The Governing Body, led by the Chair of Governors manages the school. The work of the Governing Body is undertaken by various committees, which meet throughout the year and report to the termly Governors’ Meetings.
Chair of Governors – Mrs. Linda Thomas
My name is Linda Thomas and have been a governor at Lessness Heath for 18 months. I have been appointed the Vice Chair of governors. I am a retired primary teacher who taught for twenty five years as a classroom teacher and as a senior leader within various schools in both Greenwich and Bexley. I am married with two grown up children and two grandchildren. My interests are travelling, sailing and singing in a local choir. I have lived in the borough for most of my life, so I am very familiar with the local area and look forward to serving the school as a governor.
Vice Chair of Governors – Ms Lauren Price
I am a Primary First Trust appointed governor and am a parent of two children who attend Lessness Heath.
I have previously worked as a primary school teacher before working in teacher training as a lead teacher and advisory teacher. I am currently working as a family learning tutor for a local college.
As a governor I am chair of the Teaching and Learning and Standards Committee. I have been pleased to be involved in the school during the progress Lessness Heath has made over the last year.
Outside of being a governor I enjoy spending time with my family in the local parks and at music events in London.
Miss. Amy Bone
My name is Amy Bone and I recently became a Governor at Lessness Heath Primary School. I have been appointed on the Finance committee due to my professional background. I started my career in Insurance in June 2001 and am currently the head of the North American Property Claims team for a medium sized Lloyds Broker.
I live locally to the school with my fiancé and one year old son. I am acutely aware of the importance of a good education for our children and am looking forward to working with the school to achieve its goals. My interests are reading, travel, study and spending time with my family.
Joanna Morris
I am a Parent Governor for Lessness Heath Primary School. I have worked in schools in Bexley since 2011 and I am very passionate about children’s education. All three of my daughters have attended the school as well as my husband and I have lived in Belvedere since a very young child, so the local area is very important to me. My hobbies include going to the gym, swimming and spending time with my family. I feel very honoured to be part of a team that helps to drive our children into the best possible future
- Board Members – The Primary First Trust (PFT)
| Full Names | Date of Appointment | Term of Office | Board Member Type | Relevant Business & Pecuniary interests inc governance roles in other education institutions | Date stepped down (if applicable) | Attendance record at meetings: PFT Board Meeting 1.9.16-31.8.17 |
| Justin Smith | 18.10.13 | Ongoing | CEO | None Declared | – | 3 out of a possible 3 |
| William Harwood | 18.10.13 | 4 years | Member and Chair of the Board | None Declared | – | 2 out of a possible 3 |
| Chris Foster | 18.10.13 | 4 years | Board Director | None Declared | 23.3.16
Reappointed 20.7.16 |
3 out of a possible 3 |
| Andrew Spearman | 10.12.14 | 4 years | Member and Board Director | School Governor – Harris Federation
Senior Employee – A City Law Firm |
– | 3 out of a possible 3 |
| Steve Rumbles | 23.3.16 | 2 years | Board Director | Managing Director – Rumbles Pension Services Limited | 2 out of a possible 3 | |
| Sandra Connington | 4.11.16 | 2 years | Board Director | Owner/Director – Sandra Connington Ltd
School Governor – Somers Heath Primary School |
3 out of a possible 3 | |
| Martin Wallbridge | 18.10.13 | 4 years | Member | School Governor – Barnehurst Federation | 20.7.16 (as Director) | N/A |
| Steven Ristow | 18.10.13 | 4 years | Member | School Governor – Barnehurst Federation | 9.12.15 (as Director) | N/A |
| Adelle Martin | 23.3.16 | 2 years | Board Director | Family Director – 4M Bars Limited | 4.9.17 | 0 out of a possible 0 |
As of 20.9.17
2. Local Governing Body – Committee Structure for 2017/18
Chair of Governors: Mrs Carolyn Sekulowicz-Barclay
Vice Chair of Governors: Mrs Linda Thomas
| TEACHING, LEARNING & STANDARDS COMMITTEE | FINANCE, STAFF & PREMISES COMMITTEE |
| Mrs Lauren Price (Chair of Committee) | Mrs Carolyn Sekulowicz-Barclay |
| Mrs Linda Thomas | Ms Joanna Morris (Chair of Committee) |
| Mrs Carolyn Sekulowicz-Barclay | Mrs Amy Bone |
| Ms Louise Shields |
Note: Annabelle Killick – not yet assigned to a committee (to take place at the FGB in January 2018)
3. Local Governing Body – Structure, remit of members and meeting attendance
| Full Names | Date of Appointment (Term of Office 4 years) | Governor Type | Relevant Business & Pecuniary interests inc governance roles in other education institutions | Date stepped down (if applicable) | Attendance record at meetings for academic year 2016-2017: | Attendance record at meetings for academic year 2017-2018: |
| Ms Amy Bone | November 2017 (date tbc) | PFT Appointed | North American Property Claims Manager, Besso Limited | N/A | N/A | 2 of 3 |
| Ms Claire Eskelson | 01/12/2017 | PFT Leading Head Teacher | · PFT Leading Head Teacher at The Federation of Barnehurst Schools, , Mayplace Primary School and Wayfield Primary School
· Company Directorship: Education Eskellence |
N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Ms Annabelle Killick | 16/11/2017 | Parent Governor | Awaiting information | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Mrs Joanna Morris | 19/10/2016 | Parent | Works at Bedonwell Junior School | N/A | 3 of 4 | 2 of 2 |
| Mrs Kate O’Connor | 1/09/2016 | Head Teacher | None declared | N/A | 9 of 9 | 3 of 3 |
| Mrs Lauren Price | 23/03/2016 | PFT Appointed | Family learning tutor | N/A | 7 of 7 | 2 of 2 |
| Ms Jackie Piller | TBC | PFT Appointed – TBC | Awaiting information | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Mrs Carolyn Sekulowicz-Barclay | 20/07/2015 | PFT Appointed / Chair of Governors | East Surrey Family History Society – Treasurer | N/A | 8 of 9 | 3 of 3 |
| Ms Louise Shields | November 2017 (date tbc) | Staff Governor | Awaiting information | N/A | N/A | 1 of 1 |
| Mrs Linda Thomas | 20/07/2015 | PFT Appointed | Retired Teacher | N/A | 7 of 7 | 3 of 3 |
| Miss Olivia Butler | 23/03/2016 | Staff | None declared | Jul 2017 | 7 of 7 | NA |
| Mr Richard Butler | 21/10/2016 | Staff | None declared | Jul 2017 | 5 of 5 | NA |
| Mr Michael Clarkson | 06/11/2014 | Parent / Vice Chair of Governors | School worker – CRIBS | Jun 2017 | 4 of 4 | NA |
| Mrs Penny Jones | 01/09/15 – ongoing | PFT Leading Head Teacher | · PFT Leading Head Teacher at Lessness Heath Primary School, Mayplace Primary School and the Federation of Barnehurst Schools
· Company Directorship at All Through Learning Ltd · Membership of College of Teachers · Membership of the Royal Society of Arts |
Dec 2017 | 3 of 4 | NA |
| Ms Jan Stoddard | 20/07/2015 | PFT Appointed | HR Director within a Multi Academy Trust | Jul 2017 | 6 of 6 | NA |
(*) The register of meetings above is based on all meetings each governor is required to attend from the start of each academic year (or when they joined the governing body), through to the end of the same academic year (or when they left the governing body). This register of attendance was last updated in December 2017 for academic year 2016-2017 and 2017-2018. To be updated again in September 2018.
If you wish to contact the Chair of Governors, please address your letter to:
Mrs Linda Thomas
The Primary First Trust
The White House
Clifton Marine Parade
Gravesend DA11 0DY