Governors
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The Governing Body works as a team supporting the school and Head Teacher to set the school’s vision, ethos and strategic direction. It ensures accountability, through acting as a ‘critical friend’ in monitoring and evaluating how the school is progressing.
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The role includes:
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Ensuring the school has clear aims and values that are supported by the whole school community
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Ensuring evidence of this in the day-to-day running of the school
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Focus on raising standards of achievement, establishing high expectations and promoting effective teaching and learning so that every pupil achieves his/her full potential
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Deciding with the Head Teacher, staff, pupils and parents the direction of the school development planning progress
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Ensure that the resources that the school receives are directed to the school’s priorities as determined in the Learning Improvement Plan (LIP)
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Help to set and review the policies that provide a broad framework within which the Head Teacher and staff should run the school
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Ensure that there are systems in place to monitor progress toward targets and gather evidence accordingly
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Use the evidence to review progress against targets to see whether policies and practices are effective. Check on the school’s achievements and progress over time and in comparison with similar schools
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Take advice on this from the Head Teacher before making their decisions
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The governing body is a key player in the school improvement planning process. Governors are involved in the review of the LIP and in drawing up of all future school plans
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Queensbridge Primary Governing Body is made up of 10 governors: 2 parent governors, 3 co-opted governors/ community, 1 Local Authority governor, 2 associated governors, and the Head Teacher.
The governors are enthusiastic, pro-active and committed to maintaining and improving excellence in all aspects of school life.
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The Governors meet once a term at Full Governing Body (FGB) meetings, and other times if opting to be on one or more of the Committees and/or Link topic focuses. Selected governors are appointed for a period of between one and four years and can be re-appointed at the end of their term.
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Queensbridge Primary has 2 main committees and 3 sub committees. We also have other link focuses that fulfil specific agendas:
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Resources Committee
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Setting and monitoring the school’s annual budget
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Ensuring best use of available resources
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Overseeing staffing affairs
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Curriculum Committee
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Writing and reviewing all curriculum-related policies
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Monitoring key focus areas in the School Development Plan
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Monitoring teaching and assessment strategies
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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 2023-2024 we have the following working parties:
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BAME/Black Curriculum (initiated 2020 and an ongoing plan) to include hard to reach parents/ carers- a new strategy in 2023
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Climate Emergency ongoing- Greening our playground continues from 2022 to date
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Research Retrieval Practice ongoing (support and set up Hackney Education Assessment Forum)
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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
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Contact
We actively encourage communication with and from parents. Governors are present during Parents’ Evenings and welcome your suggestions and feedback. You can also contact the Governors directly by emailing clerk@queensbridge.hackney.sch.uk
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Our Governors
Governing Board Membership 2024-25​
Governing Board Membership 2023-24
Governing Board Membership 2022-23​​
Governing Board Membership 2020-21
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Governor Attendance Register- Full Governing Body Meetings 2020-2021
Register of Business Interests- Pecuniary Interests 2021-2022 Governing Body
Final Audit Report Queensbridge 2021
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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
Helen Jerrold
Chair of Resources and Finance Committee
Helen is a finance professional with over 15 years of experience with companies such as Ernst & Young and BDO Stoy Hayward. Helen has been with the Red Snapper Group since 2008 spearheading the company’s rapid financial growth, managing key accounts as well as bids.
Naomi Ter-Berg
Chair of Teaching and Curriculum Committee
Danielle Cline
Staff Governor
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Mark Lowe
Co-Opted Community Governor
Isil Sansoy
Co-Opted Community Governor
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 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
Kirby Lohse
Parent Governor
