The Governing Body comprises 5 parent representatives, 2 local authority, 3 partnership, 3 staff, 2 community and 2 associate members.
The role of the governing body is a strategic one, working closely with the Headteacher and Senior Leadership Team to lead the school, setting the vision and establishing the right culture in which to drive forward improvement.
We meet as a governing body six times a year. In order to work effectively we delegate some responsibilities to the following sub committees; Curriculum; Finance, Pay & Personnel and Community & Premises. These committees also meet six times a year and a member of the Senior Leadership Team attends these meetings.
The committee chairs form a co-ordinating group which meets regularly to monitor the progress of the school’s Raising Achievement Plan, the Local Authority Statement of Action and the governing body’s own Improving Governance Action Plan. The group co-ordinates and plans the work of the whole governing body.
As you will see from our pen portraits we are a diverse group of individuals who bring a wide range of knowledge and experiences to the Governing Body. We are committed to raising standards and providing the very best educational experience for every student.
If you have a question for the Governing Body please contact the Clerk to the Governors Carol Flach at carolflach@ymail.com
Lorraine Doyle
Lorraine is a parent governor and is also Chair of Governors. She has three children, two of whom are currently at Denefield and her youngest child attends a local partner primary school where she is also Chair of Governors. Lorraine is a Chartered Accountant with a background in company taxation and takes a very active role on the governing body at Denefield.
Sarah Shortt
Sarah Shortt has been a Parent Governor at Denefield since 2006 and is Chair of the Community & Premises Committees and Curriculum committee. Sarah works as a teaching assistant in a local primary school and has two children in Key Stages 4 and 5. She also acts as the Governor Liaison with the Parents Forum.
Carol Fuller
Carol has two daughters at Denefield and currently works in the Institute of Education at the University of Reading where she is Programme Director for the Educational Doctorate and Assistant Director of Research. She has a keen interest in education and has published in the areas of student educational values and aspirations and the development of teacher expertise.
Sue Cantwell
Sue is Headteacher of Downsway Primary School. Quite a few of her children already choose Denefield as their first option choice of a secondary school, and she would like to see this number increase. She chose to become a Governor as she felt it was a wonderful opportunity to lend support, foster a good working partnership with Denefield and to understand the workings of a secondary school that her children would be moving on to.
Maxine Slade
Maxine has been a School Improvement Adviser for West Berkshire District Council since 2001 and is a local resident living in Calcot. She is an additional governor placed on the Governing Body by West Berks Council to support the school through the current work to address the issues from the OfSTED inspection. She has a particular interest in meeting the needs of vulnerable pupils in education so that they can achieve the very best that they can.
Roz Doctor
Roz has been a governor since September 2009 and is now chair of the Finance Committee. She works as an auditor for a local accountancy firm in Reading. Roz has one daughter at another secondary school in Reading and enjoys gardenng and walking her dog. She is interested in contributing to the local community and enjoys being involved in anything finance related!
Jeremy Hopkins
Jeremy was appointed as a Partnership Governor in May 2010 and is a member of the Community and Premises Committee. He is interested in contributing to and gaining an insight into the education system as well as supporting the local community. Jeremy works as a manager for a legal practice in London and lives in Calcot with his wife and 7 year old daughter.
Nicola Roberts
Nikki was elected as a parent governor in 2010. She has two children, the eldest of whom is a pupil at Denefield. She is CIPD qualified and works as an HR advisor for an independent school in Reading. She hopes to use the skills and experience gained in this role to add value to the Governing Body and participate in her children’s education on another level other than helping them with their homework!
Dan Barter
Dan Barter has been a Partnership Governor since May 2011. He has two sons in local primary education. he wishes to assist the headteacher and staff in delivering first-rate education to our community's children. He believes that clear strategic direction, persistence and innovations are essential to securing resources and that leadership, motivation and rigour are required to maximise the impact of those resources available. His experience as a leader within the armed forces and skills in driving home organisational change will be applied in the pursuit of educational aims. He is a member of the Finance, Pay & Personnel sub-committee.
Sally Robertson
Sally Robertson became a parent governor in September 2011. She has a daughter in KS4 at Denefield, another at Kendrick School and a third at a feeder primary. Her main role is as Assistant Curate at St Mary's Church, Purley on Thames, having been ordained as an ANglican priest in June 2011. She also works as a midday supervisor at a local primary school and presenting educational sessions to school parties at Reading Museum. She is particularly keen to build on Denefield's links with the community both as a local hub and and enouraging the community to support the school.
Carol Welsh
Carol is a new support staff governor to Denefield school, she has been working for the school for slightly longer than 5 years as the Exams Officer. Prior to working at the school she had been a governor at a special needs primary school in Coventry for 3 years as a LA governor. She has two children, one of whom has just started at Denefield. She believes that school should be a place to provide an education but that it should also provide the students with life experience, confidence and the ability tobe polite, productive members of society
Tim Metcalfe
Tim has farmed with his wife, Vicky, in Purley for the past twenty nine years. He is a Parish Councillor and also sits for the Purley on Thames Ward, which includes Denefield, on West Berkshire District Council. He has a genuine interest in all things local and his links to the community are numerous. He would hope to use these to the advantage of both the school and the students.
Laura Whitehouse
Laura is an ex-Denefield pupil and Head girl who currently works as a Solicitor in the Reading office of an international law firm. She hopes to be able to draw upon her professional skills and personal education experience to add value in her role as governor. Laura is keen to contribute to the local community and assist the school in providing the best possible education, learning experience and opportunities for its pupils. Laura has a particular interest in ensuring Denefield's students are well equipped for life beyond school. Laura is a member of the Finance, Pay & Personnel sub-committee.