Meet the Governors
We’re the group of people who work closely with the Head Teacher and staff to make sure St Lawrence is giving your children a high-quality education within a safe, friendly and caring environment.
We do that by monitoring the school’s progress towards agreed objectives and by providing a strategic overview for the school’s development.
The governing body, which includes the Head Teacher and the Vicar of St Paul's Church, has representatives from the following stakeholder groups:
-
Parents: two governors are elected by parents
-
Staff: one governor is elected by the staff
-
The Church: six governors are ‘foundation governors’ – three are appointed by St Paul’s Church and three are appointed by the Diocese of Guildford
-
Surrey County Council: one governor is appointed by the local authority
Governing bodies are required to have a strong focus on three core strategic functions:
-
Ensuring clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction
-
Holding the Head Teacher 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 all its funds are spent well
We meet regularly in groups looking at specific areas. We also meet as a full governing body once every term.
Governors are accountable to parents and pupils. We welcome your comments and are ready to answer any questions you may have. Please send them to our clerk, Mrs J Dutton (clerk@stlawrence-junior.surrey.sch.uk) and we will be in touch.
With best wishes
Graham Lovelace
Chair of Governors
Additional information about the Governors and their responsibilities
List of Governor Committees 2018-2019
Governors' and Committee Meetings Attendance Records:
Graham Lovelace
Graham trained as a journalist and held a number of senior positions in print, broadcast and online organisations before becoming a consultant advising media companies on future strategies. Graham also produces and speaks at international media events and advises media start-ups.
As a governor he sits on the Admissions, Curriculum and the Finance committees. Graham has no personal financial interest in any contract connected to the school.
Chair of Governors Nov 2018 - Oct 2019, Parent Governor, Oct 2015 - Oct 2023
Harriet Hill
Harriet, who was initially appointed by the Diocese in June 2010 and became a St Paul’s appointee in September 2012, is a solicitor. She began her career in private practice and joined National Grid as senior legal adviser 18 years ago. Harriet specialises in corporate and commercial law.
At St Lawrence, Harriet is the link governor for Science and ECO. She chairs the Curriculum committee and sits on both the Admissions and the Buildings and Maintenance committees. Harriet has a daughter in Y5.
She is also a Governor at Mossbourne Community Academy, a secondary school in Hackney.
Harriet has no financial interest in any contract connected to the school.
Vice Chair Nov 2017 - Aug 2020, Foundation Governor - St Paul's, Sept 2016 - Aug 2020
Damian Tucker
Damian was appointed Governor when he took up his position as Head teacher and continues in this role.
The Head teacher sits on all of the Governors' Committees and works with the Governing body to ensure the smooth and effective running of St Lawrence.
Other than through his contract of employment, Damian has no personal financial interest in any contract connected to the school.
Head teacher Apr 2011 -
George Cameron
George was initially appointed a Foundation Governor by the Diocese in 2006, but was appointed as the Local Authority Governor in Nov 2014.
George is now retired, having worked throughout his career in risk management and insurance. He has always had an interest in education, having been involved in launching the Institute of Risk Management and being an external examiner for the Glasgow Caledonian University.
At St Lawrence, George is the Child Protection, Children in Care, Link and Healthy Schools Governor as well as acting as the principal liaison for literacy. Additionally he chairs the Buildings and Maintenance Committee.
George has no personal financial interest in any contract connected to the school
Local Authority Governor Nov 2018 - Nov 2022
Rev Anne Farmer
Anne became a Foundation Governor in her capacity as Vicar of St Paul’s Church. She joins us from the West Country. Before being ordained as a Priest in the Church of England she was a secondary school teacher of English and P.E.
At St Lawrence, Anne is an ex-officio member of all of the committees and is the link governor for English.
Anne has no personal financial interest in any contract connected to school.
Foundation Governor – St Paul’s, Oct 2017 ongoing
Tony Harris
Tony is now retired, having worked for 37 years, mainly in IT, at Air Products, a major US industrial gases company whose UK head office is in Hersham. He is a lay preacher and a church warden at St Paul's Church in East Molesey.
Tony is the link governor for RE, Design Technology and Art.
At St Lawrence, Tony is a member of the Buildings and Maintenance Committee and the Finance Committee. He comes in regularly to listen to children read and supports school trips and other events.
Tony has no personal financial interest in any contract connected to the school
Foundation Governor - St Paul's, Aug 2014 - Jul 2022
Terry Price B. Ed, CIPFA
Terry was elected as a Parent Governor in 2003 and has been a Foundation Governor since 2008.
Terry was originally a teacher and subsequently an accountant with 30 years experience in local and central government. He is now semi-retired and holds several Non-Executive positions specialising in finance, audit and governance. He was formerly Chair of Governors at Esher Sixth Form College until September 2017.
At St Lawrence, Terry chairs the Admissions and the Appointments & Staffing committees and takes a special interest in Computing.
Terry has no personal financial interest in any contract connected to the school
Foundation Governor - Guildford Diocese, Jun 2016 - Jun 2024
Mike Stephens
Mike has now retired following a long career as a chartered surveyor specialising in consultancy in property investment and development.
As a governor, he now chairs the Finance committee, is a member of the Admissions, Appointments & Staffing, and the Buildings and Maintenance committees Mike takes a special interest in the teaching of history and geography.
Mike has no personal financial interest in any contract connected to the school.
Foundation Governor - St Paul's, Sept 2016 - Aug 2020
Nina Waters
Nina was elected as a Parent Governor in May 2013, moving to a position of Foundation Governor when her daughters moved on to Esher High School. In June 2019 Nina became an Associate Member of the governing body.
Nina is a qualified HR professional and works as HR Director for a secondary school in London. Her remit includes fundraising, PR and marketing, business development and Human resources.
Nina sits on the Appointment & Staffing, Curriculum and Pay committees. She is the link governor for music and assessment.
Nina has no personal financial interest in any contract connected to the school.
Associate Member June 2019 -
Ann Wotton
Ann is a retired teacher. She spent the last twenty two years of her career teaching at St Lawrence. She worked as a class teacher and was subject leader for History and later for Art.
Since her retirement she has been in to school regularly on a voluntary basis, helping in the classroom. She has assisted on several residential trips. She also helps Jane Sachdev with "Messy Church" meetings at St Paul's Church.
Ann sits on the Curriculum Committee and is the link governor for Personal, Social, Health and Economic (PSHE) Education.
Ann has no personal financial interest in any contract connected to the school.
Foundation Governor - Guildford Diocese, Sept 2016 - Aug 2020
Judith Pearmain
Judith became a Parent Governor in the Autumn Term 2019. Previously a Department Manager, she took a career break before deciding to retrain as a Counsellor, with special interest in working with Women Prisoners.
Judith sits on the Curriculum and Finance Committees and takes a special interest in how St Lawrence works with The Orchard School and raising the profile of St Lawrence within our community.
Judith has no financial interest in any contract connected to the school.
Parent Governor, Nov 2019 -
Hayley Rey
Hayley was elected as Staff Governor in the May 2018. She has been teaching at St Lawrence since 2012 across Years 3-6. She is part of the Middle Leadership Team. As a Governor, Hayley serves on the Curriculum committee.
Other than an employee, she has no personal financial interest in any contract connected to the school.
Staff Governor May 2018 - May 2022
Jackie Dutton
Clerk to the Governors, Jan 2016 -