Governing Body

Welcome to the Governors' section.

Governor Biographies

Ben Harrison MBE is a civil servant who has worked in the Home Office, Cabinet Office and Department for Culture, Media and Sport. Ben was awarded the MBE in 2013 for services to charity law. Ben has been a co-opted governor since 2011 and is currently Co-Chair of Governors. He lives in Otford and both of his daughters attended Otford Primary school.

Pippa Taylor is a full time mother to two children, both who attend Otford Primary. Before starting a family, Pippa spent 10 years working as an Advertising Sales Manager for The Independent and in newspapers in London. She worked across all sectors but specialised in Education and Recruitment. Pippa was elected as a Parent Governor in 2017. She is currently Co-Chair of Governors.

Joseph Kershaw was born, raised and worked for many years in Kent, he is now a Director of a multi-million design consultancy which provides engineering solutions across all sectors to the UK and Europe.
 
Joseph is a member of the Chartered Institute of Building Services Engineers, the Society of Public Health Engineers, a member of the Chartered Institute of Plumbing and Heating Engineers, is registered with the engineering council, a Liveryman, a Freeman of the City of London and an active supporter of multiple charities.

Simon Antoniou is an Executive-level Commercial Leader with more than 15 years’ experience managing multimillion-dollar revenue cycles for a diverse range of businesses. Simon leverages a broad understanding of multi-sector market dynamics and stakeholder needs to meet and exceed commercial and behavioural objectives. With experience working for agile start-ups including rapid growth technology company Croud, he combines corporate experience with ‘real-world’ business building success to offer a broad business acumen and unique understanding of organisational drivers. 

Initiating his executive career in Australia with market leader P&G prior to his most recent career within the Business Consulting sector, Simon combines best practice commercial leadership and performance management experience with an entrepreneurial fire and passion for relationship development.  Simon's hope is to bring this balance of commercial savvy and creative capacity to help define strategies and solutions that support academic and financial governance outcomes at Otford Primary School.
 

Kathryn Nichol is a civil servant who has worked in the Home Office, the Ministry of Justice and currently at the Department for Education. Kathryn has lived in Otford for several years and is involved with the local community as well as the school; delivering a craft club at Otford library and taking an active role in the PTFA. Kathryn has a daughter at Otford Primary School and was voted parent governor in 2019.

Helen Roberts is the Headteacher of Otford Primary School and has been in post since June 2016. Prior to this, Mrs Roberts was in leadership positions in a variety of schools in both London and Tunbridge Wells, these roles included being Acting Headteacher on two occasions, a Head of School and a Deputy Headteacher in two large primary schools.  She is also a parent with two children. Mrs Roberts has worked in many schools over the past 24 years, her first role was as a Year 3 teacher in her home county of Yorkshire.
 

The Circle Model

At Otford Primary School, we have a dedicated Governing Body which strategically supports our school. The Governing Body follows the circle model and meets six times a year. Governors work with the staff and the Local Authority to help secure the best possible education for the children and has general responsibility for the conduct of the school with view to promoting high standards of educational achievement.

An agenda for each meeting will include all the tasks which the governing body is required to consider, and the governing body will ‘commission’ assignments or activities arising from the business of the meeting, which will be recorded in the minutes. 

In addition to ‘commissioning’ activities or actions on their behalf, the governing body has delegated monitoring activities to ‘monitoring pairs’ or ‘individuals’. This applies to statutory functions, and the priorities of the School Improvement Plan. 

There are three core functions of a governing body as reflected in OFSTED's inspection handbook are: 
•    Setting vision, ethos and strategic direction, engaging stakeholders, and ensuring statutory duties are met. 
•    Holding heads to account for teaching, achievement, behaviour and safety; challenging and strengthening leadership; contributing to school evaluation. 
•    Ensuring financial solvency and probity with effective management of financial resources, including the Pupil Premium, to raise standards. 

If you are interested in becoming a Governor at our school,  for more information please contact Mrs Roberts (Headteacher) or our Co-Chairs are Mr Ben Harrison and Mrs Philippa Taylor. Contact details for governors are available from the School Office.

Otford Primary School Governing Body Details