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Our Governors

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Our Governing Body

The role of the governing body, like all school governing bodies, is to ensure that the school delivers high standards of achievement within a broad and balanced curriculum for every child.

This involves:

  • Ensuring clarity of the school’s vision, ethos and strategic direction
  • Holding the Head Teacher to account by monitoring the educational performance of the school and its pupils.
  • Overseeing the financial performance of the school and making sure the funding is well spent, by seeking value for money and targeting resources to areas that will best help your children achieve their full potential.

All the governors sit on one of two committees – resources, or curriculum and standards. Some have a specific area of oversight and are known as link governors.

We also try and visit school as often as possible to see for ourselves how the school is functioning. We do this by meeting with subject leaders, attending some staff training, observing in class, being involved in workshops and assemblies and attending parents’ meetings when appropriate.

The governors come from a range of backgrounds and have different skills, but we could not do our job without the expertise of the Head Teacher, Leadership Team, Staff Governors and all the amazing staff.

We all want to give your children the best possible chance to succeed in life and we believe with the right commitment from everyone, the children, the governors, the staff and yourselves, we will forge a dynamic partnership that will enable this to happen.

Mr. Nicholas Ajaegbu (Chair of Governors)
Mr. Robert Layzell (Vice Chair of Governors)
Ms. Sarah Cooper (Clark of Governors)

About our Governing Body

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Nicholas Ajaegbu – Associate Member Foundation Governor (Chair)

Janet Douglas Gardner – Foundation Governor

My name is Janet Douglas Gardner and I am a Foundation Governor. As an educator, I use my knowledge and skills of policy and pedagogy to be a critical friend to the school.

I am a member of the Curriculum Committee and Link Governor for Literacy.

 

 

Adefunke Ojo – Parent Governor

As a parent governor, I am passionate about ensuring every child has access to the best possible education. My interest in the processes that support education, from curriculum development to school policies, drives me to engage fully in my role. I am committed to working closely with the governing body, headteacher, staff, and parents to ensure the school not only meets its current goals but also continues to evolve in a way that benefits all students.

With over 11 years of experience in Human Resources, I bring a wealth of knowledge to the table, particularly when it comes to policy development, people management, and organizational processes. This expertise allows me to approach the development and review of school policies with a strategic mindset, ensuring they align with both the needs of the school community and best practices.

My own children have been at the school for several years, and I have seen firsthand the positive impact that a supportive, inclusive, and well-structured environment can have on a child’s academic and personal growth. Watching them thrive and progress in such a nurturing setting has reinforced my commitment to contributing to the school’s continued success. I am excited to work together with others to support the school in creating the best possible educational experience for every child.

Orestis Nikou – Co-Opted Governor

I have been a governor since 2022. Like all governors, I do that on a voluntary basis, besides my day job in a bank. I originally come from Greece and have lived in Belgium and Germany, before settling in the UK. I studied political science and economics.

In my role as governor, I work to ensure the school adheres and celebrates its Catholic faith and the values of British society, providing the best possible education for the next generation.

 

John Camilleri – Headteacher

I originally come from the small Mediterranean island of Malta but moved to London in 1994. Since then I taught in different schools in Lambeth and Southwark.

I first joined English Martyrs’ school in September 2007 where I taught in upper Key Stage 2 and later was part of the Senior Leadership team. In 2016 I moved to another primary school in Lambeth where I was inclusion lead then Deputy Head until February 2021 when I joined English Martyrs’ for the second time, this time as a Headteacher.

I do feel that the English Martyrs’ school community is a very special one made up of wonderful pupils who are so eager to learn and make progress, hard working staff members, supportive parents and a governing body that is committed to keep working to make the school and even better place of learning for all our pupils.

 

Anthony Fincham – Foundation Governor

I have been a foundation governor since November 2023. I was impressed by what I read in the latest Ofsted report particularly how the children love their school and by what I saw and the staff I met when being shown round. I am a member of both of the committees.

I already have experience as a school governor having been on the board of another foundation since 2017. I am a retired solicitor and live locally a short bicycle ride from the school.
I am married with 3 grown-up children. I am relishing opportunities in retirement to travel as well as to watch and play cricket.

Ms Mead – Staff Governor  Appointed January 2021.

 

 

 

 

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Robert Layzell – Foundation Governor (Vice Chair of Governors)

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Tokumbo Adebayo – Parent Governor

 

Name of Governor  Appointed by  Position held and link positions  Business Interests and Gov role in other school  Term of office dates (from and to)and FGB meeting attendance 2023-24 
Nicholas Ajaegbu  – Chair of Governors/Foundation Governor   08/11/2023 – 07/11/2027
Anthony Fincham

Robert Layzell 

  – Vice Chair/Foundation Governor   27/11/2023 – 26/11/2027
Robert Layzell  – Foundation Governor    01/09/2023 – 31/08/2027 
John Camilleri   Head teacher   01/04/2021 –  
Janet Douglas Gardner    Foundation Governor    15/10/2023 – 14/10/2027 
Shannon Mead  – Staff Governor  – 01/01/2021 – 31/12/2024 
Orestis Nikou    Co-opted Governor   09/03/2022 – 08/03/2026 
Tokunbo Adebayo parents  Parent Governor   19/04/2023 – 18/04/2027 
Adefunke Ojo parents  Parent Governor   19/04/2023 – 18/04/2027 
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Interested in becoming a governor?

If you are interested in becoming a governor for the English Martyrs’ Primary School, you can contact us via the school office: office@emps.school. To contact our Chair of Governors, please email on governors@emps.school.

Governing Body Information:

Headteacher Performance:

  • Nicholas Ajaegbu

Curriculum & Pupil Progress:

  • Janet Douglas Gardner
  • Nicholas Ajaegbu
  • John Camilleri
  • Shannon Mead
  • Anthony Fincham
  • Adefunke Ojo
  • Sarah Cooper

First Committee (Appeals):

  • Nicholas Ajaegb

Resources Committee:

  • Nicholas Ajaegbu
  • John Camilleri
  • Orestis Nikou
  • Robert Layzell
  • Tokunbo Adebayo
  • Anthony Fincham
  • Sarah Cooper

2nd Committee (Appeals):

  • Nicholas Ajaegbu

Download Centre:

Please click on the links below to download a document. All documents are offered in .PDF format for ease of viewing, printing and downloading.

Register of Interests:

The Governing Body Register and declaration of business interests can be viewed via the link below.

Code of Conduct:

To download information regarding the code of conduct of a School Governor, please click on the link below.