Provide a strategic view which sets out and continuously reviews the broad framework within which the headteacher and staff run the school. The focus is on:
Act as a critical friend by giving advice and support and fostering good relationships. They ask challenging and critical questions and strive for improvements. Ensure accountability by setting out the overall aims and conduct for the school, approving policies and plans to support this.
The headteacher and staff report to the governors on the school’s performance. Proposals are discussed, questioned and refined, with regard to the professional roles of the staff and their day to day responsibilities within the school. The governors are also answerable for their actions to the Local Authority and the London Diocesan Board of School.
Link Governor for: Maths
Other roles: Building & Maintenance/Premises, GDPR, School Trips and Visits Governor, Ashford Strategy Group, Developing Governor Subject Roles and Links and Developing Leadership
Committees: Achievement Committee, Pay Committee (Chair), Executive Headteacher’s PM and Head of School's PM
Term of Office: 20.11.2020 – 19.11.2024
(20.11.2016 to 19.11.2020 and 20.11.2012 to 19.11.2016 - Foundation Governor for St Matthews; 18.11.2010 to 19.11.2012 - Parent Governor)
2020/21 Attendance: 15 out of 16 meetings
2021/22 Attendance: 11 out of 13 meetings
Phil has worked in the public sector for over 15 years and brings a wide range of skills to the governing body. He was appointed as a parent governor before becoming a representative for the parish of St. Matthews and more recently representing the Spelthorne Deanery. In 2013 he was appointed Chair at Ashford. Phil has broadened his knowledge and understanding of governance by supporting other schools within the Diocese forming part of a Rapid Improvement Group consisting of 4 experienced advisors.
×Link Governor for: PSHE, EYFS, Arts
Other roles: Wellbeing for All and Stakeholder Governor
Committees: Achievement Committee (Chair)
Term of Office: 10.09.2019 to 09.09.2023
(10.09.2015 to 09.09.2019 Parent Governor)
2020/21 Attendance: 15 out of 15 meetings
2021/22 Attendance: 13 out of 13 meetings
Louise is a parent to 3 daughters. Her eldest is in secondary school and her twins are in Key Stage 2 at ACE.
Louise works part time for the charity Twins Trust as their Co-Head of Family Services where she oversees the running of their helpline, online community, peer support and bereavement service.
Link Governor for: English
Other roles: Pupil Premium, SEND/Inclusion Governor, LAC Governor, (Vice Chair of Governors Sept 2020 to Sept 2022)
Committees: Achievement Committee, Admissions Committee (Chair), Pay Committee
Term of Office: 10.09.2019 to 09.09.2023
(10.09.2015 to 09.09.2019 Local Authority Governor, 25.01.2013 to 09.09.2015 - Parent Governor)
2020/21 Attendance: 14 out of 16 meetings
2021/22 Attendance: 5 out of 13 meetings
Sukhi was appointed Parent Governor in January 2013 and currently has specific responsibility to support the areas of Special Needs in the school.
She is a freelance Learning & Development Consultant and has over fifteen years’ experience in the field of corporate learning and development, specialising in Leadership and Management, Personal Effectiveness and Culture Change. She believes that effective relationships and collaboration achieve results and her approach is designed to create a relaxed and informal environment in order to enhance each individuals natural learning capability; challenge thinking in order to sustain learning within the workplace and facilitate others to make a difference to their business through their performance. She believes the same approach can be applied within the school through the effective collaboration of the Governing body and capability development of teachers which will then filter through to the performance of pupils and provide parent confidence in the governance of the school.
Link Governor for: French/MFL
Other roles:
Committees: Achievement Committee and Admissions Committee
Term of Office: 13.01.2014 -
2020/21 Attendance: 1 out of 10 meetings
2021/22 Attendance: 1 out of 10 meetings
*Fr Stuart as an ex-officio governor (by right of office as Parish Priest of St Matthews). His role in school is considerably more than being a governor as he provides regular pastoral support. Fr Stuart both visits the school and leads worship on a weekly basis.
Father Stuart and his wife Amanda moved to Ashford after living in Wokingham for twelve years. They have four children all who have now left school. He is a qualified teacher and has worked in a broad variety of educational roles since he qualified. During his time in Wokingham, he was a governor in local schools and held various briefs. He hopes that the experience that he brings will be useful in helping the school with its mission moving into the future.
×Link Governor for: English, PE & Sports Premium, and Parental Involvement
Other roles: Finance, EYFS, Ashford Strategy Group
Committees: Achievement Committee and Pay Committee
Term of Office: 30.11.2020 – 29.11.2024
(30.11.2016 to 29.11.2020 Parent Governor)
2020/21 Attendance: 16 out of 16 meetings
2021/22 Attendance: 13 out of 13 meetings
Clare is a qualified Lawyer working in private practice but has over 20 years previous experience working in the Public Sector. She was originally appointed as a Parent Governor before becoming a Foundation Governor for St Hildas.
Clare has 2 children, one at secondary school and the other is a pupil at ACE.
Clare is fully committed to the continued success and improvement of our school for the benefit of each and every pupil.
Link Governor for: RE and Worship
Other roles: Safeguarding Governor, Prevent (Anti-Radicalisation), Governor Training
Committees: Achievement Committee and Admissions Committee
Term of Office: 21.12.2020 to 20.12.2024
(21.12.2016 to 20.12.2020 - LDBS Governor, 24.11.2016 to 20.12.2016 - Associate Governor)
2020/21 Attendance: 14 out of 15 meetings
2021/22 Attendance: 11 out of 13 meetings
After completing a BSc (hons) in Behavioural Sciences, Jenny worked as an Administrator to the Line Managers at Nokia UK. Since 2004 she has managed the day to day running of the design business she is a director of. She also works as PA for a Christian children’s ministry and Treasurer and Communications Co-ordinator for her church.
Having witnessed the considerable improvements the school has made in its journey towards outstanding and particularly, how the ethos has become a central part of school life Jenny is keen to support the school to continue to build on this important aspect.
Jenny has 2 daughters, one at college and one at university.
×Link Governor for: History, Geography
Other roles:
Committees: Achievement Committee and Admissions Committee
Term of Office: 30.01.2023 to 29.01.2027 (31.01.2019 to 30.01.2023)
2020/21 Attendance: 10 out of 10 meetings
2021/22 Attendance: 9 out of 10 meetings
Donna was appointed as Foundation Governor for St Hildas Church in January 2019. She currently works part time as a Senior Account Handler at a Commercial Insurance Brokers and has worked at her current company for the last 9 years. She has a keen interest in the local community and is committed and enthusiastic about being a school governor at ACE and helping to make positive improvements to drive the success of the school and it’s pupils.
×Other roles:
Committees: Achievement Committee (with voting rights)
Term of Office: 23.09.2019 - 31.08.2023
2020/21 Attendance: 12 out of 13 meetings
2021/22 Attendance: 10 out of 10 meetings
Link Governor for: RE and Worship, Arts
Other roles: Health and Safety
Committees: Achievement Committee
Term of Office: 26.04.2022 to 25.04.2026
2020/21 Attendance: N/A
2021/22 Attendance to date: 3 out of 3 meetings
Paul became a Foundation Governor (LDBS) at ACE in April 2022.
While studying for his BMus (Hons) degree in composition & arrangement at Trinity College of Music, Paul started teaching piano, composition & songwriting, and music theory to individuals of all ages and stages of learning. During this time, he also began working as an arranger and engraver for several leading Christian music publishers and hymn & songwriters. He now works as Publications Editor at Boosey & Hawkes Music Publishers (part of the Concord group), where he commissions and edits books and resources for developing musicians and classroom teaching.
He is on the staff team at St Richard’s Church, Hanworth, where he spent twenty years as Director of Music before becoming the Communications, Online Church & Music lead in 2022.
Paul is a former ACE pupil with a daughter in Key Stage 2.
×Link Governor for: Computing and Online Safety
Other roles: Finance
Committees: Achievement Committee and Pay Committee
Term of Office: 04.05.2022 to 03.05.2026
2020/21 Attendance: N/A
2021/22 Attendance to date: 3 out of 3 meetings
Chris was appointed as a Parent Governor in May 2022 and has two sons that attend the school.
Chris has over 20 years experience in Supply Chain and Technology and works for the software development arm of a large global Logistics group leading their Support, Service Transition and Customer Success teams.
×Other roles: Ashford Strategy Group
Committees: Achievement Committee
Term of Office: 01.09.2018 - 31.08.2022
2020/21 Attendance: 15 out of 15 meetings
2021/22 Attendance: 12 out of 13 meetings
Neil Meehan has been a headteacher since 2006 in three different schools. Since 2013, he has been headteacher of Laleham C of E Primary School, which has been graded good by Ofsted on two occasions in this time. Neil specialises in English and education of the more able, and works actively with other head teachers in the diocese and in the Spelthorne Confederation. Neil enjoys tennis, cooking and reading in his spare time. He was appointed as Interim Executive Headteacher of the Laleham and Ashford CofE Schools Partnership.
×New Governor
Link Governor for: to follow
Other roles: to follow
Committees: to follow
Term of Office: 01.03.2021 to 22.07.2022
2020/21 Attendance: 2 out of 5 meetings
2021/22 Attendance: 2 out of 10 meetings
New Governor
Link Governor for: to follow
Other roles: to follow
Committees: to follow
Term of Office: 12.03.2021 to 24.05.2022
2020/21 Attendance: 1 out of 3 meetings
2021/22 Attendance: 0 out of 9 meetings
The best way to contact the Governors is via the school office.