I am currently the Temporary Chair of Governors of Elm Wood having been a member of the Gipsy Hill Federation Governing Board since September and a member of the Elm Wood Local Advisory Board.  I was recruited to Gipsy Hill after being a Parent and then a Co-Opted Governor at another Lambeth Primary School. 

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In my day job I am a Secondary Head Teacher and I have worked across South-East London in a variety of schools over the last 20 years.  I live very locally to the school and as a member of the community am delighted to be the Local Authority representative on the Governing Board.

Rodney has a business background of managing companies trading on a worldwide basis. The businesses included Marine, Logistics, Engineering, Offshore Oil services, General Trading, and Insurance. 

He attended The London Nautical School as a pupil, and also as Chair of Governors. He has been Chair of 3 Primary schools within Lambeth. 

I have been a parent at Elmwood since 2012 when the first of my three children joined reception. I currently have one child in year 5.

I am a local Lambeth Councillor for the ward of West Dulwich and have a background in campaigning on UK child poverty with the End Child Poverty Coalition and prior to that on international economic justice issues. ​​​

Emily has been a civil servant for 15 years working in a variety of government departments including the Department for Education and HM Treasury in principally finance, policy and analytical roles. Since April 2024, she has been the Finance Director for Capital and Investment at the Department of Health and Social Care. She is widely experienced in corporate governance and is a qualified accountant. Before joining the civil service Emily was an academic astronomer investigating the properties of new born stars. 

I am a co-opted governor for Elmwood, having been on the Local Advisory Board since 2022. I am a parent to two children in the school and my eldest is now in secondary school having left Elmwood in Summer 2024. I work for a charity supporting young people in prisons, and I have over 15 years’ experience working in the criminal justice and homelessness sectors, with extensive experience in safeguarding, management, strategy, governance and fundraising. 

I am a recently appointed parent governor with two daughters currently attending Elm Wood Primary School. I have worked in the independent education sector for over 15 years as a secondary school science teacher and sports coach. During this time, I have held a variety of academic and pastoral roles, which have given me a strong understanding of both classroom teaching and the broader support pupils need to thrive. 

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I became a governor because I am passionate about education and keen to contribute to the continued success of Elm Wood. I am particularly interested in supporting teaching and learning across the school, and in ensuring that both pupils and staff are well supported. 

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As a parent and an educator, I hope to bring a balanced and constructive perspective to the governing board and to help the school continue to provide a nurturing and high-quality learning environment for all its pupils. 

I’m a parent at Elmwood and a committee member of the PTA – Friends of Elmwood – where I help organise events and fundraising activities that support and enrich the school experience for all pupils. I also volunteer with Home-Start Lambeth, providing support to local families with young children, which gives me a strong understanding of the challenges many families face. 

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Professionally, I work in academic public health where my role focuses on evaluating and improving health services through research and community engagement. My work often involves collaborating with NHS and community partners to promote equity, wellbeing, and evidence-based practice. I also teach the next generation of public health professionals.

As a parent governor, I’m passionate about helping the school continue to thrive. I aim to bring a thoughtful and inclusive perspective to the governing body and am committed to supporting both the staff and wider parent community to ensure every child has the chance to succeed. 

Headteacher

I have worked at Elm Wood Primary school for 7 years and I am passionate about providing our children with the best possible education so that each individual reaches their true potential. I have worked across KS1 and EYFS and am currently based in Reception. I lead on Early Reading and PSCHE at Elm Wood and I am also a trauma trained practitioner. I really enjoy my role as Staff Governor as I feel it provides me with further opportunities to work alongside staff, families and our community to make sure our pupils receive an enriching and inspiring curriculum in a school where they feel safe and heard.