What is a Governing Body?
The Government requires that each school has a management team known as a governing body. This team is made up of the various stakeholders that the school serves (parents, local authority, staff and community). Governors are either elected or appointed, e.g. parent governors are elected from the parent body; the local authority (LA) nominates governors, the governing body appoints community and LA governors.
The Governing Body has three core functions:
- Ensuring clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction;
- Holding the headteacher to account for the educational performance of the school and its pupils, and the performance management of staff;
- Overseeing the financial performance of the school and making sure its money is well spent.
Structure of the governing body:
At Bell Farm we meet as a Full Governing Body on at least six occasions throughout the year. We do operate a pay committee and a headteacher’s appraisal panel. In addition, where working parties are required to monitor particular areas of school life, these are formed as necessary.
Bell Farm Governors
If you are interested in helping to make Bell Farm the best school it can be and want to be more involved in school life then please contact our Chair of Governors, Eric Verheijden (ericv@bell-farm.surrey.sch.uk) for more information.
ERIC VERHEIJDEN - CHAIR OF GOVERNORS (CO-OPTED)
I was appointed as Chair of Governors in September 2016, having been a co-opted governor at Bell Farm since September 2015. I moved from Spain to the UK in 2012. My daughter has just left year 6 at Bell Farm and my son is going into year 5. I work as a financial analyst at Airproducts.
I’m very excited to be part of a great team of governors and to be able to actively contribute and make a difference at Bell Farm. Through my role as Chair of Governors and working closely with the headteacher I hope to ensure that Bell Farm continues to grow into the outstanding school that our community deserves. I am ‘proud to belong’.
ANNE COOPER - HEADTEACHER
I have worked at Bell Farm since April 2013 and the school has grown and improved during this time. I absolutely love Bell Farm especially our fantastic children!
We have a great staff team and we all strive to do the very best for our children and families. Our governing body is strong and committed and I feel proud to be part of this team as we continue to work together to improve the school further.
Outside of school I like spending time with my family. I love travelling and visiting new places. I also like running and I try to keep fit when I’m not too busy at school!
TIM INMAN (VICE-CHAIR) - PARENT GOVERNOR
As a dad of two children at Bell Farm I take a keen interest in the way the school is run for the betterment of all its pupils and the wider community it serves. In November 2018 I jumped at the chance to join the governing body as one of its parent governors, eager to contribute beyond my day-to-day interactions with staff and pupils. Having trained as a chemical engineer, I’ve subsequently spent more than a decade as a self-employed scriptwriter for television and film. My aim is to bring some of that drive and determination to the role – and put my particular combination of analytical and creative thinking to good use in service of our superb school.KATY HUANG - CO-OPTED GOVERNOR
In Nov 2022 I start my 12th year as a school governor at Bell Farm! Over the years, I have been involved in many initiatives at school, from chairing what was the Finance & Resources Committee, to partaking in the Marketing Working Group, being Vice-Chair and in the school Diversity & Inclusion Parental Working Group. I have personally been interviewed by Ofsted inspectors twice and am very “Proud to belong”!
I trained as a McKinsey management consultant and love using my strategy consulting and Harvard MBA skillset to work with the school. I am currently Head of Digital Transformation for Pool Reinsurance which covers UK Terrorism reinsurance. My younger son is still at the school and I read with his class every week as a parent volunteer, which actually takes up more time per month than being a governor. I am currently Vice Chair of Governors for Three Rivers Academy, a Multi-Academy Trust secondary school next to Bell Farm.
ELIZA HARTLEY - CO-OPTED GOVERNOR
I joined Bell Farm as a governor in Autumn 2019 after welcoming my first child, and wanting to be more actively involved in the community.
My work as a Treasury specialist in the banking industry, focuses on the optimisation of resources and ensuring our strategy aligns with the budget and plans, and I hope to apply that experience here.
I am looking forward to working with the teaching staff and governors to continue their great work.
KATHERINE IND - CO-OPTED GOVERNOR
I joined Bell Farm as a governor in Autumn 2019. I am a member of St Peter’s Church in Hersham and have always had an interest in our link with local schools. I am a retired secondary school English teacher. I have also taught ESOL both in this country and in Germany. My last post was as A level English Language teacher at a sixth form college.I am very impressed with the work at Bell Farm and am looking forward to becoming more involved with the staff and children.
FATIMA KAMARA - CO-OPTED GOVERNOR
Fatima is a Senior Management Executive within the NHS where she started working as a nurse over 20 years. She has a broad skill base in the health and social sector, having worked both in the private, public, voluntary and third sector. Her areas of speciality within the NHS and public sector are Quality Assurance, Clinical Governance, Patient Safety, Risk Management & Commissioning. She has worked on medium to large projects for the NHS across the board and has managed and worked with large teams of colleagues in both Service Redesign and Serious Incident Investigation & Reporting.
I also work very closely with care experienced young adults leaving foster care in supporting them to get back to employment, training, education and also teaching them life skills to be able to live on their own independently. I believe a good education that is broad and goes beyond the academic is fundamental to ensuring our children become the best versions of themselves.
As a newly elected School Governor I am excited, and I am looking forward to working with my colleagues and also being a part of the Bell’s Farm School community.
JUDITH HESFORD - CO-OPTED GOVERNOR
I have worked as HR Director for several large organisations, across a range of sectors over the last 23 years. Currently operating as a Transformation Consultant, I specialise in working with businesses experiencing high growth and change. I have a keen interest in developing individuals & teams to gain confidence & be their best self & I see my involvement in the education sector as a natural extension, to helping others.I’m delighted to have joined Bell Farm Governors in February 2023, to help the onsite team continue to deliver, a highly rewarding experience to all its pupils. ‘Proud to Belong’
For ‘down time’, I love walking my working Cocker Spaniel & travelling far & wide!
ANNALIESE HEMSLEY - PARENT GOVERNOR
I was elected as a parent governor in February 2023 soon after my eldest son started in Reception (with my younger son set to follow in his footsteps). I am keen to be involved in helping the school continue to strengthen and grow and serve our community.I am a qualified solicitor and have previously worked for a Top 10 FTSE 100 company. Currently I work part time as a consultant, so I have the time available to commit to being a parent governor. I also volunteer by reading with children in Reception on a weekly basis.
SOPHIE POLLITT - STAFF GOVERNOR
Outside of school, I have three boys and we enjoy watching rugby together as a family. I have a keen interest in history and can often be found touring a historic building or art gallery! I am looking forward to starting my governor journey and developing my role.
EMMA KENINGALE (CLERK)
Currently in my ninth year at Bell Farm, I work as Clerk to the Governors, alongside my position as Pastoral Support Officer & DSL. Over the last nine years, I have had the opportunity to be an integral part of the school office team and am keen to continue being involved in the development of our school by supporting the governing body as Clerk.
I am extremely “Proud to Belong” and can’t wait to work alongside our established team of governors to continue to improve the school experience for everyone at Bell Farm Primary School.
Governor Structure
