Louise Russell, Chair Governor

I am a Veterinary Nurse, working at a veterinary practice as practice manager. Alongside  the nursing, I manage the accounts, payroll and HR for the practice. I am currently studying to become a qualified bookkeeper.

I have lived in Flamstead for 18 years with my husband and two children, one of whom is at Flamstead School and the other has just started senior school. I joined the Governing Body as I wanted to help contribute and support the school. I very much enjoy being part of the school community.

 

Sam Carter, Vice Chair Governor

I have been part of the Flamstead community for 15 years. My wife and I have 3 boys, who all go to Flamstead School. I started life as an outdoor pursuits' instructor, later becoming a Physical Education Teacher working in secondary school.s. My career has now evolved into leading special needs in primary schools. I am still involved in sport, coaching children from our village for Westenders FC. If you see me in the village, please say hi – I'll either be walking my dogs, bike riding with the boys or leading my youngest on his pony!

 

Mandy Evans, Local Authority Governor

I have recently joined the Governing Body at Flamstead Village School, having retired after 13 years as a Headteacher of a village school in Hertfordshire, and previously as a primary teacher in Harpenden and Digswell.

I am thrilled to be part of the team at Flamstead and to be able to support the school; to continue my passion for small schools and for continuous school improvement, which I know is a passion shared by the whole of the Flamstead staff team.

My husband and I have recently moved to the village and want to contribute what we can to the school and village life. We have three grown-up children and 4 young grandchildren.

I continue to work part-time as a training consultant for Alban Teaching School Hub, delivering training to Early Career Teachers.

 

Will Franklin, Governor

Flamstead Village School is special and has always been part of my life. I was a pupil here, lots of my friends were pupils here, my mum worked here, and now my son is a pupil here. The school is very much embedded in the Flamstead community, and I enjoy being part of it. I became a governor to support the school. I work in an environmental, health & safety and engineering consultancy, and I am pleased to bring that experience to my role in the school.

 

Mary Jenkin, Governor

I have lived in Flamstead for 20 years. I have served on the Governing Body twice; first, from 2013-2019 in which I was Chair of Governors for the last few years of that period. I resigned to take up the post of Churchwaren when asked to do so by the previous Vicar. I was aware that doing both jobs properly would be very difficult and felt that, at that time, the church was where I should put most of my effort. I was asked to return to the Governing Body by the then Chair in 2022. I have continued to date.

Professionally, I am an Educational Psychologist, now retired. I continue to have a strong interest in meeting special needs in local schools and am wholly committed to inclusion and inclusive practice. I have served for many years as SEN expert on the Independent Review Panel who examines the appeal of a parent who has had a child permanently excluded from a school. I now serve voluntarily on the panels and am currently in training to service on the School Appeals Panel.

In my spare time, I am a bell ringer.

 

Sue Wright, Governor

I am a retired primary school teacher, having started teaching in Manchester in 1973, with 17 years at St Nicholas JMI in Harpenden, where I became Deputy Head before moving to Beechwood Park School. My particular teaching interests are English and Art. I moved to Flamstead 10 years ago and thoroughly enjoy village life and the opportunities it gives for community engagement. I currently volunteer at Rennie Grove Cancer Care Charity Shop in Harpenden and my outside interests are reading, theatre and knitting. I am married and a grandmother of six, and also have two dogs.