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.
 

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, 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 and more recently in Children's Centres 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 4 children; who've benefited immensely from their time at St Stephen's, I'm familiar with the day-to-day running of the school and can provide an alternative, parent perspective. 

 

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.

 

Briony Krikorian

Type of Governor: Parent

Committees/Responsibilities: Curriculum & Achievement

Areas of Professional Experience/Interest:  Professionally I have a financial services and legal background and look forward to bringing that experience to support the head and teachers in the school

Why I'm a St Stephen's Governor: I am pleased to be able to serve as a parent governor of St Stephen’s. My children are in Year 3 and Reception and we have enjoyed watching them grow in confidence academically alongside their friends.

I am deeply invested in the outcomes for all the children in the school, both in terms of education and developing wider values. I am a practising Christian, serving on children’s groups at my church, and value the careful teaching the school provides on all religions.

I am committed to being a governor through attending meetings and visiting the school on occasion during the day.

 

Mimi Gom (from 1 Jan 2026)

Type of Governor: Parent

Committees/Responsibilities: Curriculum & Achievement

Areas of Professional Experience/Interest:  I have a background in financial advice having worked in banking in the past. I am also an active participant and volunteer in my local church. I live locally and will ensure that I am available as and when required for meetings.

Why I'm a St Stephen's Governor:  My son started attending St. Stephen’s in January 2020 in the nursery, and his sister joined the nursery in January 2022, and they absolutely love St. Stephens. They are now in Y4 & Y2. It has become an integral part of our family life. I am privileged to be part of the governing body and play a part in the school's students thriving and excelling. I believe schools are the heart of a community, and effective governance plays a vital role in shaping their success.

I am prepared to dedicate the time and energy required for this role, including attending meetings, reviewing documentation, and participating in training. I am also keen to contribute to areas where my skills can be of particular value. I am honoured to contribute to the school’s continued growth and impact

 

Tayo O'Shea 

Type of Governor: SDBE Foundation Governor

Committees/Responsibilities: Curriculum & Achievement

Areas of Professional Experience/Interest:  I work for a Christian charity where I deliver early-intervention knife crime prevention workshops in primary schools, helping children make positive choices early on. I also mentor young women in prison, supporting them to rebuild confidence and plan for a better future. Before that, I worked as a youth worker and managed a financial assessments team for a borough council. All of this has taught me how important it is to listen, to be patient, and to always look for ways to remove barriers so that young people can thrive.

Why I'm a St Stephen's Governor:  I am pleased to serve as a governor because I care deeply about our school and the children who are part of it. I have two children here at St Stephen’s, one in Y2 and one in Y5. I also have two older ones, aged 18 and 22, so I’ve been through many stages of parenting! I have also had experience both with mainstream schooling and home educating for two years, which gave me a real appreciation for how different children learn and what kind of support they need to do well.

As a parent and someone who works closely with young people, I believe that every child deserves to be seen, supported, and believed in - no matter what challenges they face. I am passionate about making sure our school continues to be a place where children feel safe, included, and encouraged to do their best. I am fully committed to the training and development needed to be an effective governor. I would bring my experience, my energy, and my heart to the role; working with the rest of the board to help shape a school environment that gives every child the best chance to succeed.