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Luddenham School Every Child Can Achieve

Board of Trustees (Governors)

Welcome to Our Trustees' Page

 

Who are the Luddenham School trustees and what do they do?  

At Luddenham we have trustees rather than governors.  This is because the school is an academy trust and receives its funding direct from central government.  Trustees do the same job as governors in other schools.  

 

Luddenham's trustees are there to support the headteacher and staff, to be 'critical friends' to the school, providing advice and ensuring the school budget is spent appropriately, as well as developing and setting policies.  Trustees also investigate complaints. 

 

Trustees are required to make decisions which they believe are in the best interests of the whole school: children, parents and staff. 

 

The trustees are a mix of individuals who have a current interest in the school (parents), those who have a long-standing association (parents of children who have since left the school), and people who want to support families and the local community.  All trustees, with the exception of the headteacher, are volunteers.

 

Our Trustees

 

Tony Carroll

 

Member Appt’ed

Elected:  02/12/2020

Term Ends: 03/12/2024

 

I have been a Trustee at Luddenham since 2016, serving on the Operations Team and Audit Committee, as well as being the designated Trustee for Health & Safety.

 

I have three young children, with two attending another primary school in Faversham.  I became a trustee to give something back to the local community, and to help ensure the children at the school are well supported in their development.

 

I am the Financial Controller at a housing association in Kent. I am a CIMA qualified accountant, and have worked in finance roles in the transport, distribution, FMCG and manufacturing sectors.  I also worked as a teacher of English as a foreign language in Asia before my career in finance.

 

 

Arnaud Sartre

 

Parent Trustee

Elected:  23/11/2020

Term Ends:22/11/2024

I am a scientist by training, turned IT consultant providing services to Life Sciences organisations.  I have 20 years’ experience in scientific and digital solutions and a digital evangelist. I am a strong advocate for STEM topics.

I recently led the UK branch of a global non-profit educational organisation dedicated to empowering individuals to become more effective communicators and leaders.

 

As a parent governor, I am keen to provide my professional and non-profit experience to support Luddenhman School achieve its potential so that “every child can achieve”

 

Clare Mitchell

Vice Chair

 

Parent Trustee

Elected:  23/11/2020

Term Ends:  22/11/2024

 

I have been a Parent trustee at Luddenham since November 2020 and am currently Vice Chair of the board.

 

I initially came to the board as I wanted to contribute to the wider community of the school that both of my children have attended and share my skills from the education sector: In my working life, I am a fully qualified Primary Teacher and have worked within the sector for over 15 years and currently teach part time.

 

In my role as a trustee, I am the lead trustee for Safeguarding and I chair the curriculum committee

 

 

Dominic Deeson

Chair

 

Trustee Appt’ed

Elected:  28/01/2022

Term Ends: 27/01/2026

 

I have been a governor / trustee for primary schools since 1988.

 

With three of my children attending Luddenham, I have been involved with the governing body of the school for many years.  I was delighted to return to the board at Luddenham in January 2022 as Chair.

 

I am a retired magazine publisher.

 

 

Sahil Bhagat

 

Trustee Appt'ed

Elected:  09/02/2022

Term Ends:  08/02/2026

 

 

I am a senior developer with Teneo based in London, where I am responsible to develop internal systems and provide bespoke IT solutions to business users.

 

I have over 15 years’ experience working in the IT industry which includes development, tools integration, DevOps, analysis and designing software. My most of the IT experience is in Finance domain and its related software.

 

I have completed my post graduate degree in Computer Applications, and have done my graduation in Economics and Maths

 

 

 

Claire Vincett

 

Principle

Ex-Officio

Elected:  03/10/2022

Term Ends:  n/a

 

I have been a qualified teacher for over 20 years with over 15 years in senior leadership.  I have worked in all year groups from EYFS to Year 6.

 

I have had additional responsibility prior to this role in Curriculum, Teaching and Learning, Maths, Assessment, Attendance, Mentoring and Pupil Premium.  I have also been a staff governor in a previous school.

 

I am extremely excited and privileged to take on the role of Headteacher at Luddenham where I look forward to working with such an enthusiastic and dedicated team focused on providing an ambitious curriculum for all our pupils so that ‘Every Child can Achieve.’

 

 

Paul James

 

Trustee Appt'ed

Elected:  16/01/2023

Term Ends:  15/01/2027

 

Over the last 20 years I have worked for Berkeley Homes and I am currently Head of Quality Control for East Thames.  I worked with high-end customers (VIPs) in West London and also managed the facilities at one of our Regional offices at Chelsea. Before my current position I was Head of Customer Services, looking after our customers on post-occupation. Dealing with minor leaks to major building related projects.

 

Before joining Berkeley Homes I was in the Corps of Royal Engineers for 23yrs. I have enjoyed working in different countries and engaging with various cultures all over the world.

 

 I was a keen sportsman representing the Tri-Services at Fencing and Rugby at Regimental level. My memorable moment was to help out at the 2012 London Olympics. I volunteered as a Games Maker for the Olympic Fencing Committee working in the 'Call Room' and main arena.

 

 

Katrina Fisher

 

Member Appt'ed

Elected:  09/05/2023

Term Ends:  08/05/2027

 

Prior to my retirement, I had a varied teaching career ranging from classroom teaching early years to adults.  I moved on to senior leadership taking on the headship of a small failing primary school which was successfully turned around. I started working for Leadership Learning South-East (LLSE) and was invited to be part of the planning team for the Senior Leader and Headship programmes (National Professional Qualification for Leading Teaching). I am a trained assessor for the new suite of NPQs and undertake assessment work for NPQ Online.

 

I am married and live with my husband who is also retired.  We love to travel and own a house in France, giving me a chance to use the French skills I acquired working in the French department of a London secondary school.   

 

The Trustees of Luddenham share a compelling and inspirational vision for the future and I very much look forward to being part of this journey.

 

 

Paul Smith

 

Member Appt'ed

Elected:  09/05/2023

Term Ends:  08/05/2027

Having trained to become a primary teacher at University of London, I left to live and work in northern Greece.  Returning to the UK I was appointed as a primary teacher with the responsibility for the management of PE and History.  Prior to my retirement in July 2015, I had held two very successful headships in London and Enfield.

 

Having retired, I lived in SW France having set up my own small gite business before returning to the UK in Oct 2022.

 

Throughout my career my philosophy for primary education has been pretty consistent. It should be based on a broad, balanced curriculum that allows children a whole range of experiences, from music to art to sport to outdoor education, which together with high expectations and enlightened teaching is life shaping. Get this in place and all the other factors that make a good school would naturally follow. 

 

 

Graeme Burrows

 

Member Appt'ed

Elected:  19/06/2023

Term Ends:  18/06/2027

Prior to my recent retirement, I was a youth worker for over 30 years working primarily with young people 'at risk of offending'. Developing an inevitable interest in the causes of crime and its potential solutions, I later studied Criminal Justice at Leicester University.

 

On completion of my Masters degree I worked in local government for the next 10 years as a Borough, then later a County Community Safety Officer.

 

My role within the Trustees team at Luddenham is to contribute to, and develop, the 'Wellbeing' strategy for both staff and pupils.

 

Chair of Trustees

Mr Dominic Deeson  - ddeeson@luddenham.kent.sch.uk

 

Vice Chair of Trustees

Mrs Clare Mitchell - cmitchell@luddenham.kent.sch.uk

 

Governance Professional (Clerk)

Nikki Crossley - ncrossley@luddenham.kent.sch.uk

Board of Trustees Structure

 

ChairDominic Deeson
Vice ChairClare Mitchell
HeadteacherClaire Vincett
Audit Committee

Arnaud Sartre (Chair)

Claire Vincett

Tony Carroll

Dominic Deeson

 

In attendance:  Valerie Hardwood, Chief Financial Officer

Operations Committee

Tony Carroll (Chair)

Claire Vincett 

Clare Mitchell

Dominic Deeson

 

In attendance:  Valerie Hardwood, Chief Financial Officer

Pay Committee

Tony Carroll (Chair)

Clare Mitchell

Paul Smith 

 

In attendance:  Valerie Hardwood, Chief Financial Officer

Curriculum TrusteePaul Smith
Early Years Foundation Stage TrusteeArnaud Sartre
Health & Safety TrusteeTony Carroll
Leadership and Management TrusteeKatrina Fisher
Pupil Premium and Sports Premium TrusteePaul James
Opal Learning TrusteePaul James
Safeguarding TrusteeClare Mitchell
Special Educational Needs & Disabilities TrusteeSahil Bhagat
Wellbeing TrusteeGraeme Burrows

 

Financial Statement 2021-2022

Financial Statement 2020-2021

Financial Statement 2019-2020

Members

Mrs Susan Bayford - Appointed 15th January 2018

Mr Frank Sowrey - Appointed 15th January 2018

Mr Richard Woodroofe - Appointed 2nd March 2012

Mr Matthew Hogben -  Appointed 30th June 2022

Companies House Registration No 7974434

Fairness, Leadership, Imagination, Grit, Honesty, Team Work

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