Governor Profiles

Governor Pen Profiles September 2024

Vicky Bartlett – Parent Governor

Vicky lives in Great Hormead and joined the governing body as a Parent Governor in 2022.  She has a daughter and son at the school. Vicky is a Chartered Accountant who has worked predominantly in the financial services and natural resources sector. She is currently the Behaviour and Wellbeing link governor and was the Vice Chairman of the Resources Committee until July this year.  Vicky now works for the school as the School Business Manager, Finance, for one day a week.

Louise Tainton – Parent Governor

Louise moved to Albury in 2021 from Islington. Her two children joined the school in 2022 and she was elected as a parent governor in October 2023.  Louise is a commercial real estate lawyer who has worked in London for over 20 years. Louise joined the Resources committee and from September will be its Vice Chair.  Louise is looking forward to learning more about the school and using her management and financial skills to help make a material contribution to the success of the school.

Miranda Trenchard – Chair of Governors

Miranda and her husband, Harry Smart, moved to Furneux Pelham in 1991 and she became a school governor in 2010. Since then she has chaired the Curriculum and Pupil Welfare Committee, as well as the Personnel Committee, before becoming Chair of Governors in 2015. Miranda has worked in the public sector for 41 years, most recently as an HR Manager for Hertfordshire County Council, retiring in 2016. She has previously worked for Northumberland Police and Tyne and Wear Metropolitan County Council as a principal administrator and co-ordinator of voluntary grant-aided projects, such as Victim Support. Miranda’s main aim is to further develop links between the school, governors, parents and the local community.  She has been particularly interested in Pupil Voice and Parent Forums, as well as the regular school surveys.

Kristian Taylor – Foundation Governor

Kristian joined the governing body in 2013.  He is married to Mirella and lives in Berden with their two children: Luca, who attended Furneux Pelham from 2009-2016 and also Ava, who attended Furneux Pelham from 2012-2019. Kristian is a Sales and Marketing Director at an IT Company specialising in Apple and IT solutions for schools and colleges. He visits many schools and meets numerous teachers, headteachers and IT manufacturers on a regular basis. Kristian is the link governor for Safeguarding, eSafety and ICT. He is a keen swimmer and cyclist and was a volunteer ChildLine counsellor for several years.

Nathan Tolhurst – Co-opted Governor

Nathan moved into the village in 2020 to join his partner who was born and raised in Furneux Pelham. He joined the team as a Co-opted governor in October 2023. Nathan is a Police Sergeant currently in Hertfordshire Police, with over 12 years’ service. Nathan has been one of the lead Managers for Digital forensics within the police force, so has gained a very unique skillset to safeguard all children in the county. Nathan is the lead Health and Safety Governor and joined the Resources committee to bring his management experience to aid the success of the school.

Dave Bromage – Co-opted Governor; Vice Chair of Governors and Chair of Curriculum & Pupil Welfare

Dave and his wife, Fran, moved to Brent Pelham in 2011. His son Toby attended Furneux Pelham School from 2015 – 2022. Dave was elected to the Board of Governors as a parent governor a year later and, in 2017, was appointed Vice Chair of Governors. He is Chair of the Curriculum & Pupil Welfare committee and is the link governor for SEN, Pupil Premium and Children Looked After (CLA). Dave is a journalist who has worked for The Sun newspaper’s sports desk for 20 years. He also had a column in the Herts & Essex Observer until 2016. He is also a keen quizzer – running regular quiz nights locally – and an avid birdwatcher and nature enthusiast.

A secular humanist, Dave offers a non-religious perspective on the Governing Body. He is fascinated by primary-school education and how to tailor the curriculum to enable pupils to fulfil their potential.

Gary Smith – Parent Governor; Chair of Resources Committee and DPO

Gary lives in the village and is a parent governor with 3 daughters attending the school.  Gary has been a governor since 2019 and is currently the chair of our Resources Committee as well as being our Data Protection Officer. Gary is an employment solicitor based locally in Bishop’s Stortford having previously worked in the City.  He grew up in Bishop’s Stortford and has lived in the area all of his life.

Sarah Cook – Ex Officio Governor; Headteacher

Sarah is the new headteacher at Furneux Pelham School. Sarah holds a BA Hons degree in Childhood Studies and Subject Studies for Schooling and achieved a grade of ‘Outstanding’ for her Primary Teaching Qualification. Sarah has developed her teaching career in several Hertfordshire schools, being promoted to Key Stage 2 Leader and then taking up the position of Deputy Headteacher at Spellbrook Primary School for the last 5 years and has also completed her NPQH qualification.

Sarah is no stranger to the challenges faced by parents with four children herself, between the ages of 10 and 22. She is pleased to have been given the opportunity to lead Furneux Pelham School and is looking forward to working with the families and the community at the school. Outside of school, she enjoys spending time with her family and walking their dogs together and is delighted to be in the wonderful rural environment of Furneux Pelham School with its opportunities for outdoor learning and the exciting opportunities ahead.

Colette Perale – Staff Governor

Colette moved to Albury from London in 2018. She was elected as staff governor in 2021. She qualified to teach in 2015 and has been teaching at Furneux Pelham school since 2019. She is currently a teacher in Nightingale class.

Nick Radmore – Parent Governor

Being prepared