Governors - Who's Who

 Kerry Riley - Chair of Governors 

 My journey with Birkbeck began in December 2018.  I had been a governor for many years in both primary and secondary schools in Bexley and was delighted to be invited to join the Birkbeck Governing Body as a co-opted member.  I have seen the role of school governor evolve and become more focussed and effective in supporting and challenging school leaders to help provide all children with the best possible opportunities for learning. For over 20 years I have worked in education in a number of roles, starting in the classroom and then moving to the administrative side as a School Business Manager.  Currently I work for a local academy trust as Facilities Lead overseeing the buildings compliance and Health & Safety in 10 primary schools across Bexley, Kent and Medway.

I have recently been appointed as chair of the Standards Committee and I'm the link governor for Safeguarding and GDPR.

Laura Majithia - Co-Vice Chair of Governors

I have been part of the governing body as a parent governor since 2020. I have two children at Birkbeck, in Year 1 and Nursery and so, when the opportunity to take an active role in the life of the school as a governor presented itself, I didn't hesitate to put myself forward. I joined the governing body to contribute to the school community and help support our children’s education and have found that making a contribution to the strategic direction of the school is very rewarding. 

For the last eight years, I have been a lawyer in the civil service. The skills and experiences I have developed over my career means I am able to challenge and support the school effectively in order to achieve the best possible outcomes for every pupil.

Andy Thompson  - Co-Vice Chair of Governors

I became a parent governor of Birkbeck in 2022, shortly after my son joined the school, and am also a governor at Cleeve Park School. I am a qualified Actuary and a Partner in a large consultancy. I spend much of my professional life working with and advising school governing bodies (as well as a portfolio of large corporates) on pensions and other benefits.
I feel very privileged to have had access to excellent education opportunities in my earlier life and I want to help to ensure that local children have access to the best teachers/facilities and a supportive learning environment. 

I am a strong advocate for equity, diversity and inclusion, and am very proud of Birkbeck’s “Rights Respecting Schools” accreditation.

 

Sarah Finlay

I joined Birkbeck as a class teacher in September 2021 and became a Year Group leader in September 2023. Through my role I am committed to providing pupils with enriching learning opportunities that support their development across the curriculum and to develop their love of learning.

 

Birkbeck’s motto of “Dream, believe, achieve” thoroughly resonates with me. I am passionate about ensuring that pupils are exposed to diverse experiences that inspire and encourage them to be individuals and create their own future.

 

I am delighted to have been elected staff governor and look forward to collaborating with the governing body to ensure the best outcomes for all of Birkbeck’s pupils.

 

 

Helen Charman

My professional role as a Primary Head Teacher allows me to view my voluntary position within the Governing Body from both sides of the mirror, which I hope brings a new addition to the range of experience and the skill set already in place at Birkbeck. I am delighted to have been co-opted to the Board in the Autumn Term 2023 and to join an established and multi-skilled team of committed people. 

 I have been working in education  since 2006, as a teacher and then in various leadership positions in the Greenwich, Bromley and Bexley Boroughs. I became a Head in 2016. I know first hand what a privileged position it is to be able to hold a guiding hand over the precious primary years of education for children. I was keen to join Birkbeck's strategic leadership team in order to lend support in this way. 

 Birkbeck has a strong history, a strong present day and, I am sure, a strong future ahead. 

 Continued high quality support and challenge from the Governing Board will ensure that our children are receiving the best of what is possible in terms of their teaching, learning and opportunity. In this way we enable each of them to progress, develop, thrive and be prepared for the next stage of their education beyond Birkbeck. This is why I wanted to join the Governors and underpins my commitment to the school going forwards. 

 Samantha Elliott

I am a parent governor with two children at Birkbeck in Year 4 and Year 1. 

My reason for joining the governing body is to proactively contribute towards the positive direction of the school. I believe that Birkbeck has a bright future and I am motivated to continue to guide that in however I can add most value. 

In my professional career, I am a marketing consultant managing global FMCG Brands. I handle cross channel and territory implementation and believe that the skills I have acquired throughout my career support me in my role as governor. 

 Caroline Douglas

 I have been working in schools since 1999, starting as a Midday Supervisor while my children were young. I gradually progressed to the role of Business Manager, and I have been the Business Manager at Upton Primary School for over 10 years. I take great pride in my position and truly enjoy my work.

The world of education has evolved significantly since I began my career, but I have never witnessed the struggles that schools are facing now. It can be challenging, especially when trying to balance limited budgets while providing the best possible support for the children we serve. However, every day brings something that makes me smile, making the difficulties worthwhile. There is little that is more rewarding than seeing happy, confident, and smiling children in an environment where staff have worked hard to ensure safety and security.

I feel fortunate to love my role, as each day is different and rarely goes as planned! Throughout the years, I have collaborated with many governors and have always been impressed by their dedication to the role. Now that my children are all grown, I have more time on my hands and wish to give back to a sector that has contributed so much to my life and has been incredibly rewarding.

I look forward to working with the children, staff, and governors at Birkbeck and to all the experiences this role will bring.

Candice Smith

I have a BA in Primary Teaching Studies with Maths and over 20 years’ experience working with students with a variety of learning needs.

I am Deputy Headteacher of Marlborough School, which supports students with SLD and PMLD. I completed my Careers Lead Level 6 training and was awarded the Careers Leader of the Year 2022 for London.

In 2023, I gained a MA in Educational Leadership and a Level 7 Senior Leader Apprenticeship qualification from CMI.  I am now pursuing both a Level 5 qualification in Positive Behaviour Support and a Level 7 Diploma in Executive Coaching and Mentoring.