Governors
What Does The Governing Body Do? The school governors play a key role in the life of Nightingale Primary School. The governing body is drawn from the school’s various stakeholders including parents, staff and the local community. It has important legal powers and has strategic oversight of the school and its activities. The role of the governing body includes:
• Promoting high standards of achievement
• Providing robust monitoring and evaluation of the School’s performance
• Overseeing all aspects of school governance
• Ensuring that the school's finances are managed and impact upon learning
• Offering support and challenge to the Head teacher and staff
• Involvement in senior level staffing and building matters
Governance Structure
The governing body meets twice a term. One of these meetings will take place during a governor day. Governors are nominated to areas of the school improvement plan. In addition two governors are allocated to the statutory roles of Finance and Safeguarding.
Meet the Governors
Mrs Julia McFall – Co-Opted Governor – Chair
I have been chair of the governing body since 2019 and a governor since 2017, originally as an elected parent governor, now co-opted. I am the link governor for leadership and development and I am on the finance committee. I have had two children go through the school, both now at local secondaries. In my professional life I am a solicitor and have worked in the City and locally.
Cllr Jo Blackman - Local Authority Governor - Vice Chair
I joined the governing body at the start of 2019. I am a councillor for Wanstead Village ward and have borough wide responsibility for the environment and civic pride. As well as being a councillor, I have run global environmental campaigns, as well as local campaigns and fundraising to improve play facilities, outdoor activities and educational provision for children. I have 2 children who attend a local primary and secondary schools.
Mr Julian Porter – Co-Opted Governor – Chair of the Finance Committee
I joined the governing body as a co-opted governor in 2022 and am the Finance Committee Chair. I am a chartered accountant beginning my career in audit with a Big 4 practice before moving into industry. I now work in corporate finance for a large, multi-national hospitality company with a focus on treasury and investment management. I have two children who attend another local primary school.
Dr Jaspreet Marway - Co-Opted Governor
I joined the governing body as a co-opted governor in February 2021. I live locally and wish to contribute to the local school and the community it serves. I also have two children who attend a local primary school. Professionally, I work as a doctor in the NHS and have worked in multiple large NHS trusts. I have vast experience in medical teaching, as well as being an interviewer for a leading medical school. I hope to bring the skills and experience I have acquired through my career to this role and I am looking forward to serving as a governor.
Ms Jushna Chowdhury – Co-Opted Governor
I’ve been a co-opted school governor at Nightingale Primary School since 2015.
Professionally, I am a civil servant and have a wide range of experience in both policy and project roles across several including Department of Education, where I worked on policies relating to adoption, children in care and faith schools’ policy. My role in department for Business, Energy, and Industrial Strategy (BEIS). where I worked renewable heat policy towards government ambition towards Net Zero. My current role is working on fire policy as a senior policy advisor for the Home Office.
Ms Kate Dingle - Co-Opted Governor
I have been a Co-Opted Governor at Nightingale since February 2023. I am currently Safeguarding Governor due to my experience as Designated Safeguarding Lead at a number of educational Settings. Outside my role as governor, I am Head of Primary at an Outstanding all through school in North London. I have considerable experience in education and wanted to bring that to Nightingale and its community.
Mr Simon Todd - Co-Opted Governor
I became a Co-opted Governor at Nightingale Primary School in February 2023. My career background is technology consulting, with a specialism in data architecture and governance. I am currently on a career break and working as Head of Operations and Projects for Holy Trinity South Woodford where my wife is the vicar. My wife and I are registered foster carers with Redbridge and, at time of writing, we have one child in our care who attends another local infant school.
Mrs Megan Wang - Parent Governor
I joined the governing body as a parent governor in December 2021, and I have two children at Nightingale Primary School. My professional background is in education and policy research, primarily as a teacher of children with special education needs, and I am currently working in the NHS as an assistant psychologist. It is a pleasure serving the school community as a governor.
Charlotte Harris - Parent Governor
I joined the governing body as a Parent Governor in February 2020. Currently one of my children attends Nightingale Primary School. Professionally, I work as a Senior Educational Psychologist for a London Borough where I use my psychological knowledge to provide advice and support to children, schools, and families on how best to meet the educational, social, emotional, and developmental needs of children and young people.
Marigold Inanc – Parent Governor
I currently have two children at Nightingale and I joined the governing body as a parent governor in December 2021. I am an Assistant Head Teacher of an outstanding primary school in Newham where I oversee early reading and the curriculum. I am also a member of our schools training programme where I teach and mentor trainee teachers.
Mrs Sinead Culora – Staff Governor
I have been a staff governor since November 2018 and am currently an Assistant Headteacher in the school.
I joined the Nightingale Primary School Governing Board as I feel they should reflect the school community in its entirety. My role has given me a greater insight into the decision-making processes within schools and an understanding of school life outside the classroom.
The Head Teacher, Clare Lynam, is automatically a member of the Governing Body.
Zaheed Patel - Co-Opted Governor
Zaheed's term as a Governor ended in March 2023
I joined the governing body as a co-opted governor in March 2019 and am the lead governor for Safeguarding at the school. I currently work as a Solicitor for a US tech company and have lived in the local area since 2012. I have been involved in a number of volunteering projects helping students from low income backgrounds gain experience and understanding of working in corporate environments.
Carolyn MacLeish - Co-Opted Governor
Carolyn’s term as a Governor ended in December 2022
I joined the Governing Body of Nightingale Primary School as a Parent Governor in the summer of 2013 and became a Co-Opted Governor in 2016. During my time as a governor with the School I have had several roles on the GB including Chair of Governors for just over five years. I am currently the link governor for Literacy and Reading link governor with a focus on Phonics and the Early Careers Teacher Link Governor. I believe Nightingale is a very special primary school and I have been very proud to have been involved with the school for many years.
Professionally for the last twelve years I have advised on governance and clerking in Schools across London working with their senior leaders and governors. Prior to working education, I worked in the private sector in business research and operations and have recently returned to working in this sector alongside my work in school governance.
Maura Wilson - Co-opted Governor
Maura’s term as a Governor ended in December 2022
I’ve been a governor at Nightingale Primary school since 2016 when I joined the board as a Parent Governor. I’ve continued to support the board after my children left as a Co-opted Governor. I’m involved in various community projects and work as a Commercial Manager in the food industry.
Governor Information and Attendance 2022-23
Governor Information and Attendance 2021-22
Declarations of Interest Non-Confidential Minutes
