Our Governing Body

The Governing Body is an elected body with legal responsibilities for the strategic direction and leadership of the school.

The Governing Body meets termly to monitor how the school is progressing against its stated objectives (our School Improvement Plan).

The Governors at The Brent have a variety of skills and backgrounds, with experience in Education, the world of Business, Community Work and the Arts. Governors work closely with the Headteacher to ensure high quality learning is accessible to all our children, according to their individual needs. This is achieved by monitoring results and the children's learning progress, ensuring the school is a safe and welcoming environment, delivered within the confines of the school's budget. Some were pupils at the school; some have had/have children at the school. Their backgrounds are many and varied. However they all have a common purpose: to support and challenge the Headteacher to ensure that our school delivers a curriculum that gives our children the skills and abilities to succeed in a challenging and fast moving world, delivered in a safe, holistic and enjoyable way that encourages our children into a lifetime of learning. Below are some details about our Governors, who you may recognise around the school at different times. If you feel that you may have skills and abilities that may assist the Governing Body please contact the Clerk to the Governors via the School Office.

Who Are We?

Our Governing Body consists of:

• the Head of School
• two elected Parent Governors
• two Co-opted Governors
• two elected Staff Governors

The standard term of office for a governor is four years.  The chair and vice-chair are elected annually at the first meeting of the academic year.

All Governors signed the Register of Business Interests for this academic year.

Governing Body Key Priority Monitoring Schedule for 2019 - 2020

• governor business interests
• key priorities

Mrs Louisa Stevens

Chair of Governors (Co-Opted Governor)
Date of Appointment 17.09.2019 - 4 year Term of Office ending 13.05.2023
Area of Responsibility - Performance Management of Clerk; Pupil Premium Expenditure & Impact; Special Educations Needs & Disabilities (SEND)
Attendance 2017-2018 5/6 2018-2019 6/6 2019-2020 3/3

Having had one child go through the school and one child still at the school and, as a previous governor of The Brent, I was happy to take over the role of Chair of Governors in September 2019. I know the school, its staff and values well. The Brent's inclusive culture and desire to make learning fun were important factors in choosing the school for my children. I'm passionate that all children, regardless of ability or background, should receive the very best education they can. My background as a qualified accountant and auditor means I have a strong understanding of finances and the skills to analyse information on children's progress to support and challenge the school to improve further.

Mr John Jarvis

Vice Chair of Governors (Co-Opted Governor)
Date of Appointment 10.10.2016 - 4 year Term of Office ending on 09.10.2020
Area of Responsibility - Health & Safety; GDPR/Website Compliance
Attendance 2017-2018 6/6 2018-2019 6/6 2019-2020 3/3

My family has a long association with the Brent School. My late uncle became a pupil over a hundred years ago in 1914 and my late father was Head Boy in 1928/29. My sister and I followed as pupils in the 1950's and 60's and I joined the Governing Body of the school at the beginning of the 1980's. The Brent has always had a good reputation within the local community and I have been anxious to do all that I could to maintain and enhance that reputation. The Governing Body has a very good relationship with both the Headteacher and all the rest of the staff working within the school. This allows us to be the "critical friend" analysing and questioning the progress the school is always striving to make.

My job before retirement was sixteen years as an Administration Manager within the Crown Prosecution Service.

Mrs Sarah Rye

Head of School
Date of Appointment 20.11.2017 - Term of Office ending ex officio
Attendance 2017-2018 5/5 2018-2019 5/6 2019-2020 3/3

In September 2017, I took on the role of Deputy Head of School and subsequently Head of School. I previously worked in three other schools, including a 3-form entry, I'm sure my experience of other schools will help me to support the decisions we will need to make as we move into our new chapter.

Mrs Liessa Laureys

Staff Governor
Date of Appointment 15.10.2019 - Term of Office ending 14.10.2023
​Attendance 2019-2020 2/2

I started working as a TA at The Brent Primary School in April 2018. From the start I have been actively involved in the PSFA and Wellbeing Team. I am a dedicated member of staff with lots of energy and passion and I have firm belief that my own understanding of the staff experience and behind the scenes school life put me in a a good position to contribute to the decision making.
​
I am truly passionate about the education that children receive and have a desire to ensure that every pupil at The Brent gets the best possible education and opportunity to succeed in life.

I would welcome the opportunity to join the existing dedicated governors to support The Brent in its vision to stay an OFSTED recognised outstanding school. I hope my knowledge and experience of our school will put me in good stead to work alongside fellow governor's and our head teacher to make The Brent great.

Ms Rebecca Parker

Staff Governor
​Date of Appointment 15.10.2019 - Term of Office ending 14.10.2023
Attendance 2019-2020 2/2

Since joining The Brent I have learnt so much from my colleagues and the outstanding pupils we have. The school's inclusive culture is fantastic and I want to continue to stretch myself, challenge myself and also contribute to the strategic direction of the school.
​
In my role as Business Manager, I have already attended the Finance and LGB meetings and therefore feel it is a natural progression for me to become a Staff Governor. The knowledge and skills that I possess from my role as SBM ensure that I am able to contribute to the meetings and provide the other members of the LGB with any relevant information they require in order to support the school.

Previous job roles have been in Education and the Financial Services industry and the experiences I have gained, along with a degree in Primary Education, mean that not only can I fully appreciate and understand the roles of various positions within a school but I have experience of budgets, project management and people management.

Mrs Sophie Lam

Parent Governor
Date of Appointment 12.05.2020 - Term of Office ending 12.05.2024

Mrs Kerry Scrace

Parent Governor
Date of Appointment 12.05.2020 - Term of Office ending 12.05.2024

Ms Geraldine Alexander

Clerk to Governing Body
Term of Office started 06.01.2020

The Governor Magazine is available to read here.

Our Finance Committee consists of:

• John Jarvis (Vice Chair of Governors/Co-opted Governor) - Attendance 2017-2018 2/2 2018/19 4/4 2019-2020 2/2
• Louisa Stevens (Chair of Governors/Co-opted Governor) - Attendance 2017-2018 2/2 2018/19 4/4 2019-2020 2/2
• Sarah Rye (Head of School) - Attendance 2019-2020 2/2
• Rebecca Parker (Staff Governor/Business Manager) - Attendance 2019-20 2/2

Leavers:

• Mr Tony Cook - Parent Governor as of 21/01/2020
  
• Mrs Catherine Stafford -  Chair/Co-Opted Governor as of 19/11/2019
  
• Mrs Kelly Mitchell - Parent Governor as of 19/07/2019
  
• Mrs Kelly Grehan - Parent Governor as of 31/07/2019
  
• Mrs Lisa Robinson - Parent Governor as of 08/04/2019