Responsibilities: Finance & Staffing, Premises, Health & Safety and School Improvement Committees

I started as the new Headteacher of Oakleigh School in September 2024. I have been in teaching for over twenty-two years, eighteen of which in special education.  Over the course of my teaching career I have had the privilege of working with children across the primary range including the Early Years and with a range of special educational needs.

I am really proud to be the Headteacher at such an excellent school where the children and their families are at the forefront of everything we do and staff are passionate about providing the best education for the pupils.

Responsibilities: Headteacher appraisal committee

I am the current headteacher of Northway Special school in Barnet and have worked in the field of SEND in various forms, including teaching, for the past 20 years. 

I am passionate about giving SEND pupils the best possible opportunities to thrive. My commitment to inclusive education drives me to ensure that pupils receive a tailored learning experience that meets their specific needs. Over the years, I have seen firsthand the positive impact that a supportive, nurturing environment can have on students with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).

I firmly believe in collaboration with families, professionals, and the wider community to build a comprehensive support system that empowers pupils and promotes their well-being.

I am dedicated to continuing to develop innovative and effective strategies to ensure students have access to a rich and varied curriculum, one that focuses on communication, life skills, emotional growth, and preparing them for the future. 

My goal is to help shape a future where every pupil feels valued, respected, and capable of achieving success in their own unique way.

I am a newly appointed parent governor and feel genuinely privileged to be part of the governing body at a school my own child attends. I’m passionate about contributing to a safe, supportive, and inspiring environment where all children can thrive.

In my professional life, I work in Cyber Security for a major bank, specialising in risk management. This role requires a strong focus on safeguarding sensitive information, assessing potential threats, and implementing robust strategies to manage risk—all skills that I believe translate well into supporting the school's leadership.

Responsibilities: School Improvement
Key Areas: Safeguarding and Quality of Education Committee

I qualified as a social worker in 1977 and started my career at the Royal Free Hospital, with a particular interest always in working with children and families. Following the arrival of my own children, I worked for the Citizens Advice Bureau in New Barnet, lived in Paris for 3 years and then in 1989, joined Barnet Mencap as Family Support worker to research the needs of families with young children and set up projects for them. I stayed with Barnet Mencap for 24 years! In that time, I set up the Open Door project for under 5s and their families and the Family Support service for parents of over 5s too, becoming the manager of the service but always continuing to work with families directly. I was responsible, as part of the senior management team, for recruitment, budgeting, staff appraisal and supervision etc.

Through my work, I got to know Oakleigh School, the staff and the preschool teaching team very well and Open Door Fun Days were held at the school for many years. The staff has always struck me as a fantastic team of experienced, supportive and positive people who have a really holistic way of working with the children and their families. I have worked with many of the families and they never want to leave Oakleigh! I didn’t hesitate when asked to join the Governing Body as I have always enjoyed my visits into school. I hope I bring to the group a real enthusiasm for all that Oakleigh offers, together with my experience over the years.

I recently retired from Barnet SENDIASS - but still help there in a voluntary capacity.

Responsibilities: Premises, Health & Safety and School Improvement Committees

I have been an associate governor since September 2018. By profession I am a teacher. I have worked in Oakleigh and Acorn for over 20 years. I was an active member of the Parent School Association and enjoyed participating in all aspects of school life. I have worked alongside the drama and music therapists supporting therapeutic family work which I continue to do one afternoon a week with the Drama therapist. I have also worked with the music and drama therapist running Reflective Practise sessions for class staff. I also maintain a role doing some staff supervision with Acorn LSA’s. During my time as a full-time teacher I had responsibilities for History, Geography and Behaviour.

I have always enjoyed the creative challenge of making the curriculum relevant, accessible and meaningful to our youngsters enabling them to broaden their experiences and develop their interests. I have seen over the years how Oakleigh and Acorn have embraced new ideas and ways of working and made them work for our children.

I was involved in setting up our school partnership with a school in Zambia and was privileged to go on the first visit to Zambia with the teacher running the project. I was able to host some of the visiting teachers when they visited us and learn more about the challenges of education in other parts of the world.

Oakleigh and Acorn have been a very important part of my life. I have known and worked with remarkable children and their families. In class I have worked with committed and talented colleagues and enjoyed the satisfaction of being in an effective team. I also appreciated being able to work closely with professionals from related disciplines benefiting from their advice and skills.

Responsibilities: School Improvement Committees

I began teaching at Oakleigh in 2021 and have had the privilege of working with a variety of children at our school. I am part of supporting the teaching of phonics across the school and have a particular interest in developing early-reading skills with children with special educational needs.

I am also passionate about supporting pupils to develop a voice of their own and enjoy teaching at a school which also shared this value. Before teaching, I studied dance at Roehampton and use these physical language skills everyday when teaching our pupils to support my understanding of their needs and wants.

I have worked internationally with children and adult with additional needs. As a young adult I was the programme coordinator for a special needs summer camp in New York and thoroughly enjoyed being part of a team that created such a safe and happy place for these people. This experience inspired me to study special education teaching.

Teaching at Oakleigh has provided me with a deeper understanding of children with special educational needs and I am proud to be voice that advocates for these children.

Responsibilities: Quality of Education Committee & Pupil Premium Governor

I have over 20 years’ experience within primary education, having worked as a teacher and in senior leadership roles including Assistant Head and Deputy Head, with responsibility across all areas of school life, as well as serving as a staff governor. Throughout my career, I supported and developed teachers across other schools and continue to work in education as a professional observer for trainee teachers.

I joined Oakleigh as a governor in 2024 and I look forward to continuing to work and support the school community. 

Responsibilities: Premises, Health & Safety

I am a parent governor with a professional background in marketing and events, and I have a child currently attending the school. I bring over 10 years of experience in strategic communication, community engagement, and project management.

I became a governor because I am passionate about ensuring that every child has the chance to thrive in a nurturing and inclusive environment. As a parent, I’m keen to represent the voices of other families and contribute to decisions that make a real difference to the school experience.

Responsibilities: Headteacher appraisal committee

I have been a school governor at Oakleigh for 2 years and I'm honoured to serve at a unique and special school. 

I am a former assistant head and now Head of Economics at an independent school in Camden. 

Responsibilities: Finance committee

I am proud to serve as the Governor at Oakleigh School as part of the Finance Committee, where I can use my professional expertise to make a meaningful difference to our children and their families.

With a background in payroll and business management, I bring a keen eye for detail, budgeting, and financial planning to help ensure the school makes the most of its resources. My role is to support and challenge the leadership team, ensuring that financial decisions are both sustainable and aligned with our mission to provide the best possible education and opportunities for our pupils.

Being part of the Oakleigh School community is incredibly rewarding. The dedication of the staff, the resilience of the children, and the involvement of parents inspire me every day. As a parent myself, I understand the importance of giving every child the tools and support they need to thrive, and I’m passionate about contributing to the continued success of this incredible school.

Responsibilities: Finance Committee, Headteacher appraisal, School Improvement committees

I am a retired paediatric physiotherapist. I worked in the NHS both as a clinician and a manager in Haringey and then Barnet. Within my working time in Barnet I had some close working with all of the special schools in the borough including Oakleigh, I am delighted to join the governors and continue my passionate interest in children with SEN/ disabilities and supporting in some way to strive for them and their families to have the best opportunities through life.

In my working career I worked with some amazing children and their families in good times and in bad, as well as seeing many changes and developments both positive and negative within the health, education and social care systems.

Outside of work I have always been involved in other aspects of voluntary work supporting people, being involved in fundraising, set up learning programmes and since I have more time available I have also in the past few years been able to volunteer at Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospice.

I have always enjoyed seeing others around me develop as well as support those less fortunate than I am in various ways. After a family journey that took us to Belarus, we set up a charity supporting communities there initially and then since 2013 in Western Ukraine as well. For the last 5 years we have taken UK youth, trained them in the UK and they have led summer camps. The development pathway of both our UK and Ukrainian leaders has been incredible.

I have a passion for travel and exploring different cultures, as well as a love of cooking. I have always lived in the local area and actually went into Oakleigh School for a days work experience in my school days.

I have one amazing daughter and I cherish spending time with her and my husband.

Responsibilities: Finance Committee

I have been a school governor at various different schools in the London Borough of Barnet since 2001.

I have been a governor at Oakleigh School for over ten years now and am passionate about serving such a unique, valued and specialised school. Aside from my role as a governor I am also a councillor and a lawyer.