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Courtland School

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Courtland Governing Body

Our Governing Body is responsible for ensuring that our School conforms with the legal guidelines laid down by Parliament and the Local Education Authority (LEA).

Together with the professionals in school we share responsibility for:

The school’s standards
Its value for money
Its proper management
Its fairness in dealing with its staff and pupils
Its communication with parents and the public
Our responsibility is for overall policy. The day-to-day business of organising children’s learning and of managing time, space, staff and resources is for the professional team led by the headteacher.

Individual governors have no power; the authority we have comes from working together as a governing body. With the professional staff at our school we try to provide the best possible education for all the children.

The Governing Body must ensure that in delivering its responsibilities, it promotes and safeguards the welfare of children.

Our School Governing Body consists of:

Our Head Teacher
One Teacher Governor – elected by their colleagues
Parent Governors – elected by parental ballot
One LA Governor – appointed by the LA, nominated by the main political parties
Three Community (Co-opted) Governors – elected by the Governors listed above, from the local community

The Governors act through a series of committees. Minutes of their meetings are available for all to read. Please ask in the school office. Additionally the Governors produce an Annual Report for Parents, which is presented for discussion at a meeting to which all Parents are warmly invited.

Please contact the Governors via the school office email: office@courtland.barnetmail.net

Instrument of Government

IoG Courtland School - sealed.pdf

Information and duties

Courtland Primary School Governing Body information 2021.pdf

Parag Vaghjiani– Chair of Governors

My name is Parag Vaghjiani, and I am Vice-Chair of the Governing Body. I have two children at Courtland Primary School. I have worked in the Civil Service for nearly 20 years, having numerous roles across Government, most of them in Department for Education. I have worked at No10 in the policy unit for the Prime Minister, and I am currently working in HM Treasury. I have a broad array of skills, including in finance, leadership and management.

Joanie Adler - Joint Vice Chair

I am a mum of three and an Education Consultant specialising in the primary - secondary transfer. I ensure all year 6 students find the right school to thrive in and reach their potential. I am a former Secondary School teacher and Head of Department for Latin and Classics. I have 12 years teaching experience and am always striving to better education. I am also a proud member of the Mill Hill Community Forum, giving me the reach to help my community thrive and prosper for the future.

Alexis Goldfarb - Joint Vice Chair

Alexis Goldfarb is Senior Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Consultant for Northern Trust EMEA. As part of the Global Office for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Alexis leads the design and delivery of key DE&I programmes related to recruitment, retention and development across the region. Prior to joining Northern Trust in 2019, Alexis was Diversity and Inclusion Executive for Herbert Smith Freehills and has held a number of roles across the legal sector. Alexis holds a BA in Business Management and Human Resource Management and is a qualified mental health first aider. She sits on the Advisory Board for the Women in Asset Servicing Network, a network aimed to support gender parity within the Asset Servicing Industry.

Laura Keegan - Governor

My name is Laura Keegan and I have recently had the pleasure of joining the Governing Body at Courtland School.

I have been a primary school teacher for 12 years and I am currently the Assistant Headteacher of another primary school within the London Borough of Barnet. As a teacher, I am absolutely passionate about providing pupils with the best education they can get and believe that every child should receive the same opportunities for success. I hope that my experience in education can bring something useful and positive to the Governing Body at Courtland.

Outside of school, I also enjoy music, playing both the guitar and the piano and I also enjoy running.

Susan Swinburne - Associate Member

My name is Susan Swinburne. I joined Courtland Primary School in 1999 as Year 2 Class Teacher and became a staff Governor in 2001.

I went on to become Deputy Headteacher and retired in 2018.

I am now an Associate Member of the Governing Body. With my teaching experience and knowledge of the school, I am committed to supporting the GB and Headteacher in taking the school forward and achieving the best possible outcomes for all of the children at Courtland.

Aside from School Governor I enjoy travelling, singing with Rock Choir, swimming, walking, reading and spending time with my family. I have two children and two grandchildren for whom I am carer two days a week.

Hemma Mirpuri - Parent Governor

My name is Hemma Mirpuri and I have been appointed as a parent governor in 2021. I have a daughter in the school and so it is a privilege to be involved and support with the running of the school. I am a qualified accountant currently working within the luxury fashion industry, having previously worked in investment banking and grocery retail. I have a real passion for education and believe my skillset can add value to the Governing Body, enabling the children and staff to continue to thrive in the school.

Dominic Anstey - Parent Governor

My name is Dominic Anstey and I joined the governing body as a parent governor in September 2022. I have a son in the school and a daughter who I hope will follow in a few years time. I have worked for over 20 years in large scale construction where I lead teams working across numerous projects in the public and private sectors. It is a privilege to be able to contribute to the running of the school and delivering the best outcomes for all of its students.

Sunni Parekh - LA Governor

I'm Sunni Parekh and have proudly joined the Governing body as a LA Governor in November 2022.

My two daughters attend Courtland School, which is my primary motivation for devoting my time and energy to support the school.

I started my small chain of London based coffee houses in 2009 and since 2019, I also run a domiciliary home care company providing care to elderly residents across Barnet.

I'm really excited to use my entrepreneurial skills to work with the existing Board of Governors and Leadership team to help all the staff and students succeed at Courtland school.

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