sector and in private practice, specialising in complex trauma. As a parent and a professional, I think a lot about the integration of childhood experiences into the psychological landscape in adulthood. Hence, I am interested in supporting the school in creating a safe and inclusive environment where children can thrive academically and relationally, and where resilience can be built through supportive relationships and a strong sense of community.
Vanessa Puetz
Parent Governor | Professor (Teaching) in Developmental Neuroscience and Psycophathology
Professor Dr. Vanessa Puetz is a researcher and educator who specialises in understanding how children and young people grow, learn, and cope with difficult experiences. She co-leads the MSc in Psychology and Trauma (Child and Adolescent Route) and MRes Developmental Neuroscience and Psychopathology at UCL, where she teaches and supports students training to work in children’s mental health and wellbeing. At UCL, Vanessa has designed new, accessible ways of teaching that support learners from all backgrounds, including those around the world. Her work has included cross-institutional collaborations with Yale University and the voluntary sector, as well as projects with technology partners such as Google, to improve how we understand and respond to the needs of children and families, and she has published and taught widely on child development and childhood trauma. For the public, Vanessa created a free online course on Childhood Adversity: The Impact of Childhood Maltreatment on Mental Health, which can be found on Futurelearn. Vanessa is passionate about creating safe, supportive environments where all children can thrive. As a school governor, she brings her expertise in child development, trauma-informed practice and education to help the school continue offering the best possible opportunities for its pupils and community.
Raj Heer
Parent Governor | Head of Energy and Climate Partnerships, South East Asia
I’m a parent of a Year 2 child. I also bring experience from government and the Department for Education, where I’ve worked on safeguarding, inclusion, and improving outcomes for vulnerable children.
I want to help shape a school that reflects our diverse local community—where every child feels they belong, and parents feel heard. Schools are places where differences can be shared, and where pupils, staff, and families can develop tools to express views constructively and disagree respectfully.
With a background in strategy, governance, and delivering results, I aim bring clear thinking, strong communication, and a collaborative approach.
Kirby Lohse
Parent Governor
I am a mum of two at the school, with children in Reception and Year 2, and I am delighted to serve as a Parent Governor. As a former owner of a small business in Hackney and civil servant, I bring practical experience to the role, but what truly drives me is supporting our wonderful staff and children. You will often find me helping with the PTA or getting my hands dirty in the school garden. I joined the governing body because I believe strongly in this school community and want to help it thrive in every way I can.
