Parent Governor

Laura Deitz

I am excited about the opportunity to serve on the Governing Body at Brent Knoll School. My eldest daughter Lily joined Brent Knoll in January of 2018 and is now in Birch Class.

Since Lily’s diagnosis of ASD when she was 2 years old, I have been active in volunteering with charities and community organizations supporting and empowering parents and carers of children with ASD. In the United Arab Emirates where the Deitz family recently lived, I worked directly with the government to ensure that children with SEN could access and get support in schools.

I work in Finance and have two other young daughters. The Deitz family is grateful Lily has the opportunity to learn and grow in a school with educators and leaders who are passionate about supporting children like Lily. As Governor, I want to ensure that parents and carers have the support they need and that the curriculum at Brent Knoll best enables all children to achieve their full potential.

Headteacher

Andy Taylor

As Headteacher I am a member of the Governing Body and contribute to the Full GB, Resource, Teaching and Learning and Children, Families and Community committees. I have worked in Special Needs education for the vast majority of my career and have worked at Brent Knoll for twenty three years as a class teacher, curriculum lead, middle and senior leader.  I became Headteacher in January 2019. Whilst a teacher I was the staff representative on the Governing Body for nine years representing the views of staff and contributing to strategic vision from the staff perspective.

Since becoming Head the GB has undergone review which resulted in a realignment of the Sub Committee structure to its present form which has allowed the school to achieve challenge and support from the GB in achieving our strategic vision and ensure that priorities for school improvement are realised. The GB have relevant skills, experience and motivation to achieve the ambition of becoming a national centre of excellence for Special Education

Key to this intent is the need to review the curriculum to ensure that all of our pupils have the very best educational experience to allow them the opportunity to transition from Brent Knoll. We aim to enable them to be as as well equipped, with as much independence as possible so that they can become active citizens in their own communities knowing that they can ‘Be the best that they can be’

Term End Date: Ex-Officio

Co-opted Governor

Simon Whitlock

Committee Membership: Pay & Resources

Co-opted Governor since May 2017

I joined Brent Knoll’s Governing Body as I wanted to put my knowledge and skills of working in the health and social care sector to good use, particularly my expertise in reviewing and commissioning children and young people’s services and addressing inequalities.

I work in south-east London as a children’s services senior manager jointly for a local authority and the NHS.  I use my knowledge of public sector procurement and education commissioning to support the school run efficiently and achieve value for money, making sure that every penny is maximised and benefits our learners.

I really enjoy being a member of the Governing Body for Brent Knoll, and I am committed to supporting our learners having access to the right support at the right time.  I am also a firm believer that all decisions made at a Governing Body level should be in the best interest and wellbeing of pupils, putting them firmly at the centre of the decision-making process.

Parent Governor

Cheryl Cowie

Committee Membership: Chair of Children, Families & Community

Parent Governor since November 2017

Link Governor for Safeguarding

The CFC committee’s focus is all aspects of our pupil’s safety, welfare and development and our aim is to support and connect with all pupils, families, staff, and the wider community. I am usually at the school gate and always happy to chat if anyone wishes to say hello!

As a mum to 2 amazing Autistic teenagers (and a parent at BK since 2012), I am very aware of the daily challenges our pupils and families face; behaviours, sleeping, speech & language, stimming, barriers to learning… and how that impacts now and when looking to the future.

I currently work for Bromley Mencap supporting adults with disabilities to access vocational training courses where they learn skills that enable them to access future employment prospects. Prior to that, I worked in another Lewisham Borough SEN school for 4 years supporting ASD children and young people. These roles have offered me further experience of how appropriate learning, individually tailored, supportive and equal opportunity environments are essential for our young people’s growth and development.

I bring a parent’s perspective to the Governing Body to support our families. Also, supporting the Brent Knoll staff, who are passionate and committed professionals who continue to inspire our incredible young people to achieve their potential not only at school but into adulthood.

Governor appointed by the Local Authority

Rohan Grove

I’m Rohan Grove and I was delighted to join the governor board at the beginning of 2021.My background is primarily in research. This work included leading teams of researchers looking at how to prevent abuse and neglect of children and young people as well help those who have suffered to recover.  More generally I am passionate about how children and young people as well as families can be involved in decisions about services and support that impact them.

Foundation/Trust Governor

James Bamford

I joined the Governing Body in December 2020 as a foundation member. 

Currently, I work for a large financial institution in their planning and analysis function. I am a fully qualified accountant with a breadth of work experience across financial control, planning, budgeting and strategy teams. I hope to leverage this experience to help Brent Knoll to continue to run efficiently and support staff as they drive the strategic agenda of the school in the coming years.

I am delighted to be member of the Governing Body at Brent Knoll, I look forward to helping the school continue with its ambition to be the best that it can be.

Parent Governor

Catherine Van Rooyen

Commitee Membership: Pay & Resources

Parent Governor since Nov 2022

Link Governor for Pupil Premium Grant

As an autistic adult and recent immigrant to the UK, I am passionate about the value that specialist provision is able to provide for our children. My son joined Brent Knoll in September 2022 and the positive change in his life has been astonishing. I love the opportunity to ‘pay it forward’ so that other children and young people’s lives might be similarly impacted.

In my professional life I am a software consultant and business analyst. This experience has provided a keen understanding of governance practices, problem solving and a desire to help improve any project I’m involved in. I believe that, through my appointment as parent governor, I will be able to apply these skills to build on the amazing work of those who’ve served to date, particularly in the spheres of financial performance and strategic direction. On a personal level, I believe that a lived experience of autism, not already represented amongst the parent governorship, assists in the function of accountability management for educational performance.

On a personal level, I believe that a lived experience of autism, not already represented amongst the parent governorship, assists in the function of accountability management for educational performance.

Foundation/Trust Governor

Irene Ferrero

Committee Membership: Teaching & Learning

Governor Since: February 2023

I joined as a Governor at Brent Knoll because of my own academic experience, which empowered me to tackle my dreams and led to a career in international finance. My hope is that every student not only receive the gift of someone believing in them, but the skills to achieve their ambitions. 

As part of the Teaching & Learning committee, I use my strategic mindset to ensure that students are not only receiving the tools they need to succeed academically, but are also empowered to embrace their true selves and potential. 

Co-opted Governor

Cara Murphy

Commitee Membership: Communities & Family Committee

Governor since March 2023

Link Governor for Equality/H&S

I am a passionate advocate of education and equal opportunity. My expectation is that everyone receives the tools and support necessary to be the best version of themselves, both personally and professionally. As a dedicated professional to the rail sector, I regularly work across multi-disciplinary commercial, operational and engineering teams to develop, design and implement practical changes to the railway network, its governance and policies, and its operational procedures. In this experience, it is apparent that diverse teams are critical to success, and everyone has a role to play in the betterment of our society. 

My governorship with Brent Knoll is representative of my organisation, Atkins, respecting and actively supporting employees to take on Governor roles as a means to supporting educational opportunities for young people to engage more closely with the world of engineering (in all its forms).  When coupled with other extra-curricular activities I’m involved with, such as being a Women in Rail mentor, STEM Ambassador, and Atkins Neurodiversity Network member, I believe my experience will support Brent Knoll in creating new opportunities for both pupils and staff to grow and develop, with a firm view on making time at Brent Knoll enjoyable, and time after Brent Knoll an exciting adventure. 

Gina Evans

Committee Membership: TBC

Staff Governor since March 2024

I am delighted to be the staff representative on the Governing Body at Brent Knoll School.  I look forward to representing the views and experiences of staff at the school and ensuring that their voices are heard.  I am excited to work with a group of people who are dedicated to making the school the best it can be and ensuring the pupils have the best experiences and memories of their school days.

I have worked at the school since 2015 as the Music Teacher.  Since that time, I have taken on the role of Music Co-Ordinator for the whole school as well as the school’s Makaton Tutor and a Middle Leader.  I am very proud of the work I have done to develop our Makaton Choir and Mini Makaton Singers and the many opportunities I have created for students to perform both in and out of school.  I know these memories will stay with both students and staff for a very long time.

As the Makaton Tutor, I have started a range of events for Brent Knoll families, education staff and the local community in Lewisham.  These have been a real success both in terms of imparting specialist knowledge to those living and working with people with special educational needs and linking people together to talk about shared experiences. 

In my role as Staff Governor, I would like to learn more about school governance and management and I am particularly interested in exploring how the school can work further with others to enrich the lives of our pupils, families, staff and the local community.

Clerk to the Governing Body

Michael Garrick