Meet the Governors

Current Governor Vacancies

Partnership Governor advert - Spring 2021.doc

What is a Governing Body?

The Government requires that each school has a management team known as a governing body. This team is made up of the various stakeholders that the school serves (parents, local authority, staff and community). Governors are either elected or appointed, e.g. parent governors are elected from the parent body; the local authority (LA) appoints governors, the governing body appoints community governors.

The Governing Body has three core functions:

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

Structure of the governing body:

At Yattendon we meet as a Full Governing Body on at least seven occasions throughout the year. Unlike some schools, we no longer operate with separate committees focusing on resources and pupil standards but instead work collaboratively to monitor these through an ongoing cycle. In addition, where working parties are required to monitor particular areas of school life, these are formed as necessary. We do however operate a pay committee and a headteacher’s appraisal committee.

Yattendon Governors

If you are interested in helping to make Yattendon the best school it can be and want to be more involved in school life then please contact us (governor@yattendon.surrey.sch.uk) for more information.

	Alastair Hitchman Chair I am a co –opted governor for Yattendon School and am a secondary school teacher for my ‘day job’. I have had extensive governance experience and am looking forward to working with Yattendon school offering my experience and skills for the benefit of the whole school community.
	Ann-Kathrin Baumgardt Co-opted I have recently been appointed to the governing body at Yattendon. Born and raised in Germany I have been living in the UK since 2004 and in Earlswood since 2010. I’m very excited to be part of a great team of governors and to be able to actively contribute and make a difference in my community. Great education is one of the most important foundations to help children grow up into confident, self-expressed, happy and fulfilled adults; Yattendon’s vision of developing the “whole child” encompasses that. With the skills and professional experience I have acquired over the past twelve years I hope to be able to contribute to the continued success of Yattendon School where children are able to fulfill their full potential.
	Guy Perkins Headteacher Having taught for a number of years in Surrey primary schools, I joined Yattendon in September 2010 as Deputy Headteacher and was appointed Head Teacher in 2016. I have always had a passion for education, and I am particularly keen to develop in children a sense of responsibility and enthusiasm for their own learning. I live fairly locally near Dorking and have a daughter of eighteen and two young sons. Parenting is not easy in the twenty-first century. Pressures that come with being a working parent can mean that engaging with your child’s education is particularly challenging. I am keen to involve parents and carers as much as possible, and help them feel part of the school community.
	Gowri Subramanian Co-opted
	Neil Hughes Co-opted I was appointed to the Board of Governors in September 2022. I am now retired but worked for 40 years in financial regulation in London, so gained much experience in budgeting, analysis, management and setting policies and strategy. I hope that these skills will be useful to the governing body as well as to the Head and Bursar. I have lived in the area for some 35 years and am very glad to be able to contribute to the community, especially to the education of the younger members of society. A good all-round education is one of, if not the, most important advantage we can give our children.
	Judith Barlow Staff I was elected in December 2019 by the staff at Yattendon to join the Governing Board as a Staff Governor. I have worked in Surrey schools for over 15 years, initially as a teaching assistant before training to become a teacher. I joined the staff at Yattendon in September 2018 and currently work as year leader and teacher in Year 5. I'm really keen to help support the school in any way I can, to ensure the best possible experience and progress for children who attend our school.
	Katherine Saunders Parent Governor I’ve recently joined the governing body as a Parent Governor having had one son go through Yattendon and with two still there in Years 4 and 6. I have been Chair of the Governing Body at Meath Green Infants for the last three years, which I really enjoyed. I now want to give something back to support Yattendon as my children have and are getting so much from the school. In my day job I am Chief Executive of Alliance for Better Care which is the local federation of GP practices and currently very involved in the running of the Covid-19 Vaccination programme.
	Sarah Seear Co-opted I have recently been appointed to the Governing body of Yattendon School, having moved to Horley a short while ago and wanting to put down roots in the local community. Whilst I do not have children of my own, I have teaching experience and know that it is in the foundations that core values and excellence take root. I hope, with the skills and experience that I have acquired throughout my working life, to be able to contribute actively to the already established team of Governors who support the teachers and children of Yattendon in fulfilling their potential.
	Louise Boughen Co-opted I became a governor in November 2020, however, I have been a parent at Yattendon since 2014. I have been an active member of the Friends of Yattendon, and following a term as a governor at a different school, I wanted to use my experience and other relevant skills to contribute to the governing body. I am delighted to be given the opportunity to be part of this team of governors and to support the school in continuing to achieve its shared vision. I am also eager to bring a parent’s perspective and welcome any feedback or suggestions from other parents.
	Nicola Pearce Parent Governor My son is currently in Year 4 and I have a younger daughter who will join the school in the near future; I’ll also admit to being a previous Yattendon pupil myself! I’m passionate about race equity, diversity and inclusion and am particularly keen to ensure through my role as governor that all children at Yattendon have access to education and opportunities to thrive at school regardless of background, race and needs.
	Claire Creed Clerk to the Governors