Meet the Governors

What do we do?

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 Headteacher 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 Education.

Parent and staff governors are elected and every governor is expected to serve a four year term.
The full Governing Body meets once every 4-6 weeks. The meetings cover 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, our meetings have a focus led by the committees 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 MAG team meet termly, outside of full GB meetings, 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 Attendance Policy

Who are we?

The governing body is made up of 12 volunteers.

Co-Chairs: Ben McMullen and Damian Holt
Vice‐Chair: TBC

Resources Committee
Chair: Mark Greatrex, Jane Betsworth, Damian Holt, Sandy Stanton, Faraaz Samedi and Steffi Antoniazzi.

Curriculum and Well-being  Committee
Chair: Damian Holt, Jane Betsworth, Ben McMullen and Ceylan Ismail

MAG team (Millfields Attainment Group)

Chair: Ben McMullen, Jane Betsworth, Debi Cookhorn, Damian Holt and Mark Greatrex.

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 (Vice Chair of FGB, Member of Curriculum Committee, Resources Committee, Millfields Attainment Group)

LINK GOVERNOR: Attendance, Health & Safety, Behaviour

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 Local Authority 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:

Mark Greatrex ( Chair of Resources Committee and member of Millfields Attainment Group)

LINK GOVERNOR: Finance and Resources

I joined the Governing body in September 2018. I have worked in education for over 15 years and am passionate about supporting children to get the best start in life. Starting my career as a civil servant in the Department for Education gave me an insight into the then Governments drive for better standards of education through the academies programme and London Challenge - two programmes that Hackney Schools have benefited from hugely.

Since May 2015, my role as the Chief Executive of a small academy trust, with seven primary schools across London has provided an understanding of schools at a local level.  All schools are Good with two being judged Outstanding by Ofsted in the past three years.  I hope to bring this experience to Millfields and also learning for a passionate and experience staff and governor team.

Sandy Stanton (Member of Resources Committee)

LINK GOVERNOR: Safeguarding including E-safety and Child Protection, SEND

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!

Ben McMullen (Chair of FGB, Member of Curriculum Committee and Resources Committee,

and Millfields Attainment Group)

LINK GOVERNOR: Maths

I am a co-opted governor and Maths link, having joined the governing body at the beginning of 2016. I live in Clapton and have one child at Millfields. I have been a primary school teacher since 2003 and am currently Head of School at Ashburnham Community School in Chelsea. I have been a governor of four schools, beginning in 2008.

Millfields is a fantastic place; it is a privilege to be a part of such a vibrant and inspiring community school.

Faraaz Samadi (Member of the Resources Committee)

I joined the governing body in June 2022 and am looking forward to supporting the team at Millfields.  I have been a practising lawyer for over 15 years and hope my experience from the workplace can benefit the school.  I have been a Millfields parent since 2016 and believe hugely in the ethos, spirit and sense of community that staff and pupils have fostered.

My personal focus will be on making sure Millfields gives local children the best possible start in life and enables them to explore opportunities ideas beyond the school gates.  The school plays a critical role in the local area and as a long-time resident and local parent, I want to lend my skills and efforts to keep the school at heart of the community whilst striving to deliver better educational and extra-curricular outcomes for the children each year.

Staff Governors:

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 35 years, and since 2009, I have the privilege of being the Headteacher of Millfields Community School. I have a strong belief in education for all and am proud that Millfields is a truly diverse and inclusive community school.

Parent Governors:

Antonia Cotton

I joined the governing body in November 2024. I am a mother of two and a proud Millsfield parent with seventeen years of experience working in the non-profit sector in the UK and abroad.

I jumped at the opportunity to join the governing board of what I perceive to be a very caring and inclusive school that seeks the best possible outcomes for all pupils.

I have a background in building strategic, cross-sector partnerships which recently have focused on addressing health inequalities in urban areas and in particular improving health outcomes for children.

I’m thrilled to be channeling my experience, energy and curiosity into this role and look forward to working collaboratively and proactively with parents, carers, staff, governors and the local community.

Richard Buckley

I joined as a governor in November 2024. I am a parent at Millfields Community School and I have lived in Clapton for over ten years. Millfields is a special place and it is a real honour to be a governor at the school. I wanted to join as a governor to contribute to the continued success of the school.

I was previously a governor at Campsbourne Primary School in Harringay from 2011 to 2017 so have some experience which I hope to bring to Millfields. In my professional role, I work in legal and compliance, so I have a lot of experience in governance and attending boards generally which I hope to apply to my role at Millfields.