Governors
ABOUT OUR GOVERNORS
Our Governors work collaboratively as part of the school Leadership Team to promote and develop the school vision. Their role is strategic and responsibilities include: employing staff, managing resources, ensuring a broad and balanced curriculum, maintaining high standards, working effectively with parents and ensuring that the staff and children have a high quality working environment. Our Governors work very hard for the development of successful learning at Bernards Heath and there are a variety of times during the school year when you can meet them. The school’s Governing Body is made up of 4 Governors elected by parents, the Head Teacher, 1 Governor elected by staff, 1 Governor appointed by Hertfordshire County Council and 7 Governors co-opted by other Governors. Appointments are for four years, although vacancies do occasionally occur at other times.
Click here to see a list of our Governors
A Governor’s time commitment is significant and they have a number of meetings throughout the year. They have six full Governing Body meetings and six committee meetings each year. All Governors belong to one Committee, either:
- Resources (Personnel, Premises and Finance)
- Leaders for Learning (Pupils and Curriculum)
Appeals, Exclusions & Behaviour Committee and Grievances Committee: Ad hoc panels
- Pay panel – Abi Newbigging, Esther Hill, Paul Durant
- Headteacher’s appraisal panel – Penny Dent, Sarah Pike, Abi Newbigging
- Complaints panel – Esther Hill, Sarah Pike, Hayley Thomas
Governors are also linked to the School Development Plan and are encouraged to make three visits a year during the teaching day to talk to the children and staff, to informally observe teaching and learning and to learn more about the day to day work of the school.
The Governing Body provide strategic management and act as a ‘critical friend’ supporting the work of the Head Teacher and other staff.
Schools have a budget and the Governing Body is responsible for managing this budget. They support the Head Teacher in deciding how many and what types of staff to employ, which type of equipment to replace or upgrade and what the priorities are for implementing new strategies and initiatives. The Governors also have a role in monitoring the school’s progress.
The Governors do not get paid for their work at school – it is a voluntary role. People often apply to join the Governing Body because they are keen to make a commitment to their local community.
Anyone can become a Governor, some of our Governors work full-time, some part-time, and others are not in paid employment, but they all share one thing – a commitment to the children at Bernards Heath Infant School today and in the future. We welcome people with skills and expertise in particular fields, but the most important thing is having the time and willingness to work with the school to make it as good as it possibly can be.
Elections are held for new Governors as and when the need arises. Any parent or guardian of a child at our school is eligible to stand for election. You may want to talk to a current Governor if you would like to find out more about joining the Governing Body.
The Governors are pleased to meet with parents. You can contact them by emailing governors@bernardsheath.herts.sch.uk. The Governors also attend our parent teacher consultations, plays, fetes etc. to meet as many parents as they can.
OUR GOVERNORS

Penny Dent – Chair of Governors
- First Appointed Parent Governor (1st November 2013) converted to Co-opted Governor (1st November 2017) Current Term ends 19th September 2025
- Appointed by the Governing Body
- Responsibilities: Resources Committee, Safeguarding, Recruitment, Spencer Class Link
- Attendance (2020-2021): 5 out of 5 (FGB); 5 out of 5 (RC)
Read more...

Gemma Cole – Deputy Chair of Governors
- Parent Governor (18th March 2021) Current terms ends 17th March 2025
- Appointed by Parent Election
- Responsibilities: Leaders for Learning Committee, SEN, English (Writing), Foundation Stage Assessment, Ryder Class Link
- Attendance: (2020-2021): 2 out of 2 (FGB); 1 out of 1 (LfL)
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Abi Newbigging
- Co-Opted Governor (1st September 2015) Current terms ends 30th August 2023
- Appointed by Governing Body
- Responsibilities: Resources Committee (Co-Chair), RE, Computing, History, Geography, Collective Worship, Clarence Class Link
- Attendance (2020-2021): 5 out of 5 (FGB); 5 out of 5 (RC)
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Paul Durant
- Co-opted Governor (1st September 2015) Current terms ends 30th August 2023
- Appointed by: Governing Body
- Responsibilities: Resources Committee (Co-Chair), Financial Procedures/SFVS, Asset Management, IT, Heath Class link
- Attendance (2020-2021): 5 out of 5 (FGB); 4 out of 5 (RC)
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Esther Hill
- First Appointed Parent Governor (5th February 2018) converted to Co-opted Governor (20th September 2021) Current term ends 19th September 2025
- Appointed by Governing Body
- Responsibilities: Resources Committee, Premises, Sports Premium, Health & Safety/Asbestos, Mitchell Class Link
- Attendance (2020-2021): 5 out of 5 (FGB); 5 out of 5 (RC)
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Sarah Pike
- First Appointed Parent Governor (12th July 2017) converted to Co-opted Governor (20th September 2021) Current term ends 19th September 2025
- Appointed by Governing Body
- Responsibilities: Leaders for Learning Committee (Chair), English (Reading), Pupil Premium Grant and Children Looked After, Verulam Class Link
- Attendance (2020-2021): 5 out of 5 (FGB); 5 out of 5 (LfL)
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I left Tesco in 2015, perfect timing as it gave me the opportunity to focus full-time on my son, who started in Reception at Bernard’s Heath Infant & Nursery school later that year. And I was delighted to become a governor when the opportunity arose. I had long wanted to become a school governor, and was excited about the chance to use my skills to contribute to the future of the school and its children.
I currently work as a freelance consultant specialising in retail location and network planning, when time permits!

Nasima Rahman
- Co-opted Governor (1st September 2016) Current terms ends 31st August 2024
- Appointed by Governing Body
- Responsibilities: Leaders for Learning Committee, Maths, Communities, Fundraising and Celebration Days, Alban Class Link
- Attendance (2020-2021): 4 out of 5 (FGB); 3 out of 5 (LfL)
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Dan Knight
- Parent Governor (11th October 2021) Current term ends 10th October 2025
- Appointed by Parent Election
- Responsibilities: Resources Committee, RHE and PSHE, Heartwood Class Link
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Both of my children are at Bernards Heath Infant & Nursery School. My eldest child started in Verulam class in 2020 and his brother started in Heath class in 2021. I was very impressed at an early stage with the school, its staff and the school community as a whole. For these reasons, I was keen to attempt the role of a school governor as an opportunity for me to give something back to the school and contribute to an area outside of my usual work. Through this position, I hope to make a positive and meaningful contribution to the school and its children.

Hayley Thomas
- Parent Governor (11th October 2021) Current term ends 10th October 2025
- Appointed by Parent Election
- Responsibilities: Resources Committee, Music, D&T, Art and Design, Morpurgo Class Link
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Mark Jennings
- Parent Governor (16th May 2022) Current term ends 15th May 2026
- Appointed by Parent Election
- Responsibilities: Resources Committee
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Vicki Blackburn
- Local Authority Governor (18th October 2021) Current terms ends 17th October 2025
- Nominated by the Local Authority and Appointed by the Governing Body
- Responsibilities: Leaders for Learning Committee, Maths, KS1 Assessment, Behaviour, Staff Wellbeing, Mental Health (Staff and Children), Churchill Class Link
Coming Soon...

Jon Fisher
- First Appointed Associate Member (21st September 2020) Staff Governor (19th July 2021) Current term ends 18th July 2025
- Elected by Staff
- Responsibilities: Churchill Class Teacher, Year 1 Lead, Behaviour and Maths Lead
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Liz Dixon
- Associate Member (20th September 2021) Current term ends 19th September 2025
- Appointed by the Governing Body
- Responsibilities: Morpurgo Class Teacher, Year 2 Lead, Writing Lead
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Vicky Pearlman
- Stepped down as LA Governor (21st July 2021) Appointed as an Associate Member (20th September 2021) Current term ends 19th September 2022
- Previous Chair of Governors
- Appointed by the Governing Body
- Attendance (2020-2021): 5 out of 5 (FGB); 5 out of 5 (LfL)
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PREVIOUS GOVERNORS

Diane Secker
- Stepped down (31st December 2021)
- Co-opted Governor (1st September 2016) Current term ends 31st August 2024
- Appointed by Governing Body
- Responsibilities: Resources Committee, English (Writing), SEND, Personnel Recruitment, Staff Wellbeing, Mental Heath (Staff and Children), Heartwood Class Link
- Attendance (2020-2021): 4 out of 5 (FGB); 5 out of 5 (RC); 2 out of 5 (LfL)
Read more...

Sara Sherafat Scott
- Stepped down (13th December 2021)
- Parent Governor (5th February 2018) Current term ends 4th February 2022
- Appointed by Parent Election
- Responsibilities: Leaders for Learning Committee, GDPR, Equalities, Science, Morpurgo Class Link
- Attendance (2020-2021): 5 out of 5 (FGB); 5 out of 5 (LfL)
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Kate Goldman-Toomey
- Stepped down (3rd August 2021)
- Co-opted Governor (1st January 2019) Current term ends 31st December 2022
- Appointed by Governing Body
- Attendance (2020-2021): 5 out of 5 (FGB); 4 out of 5 (LfL)
Read more...

David Zolynski
- Stepped down (15th July 2021)
- Co-opted Governor (1st September 2015) Current terms ends 31st August 2023
- Appointed by Governing Body
- Attendance (2020-2021): 4 out of 5 (FGB); 5 out of 5 (LfL)