Governing Body
The local Governing Body of St Albans Girls' School complements and enhances the Leadership Team at St Albans Girls' School by providing support and challenge, ensuring that all statutory duties are met, and holding them to account to ensure improving outcomes for all students.
The St Albans Girls' School Governing Body is a member of ATLAS Multi Academy Trust and consists of:
-
The Head Teacher
-
Up to 8 Governors appointed by the Trust Board
-
Up to 3 elected Staff Governors (elected by staff)
-
Up to 5 elected Parent Governors (elected by parents)
-
Up to 3 Co-opted Governors
The Academy Trust Members (‘Trustees’) are the Chair of Governors, 2 Vice Chairs of Governors, Chair of Finance and Head Teacher. These appoint Member Governors who bring relevant experience to the Governing Body.
Governors
Margaret Chapman
Executive Headteacher
I began my teaching career in 1988 in north London, becoming Head of Geography and leading assessment in two schools, introducing a range of measures to track student performance and raise standards, prior to my appointment as Deputy Head of The Priory School in Hitchin.
We introduced the raising boys’ achievement programme and having successfully written Specialism bids in 2003, the school profile and outcomes gained considerable strength, culminating in an Ofsted Good Rating. During this time I began school improvement work with the London Challenge and within the Local Authority which I continue to do today.
I have been Headteacher at St Albans Girls’ School since 2010 and following an Outstanding judgement in January 2013, I led the team to further raise standards and challenge underperformance. Appointed as a National Leader in Education and National Pupil Premium Assessor, myself and my team have supported a number of schools to raise standards. SEND provision is devolved within Hertfordshire and I lead the Higher Needs allocation for the St Albans and Harpenden areas for all young people aged 0-25. In addition, I am Governor at a Local PRU Academy as well as being a Board Member of the local Teaching School’s Alliance and Education Advisor with the DFE. Most recently, I have become Executive Headteacher of ATLAS MAT.
Claire Barnard
Chair of Governors - Finance, Premises & Operations
Appointed: 22nd May 2001
Term of Office: 1st July 2018 - 30th June 2022
Service: Parent Governor, Community Governor, Vice Chair of Governors and Chair of Governors
Appointed I graduated from Homerton College, Cambridge in 1983 and I am a qualified teacher. I taught in both the private and state sector, full and part time. Both of my daughters went to STAGS. More recently, I have focussed on governance and school management, both as a Governor at STAGS and on appeals panels for county school admissions. I led the governing body through an OFSTED inspection, managed the successful appointment of the current Head Teacher and I bring a wealth of relevant experience as well as a vision for excellence. I am also involved in a local church with leading Sunday school work and group discussions, have established a local art group, am a member of a book club, enjoy playing instruments in a band, gardening and keeping fit!
Bob Foster
Appointed Governor - Curriculum, Assessment & Standards
Appointed: 14th June 2016
Term of Office: 1st July 2018 - 30th June 2022
Service: Estates Committee. Chaired and served on the Curriculum, Assessments and Standards Committee
I have spent my entire working life as a teacher in secondary education. I became an Assistant Headteacher in 1989 and worked in a large multi ethnic mixed comprehensive school in Ealing. In recent years I have taken the opportunity to work more locally specialising in short term contracts and supply.
Lesley Ainsworth
Appointed Governor - Personnel & Student Wellbeing (Chair), Finance, Premises & Operations
Appointed: 25th November 2014
Term of Office: 25th November 2018 - 24th November 2022
After qualifying as a solicitor in 1981 I specialised in competition law working mainly in London but with spells in Brussels and New York. When I retired from private practice in 2013 I was appointed as a Panel Member of the Competition and Markets Authority.
I was brought up in Lancashire but have lived in St Albans for over 30 years. I have two children, both now at university.
I am also a Governor at St Albans School.
Sarah Murphy
Appointed Governor - Finance, Premises & Operations , Personnel & Student Wellbeing
Appointed: 26th February 2008
Term of Office: 1st March 2016 - 29th February 2022
I have been a Governor of STAGS since February 2008. After studying for my GCSEs and A Levels at STAGS, I went to Keele University and completed a degree in Psychology and Business Administration gaining a 2.1 and providing me with an interest in people in business. This led me to seek a career in the field of Human Resources. I have now been a generalist in the HR field for 15 years and am Head of HR for a top accountancy firm, giving me a good understanding of business. I am fully conversant in employment law and thrive on the challenges it presents in the workplace. I very much enjoy being a Governor of STAGS as I loved being a pupil there and want to give something back and make sure that the school excels in everything it does.
Amanda Jefferies
Amanda Jefferies
Appointed Governor - Curriculum, Assessment & Standards
Appointed: 7th October 2013
Term of Office: 7th October 2017 - 6th October 2021
I graduated with a BA in Modern Languages and trained and worked originally as a secondary teacher. I took a career change to pursue an interest in the field of computing, and completed a Masters in Computer Science as a mature student and later a professional doctorate in Education. My current role is Professor of Technology Enhanced Learning at the University of Hertfordshire. My research focus is in developing digital literacy and exploring the role that technology can play to enhance the learning environment.
To the School Governing Body I contribute another positive example of a role model for girls’ education, with a particular interest in the STEM subjects.
Fiona Harper
Staff Governor - Finance, Premises & Operations
Appointed: 28th June 2018
Term of Office: 28th June 2018 - 27th June 2022
I have worked at Stags since 2012 and have been Senior Science Technician since 2016.
After studying Microbiology at Leeds University I worked for many years as a research Microbiologist in various settings.
I have 3 children, 2 boys who attended Verulam school and a daughter who attended Stags.
I am not new to governance having served as a governor at a local primary school, during which time I also held the role of Chair. Being a staff governor is a new role for me and I am looking forward to representing our hard working support staff on the governing body.
Chris Curtis
Parent Governor - Finance, Premises & Operations, Curriculum, Assessment & Standards
Appointed: 25th September 2018
Term of Office: 25th September 2018 to 24th September 2022
I am a Parent Governor, with a daughter in Year 10.
I graduated from Aston University in 1994, and have spent the subsequent 25 years working for Network Rail, holding a variety of posts in projects and operations, located across the country. In my current role I chair a board responsible for the implementation of new timetables across the rail industry.
I have an interest in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) subjects, and have a passion for developing and mentoring young people who are pursuing careers in construction and engineering. I will bring my experience in this area to help encourage the students at STAGS to consider further studies and careers in these areas, where there are a wide range of exciting opportunities.
I also have an autistic daughter, and consequently an interest in education provision for those with Special Educational Needs (SEN).
Emma Geurts
Parent Governor - Finance, Premises & Operations, Personnel & Student Wellbeing
Appointed: 7th October 2019
Term of Office: 7th October 2019 - 6th October 2023
I became a parent governor in October 2019. With 2 daughters who thrive at STAGS, I am now delighted to have the opportunity to give something back to the school.
I graduated with an Honours Degree in Managerial & Administrative Studies from Aston University in 1995 and since then have over 20 years combined experience of working in industry (financial services in strategic, change, operations and service roles), as a school business manager and as a small business owner. I hope that my business and financial experience will help our school to maintain its outstanding status and ambition to provide the best possible learning environment for the students.
Alun Davies
Co-opted Governor - Finance, Premises & Operations
Appointed: 25th September 2019
Term of Office: 25th September 2019 to 24th September 2023
I was born in Brazil and attended private school there until the age of ten before returning to the UK where I went through the state school and university system in the UK. I studied sports science and maths at Loughborough University graduating in 1995. I then passed professional accounting qualifications and worked for large financial services firms in London, Zurich and New York.
I have previously been a governor in Islington and have an interest in supporting children from challenged backgrounds. I moved to St Albans with my wife in 2011 and we now have four young children.
I currently work for a management consultancy where we specialise in data analytics projects in both the public and private sectors.
Keelin Keogh
Staff Governor - Personnel & Student Wellbeing
Appointed: 23rd September 2019
Term of Office: 23rd September 2019 to 22nd September 2023
I am an experienced teacher with a passion for improvement. I see creating opportunities for cross curricular as a lens through which to reinforce and embolden our world class teaching and learning at STAGS. My English, Film and Media subject area allows me to monitor and focus on social and emotional skills in learning. As a link governor for Primary I would like to track Literacy and achievement for an eleven year learning journey whilst continuing to promote work / life balance.
Amy Fotheringham
Staff Governor - Curriculum, Assessments & Standards
Appointed: 23rd September 2019
Term of Office: 23rd September 2019 to 22nd September 2023
Over the last five years at STAGS, I have been able to implement and instil my love of learning and learning styles through my overseeing of Science and the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme as well as enrichment opportunities like the expeditions to Norway and South America. Through Staff Governance, I will now also be able to review and promote practice and procedures across the school - keeping wellbeing at the centre of all that we do at STAGS
Vanessa Harris
Parent Governor - Personnel & Student Wellbeing, Finance & Operations Appointed: 26th November 2020
Term of Office: 13th January 2021 to 12th January 2025
With daughters in Year 7 and Year 10, I will be a STAGS parent for several years. I’ve worked as in-house construction legal counsel for a large development company for 18 years, and co-manage the legal team. As a result, I have interviewed and supervised many graduates, summer students and apprentices. I am a volunteer “Career Champion”, promoting employability skills of school children with a focus on raising career aspirations by broadening their understanding of the world of work