BIRCHWOOD - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Member of the Chairs of Committee
- Community Governor
Job Titles:
- Member of the Chairs of Committee
- Staff Governor ( Support )
Job Titles:
- Member of the Chairs of Committee
- Parent Governor
Job Titles:
- Member of the Chairs of Committee
Job Titles:
- Chairman of the Steering Committee
- Chairman of Trustees / Member / Science / Equality
- Chairman of Trustees / Science / Consultancy
- Vice Chair of Trustees
Catherine Gater is Chair of Trustees and Chair of the Steering Committee. Catherine trained as a scientist and has a background in project management and equality and diversity. Catherine has been a governor for 8 years and has 2 sons who have both attended Birchwood. Catherine particularly enjoys working with the school to achieve an inclusive and supportive educational environment.
Job Titles:
- Chairman of Estates )
- IT Consultant / Finance
Chris Emery is appointed by parents and is an IT consultant in the finance sector. He is Chair of the Estates Committee.
Cllr. Richard Townsend. Resident in Hockerill since 1992, with 3 now adult "children", his career has predominantly centred on S/W and computing Training, Development and operations management. His earlier days saw Police service in Enfield and Cartographic drafting across North London along with MOD and TFL Project implementation. Since retiring (several Times) Richard has trained Guide dog puppies and now serves as a Governor, as Ward Councilor for All Saints on Town & District Councils, a trustee for street Pastors along with several BSTC & EHDC Committees. He delights in working with local schools, churches and charities in a continued effort to contribute and make difference to our community and Town.
Job Titles:
- Chairman
- Chairman of Audit and Risk )
Connor Wyatt is a local resident and an adoptive parent. Professionally he is a Chartered Accountant specialising in Corporate International Tax. He is Chair of the Audit Committee.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Chairs of Committee
Job Titles:
- Member of the Chairs of Committee
- Community Governor
Job Titles:
- Consultant
- Member / Education / Psychology
Dr Annie Swanepoel is a Consultant Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist working in Essex. Her two sons attended Birchwood and she was a parent governor at the school for more than 8 years. She is committed to the needs of children with special educational needs, including mental health problems and is supportive of a whole school approach to wellbeing.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Chairs of Committee
- Staff Governor ( Teacher )
Job Titles:
- Member of the Chairs of Committee
- Parent Governor
Job Titles:
- Member of the Chairs of Committee
- Parent Governor
Job Titles:
- Member of the Chairs of Committee
- Community Governor
Job Titles:
- Member of the Chairs of Committee
- Community Governor
Job Titles:
- Member of the Chairs of Committee
- Parent Governor
Job Titles:
- Member of the Chairs of Committee
- Community Governor
Job Titles:
- Member of the Chairs of Committee
- Staff Governor ( Principal ) Ex Officio / Director
Job Titles:
- Company Secretary / Clerk to Trustees / Committee Minute - Taker
Jane Mansfield has been a governor for almost 2 years and was previously a governor at a local primary school. She chairs the Personnel Committee and has a son in year 11. She has a background in corporate banking and corporate risk management.
Job Titles:
- Parent Governor and Chair of the Birchwood PSFA
Jane Wach is Parent Governor and Chair of the Birchwood PSFA. Jane has a passion for Fashion and originally trained in Fashion and Design. Jane now works for an online clothing retailer managing their sourcing , compliance and sustainably programs. Jane has been a governor for a year and has a daughter attending Birchwood. Jane loves being part of the school's journey as a governor and fund raising for the school through the PSFA event.
Jason Boyce is a parent governor and sits on the Estates and Finance Committee.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Personnel Committee
Jim Winter is a member of the Personnel Committee and has expertise in personnel in a business setting. Jim is married with two grown up daughters and lives in Bishop's Stortford and is currently UK Regional Director for the Chartered Institute of Securities & Investment (CISI), a professional body for the financial services sector. Jim has spent some 30 years in financial services, including roles at Lloyds Bank, AIG and Canada Life. He has run, managed, coached and developed several teams of people in his career, ranging in size from 10 - 150 individuals, as well as delivering regular training sessions on personal development.
Job Titles:
- Accountant
- Chairman of Finance )
John Oglesby joined Birchwood's Governing Body in September 2021 as a Parent Governor and is currently Chair of the Finance and Estates Committee. Having previously been the Chair of Governors at Manuden Primary School for 8 years. He lives in Berden with his wife and 2 teenage sons. By day, John is a qualified accountant working for Abcam plc but, in the evenings and at weekends, you can often find him on stage as an active member of Clavering's and Newport's Amateur Dramatics groups.
John Oglesby joined Birchwood's Governing Body in September 2021 as a Parent Governor (member of the Finance and Estates Committee) having previously been the Chair of Governors at Manuden Primary School for 8 years. He lives in Berden with his wife and 2 teenage sons. By day, John is a qualified accountant working for Abcam plc but, in the evenings and at weekends, you can often find him on stage as an active member of Clavering's and Newport's Amateur Dramatics groups.
Karen Poole is a Parent Governor, sits on the Curriculum Committees and was previously a governor at a local primary school. Karen has two sons at Birchwood, and has worked at Tesco for over 25 years with roles including commercial, customer marketing, product development and programme management.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Personnel Committee
- Chairman of Estates / Accountant
Leigh Lloyd Warren is a member of the Personnel Committee and has a background in accountancy and the construction industry.
Lucie Gallagher is a co-opted Community Governor and joined the Board of Trustees in September 2022. She sits on the Personnel Committee. She has three sons and has a background in Primary education. Lucie has been a teacher, museum curator and was previously a Governor at a local primary school.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Chairs of Committee
Job Titles:
- Member of the Chairs of Committee
- Community Governor
Job Titles:
- Head of Faculty / Head of Art
Job Titles:
- Head of Faculty
- Religious Studies / Sociology
Job Titles:
- Head of Faculty ( Spanish / French )
- Spanish and French / Head of Faculty
Job Titles:
- Head of Faculty
- Head of Maths Faculty ( Mathematics / Statistics )
Job Titles:
- Food Technology and Nutrition
Job Titles:
- Head of Media and Film ( Media Studies / Film Studies )
Job Titles:
- Head of Chemistry ( Chemistry / Science
Job Titles:
- Head of Faculty / Head of Physics / CCO
Job Titles:
- Key Stage Co - Ordinator ( Mathematics
Job Titles:
- Head of KS3 Science ( Science
Job Titles:
- Science / PSHCE Co - Ordinator
Job Titles:
- Assistant Principal
- Media Studies / Film Studies
Sam Griffin is Principal of Birchwood and is an ex officio member of the Board of Trustees.
Job Titles:
- Food Technology and Nutrition
Job Titles:
- Teacher
- Head of Biology ( Science
Job Titles:
- Key Stage Co - Ordinator ( Mathematics
Job Titles:
- Accountant
- Chairman of Governors
- Chairman of the Finance Committee
- Chairman of the Steering Committee
- Chairman of Trustees
- Vice Chair
Gill Turner is Vice Chair of Trustees and Chair of the Finance Committee. Gill's son attends Birchwood and she was elected as a parent trustee in 2018. Gill's professional background is as a Chartered Accountant and Tax Adviser, with more than twenty years' experience of working in advisory roles. Gill aims to support the school in ensuring access and opportunity for all students.
Job Titles:
- Head of Faculty ( Religious Studies / Psychology
Job Titles:
- Deputy Principal / Quality Assurance
Job Titles:
- Head of Faculty
- History / Politics
Job Titles:
- Member / Science / Business
Job Titles:
- Member / Finance / Accountancy
Job Titles:
- Member of the Chairs of Committee
- Staff Governor ( Teacher )
Job Titles:
- Member of the Chairs of Committee
- Parent Governor
Job Titles:
- Member of the Chairs of Committee
- Staff Governor ( Teacher )
Job Titles:
- Member of the Chairs of Committee
- Staff Governor ( Teacher )
Job Titles:
- Member of the Chairs of Committee
Job Titles:
- Member of the Chairs of Committee
- Community Governor
Job Titles:
- Chairman
- Chairman of Curriculum )
Ruth Bamlett is the English Link and is Chair of Curriculum Committee. She has a background in primary education as a Headteacher.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Chairs of Committee
- Parent Governor
Job Titles:
- Member of the Chairs of Committee
- Community Governor
Job Titles:
- Member of the Chairs of Committee
- Community Governor
Job Titles:
- Member of the Chairs of Committee
- Community Governor
Job Titles:
- Member of the Chairs of Committee
- Community Governor
Job Titles:
- Member of the Chairs of Committee
Job Titles:
- Member of the Chairs of Committee
- Community Governor
Job Titles:
- Member of the Chairs of Committee
- Parent Governor
Job Titles:
- Member of the Chairs of Committee
- Parent Governor
Job Titles:
- Member of the Chairs of Committee
- Parent Governor
Job Titles:
- Member of the Chairs of Committee
- Parent Governor
Job Titles:
- Member of the Chairs of Committee
- Community Governor
Job Titles:
- Member of the Chairs of Committee
- Community Governor