Governors play a vital role in ensuring the best possible education for every child by creating robust accountability for school leaders (DfE 2015). They have a strong focus on four core strategic functions
- Ensuring clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction
- Holding the leaders 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 its money is well spent.
- Ensuring the voices of stakeholders are heard.
The full Governing Body meets every term. In addition, there are two committees, which meet in advance of the full governing body for more detailed discussions and to review policy documents. They are
- Curriculum and Standards
- Resources
The Governing Body is comprised of 12 members and the composition is as follows
- One Ex Officio (Headteacher)
- One staff member elected by school staff
- One appointed by the Local Authority
- Two elected by parents of the school
- Seven Foundation governors appointed by the London Diocesan Board for Schools and the Sponsoring Parish Churches.
Contact the Chair of Governors
If you wish to contact the chair of governors, please email info@smsp.richmond.sch.uk or leave a letter in a sealed envelope, with the clerk to the governors, Allison Peach, in the school office.
Governors Documents: Declarations of Interest GB 2021-22 | Declarations of Interest GB 2020-21 | Privacy Notice for Governors | Schools Financial Benchmarking | Governor Code of Conduct 2021
Governors Reports: Reading, Mathematics
Current Governors

Mary Hawes
Chair of Governors
SMSC & RE Governor
Committees:
Curriculum and Standards, Steering Group, Staff and Pupil Disciplinary, Leadership Pay Panel, Complaints Panel
Appointed:
September 2015

Joe Moffatt
Vice-Chair of Governors
Mentor Governor
Committees:
Resources, Steering Group, Appeals Panel
Appointed:
August 2013

Helen Swain
Headteacher
Committees:
Resources, Curriculum and Standards, Steering Group, Admissions
Appointed:
September 2021

Simon Pedley
Foundation Governor
Committees:
Curriculum and Standards, Appeals Panel
Appointed:
October 2020

Malcolm Eady
Foundation Governor
Premises, Health and Safety
Committees:
Resources, Curriculum and Standards, Admissions, Staff and Pupil Disciplinary, Complaints Panel
Appointed:
18th December 2014

John Dewhurst
Foundation Governor
English Governor
Arts Governor
Committees:
Curriculum and Standards (Chair), Steering Group, Admissions, Leadership Pay Panel
Re-Appointed:
1st November 2016

Carla Maroussas
Foundation Governor
Relationship Education Governor
Committees:
Curriculum and Standards
Appointed:
1st November 2018

William Bulkeley
Foundation Governor
Computing Governor
Committees:
Resources (Chair), Steering Group, Leadership Pay Panel
Appointed:
19th April 2017

Ellie Fernandes
Staff Governor
Committees:
Curriculum and Standards
Appointed:
October 2021

Ravi Kothakota
Parent Governor
Safeguarding Governor
Governor for Looked After Children
Committees:
Resources
Appointed:
01 April 2021

Lucy Fink
Parent Governor
Pre-School Link Governor
Pupil Premium Governor
Committees:
Curriculum and Standards
Appointed:
1st April 2021

Phil Giesler
LEA Governor
SEN Governor
Maths Governor
Committees:
Resources
Re-Appointed:
1st April 2021

Justine Bateman
Deputy Headteacher
Associate Governor
Committees:
Resources, Curriculum and Standards
Appointed:
14th November 2014

Marie Richardson
Assistant Head
Associate Governor
Committees:
Curriculum and Standards
Appointed:
7th November 2014