Who are St Stephen's governors and what do they do?

Below you can find out a bit more about each of the governors, who they are, what type of governor they are, something of their background and skills, and also why they are one of the governors. Phillip Ratcliff is the Chair of the Governing Body and Ken Kitson is the Vice-Chair.

School governors come from every walk of life. There are over 300,000 school governors in England and they form the largest volunteer force in the country.

Each individual governor is a member of a governing body, which is established in law as a corporate body. Individual governors may not act independently of the rest of the governing body. Decisions are the joint responsibility of the governing body.

The role of the governing body is a strategic one, its key functions are to:

• set the aims and objectives for the school
• set the policies for achieving those aims and objectives
• set the targets for achieving those aims and objectives
• monitor and evaluate the progress the school is making towards achievement of its aims and objectives
• be a source of challenge and support to the headteacher (a critical friend)

The headteacher is responsible for the internal organisation, management and control of the school and the implementation of the strategic framework established by the governing body.

Here are our school Governors:

Philip Ratcliff - Chair of Governors

 
Type of Governor: Local Authority
Committees/Responsibilities: Chair of Governors, Curriculum and Achievement, Strategic Link Governor for Staff ICT, Performance Management and Leadership
Areas of Professional Experience/Interest: Learning and Development, Organisation Development, Project Management and Communications
Why I’m a St Stephen's Governor: St Stephen’s is already a fantastic school, known for its teaching and learning and "family atmosphere". I want to contribute to its continued development so that it can be formally recognised as an outstanding school, supporting the work to make sure that the partnership between pupils, teachers and parents works to the very best of everyone.

Ken Kitson - Vice Chair

Type of Governor: Foundation (Southwark Diocese Board of Education)
Committees/Responsibilities: Vice Chair of Governing Body, Chair of Resources Committee and member of the following other committees: Curriculum and Achievement, Performance Management & Strategic, Link Governor for Numeracy, Data and HT Performance Appraisal.
Areas of Professional Experience/Interest: Financial management is the common thread that runs through my professional life. I did not pursue this into accountancy, but I do have qualifications in internal audit and book keeping. I have also worked within IT departments, carrying out a variety of roles including financial management, service management, project management and providing support to business in defining IT requirements.
Why I’m a St Stephen's Governor: St Stephen's is a very special school. Throughout the school there is a drive and a determination to provide a safe place for the children together with a teaching and learning environment that will bring the best out of each individual child. There a strong commitment to the development of Christian values and habits in the children and Biblical belief.  Children are offered a range of opportunities to help them discover where their interests and talents lie so that they can get the most out of life. As a Governor I want to play my part in ensuring the school continues to have the same heart and continues to support each child in fulfilling their potential - not just academically, but in all aspects of life.

Fr Michael Bailey

Type of Governor: Foundation (Parochial Church Council) - ex officio as the Parish Priest

Committees/Responsibilities: Curriculum & Achievement, Faith, Children and Family & Community
Areas of Professional Experience/Interest:  I am the Parish Priest of St Stephen's with St Mark's, Lewisham. I have been in Holy Orders for 10 years, and I have been a school Governor, all my ordained life. My interests are helping young people to develop their faith in God and to care them, their families and the staff. I also enjoy history and football and look forward to meeting new people. 

Why I'm a St Stephen's Governor: Being a Governor at St Stephen's is very important to me because Jesus calls us to see Him in the young and the old alike.

Irene Olaleye

Type of Governor: Foundation (Parochial Church Council)
Committees/Responsibilities: Curriculum & Achievement, Children, Family & Community, Admissions, Link Governor for SEND and School Website 
Areas of Professional Experience/Interest: My working background has generally been Office Management and Administration in various industries including the Wine Trade and Telecoms, I'm currently employed in that capacity at a Children's Centre in the Royal Borough of Greenwich.  
Why I’m a St Stephens Governor: As a former pupil myself, and also a parishioner of St Stephen's Church I am obviously enthusiastic about our school, and want to ensure all its pupils reach their full potential, and that the school continues to strive towards being Outstanding. This is most certainly achievable, given the calibre and commitment of the staff and Governing Body. I'm keen to strengthen the link between the Church and school, in order to maintain the teaching of Christian values. With roots embedded within the school in the form of my children who've since left, I'm familiar with the day-to-day running of the school and can provide an alternative, parent perspective on issues.

Colin Plant

Type of Governor: Foundation (Southwark Diocese Board of Education)
Committees/Responsibilities: Curriculum & Achievement, Finance & Personnel, Treasurer and Link Governor for Foundation Subjects.
Areas of Professional Experience/Interest: I was a Director for a NHS Trust in central London for over 15 years, so I am interested in strategy, management, leadership, finance and outcome measurement. I am now a university lecturer, a new career for me, so I am really interested in learning and development! I am also a Southwark Diocesan Synod representative and Lay Chair of the Deptford Deanery Synod, so hope to be able to make use of these connections.
Why I'm a St Stephen's Governor: As a father of a pupil in the school, I really want to ‘give back’ to St Stephen’s and see the school succeed. I love that the school has Christian values and behaviour at its heart, and I want to see it continue. We have excellent hard working staff and head teacher, and we need a fantastic Governing Body, with imagination and ambition, to ensure the school continues to improve. I hope to be able to contribute to all this and more!

Ukachi Adeniyi

Type of Governor: Staff
Committees/Responsibilities: Curriculum & Achievement, Link Governor for Mental Health/PSHE/RSE

Areas of Professional Experience/Interest: I have worked at St Stephens as a teaching assistant since 2009 and thus am very familiar with the school. I also have a background in law, having practised as a solicitor for a number of years. I am a church member and have had the pleasure and privilege of being a Sunday School Teacher for 30 years. 
Why I'm a St Stephen's Governor: Having worked at the school for this length of time and seen at first hand the tireless dedication of the staff, commitment of the parents and zeal of the children, I feel honoured to have the opportunity to serve the school in this capacity. As a Christian I’m dedicated to the ethos of the school in seeking to train and educate children in a loving and safe environment underpinned by Christian values. My own children passed through St Stephens and bear witness to the positive experience they had at this gem of a school. As a member of the Governing Body, I hope that I can play my part in the school’s continual pursuit of excellence. 

Tabitha Fyffe

Type of Governor: Parent

Committees/Responsibilities: Curriculum & Achievement,  Children, Family & Community and Link Governor for Safeguarding.
Areas of Professional Experience/Interest: I have experience of being on a financial committee as a trustee & treasurer at my former church, and I have run my own business for 17 years.  I also have experience in property management through my role as a landlord.

Why I'm a St Stephen's Governor: As a parent of two children at St Stephen's, I am really grateful to be a Governor of this wonderful school; to be in a position to contribute more positively and constructively to its' development.

St Stephen's is an exceptional school and plays a vital role in our community.  I hope to support in any way I can to enable it meet its' goals, helping children to reach their potential and to feel safe, valued and loved so that they can thrive.  I'm passionate about children exploring a wide range of activities so they can discover their God-given gifts. I highly value the Christian teachings, values and ethos that are at the core of the school.  I believe this foundation will set our children up well for life beyond their years here.

Sandra Baiden

Type of Governor: Foundation (Parochial Church Council) 

Committees/Responsibilities: Curriculum & Achievement, Finance & Personnel, Faith, Children, Family & Community and Link Governor for Literacy
Areas of Professional Experience/Interest: I currently work as an Assistant Procurement Business Partner for an NHS Trust.

Why I'm a St Stephen's Governor: Having attended a faith-based sixth form, I know first-hand how important having Christian values as an integral part of the school's ethos, greatly enriched my life throughout my time at school and beyond.   Growing up attending St Stephen's Church, it has always been my hope to give back to the community that has helped me build my faith.  It is therefore my joy to be a part of the voice that shapes the learning outcome of the children, by serving as a link between the church and the school.   I am very enthused about being a governor and  hope to see the christian values strengthened in the children's learning experience at St Stephen's School.

Dwayne Edwards

Type of Governor: Parent 

Committees/Responsibilities: Curriculum & Achievement
Areas of Professional Experience/Interest: I work in the Electrical Engineering industry, as a Electrical Technician helping to keep the lights on in London. Health and Safety are crucial to me, as well as having good facilities available to the school.

Why I'm a St Stephen's Governor: I am a parent to children who attend St. Stephens and still being new to the school it has not taken me long to admire the values and positive environment the school brings to the children. St Stephens has a fantastic leadership team and great staff members with an outstanding reputation for the children that move onto higher education with good demeanor. With Christian morals at its core I believe St Stephens is an outstanding school. I am passionate about children's learning especially bringing its Christian values to light in a constructive way to the children. I want to be a part of that organization to help contribute to the growing success of the school.