Our Governors
Our governors are all volunteers and representatives of the local community, parents, staff and the church. They bring a range of interests, knowledge and skills. They are responsible for overseeing the organisation, curriculum and budgets of the school and offering support whilst the day-to-day running of the school is entrusted to the Head and her staff. They help to set the school’s strategic direction, ensure accountability and act as a ‘critical friend’ to the school’s senior leaders. Their guiding principle is always to ask ‘will this decision make things better for the children?’ and they play a crucial part in improving and developing the school and helping every student to achieve their potential.
They meet once a term as a full governing body, but also sit on a number of sub committees that have responsibilities for Curriculum and Standards, Admissions, Finance and Premises, Home School and Staffing .
You can contact the Governors at any time by emailing them at governors@stjamesprimaryschool.co.uk or leave a message at the School Office.
Jonathan Gardner is our Chair of Governors and Chair of the Staffing comittee. He is the father of James who is at the school and Naomi who has recently left us. He is also on the Parochial Church Council of St James Church. Jonathan is a senior manager in the NHS and has a background in the Civil Service and private business. He enjoys bringing his business acumen and entrepreneurial spirit to the Governing Board, Staffing and Premises and Finance committees. His subject link is IT. Jonathan is a Deanery Foundation Governor and his term runs until June 2021
Carol O’Brien, as Head teacher at St James is a member of all our sub committees. Carol has been Head at St James for many years. She is married with a daughter and a son. Carol is a Staff Governor and her term runs until 2019.
Simon Cuthbertson sits on the Premises & Finance committee. Simon is a Chartered Accountant for a major blue chip company. He has two daughters at the school and has been a member of St James Church since 1998. He is also the subject link Governor for Literacy. Simon is an LDBS Foundation Governor and his term runs until June 2020.
Janet Owen is our Vice Chair and Chair of the Curriculum committee. She also sits on the Staffing committee. She taught in both primary and secondary schools before working for a London borough as an inspector and adviser. Her daughter and grandchildren all attended St James School and her interests include local history, singing in a London Welsh choir and travelling all over the world. She is an active member of our local community and leads the Monday evening team at the Muswell Hill Soup Kitchen. Her subject link is History and she takes a special interest in KS2. Janet is a Parochial Church Council Governor and her term runs until September 2020.
Louisa Hudson is Chair of the Home School committee. She also sits on the Curriculum committee and has a vital role as the school’s SEN Link. Her professional background is in nursing but her passion has always been music, which she now teaches locally. All four of her children are at or have attended St James school. Louisa is an LDBS Foundation Governor and her term runs until July 2021.
Annie Moore is Assistant Head at St James. She has been with the school for six year and is currently on maternity leave. Annie is an Associate Governor.
Estelle Addy is Chair of Admissions. She also sits on the Home School committee. She has one child in the school with another who is at secondary school. Estelle is also the subject link Governor for Science and our STEM governor. She is a Deanary Foundation Governor and her term runs until June 2019. Estelle is also our safeguarding and child protection link Governor.
Date for Governors meetings 2019 - 2020
These are currently in the process of being confirmed
Declaration Of Interests
In the interests of transparency, it is important that all our Governors declare all business and pecuniary interests and that we publish any on our website.
Past Governors
The following Governors stepped down from the Governing body. We thank them for their energy, time, support and commitment.
Carol Lea-Robbins, Natasha Lewis, Emma France (2017-2018)
Kim Ewart (2016-17)
Gaz Daly, Helen Stansfeld, Hugh Reynolds (2015-16)
Penny Kirkley is our School Office Manager and sits on the Home School committee. She has a communications specialism built from a background in advertising and marketing. She spent three years as Chair as the Friends of St James organising fund raising events for the school. She has two daughters who have both left St James for secondary school. Penny is a Staff Governor and was elected in May 2018 after having served three years as an Associate Governor. Her term runs until September 2021.
Keith Guthrie is Chair of the Premises & Finance and sits on the Admissions committee. He works in investments at pension-fund management firm Cardano in the City. He is married to Ruth and has one son attending the school. The family are all active members of St James Church. Keith is a PCC Governor and he subject link Governor for Maths and his term runs until December 2021.
Gareth Davies is a newly appointed Associate Governor and sits on our Finance and Premises committee. He is a trained Charted Accountant and has spent the past 20 years helping companies with their finances. He is married to Claire and they have a son at St James. Gareth is our governor responsible for Health and Safety and his term runs until September 2021.
Justin Gowen is our elected Parent Governor. He sits on our Home School Committee and has wealth of experience from his background in banking, business management and leadership training. Justin is our appointed E safety and GDPR Governor and his term runs until October 2021. Justin has a son and a daughter at St James Primary.
Rev Mark Murthen is a vicar at St James Church and is our new Ex Officio Foundation Governor. He has spent the last three years working at a church in Bolton and prior to training for ministry he worked as a civil servant. Mark is originally from Haringey and is married to Lisa - together they have a daughter. Mark sits on the Admissions, Staffing and Curriculum and Standards committees and has responsibility for British Values at our school. His term runs until October 2021.
Sunny Wong is our newly elected Parent Governor who recently joined the Governing body. Sunny has over ten years experience in a leading law firm and prior to this, he worked for an international professional services firm. Sunny has a daughter in Reception at St James Primary. His term runs until September 2022.
Louise Posocco is our newly appointed Associate Governor who sits on the Curriculum and Standards Committee. Louise has three children, with the two eldest attending St James school. Louise works locally at the education charity Ambitious about Autism and she brings to the governing body her experience from the charity sector with a specialism in not-for-profit finance.