Meet the Governors

Welcome to the Governors' section

What is the Governing Body?

School Governors are the school’s Board of Directors. The purpose of the Governing Body is:- 

• to help the school set high standards by planning for the school's future, and setting targets for school improvements.
• to be a critical friend to the school, offering the school its support and advice.
• to help the school to be responsive to the needs of parents and the community and to make the school accountable to the public for what it does.

The governing body must ensure that in delivering its responsibilities, it promotes and safeguards the welfare of children.

Our responsibility is for overall policy. The day-to-day business of organising children’s learning and of managing time, space, staff and resources is for the professional team led by the headteacher. Along with the professional staff at our school we try to provide the best possible education for all the children.

What do the Governors do?

Working in Committees, Governors make decisions about the running of the school. The whole Governing Body meets once a term and the following sub-committee meetings are also held at least termly:

• Finance and Premises,
• Curriculum, Attainment and Standards,
• Pupils, Parents and Community

These committees are responsible for:

• Determining how the school's budget is spent
• Forming policy on the school's curriculum
• Setting standards for pupils' behaviour and discipline
• Hearing appeals and grievances
• Making sure school buildings are welcoming and safe
• Setting and monitoring the school's aims and policies 

Meet the Governors

Richard Burr (Parent Governor) Start date – 2015 End date – 2023 Committees - Curriculum, Attainment & Standards                          Finance & Premises

I became a parent governor in 2015 when my eldest daughter was in Year 1. She is now in Year 3 and my middle daughter is in Reception at Deansbrook Infant School. I am a fourth generation builder working for my family business in Mill Hill, where I have lived most of my life. I am also a baker, having reached the final of the Great British Bake Off in 2014 and then publishing my first recipe book, B.I.Y. Bake It Yourself, in 2015. I am passionate about wildlife and achieved a first class degree in Biodiversity & Conservation from Birkbeck College in 2012. I work regularly with Great Ormond Street Hospital and the Zoological Society of London to promote their charities and fundraise.

Nick Mailer (Parent Governor) Start date – 2015 End date – 2019 Committees - Curriculum, Attainment & Standards

I co-founded and run an Internet services company, including our green-energy datacenter in Cambridgeshire. I had always been fascinated by computers, but my degree was in English and Philosophy, with particular emphasis on the Philosophy of Education. My interests combined when I wrote the UK School Internet Primer in 1993, the first book on the subject published in the UK. A good school is a well-functioning organism which combines philosophy, technology and performance to sharpen the heuristic and social toolkits of young minds. As soon as my daughter was accepted to Deansbrook, I knew I wanted to be a part of helping the school to continue to be that well-functioning organism.

Flaviana Manta (Parent Governor)

Start date – 2017

End date – 2021

Committees - Pupil, Parents & Community 

My name is Flaviana Manta and I am a mother of two daughters. My youngest child is a pupil of Deansbrook Infant School, while my other daughter is studying at Secondary School. I was introduced to Deansbrook Infant School nearly 12 years ago, by one of my best friends and loved the school straightaway. I decided that when my first daughter was old enough to go to school, Deansbrook Infants would be my first choice for her. Even when my husband and I bought our house, we aimed to live close to Deansbrook Infants. We managed to be just about 1.5 miles away from the school, but that was not an impediment in starting our children’s education at this wonderful school. I was first elected as a Parent Governor when my eldest daughter was a pupil here, but decided to later resign, as my child progressed into the Junior School. I thought it was best for a parent with a child in the school to have the opportunity to be part of the Governing Body. Today, I am again proud to be part of the Deansbrook Infants’ Governing Body, supporting the school in achieving its vision, aims and values. In terms of my own career; I have been working in UK's education sector for over a decade. My educational background includes a PGCE in Early Years, completed at Middlesex University. I have also achieved Qualified Teacher Status and the Early Years Professional Status. Previously, I studied Philosophy and Journalism in Romania and have a degree in Philosophy from the University of Bucharest. The combination of philosophy and journalism helped me create theoretical knowledge with a practical approach towards the realities of today’s world. I strongly believe that working together, all of us, parents, practitioners, leaders, members of the Governing Body, we can help create a strong school with strong community bonds, a stimulating and exciting place where we motivate our children to learn and develop.

Shabaz Dar  (Parent Governor)

Start date – 2019

End date – 2022

Committees - 

I am a principal Consultant specialising in central government IT projects. I have 19 years of business experience in programme and project management and team management, including mentoring and coaching. I am heavily invested in the success of the school for the long term, as a parent of a former pupil, with one child in reception and another expecting to join in three years time, and as a local resident.

I would be delighted to exploit my skills in helping the school contribute positively to its students’ lives. I would use my abilities in analysis, research and problem solving to achieve the optimal outcome for the school in an informed and objective manner.  That could be in encouraging a growth mind set in pupils (indispensable in helping them navigate a changing world full of disruption), or promoting the school in the wider community, in addition to current and emerging challenges.

Caroline Winston - Clerk

Governors with Special Responsibilities:

Pupil Premium Governor – Jade Cheung

Designated Governor for Child protection - Brenda Lamptey  /  Jade Cheung

If you are interested in finding out more about the governing body, or even becoming a school governor yourself please contact the Chair of Governors, Julia Hutton-Squire, through the school office. 

Terms of Reference for GB Committees