GROVE PARK PRIMARY - Key Persons
I am delighted to be appointed Parent Governor of Grove Park Primary School. I have lived in Chiswick with my husband since 2015. We have two daughters, one in Year 1 and the other waiting patiently to join Reception in a couple of years. Born and raised in Mexico, I have had the fortune of living in five countries. I am an engineer by training with a Master's in Environmental Policy from Columbia University and have spent well over a decade working in the energy sector. I am passionate about bridging science and technology with business and policy to find ways to decarbonise our electricity system. I love visiting art museums, eating delicious food and spending time with my kids. Since joining the Grove Park community, I have been amazed by the school, the staff and the overall learning environment. I'm encouraged to know that whilst this is already an outstanding school, we are constantly challenging ourselves on how to improve it. I'm very excited to be able to bring my experience and energy to help drive that commitment. I look forward to working with the board, the staff and the parents to make sure we continue to nourish our children while strengthening our diverse community.
I was delighted to be elected as a Co-opted Governor in 2019. I have been based in Richmond since 2013, and have many friends in the area with young families, so I am keen to become more actively involved in the Grove Park community. I am Senior Corporate Counsel at All3Media (the largest TV production and distribution business in the UK) and previously worked in the City as a corporate M&A lawyer. I have a degree in Philosophy and Theology from Oxford University and am a keen yogi and enjoy life drawing in my free time.
Job Titles:
- Chairman Staffing & Community
I'm really happy to have become a governor in 2021. I have two children in the school and one who went all the way through Grove Park from nursery and is now at Chiswick school.
I have a background in corporate IT management and business transformation, but took a turn in my career to run a small retail business in Chiswick working in textile craft with children and adults. I am also keen on sport and coach minis at Barnes Rugby club. I am enthusiastic about children finding their sporting and creative passions, and wish to contribute to the school flourishing and protect those Grove Park characteristics of kindness, support and community.
I am delighted to be chosen to become a Governor of Grove Park Primary School. I attended Grove Park Primary School in the 50's and 60's. With the skilled teaching and learning opportunities I was given, I successfully transferred to Chiswick Grammar School. Eventually I went to University in my early thirties. It was the ethos of my Primary School that engendered a can do philosophy which enabled me to study for my first degree (B.Ed). During this time I was bringing up a young family and working part time to fund my studies.
I taught in schools in Hackney, Wandsworth and Islington. I was a deputy head and then a headteacher. Eventually I became an inspector/school improvement partner in Hammersmith and Fulham. During my time in Wandsworth and Islington I studied for a certificate of education in the teaching of science and gained a diploma for the teaching of the use of computers in Primary Schools. I also studied for an M.A. in school management at Kingston University.
My mother still lives locally to Grove Park and she tells me how she sees children skip to school and who are clearly excited to be going to school. She reminds me that my career in education and the love of learning was a direct result of the experience I had at Grove Park.
I have been a school governor before and know what a privilege it is to work as part of a team to make a difference to the lives of young people. As a Governor my aim is to add value to the life chances of children attending Grove Park as the staff and Governors did when I was at the school.
I am delighted to have this opportunity to support Grove Park Primary School as a Governor. As a resident of Grove Park (3 years) and Chiswick (14 years total) I see great value and delight in supporting the next generation with a school that encourages education, sport, life skills and friendship. I have a daughter in Year 1 and a son who will be looking to join Nursery in the 2024/25 term.
Originally, I am from Scotland and my wife is from California, so the English School system is not one that we are the most familiar with. But I am looking forward to taking on board ideas of others and working as a team to support the school in all aspects that need be reviewed whether this be in personnel, finance, health and safety, sustainability, or future aspirations.
My work background is within distribution and more recently within a Cleaning & Hygiene supplies company. Outside of work, I am focused on my family in watching them grow, develop, and have fun. Personal interests include staying active (mainly running), social aspect around all sports, sharing moments with friends and generally enjoying what Chiswick has to offer on a weekly basis.
It is an honour to be a co-opted Governor of Grove Park and I look forward to working with and supporting this vibrant school community. By profession I am a Consultant Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist, with over 20 years' experience as a clinician and trainer in the NHS, private and third sectors. My special interest is in Neurodevelopmental Conditions such as Autism and ADHD and I have led specialist teams in this area in several CAMH (Child & Adolescent Mental Health) Services. I also have a Master of Laws in Human Rights and experience of SEND, Safeguarding, multi-agency working and advocacy, which I hope to put to good use as a Governor.
As a Mum of a Sixth-Former I believe that parenting is both the best and toughest job in the world, and that education is the most important thing we can give our children. I am lucky enough to have lived most of my life in multicultural cities including Singapore, Hong Kong and Liverpool, and in my spare time enjoy exploring London's food, history and theatre.
Job Titles:
- Chairman of Finance & Premises
I was delighted to be elected as a Co-opted Governor in 2022. I have worked in the City for 15+ years firstly as an auditor with Deloitte where I qualified as a Chartered Accountant and, since 2011, at Bank of America where I am a Managing Director in UK Investment Banking. I studied Mechanical Engineering at Imperial College London. As a long-term resident of Grove Park and father of two, I look forward to contributing to this fantastic school.
Job Titles:
- Chairman Teaching & Learning
As a local resident for over 20 years, I am delighted to have been elected as the new Local Authority Governor for Grove Park Primary School. Whilst growing up in North Wales, I received a very positive, supportive state education and my love of learning was ignited. The support and challenge I received from both my primary and secondary schools allowed me to progress to read mathematics at university - the first member of my family to do so.
I have worked in the educational publishing industry for the past 30 years, most recently leading teams in the development of digital resources to support learners at all levels of the curriculum. I hope my experience, particularly in educational technology, will help to enhance the education of all of pupils at Grove Park and I am grateful to be part of your thriving community.
I have had the privilege of working at three outstanding primary schools over the past 22 years. After graduating from St. Mary's University College in 1997, I was a class teacher and middle leader in Isleworth for 13 years before moving on to start my journey as a senior leader in the role of Assistant Head and later Deputy Head at a school in Wandsworth. I also supported a school in the Local Authority as an Associate Head while they were recruiting a substantive Headteacher. In 2016 I joined Grove Park as Deputy Head and SENCO and loved the school from the moment I visited - there is something very special, almost tangible, about Grove Park and I am hugely honoured to now be the Headteacher of such a wonderfully warm, caring, diverse and dynamic school with truly brilliant children, staff and families. Working alongside governors at four schools has been hugely rewarding and interesting and has enabled me to see the immediate situation as well as inspiring my vision for a school's future. The Governors at Grove Park work tirelessly to provide support and challenge and make sound decisions to ensure that our children and staff are achieving highly and having the best experiences and opportunities possible every day. Outside of school I love nothing more than spending time with my dear family and friends. I have lived in London my whole life and never tire of all our wonderful city has to offer.
Job Titles:
- Business & Operations Leader
It has been a pleasure serving on the Grove Park Primary School Board of Governors for more than four years, more than two of which as Chair of Governors. I took on this role knowing how important it is to have good oversight of and support to the school to help school leadership provide the children with the best education possible. I spent my career working in international organisations focusing on sustainable development, environment and promoting a better life for people living in poverty. I have developed policy, carried out projects, overseen large operations, and held governments to account for their development cooperation performance. Through my work I have lived in Kenya, New York, Afghanistan, Paris and briefly in South Africa and Samoa and travelled extensively in both developed and developing countries. I have witnessed how important it is to give children a good education to set them up for a strong start in life. I have been a frequent visitor to Chiswick since 2006, moving here permanently in early 2018 and am committed to supporting the local community.
My background is in art and design and since the 80s, I have combined running my jewellery practice with lecturing at universities. In 2002 I became the first dyslexia co-ordinator at the Royal College of Art where I remain. The number of post-graduate students without a formal assessment for dyslexia or dyspraxia I see is shocking and consequently I am passionate about children with SEN getting access to assessment and support at primary school. In 2008 I founded a charity ‘Creative Mentors Foundation', the aim of this charity is to help make the arts curriculum at state schools more accessible and rewarding for dyslexic and dyspraxic children. I have lived in Chiswick for 40 years and am married with two grown up daughters. I hope my experiences will enable me to positively contribute as an associate governor at Grove Park School.
I'm Rick, also known as Mr Rick, by the children here at Grove Park. I have been teaching PE at Grove Park for the past 7 years. Before joining Grove Park, I was working with a company that helped primary schools enhance Physical Education within their settings. This gave me a great insight to how PE is taught within a wide range of schools within the Hounslow borough. From the first day I stepped into Grove Park, I knew I'd found an extremely special school. Little did I know I'd go on to meet my now wife and go on to become a father to a lovely son who is now 2 years old. With all my experience of working at Grove Park, I feel very privileged to become the staff governor.
I am delighted to have been appointed Parent Governor of Grove Park Primary School. Originally from Newcastle Upon Tyne, I've lived in London for the past 20 years and in Chiswick since 2015. My husband is originally from New Zealand and we have a son in Year 2 and a one and a half year old daughter, who attends a local nursery.
I studied European Business with French at Nottingham Trent University and I am a qualified accountant. I'm currently a VP of Finance and have held a variety of Finance roles within the FMCG/Healthcare sector working with many well-known household brands such as P&G, GSK and Reckitt Benckiser. I have lead significant strategic business and finance transformation programmes, designed and implemented diversity and inclusion initiatives, and developed high performing teams.
As a daughter of a teacher and having been state school educated from primary through to high school, I'm incredibly passionate about supporting the continued success of state schools and enhancing all children's chances in life.
The Grove Park Community is truly very special and we are very lucky to be part of it. Since my son joined Grove Park Primary, I've seen first-hand how the values of the school are truly lived by all and how we pull together to achieve amazing results.
I am really looking forward to bringing my experience to the Board of Governors, working with the Staff and Parent school community for the continued success of the school and children's educational development.
I am truly honoured to have been appointed a parent governor in 2021. I have a daughter in Year 1 at Grove Park and a 1.5 year old son who will hopefully attend Grove Park primary in a few years. A member of the PTA team for the second year running (I was co-chair last year), I have been working hard at raising money for the school (e.g. I created the Grove Park Halloween trail which has been a success over the last 2 years).I have lived in Grove Park for many years and am passionate in volunteering my time to support the local community. I have a MBA in international marketing and an 18-year career in Marketing and Communications. I am currently the VP of marketing for an insurtech business. I have set up and run several charities to support women in business and access to apprenticeships for disadvantaged youth. I have a dual French/ English citizenship and have lived in many countries (South Africa, France, Japan, USA, UK), which has given me a lifelong interest for diversity and multiculturalism. I am really looking forward to using my expertise in event management and marketing and my business acumen in my role as a governor.