Governance
Made of up individuals who are elected or appointed to voluntarily represent the church, parents and carers, the local authority and the staff; our governing body are the strategic leaders of the school with a vital role to play in making sure every pupil receives the best possible education while achieving his or her full potential, irrespective of age or ability.
Governors
We are proud to have a committed governing body made up of a team of individuals with a wide range of backgrounds and experiences. The number of governors for our school is 12 and our primary role is to ensure that the school discharges their statutory duties under the law as well as act as a ‘critical friend’ in supporting and challenging the leadership and management.
We also help to set the vision and strategic direction of the school, oversee the maintenance of the premises and management of budgets, monitor performance and attainment of pupils and engage with key stakeholders.
The school and governing body also benefit from the support of the Trustees who look after the endowment left by Baroness Angela Burdett-Coutts and periodically gives grants to the school. The chair of the Trustees is Mrs Fiona Burdett-Coutts.
Mr. N. Agarwal
Local Authority (26 May 2022 - 25 May 2026)
Born and raised in India, Nihit graduated from with a Bachelors in Commerce from St. Xavier’s College, Kolkata; and is now a Chartered Accountant and a CFA Charterholder. After 5 years at J.P. Morgan (European Real Estate Investment Banking division), he now works at PJT Partners, specialising in Real Estate across Europe and UK. Nihit lives in Clapham Common and enjoys travelling, boxing, scuba-diving and has a keen interest in impressionism and post-impressionism art.
Ms. Y. Barnett
Headteacher - Ex-officio (appointed Sep 2020)
Mrs J. Bates
Vice-Chair of Governors - Deanery (24 January 2023 – 23 January 2027)
Jill lives with her husband and three children in Battersea. She earned her PGCE and M.Ed at Cambridge University, after reading Psychology and English at the University of Ottawa, and has enjoyed an extensive teaching and educational leadership career in schools across UK & the US. Following a break to care for her children, she has now resumed her career as a primary school teacher. Her professional research interests include developing resilience and growth mindset in pupils and her pastimes include knitting, reading mysteries & playing in Battersea Park with her children.
The Revd. H. Bickley-Percival
PCC (07 July 2022 – 06 July 2026)
After growing up in West London, Helena read music at The University of Oxford before deciding to pursue working for the Church. After spending two years working for a church in Camden, during which she enjoyed volunteering at the local primary school, she returned to Oxford to train as priest. Helena moved back to London in 2020 for the next stage of her training at St Stephen with St John, Westminster, and enjoys reading, walking along the Thames, and being involved in as much music as possible in her spare time.
Ms. N. Bowles
Chair of Governors - LDBS (21 February 2022 – 20 February 2026)
Narissa lives with her husband, daughter and cat, working from home as co-director of a web development company. She read Journalism at Sheffield University and has enjoyed careers in print journalism, sound engineering and event planning. Her interests include reading, running, cooking and spending as much time in Kew Gardens and Richmond Park as possible.
The Revd. G. Buckle
Ex-officio (appointed March 2014)
Born and raised in South-East London, Graham had worked for a community newspaper and even been a fumigator, before reading Theology at Southampton University. Ordained in 1989, he has enjoyed varied and extensive service in many churches and is now presently at St Stephen’s with St John’s, Westminster. His passions include travelling, playing and listening to music, watching and participating in sport as well as being involved in the community.
Mrs. S. Lee
Elected Staff (13 October 2021 – 12 October 2025)
Sascha has taught at Burdett-Coutts since moving to London from the North-East in 2012. During that time she has undertaken a variety of teaching and leadership roles across the school, and has worked with a wide range of year group. She is currently an Assistant Headteacher and her responsibilities include leading English. Before training as a teacher, Sascha read history at Durham University. Sascha is passionate about the education of young people, and joined the school’s governing body as the elected staff governor following her return to work from maternity leave in October 2021.
Ms. S. J. Nicholls
Elected Parent (02 December 2021 – 01 December 2025)
Sarah has a son at Burdett-Coutts and lives and work in the area as the Youth Club Manager of a local youth club. She has many years of experience working with children and young people, and is passionate about supporting them in achieving their full potential. In her spare time, Sarah enjoys spending time with her family, walking and listening to podcasts.
Mrs A. Sladden
LDBS (21 January 2020 - 20 January 2024)
Anna works in a trade & investment negotiation team at the Department of Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy, following a position as Senior Development Manager at the Centre for Social Justice, helping to improve the life opportunities of those most deprived in the UK. She gained a BA Hons (1st) in International Relations & French at the University of Exeter, which included a year's study at Sciences Po Aix-en-Provence, France; followed by an MSc in Global Politics at LSE. A Westminster resident, Anna enjoys playing tennis, travelling, skiing & sailing with family when the British weather permits.
Ms E. Standring
Trustee (11 March 2021 – 10 March 2025)
Emily studied English Literature at Royal Holloway College, University of London, after which she worked in various marketing roles until her son was born in 2004. During her career break, she was involved in many local charities and decided to use this fundraising experience when she returned to work in 2018. She worked in development roles in the independent and state school sectors before returning to Katherine Low Settlement (a local charity where she'd volunteered as an ESOL assistant) as Fundraising Manager. Emily lives with her husband and three children in Battersea; she is a keen reader, theatre and gym goer.
Structure
Our governing body is highly active and motivated both in celebrating the school’s successes and in concentrating on their improvement. All members are expected to familiarise themselves with the schools’ strengths, weaknesses and targets for improvement especially in reference to two key documents, the Self Evaluation Form (SEF) and the School Improvement Plan (SIP).
In addition, governors are encouraged to involve themselves in the school directly, perhaps attending a school assembly or event, accompanying children and staff on a school trip or simply talking to pupils and staff.
Our governors are also appointed to strategic link roles related directly to the Key Priorities and School Improvement Actions of our School Improvement Plan, as well as other statutory positions eg: Safeguarding, Pupil Premium, Health & Safety etc. In all cases, their objectives are to monitor the progress and impact of their specific areas and report to the FGB at strategic points during the academic year.
Following recent guidelines, we have streamlined our governing body’s processes and procedures to ensure our focus remains primarily on strategic issues. Our ongoing aim is to ensure the sharing of all key information and effective use of governors’ and school leaders’ skills and time.
As well as meeting 5 times a year, we also meet to form the following committees – Pay, Headteacher’s Performance Management, and Admissions – in order to be able to discharge certain statutory functions. We further meet at the following Forums – Finance & Business, Outcomes, and Ethos – to monitor and ensure the effectiveness of our school in these important areas.
Key Documents
- Instrument of Government
- Standing Orders
- Scheme of Delegation
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Register of Business Interests
In May 1996 the Nolan Committee published a report on standards in public life as applicable to local public spending bodies. The report identified seven principles which should be applied in public life. These are selflessness, integrity, objectivity, accountability, openness, honesty and leadership.
It is important that our governors act and are seen to act impartially. One important means by which a self-governing school demonstrates that it is applying these principles is by maintaining detailed information including a register of business, pecuniary and material interests.
Information on the Membership of the Governing Body of Burdett-Coutts and Townshend CE Primary School (re-constituted 4th August 2015)
Mr. N Agarwal
Category: Governor appointed by the Local Authority (Westminster)
Term of office including end date:
26/05/22 – 25/05/26
Committees & Responsibilities
Business & Finance Forum | Pay Committee
Governor at any other educational establishments:
None
Declarations of Interests:
None
Ms. Y. Barnett
Category: Headteacher appointed by virtue of ex-officio role
Term of office including end date:
Ex-officio
Committees & Responsibilities:
Business & Finance | Outcomes | Pay & Admissions Committees
Governor at any other educational establishments:
None
Declarations of Interests:
None
Mrs J. Bates
Category: Foundation Governor appointed by Deanery of Westminster
Term of office including end date:
24/01/19 to 23/01/23
Committees & Responsibilities:
Outcomes Forum | Pay Committee | Safeguarding link | Vice-Chair of Governors
Governor at any other educational establishments:
None
Declarations of Interests:
None declared
The Revd. H. Bickley-Percival
Category: Foundation Governor appointed by the PCC
Term of office including end date:
07/07/22 – 06/07/26
Committees & Responsibilities
Ethos Forum | Admissions Committee | RE & CW link
Governor at any other educational establishments:
None
Declarations of Interests:
Assistant Curate, St Stephen with St John, Westminster
Ms. N. Bowles
Category: Foundation Governor appointed by the LDBS
Term of office including end date:
21/02/22 to 20/02/26
Committees & Responsibilities:
Business & Finance; Outcomes; and Ethos Forums | HTPM | Health & Safety Link | Chair of Governors
Governor at any other educational establishments:
None
Declarations of Interests:
Trustee of Friends of Burdett-Coutts, Trustee of Tiffin Girls’ Music Society, Director of IMAGIZ Ltd
Mr R. Brown
Category: Parent Governor appointed by parents of pupils at the school
Term of office including end date:
16/05/23 to 15/05/27
Committees & Responsibilities:
Outcomes | Ethos
Governor at any other educational establishments:
None
Declarations of Interests:
None declared
The Revd. G. Buckle
Category: Foundation Governor appointed by virtue of ex-officio role (Vicar of St Stephen with St John, Westminster)
Term of office including end date:
Ex-officio
Committees & Responsibilities:
Ethos Forum | Admissions Committee
Governor at any other educational establishments:
None
Declarations of Interests:
Trustee of the following charities: PCC/Townshend Foundation/Alms Houses
Mr J. Crichton
Category: Foundation Governor appointed by the Trustees of the Burdett Coutts & Townshend Foundation
Term of office including end date:
19/05/23 to 18/05/27
Committees & Responsibilities:
Business & Finance
Governor at any other educational establishments:
None
Declarations of Interests:
None declared
Mrs S. Lee
Category: Staff Governor appointed by staff at the school
Term of office including end date:
13/10/21 to 12/10/25
Committees & Responsibilities:
Ethos Forum
Governor at any other educational establishments:
None
Declarations of Interests:
None
Ms. S. J. Nicholls
Category: Parent Governor appointed by parents of pupils at the school
Term of office including end date:
02/12/21 to 01/12/25
Committees & Responsibilities:
Outcomes Forum | HTPM
Governor at any other educational establishments:
None
Declarations of Interests:
None
Mrs A. Sladden
Category: Foundation Governor appointed by the LDBS
Term of office including end date:
21/01/20 to 20/01/24
Committees & Responsibilities:
None
Governor at any other educational establishments:
None
Declarations of Interests:
N/A
Ms. E. Standring
Category: Foundation Governor appointed by the Trustees of the Burdett Coutts & Townshend Foundation
Term of office including end date:
11/03/21 to 10/03/25
Committees & Responsibilities:
Business & Finance | HTPM | Pay | SEND Link
Governor at any other educational establishments:
None
Declarations of Interests:
None declared
END OF TERM / RESIGNATIONS:
- Ms. S. Agabani (Parent Elected Governor | 12/10/19 to 11/10/23 | RESIGNED September 2022)
- Ms. A. Johnson (Foundation Governor appointed by Trustees of the Burdett-Coutts & Townshend Foundation | 29/04/18 to 28/04/22 | END OF TERM)
- Miss R. John (Foundation Governor appointed by the Parochial Church Council | 09/03/2021 to 08/03/2025 | RESIGNED February 2022)
- Miss C. Hui (Foundation Governor appointed by the LDBS | 25/02/20 to 24/02/24 | RESIGNED November 2021)
This information was last updated 6 September 2023
Governors Attendance Record
Governors hold an important public office and their identity should be known to their school and wider communities. It is now a requirement to publish every governor’s attendance record at governing body and committee meetings over the last academic year.
Governor Name/Role | 22 Sept 2022 | 10 Nov 2022 | 30 March 2023 | 16 May 2023 | 13 July 2023 |
S. Agabani | Parent elected | Resigned | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
N Agarwal | Local Authority | Present | Present | Present | Absent | Present |
Y. Barnett | Head: Ex-officio | Present | Present | Present | Present | Present |
J. Bates | Foundation: Deanery (Vice-Chair) | Present | Present | Present | Present | Present |
R. Brown | Parent elected | Not yet appointed | Not yet appointed | Not yet appointed | Present | Present |
N. Bowles | Foundation: LDBS (Chair of Governors) | Present | Present | Present | Present | Present |
G. Buckle | Vicar: Ex-officio | Present | Present | Present | Present | Absent |
E. Camplin | Staff elected (maternity cover) | Not yet appointed | Not yet appointed | Not yet appointed | Present | Present |
J Crichton | Foundation: Trustee | Not yet appointed | Not yet appointed | Not yet appointed | Present | Absent |
S. Lee | Staff elected | Present | Maternity leave | Maternity leave | Maternity leave | Maternity leave |
SJ. Nicholls | Parent elected | Present | Present | Present | Present | Absent |
A. Sladden | Foundation: LDBS | Maternity leave | Present | Present | Present | Absent |
E. Standring | Foundation: Trustee | Present | Present | Present | Absent | Present |