Governors

The Role of the Governing Body

The Edmund Waller Governing Body provides strategic leadership and accountability for the school.

Its main functions are to;

• To provide a strategic overview that ensures the pupils learn most effectively and achieve the highest standards
• Act as a “critical friend” of the school by providing the Executive Head, Head of Schools and staff with support, advice and information and monitor and evaluate to school’s effectiveness and promote the interests of the school and pupils.
• To ensure accountability. We are accountable to parents, pupils, the community, the Local Authority and Ofsted

It is also responsible for many important decisions in the running of the school. These include:

• Appointing the Headteacher and Associate Headteachers. Governors are also involved in the appointment of teaching staff as appropriate.
• Agreeing the aims of the school curriculum and ensuring the national curriculum is implemented
• Determining how the school’s budget is to be used each year
• Dealing with official complaints and exclusions

 

Our Governors

Our governing body includes:

• 12 governor places (Reconstituted December 2020)
• Headteacher 1
• Staff 1
• Appointed by the London Borough of Lewisham 1
• Elected parents of pupils attending the school 3
• Co-opted 6

STRUCTURE
Chair of Governors – Elisabeth Stone
Vice Chair of Governors- Isar Bhattacharjee
Safeguarding Link Governor - Molly McParland

SEND Link Governor - Jess Harris
Pupil Premium Link Governor- Aiesha Feldwick 
Premises and H&S Link Governor Harvir Sangha
Finance Governor- Isar Bhattacharjee
Data/ Curriculum Link Governor- David Kenington 
Pay Committee Chair- Isar Bhattacharjee
Marketing, Communication and Engagement Link Governor- Chris Warnes

Community Link Governor - Tenisha Jones-Davis 
Pupil Discipline Committee and other ad hoc committees- Drawn from a pool of governors as appropriate

Clerk to the Governing Body: Karen O’Brien karenobrien913@btinternet.com

Full Governing Body Meetings

The Governing Body meets every half-term to carry out their duties. 

The approved minutes for these meetings are available on request (minus any confidential matters). To access these minutes, please email the school office directly. office@edmundwaller.lewisham.sch.uk 

This document defines the structure of the governing body: Edmund Waller Instrument of Government

The staff governor is elected by the staff and normally serves for 4 years.

The parent governors are elected to serve the Governing Body by parents of the school and normally serve for 4 years.

Parent governors are pleased to hear about views and ideas and can be contacted in writing via the school office.

The co-opted governors are invited onto the Governing Body, by the Governing Body, to add areas of expertise and to represent the local community. We use a robust set of skills audits to ascertain the requirements and expertise required by the governing body. Co-opted Governors are appointed to serve for 4 years.

A full list of the governors as well as information about their appointment, committee membership, attendance, and the Register of Business interests is available below.

Anne Rennie – Headteacher

Ms. Rennie has been the Headteacher here at Edmund Waller since September 2020.

Debbi Murtagh – Staff Governor

Ms Murtagh has worked at Emund Waller since 2013.  She currently teaches across the school and leads English.

David Kenington – Parent (Link Governor for Curriculum)

“I became a parent governor in June 2019 and my son and daughter attend the school. I am an academic researcher, undertaking post-graduate research University College London, focused on energy use in buildings and its impact on climate change. I also work as a researcher for central Government departments, focused on evaluating energy and climate change policies. I bring a broad range of skills (strategy, communications, business planning, HR and finance) generated from leading a research business and academic research activities. I have a passion for education and sustainability, and will bring these skills to help the school become even more fantastic than it already is.”

Jess Harris – Parent Governor (Link Governor for Curriculum)

"I became a parent governor in May 2023 and have a daughter at Edmund Waller. I have worked in commercial and marketing roles at several cultural venues, including the Natural History Museum, River Cottage, Cheltenham Literature Festival and Swan at Shakespeare’s Globe. I am currently Marketing and E-commerce Director Lords Group Trading Plc. I also work voluntarily as a Trustee at Bristol Old Vic Theatre and a Non-Exec Director on St Paul’s Cathedral’s Enterprise Board."

Local Authority Governor – Isar Bhattacharjee (Finance Link Governor)

“I was delighted to join Edmund Waller as a governor in the first half of 2021. I work as a consultant in the Boston Consulting Group, a global management consulting firm, where I’ve worked on strategy projects, digital transformations, financial scenario planning projects and governance programmes across the private sector, the public sector and third sector organisations. I am particularly passionate about education and evidence based early years interventions, and I am excited to support Edmund Waller wherever I can.”

Liz Stone – Co-opted Governor (Chair of Governors)

“I joined Edmund Waller as a co-opted governor in July 2021. I have worked in education since 1985 , mostly as a teacher and in the latter years of my career as a head teacher. I am now working as an adviser supporting schools within Lewisham with school improvement. I am passionate about improving young people’s life chances through education and enabling pupils to reach their full academic potential, develop high levels of emotional intelligence and a lifelong love of learning. I believe it is paramount that schools are safe and stimulating environments, where pupils and their families feel valued and respected. I am delighted to have the opportunity to contribute to such a caring, creative and successful school community.”

Harvir Sangha - Parent Governor (Premises and Health and Safety Link Governor)

Molly McParland - Co-opted (Safeguarding Link Governor) 

"I was thrilled to join Edmund Waller as a co-opted governor in Summer 2022. I believe all children should have access to a fantastic education. From working on inclusive education policy with UNICEF Armenia as a graduate student, to working in EdTech to make higher education more accessible, I have been involved with initiatives pursuing this aim since I was studying myself. I live locally, and I am honoured to contribute to the safe, caring, and vibrant community at Edmund Waller."

Alongside educational endeavours, I have worked in political risk consulting and senior strategy and operations roles in the technology sector. I have a wealth of experience building and managing strategic projects and new ventures, including leading compliance and infrastructure departments.

Aiesha Feldwick - Co-opted

"I was grateful to have received the offer to become a co-opted governor at Edmund Waller in late 2022. My background is predominantly in change and transformation initiatives in a number of industries, ranging from financial services through to the public sector (and quite a bit in-between). The change programmes I usually work on are focused on finding the balance between financial sustainability, innovation and driving positive and inclusive cultures within organisations, which means I’m often engaging with lots of different people and groups to find solutions that will succeed. In my role as governor I’m excited to add my knowledge and experience to support the great work already happening within the school."