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Meet the Governors

Millfields Governing Body is made up of volunteers who are committed to ensuring that high standards are achieved and maintained throughout the school. We are ultimately responsible for the success of the school, including the appointing of the head teacher who reports to us and attends all board meetings.

Our governors are either a parent of a pupil in school, a member of the local community, a member of staff or are appointed by Hackney Learning Trust.

Parent and staff governors are elected and every governor is expected to serve a four year term.
The full Governing Body meets once every term. This meeting is dedicated to general business, including scrutinising reports from the Headteacher, other school leaders and looking at feedback from visits that Governors and other outside agencies, all make to the school. We discuss the progress children are making, new approaches to teaching and learning and consider both local and national initiatives and issues such as how to ensure the Pupil Premium is used to best effect. There is also time in the meeting to audit and develop skills and reflect on how we can best help the school to achieve excellence.

In addition to our termly meetings, the smaller committees meet every half term to discuss specific issues in depth. The Resources committee, as the name suggests, overseas the school finances, personnel and premises. The Curriculum and Well-being  committee looks at the curriculum and standards in the school, as well as ensuring that Millfields is a safe, inclusive environment equally supportive of parents and the local community. The Children Centre Advisory Boardlooks at all aspects of the functions of the Children Centre including daycare provision, extended services including training opportunities, scrutinising local and national data, and holiday clubs. The MAG team meet termly, usually near the beginning of each term, to discuss the previous term's progress and attainment in all areas -personal development, behaviour and welfare, quality of  teaching, learning and assessment, effectiveness of early years provision, effectiveness of leadership and management and outcomes for pupils.

As part of our duties, we all have an area and/or a Year Group of the school that we are supporting as Link Governors. This may include a specific curriculum area, a specific year group/cohort, behaviour, health and safety, leadership and management, attendance, teaching and learning, extended schools and how we reach out to and support parents. This means that we can often be found visiting the school, joining in with assemblies, meeting with staff or speaking with children in class, as well as collecting feedback at Parents' Evenings.

Governor Virtual Attendence Policy


Who are we?

The governing body is made up of 12 volunteers.

Chair: Damian Holt
Vice‐Chair:Ben McMullen

Resources Committee
Chair: Hamza Yusuf, Jane Betsworth, Mark Greatrex, Damian Holt, Fintan Campbell, Sandy Stanton, Merici Vinton, James Sherbock-Cox and Steffi Antoniazzi.

Curriculum and Well-being  Committee
Chair: Gordon Murray, Jane Betsworth, Emma Ruane, Fintan Campbell, Judyann Platts, Joe Walker, Merici Vinton, Mark Greatrex, Ben McMullen and Chris Belgrave

Childrens' Centre Advisory Board
Chair: Joe Walker, Jane Betsworth, Marcella Chambers, Damian Holt and Robin Pike

MAG team (Millfields Attainment Group)
Chair: Ben McMullen, Jane Betsworth, Debi Cookhorn, Gordon Murray and Damian Holt.

If you have a question or suggestion:-

If it’s to do with the everyday running of the school, you should speak to the class teacher, Deputy Head or Head teacher.

If it’s about the school overall – its ethos, what we’re trying to achieve, how well the children are doing generally – you can speak to any one of us personally or email us via the chair:-

chair@millfields.hackney.sch.uk

Or you can also write to the Chair – just leave your letter at the main school reception.

Local Authority Governors


 

 

Damian Holt - Chair of FGB, Member of Curriculum Committee, Resources Committee, Millfields Attainment Group and Children Centre Committee.

LINK GOVERNOR: Attendance, Health & Safety, Behaviour, Year 4 Partner

I have been a governor in Millfields since 2013, originally as a local authority governor, and more recently as a co-opted governor. I initially joined through an initiative at work to connect business with the local community, which meant I was appointed a governor at a Morningside Primary School, a school which we still have links to. As a result of a lot of intensive work at Morningside, the Learning Trust asked if I would be interested in representing the local authority here in Millfields. Having worked with Jane for over a year I jumped at the chance. I’m from a state school background myself; my father an electrician and my mother owning a market stall, in a town just north of Manchester, and I was the first person in my family to go to university and that fostered a strong belief in the power in education. I had initially wanted to work in school, I trained as a teacher around 20 years ago, and then was offered a place on a graduate traineeship at M&S, so my career moved to Human Resources, and I’ve worked in HR ever since, currently I've taken a sabbatical and studying my MSc at UEL. So when the opportunity arose to support a school it seemed like a nice link back to my original focus.

 


 

 

 

 

 

 

Gordon Murray - Chair of Curriculum Committee and Millfields Attainment Group

LINK GOVERNOR: Literacy, religious education & Year 6 Partner

have been a governor in Millfields since 2013, originally as a local authority governor, and more recently as a co-opted governor. I initially joined through an initiative at work to connect business with the local community, which meant I was appointed a governor at a Morningside Primary School, a school which we still have links to. As a result of a lot of intensive work at Morningside, the Learning Trust asked if I would be interested in representing the local authority here in Millfields. Having worked with Jane for over a year I jumped at the chance.

I’m from a state school background myself; my father an electrician and my mother owning a market stall, in a town just north of Manchester, and I was the first person in my family to go to university and that fostered a strong belief in the power in education. I had initially wanted to work in school, I trained as a teacher around 20 years ago, and then was offered a place on a graduate traineeship at M&S, so my career moved to Human Resources, and I’ve worked in HR ever since, currently I've taken a sabbatical and studying my MSc at UEL. So when the opportunity arose to support a school it seemed like a nice link back to my original focus

 

Co-opted Governors

 


 

 

Gordon Murray - Chair of Curriculum Committee and Millfields Attainment Group

LINK GOVERNOR: Literacy, religious education & Year 6 Partner

I have been a governor for over 5 years, originally a parent governor and now a co-opted governor. I am Senior Lecturer at the University of Winchester. My interest as it relates to my professional field  is the creative curriculum and how it is and can be utilised at Millfields. I have been chair of Curriculum and Wellbeing Committee for 2 years and I am a member of the Millfields Attainment Group (MAG) which scrutinises the statistical information that relates to progress and achievement at Millfields.

 

 

 

 

Hamza Yusuf  -Chair of Resources Committee and Millfields Attainment Group LINK GOVERNOR: Finance and Resources and Reception Partner

I joined the Governing body as Chair of the Resources Committee back in Jan 2015. I am a former pupil of Millfields School (1990 – 1996) and feel really privileged to return to the school as a Community Governor. In my day job I’m a Public Sector Accountant and I currently work for LB Hackney as Head of Finance – which helps get my head around the school budget, income & expenditure!

I have always had an interest in education, and the wider public sector. I enjoy participating in public life and bringing different perspectives to bear in both my work-life and when volunteering.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Joe Walker -Member of Curriculum Committee and Chair of Children’s Centre Committee.

LINK GOVERNOR: Children's Centre and School Council and Year 3 Partner

Passionate about children’s learning and the role local schools can play in our communities, I have been an elected parent governor for two years and now a community governor.

I have two children in the school, one in the nursery and the other in year two. My professional experience includes a background in international development and child rights, local community development and UK politics at both local and national level. I live and work in Hackney and I am a keen cyclist in my spare time.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sandy Stanton - Member of Resources Committee and E-safety Steering Group

LINK GOVERNOR: Safeguarding including E-safety and Child Protection

I have served as a governor at Millfields Community for 3 terms, so I am now in my 8th year. I was originally appointed as a Community Governor and most recently as Co-opted Governor.

I have worked at Hackney Community College for 39 years and as PA to the Principal for the last 20 years. Included in my role as PA, I am a Safeguarding and data protection administrator; I interview staff, using safer recruitment guidelines; have taught typing, keyboard and computing skills and have carried out safeguarding training.  I carry out many other functions, including being the first 'port of call' for any requests from the Police; many of these skills contribute to my role as a Link Governor for safeguarding and e-safety.

I was previously a governor of the adult education institute in Hackney and was vice chair of governors at my children's primary school.  I was also the chair of the PTA of that school.
I have worked, in the past, voluntarily in a children's home and as a manager of a youth club.  I have very little spare time, but the little I have is spent with my grandchildren, who are mainly of primary school age.  I enjoy going to the theatre and ballet and I attend a weekly Zumba class!
James Sherbrock-Cox -Member of the Resources Committee
Ben McMullen -Vice Chair, Member of Curriculum Committee and Resources Committee

LINK GOVERNOR: Maths Link

 

Parent Governors

 
Merici Vinton -Member of the Resources Committee



Mark Greatrex -Member of Currciulum Committee and Resources Committee

Staff

 

 

Jane Betsworth  -Member of Curriculum Committee, Resources Committee, Millfields Attainment Group, Children's Centre Committee

I have worked in Hackney as a teacher for almost 30 years, and since 2009, I have the privilege of being the Headteacher of Millfields Communtiy School. I have a strong belief in education for all and am proud that Millfields is a truly diverse and inclusive community school.

I have worked as an Executive Headteacher in 2 Hackney schools; currently supporting the leadership at Harrington Hill School. I have also done some work as an Associate Ofsted Inspector and am currently a SIP for the local authority. I also sit on the Executive Board of the HTSA (Hackney Teaching School Alliance) and work closely with the associated group of schools.

I am currently a Community Governor at Morningside Primary School in Hackney and also at West Green School in Haringey, and a Co-Opted Governor at Harrington Hill Primary School in Hackney.


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fintan Campbell -Member of Currciulum Committee and Resources Committee

Chris Belgrave - Member of Curriculum Committee

LINK GOVERNOR: Extended Day

My name is Chris Belgrave, and I am the Lead Behaviour Professional at Millfields Community School. I often liaise with the parents if they need to talk about any issues with their child, or need help with a range of issues related to school. I have run for two terms as Staff Governor at Millfields Community School, since 2010 until present. I find my role as a governor rewarding and fulfilling, as I am encouraged to have a say and make a difference for the school and the community around.

I am a single parent, and I like to build and repair computers in my spare time. I am also a part-time radio station DJ and love to ride my bike nearly everywhere I go.

 

Associate Governors (not elected and no voting rights)

 

 

 

Debi Cookhorn -Member of Curriculum Committee and Resources committee

I have been a teacher at Millfields since 1996 and have taught across most year groups. I have worked for many years now as part of SLT with my main focus being LIteracy across the school.  After a stint of maternity leave, I helped to establish the Children Centre and get it through its first OFSTED then I returned to school to continue to lead on Literacy and Initial Teacher Training Placements.  After many years of working with the London Metropolitan University, I am now a member of the LMU steering group for ITT.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Emma Ruane -Member of the Curriculum Committee

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Judyann Platts -Member of Curriculum Committee

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Steffi Antoniazzi -Member of the Resources Committee

 

 

 

Robin Pike -Member of the Childrens' Centre Committee

I am a Chartered Information Technology Professional who has worked in the software industry for thirty years and for the last nine years has been employed by the Hackney Learning Trust where I have specialised in educational and social care data and analysis.