The governors are the strategic leaders of schools and they have a vital role to play in making sure every child gets the best possible education. The Governing Body is the school’s key strategic decision-making body. It has a collective, legal responsibility for the effective management of the school, acting within a framework established by national legislation and the school’s agreed policies, and ensuring all statutory duties are met.
The Education Act 2002 states that the purpose of maintained school governing bodies is to 'conduct the school with a view to promoting high standards of educational achievement at the school'. IN all types of schools, governing bodies focus on three core strategic functions:
Governors are volunteers who bring knowledge, skills and different perspectives from their work and life experiences. They are not paid for their work. Many of them have full-time jobs and all have other commitments. They sometimes take time off from their work to visit the school or attend meetings, although most meetings are held in the evening.
Governors are not expected to take detailed decisions about the day-to-day running of the school. That is the responsibility of the headteacher - although the headteacher will discuss most aspects of school life with the governors. The partnership between the headteacher, staff, governors, parents, pupils and the wider community determines how well the school functions.
When Cannon Lane First and Junior Schools amalgamated on 1 September 2013 the Governing Bodies reconstituted to become the Cannon Lane Primary School Governing Body.
The Governing Body comprises:
In addition, Associate Members can also be appointed by the governing body to serve on one or more governing body committees to contribute to areas where they have a particular expertise e.g. finance, legal, marketing. However, they do not have voting rights.
The school's Deputy Headteacher attends as an observer to the Governing body.
The Governing Board meets each half term, so that is six meetings every school year. There are three committees:
There are also smaller committees and working groups which review areas such as the school development plan, staff pay and performance management, deal with safeguarding.
Individual governors are also linked to a particular subject area, meeting termly with each subject leader.
As well as attending the regular governing body and committee meetings, governors:
If you would like to find out more about becoming a school governor, please contact us using the online contact form or via the school office. More information may also be found at Harrow Council website's School Governor section, the National Governor Association and the DfE.
Harrow Council provides free training for new governors and we have an in-house induction programme for new governors to help you in this important role.
Lucy Yasin Chair of Governing Body & Parent Governor
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Jonathan S. Simons
Vice Chair and Co-Opted Governor
![]() | Personal Statement: I started as a Governor at Cannon Lane (First, Middle and now Primary) School since my sons attended, and have subsequently been fortunate enough to have been a Local Authority Governor and continued as a Co-Opted Governor since then. I am currently the Vice Chair of the Board of Governors. |
Type of Governor: | Co-Opted |
Appointment Body: | Governing Body |
Term Start: | 04/11/2017 |
Term End: | 03/11/2025 |
Committees: | Premises, Health & Safety Committee |
Responsibilities: | Vice Chair, RE Governor, Relationships & Sex Education Governor, Rights Respecting School Award Governor and Spiritual, Moral, Social and Cultural Values Governor |
Pecuniary and Personal Interests: | None |
FGB Attendance 2021/2022: | 5/6 |
Alastair Phillips
Headteacher/Staff Governor
![]() | Personal Statement: I have been Headteacher of Cannon Lane School since September 2014 and sit on the Governing Body as a Headteacher Governor. Before working as a Headteacher, I worked for Bracknell Forest Education Department as a School Improvement Advisor. |
Type of Governor: | Staff |
Appointment Body: | Local Authority |
Term Start: | 01/09/2014 |
Term End: | |
Committees: | Premises, Health & Safety Committee, Curriculum & Community Committee and Finance & Personnel Committee |
Responsibilities: | Headteacher |
Pecuniary and Personal Interests: | None |
FGB Attendance 2021/2022: | 6/6
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Sarah Skerton
Local Authority Appointed Governor
![]() | Personal Statement: I became a Parent Governor of Cannon Lane First School in 2005 when both my sons attended the school. In 2009 I became vice chair and have been Chair since the school amalgamated to become Cannon Lane Primary School in 2013. During this time, it's been a privilege to have taken an active part in working with our children, staff and governors to develop and expand Cannon Lane Primary School. I believe all children are entitled to achieve their potential, by us providing an excellent standard of education and environment for them to learn in. |
Type of Governor: | Local Authority |
Appointment Body: | Local Authority |
Term Start: | 01/09/2021 |
Term End: | 31/08/2025 |
Committees: | Finance & Personnel Committee |
Responsibilities: | Personal, Social & Health Education Governor, Modern Foreign Languages Governor and Safer Recruitment Governor |
Pecuniary and Personal Interests: | None |
FGB Attendance 2021/2022: | 6/6 |
Selina Connick
Staff Governor
![]() | Personal Statement: I joined the Governing Board in February 2021 as a Staff Governor. My teaching career started in 2010, then in 2018 I joined the teaching team at Cannon Lane Primary School. My teaching experience spans across all Primary years. Currently I am a Year 1 teacher and a PE Subject Leader.
Out of school my interests include ballet, running, walking my dog and looking after my children.
Becoming part of the Governing Board will enable me to share my experiences as a member of staff with the Governors, whilst also gaining an insight of the various roles and responsibilities being a School Governor involves. |
Type of Governor: | Staff |
Appointment Body: | Elected by staff |
Term Start: | 05/02/2021 |
Term End: | 04/02/2025 |
Committees: | Curriculum & Community Committee |
Responsibilities: | None |
Pecuniary and Personal Interests: | None |
FGB Attendance 2021/2022: | 5/6 |
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Rachel Willmott Staff Governor |
![]() | Personal Statement: I joined Cannon Lane Primary School in 2017 as a Year 3 teacher. This academic year, I have moved to Year 6 and have taken on the role of Maths Leader, which has allowed me to gain experience in both Key Stages within the school. This has helped me get a wider understanding of the support needed for children to move forward and the support needed by teachers to help them. Prior to teaching at Cannon Lane, I was a teaching assistant, which gave me an insight into schools from a different viewpoint I am looking forward to bringing my viewpoint as a staff member to the meetings and seeing the school from a different perspective. |
Type of Governor: | Staff |
Appointment Body: | Elected by staff |
Term Start: | 30/09/2019 |
Term End: | 29/09/2023 |
Committees: | Premises, Health & Safety Committee and Curriculum & Community Committee |
Responsibilities: | None |
Pecuniary and Personal Interests: | Relative is Clerk to Governors at Kingsley and Roxbourne School |
FGB Attendance 2021/2022: | 6/6 |
Elizabeth Hindmarsh
Co-opted Governor
![]() | Personal Statement: Beth graduated with a BA (Hons) in History from Cambridge University, specialising in Class, Identity and Politics of Inter-War Britain. After graduating she became a Head of House at a state school in Northampton, leading on the pastoral development of 150 students from years 7-13. Beth is a TeachFirst Ambassador. She completed her History PGCE at The Crest Academies with University College London, Institute of Education (UCL IOE) where she moved into a role driving the provision of University access for the more able. She then went on to train teachers in Harrow for TeachFirst, before completing her Masters in 'Education Leadership' in 2016 from UCL IOE. Beth joined Pinner High School in September 2017, as Head of Year 8, leading on the development of her year group and with a focus to bring history to life! |
Type of Governor: | Co-opted |
Appointment Body: | Governing Body |
Term Start: | 30/09/2019 |
Term End: | 29/09/2023 |
Committees: | Chair of Curriculum & Community Committee |
Responsibilities: | Science Governor, History Governor and Geography Governor |
Pecuniary and Personal Interests: | Deputy Head Teacher at Pinner High School |
FGB Attendance 2021/2022: | 5/6 |
Dr Kerry Day
Co-opted Governor
![]() | Personal Statement: I have had the privilege of being a governor at Cannon Lane since 2013 – initially as a parent governor and now as a co-opted governor. I have been the designated safeguarding governor for 9 years and I am also responsible for monitoring pupil premium. Other responsibilities include being the link governor for EYFS and as part of the curriculum and community committee. As a paediatrician, the development of children is something I have always cared passionately about. I believe an education that is inspiring, wide ranging and fun gives young people the best possible start in life. I enjoy my role, ensuring that high standards of learning are delivered and by providing strategic leadership and accountability to support the school as it grows. |
Type of Governor: | Co-opted |
Appointment Body: | Elected by Governing Body |
Term Start: | 04/11/2021 |
Term End: | 03/11/2025 |
Committees: | Curriculum and Community Committee |
Responsibilities: | Safeguarding Governor, Pupil Premium Governor and EYFS Governor |
Pecuniary and Personal Interests: | Governor at Pinner High School |
FGB Attendance 2021/2022: | 5/6 |
Malvi Patel
Parent Governor
![]() | Personal Statement: I have been a parent of the school since 2015 and currently have 3 sons attending Cannon Lane. I have always taken an active interest in the school and have enjoyed volunteering at various events at school over the years. |
Type of Governor: | Parent |
Appointment Body: | Elected by Parents |
Term Start: | 14/05/2021 |
Term End: | 13/05/2025 |
Committees: | Curriculum & Community Committee |
Responsibilities: | English Governor and Art / Design Technology Governor |
Pecuniary and Personal Interests: | None |
FGB Attendance 2021/2022: | 6/6 |
Paul Crouch
Parent Governor
![]() | Personal Statement:
I have been involved with the school since 2017 and have been a Parent Governor since 2019. I sit on the Finance Committee and have the responsibility as the Link Governor for Computing & Online Safety.
Growing up locally, I went to Longfield and Whitmore. I have taken an active role with the school since my eldest daughter joined and have helped at various school events including acting as a DJ at Cannon Fest, or as an announcer at the Christmas Fair. |
Type of Governor: | Parent |
Appointment Body: | Elected by parents |
Term Start: | 18 December 2019 |
Term End: | 17 December 2023 |
Committees: | Chair of Finance & Personnel Committee |
Responsibilities: | Link Governor for Computing & Online Safety |
Pecuniary and Personal Interests: | None |
FGB Attendance 2021/2022: | 6/6 |
Lakshminarayanan Seshan
Parent Governor
![]() | Personal Statement:
I became a Parent Governor of Cannon Lane Primary School in November 2022. I have two sons studying in the school. I look forward to representing the views of parents and students in ensuring that the school continues to maintain its high standards and reputation. I have varied experience in IT, Operations and Banking across India, UK and US. I am currently working as Chief Financial Officer for a mid-sized International Bank and looking forward to bringing my experience in corporate governance, Finance and Banking experience to the role. |
Type of Governor: | Parent |
Appointment Body: | Elected by parents |
Term Start: | 17 October 2022 |
Term End: | 16 October 2026 |
Committees: | TBC |
Responsibilities: | TBC |
Pecuniary and Personal Interests: | None |
FGB Attendance 2021/2022: | N/A |
Jaqueline Lack
Co-opted Governor
![]() | I was co-opted as a governor at Cannon Lane Primary School in January 2023. I worked in education for over 40 years and was the Head Teacher of a primary school for 18 years before my retirement.
I am a passionate about children's learning and hope i can bring experience and knowledge to the Governing Body. I believe that every child is entitled to a good all-round education, whatever their ability and that as a school we must strive to meet their needs within a fun and safe learning environment.
I look forward to working with the Head Teacher, Governors, parents and staff to continue to provide excellent opportunities for Cannon Lane pupils. |
Type of Governor: | Co-opted |
Appointment Body: | Governing Body |
Term Start: | 30 January 2023 |
Term End: | 29 January 2027 |
Committees: | TBC |
Responsibilities: | TBC |
Pecuniary and Personal Interests: | None |
FGB Attendance 2021/2022: | N/A |
Priya Bansal Williams
Co-opted Governor
![]() | Awaiting Content |
Type of Governor: | Co-opted |
Appointment Body: | Governing Body |
Term Start: | 30 January 2023 |
Term End: | 29 January 2027 |
Committees: | TBC |
Responsibilities: | TBC |
Pecuniary and Personal Interests: | TBC |
FGB Attendance 2021/2022: | N/A |