Who are the Governors?
We have four types of governor:
- Parent Governors are elected by the parents of the school;
- Staff Governors are elected by the staff team;
- Co-opted Governors who are invited to join the Governing Body as representatives of our local community; and
- Local Authority Governors who are appointed by the London Borough of Barnet
Our current Governors are:
Clare Hegarty – Local Authority Governor and Chair of the Governing Body.
I was delighted to be asked to join the Holly Park Governors in Sep 2017. My first involvement with the school was through my work, leading the Year 5 school journey. Through the children and staff I could see what a special place the school is. I hope to contribute to the life of the school, bringing experience and knowledge from my work in education as a teaching assistant, IT teacher and 12 years as a School Business Manager in primary and secondary schools, as well as from the private sector working as an IT Project Manager and most recently as the Business Manager of Non Stop Action. My own three children have all been well served by their education in Barnet schools and through those years, I gave freely of my time to their school PTAs and governing bodies. It is my privilege to continue that work with Holly Park. My term of office as a Governor at the school ends in July 2026. Business or financial interests: PE Sports company – director. Another school – governor.
Rhonda Valentine – Parent governor and Vice Chair of the Governing Body
I am a mother to two girls who both attend Holly Park. My background is in Managing Consulting where I spent 11 years working across the public and private sector, supporting companies and government departments design organisations, and deliver change. As a qualified HR practitioner, I have recently joined a UK hospitality business, where I advise the board and other senior stakeholders on people related matters. I am looking forward to supporting the school and its leadership team, navigate the future, and helping to create new opportunities for the children of Holly Park. I am chair of the Finance and Premises Committee. My term of office as a Governor at the school ends on 7th May 2025. Business or financial interests: None
Ann Pelham – Headteacher Governor
I have been at Holly Park since 1990 when I started as a Newly Qualified Teacher and gained several promotions including Senior Teacher, Assistant Head Teacher and Deputy Head Teacher. During my time at the school I also gained my Masters Degree in Education. I have been lucky enough to have worked with some wonderful Head Teachers during my time here. I am passionate about the school and feel extremely proud to be its Head Teacher. I work very closely with the Governors, teachers, parents and children to build upon the success that the school already has and to take the school forward.
Annemarie Thomas -Co-opted Governor
I have one son at secondary school and another son in Y3. I am a professional musician working in theatre as a Musical Director and a published Composer/Lyricist. In 2009 I opened the multi-award winning professional drama college – The MTA, of which I am now the Principal/CEO. The MTA is known to be a campaigning college for Mental Health in the Arts, having initiated the industry wide Mental Health charter #time4change. I believe that the best educators are the ones that see the whole person, not just base value on academic achievement. My term of office as a Governor at the school ends in March, 2027. I am the chair or the Staff and Pupil Welfare committee. Business or financial interests: Drama college CEO/Trustee and director.
Sarah Deale – Co-opted Governor
I have had several senior management roles including my current headship, a previous headship and deputy head roles. I have also been an advisory teacher in two local authorities and a SENCO. I have taught across the primary age range and in a specialist setting. I was previously head of Coppetts Wood School and now I am head of the Virtual School in Barnet. Being a headteacher means I have a thorough understanding of being a school leader; how schools work and the work of the governing body. I understand the importance of accurate self-evaluation to drive school improvement. My term of office as a Governor at the school ends on 24th May 2025. Business or financial interests: None
Claire Powell – Co-opted Governor
I have three children in Holly Park School. I have worked for the Metropolitan Police Service for over 17 years and I’m currently a Forensic Practitioner working at crimes scenes and within a fingerprint laboratory. My term of office as a Governor at the school runs to November 29, 2025. Business or financial interests: None
Andrea Messios – Co-opted Governor
I have two children at Holly Park and enjoyed being a PTA Class Rep for several years. My professional background is in the arts, working in business development and fundraising for organisations like Sotheby’s, Tate and Southbank Centre. I am currently Head of Development at Somerset House Trust. My term of office as a Governor at the school runs to December 4, 2025. Business or financial interests: None
Gemma Morgan – Parent Governor
Both my children are at Holly Park . My working background is in education having been a teaching assistant and then a Year 1 teacher. I have first-hand experience of the education system, from the perspective of teacher, support staff and as a parent. My term of office as a Governor at the school runs to November 29, 2025. Business or financial interests: None
Lorean Lynch– Parent Governor
I am a mother to three children. I am passionate about my children’s education, wellbeing and extra curriculum development. My previous professional background was in Human Resources. My term of office as a Governor at the school runs to November 29, 2025. Business or financial interests: None
Maria Michael – Staff Governor
I have been Deputy Head at Holly Park School since 2013 and fully engaged with the Governing body in many aspects and fully understand the work that the Governors do. I have breadth of experience and knowledge of Holly Park School in both a teaching capacity and in a strategic role so can share much of this with the governors. As Deputy Head my role allows me to work operationally and strategically across the whole school. I work very closely with the Headteacher, the Senior Management Team but also with all teaching and support staff. I am aware of what staff want, how they feel and what they need in order to do a good job. My term of office as a Governor at the school runs to April 2026.
Otto Balsiger – Parent Governor
I have two children at Holly Park. I was treasurer of the PTA for many years and now will be supporting the school in a different way. In my professional life I am Finance Director of the British Society for Immunology supporting the immunology community to drive scientific discovery. I have more than 20 twenty years experience working in the not-for-profit sector, first auditing charities and schools, then leading charity finance teams. For 10 years I was a trustee of a charity helping children have a healthy, happy start to life. My term of office will end on 8 March 2027.
Jane Morris – Co-opted Governor
I have worked for Barnet for over 20 years in the education sector, first as the Exclusion Officer and then as the Safeguarding and Exclusion Officer. I believe that I have experience and knowledge that will be of value to the Holly Park School community. As a governor at Holly Park, I will be supporting and maintaining the good practice the school has with regards to safeguarding pupils and staff. I am the safeguarding governor. My term of office ends on 17 April 2027.
Ally Birchall – Parent Governor
I am a working mum of two children at Holly Park. Having been a primary teacher for 14 years, I have an excellent understanding of the role of governors and have reported to and presented at many meetings. My current role is in a sixth form college running innovative outreach projects in primary schools focusing on quality academic enrichment and careers education. I hope to support the SLT in achieving all that is set out in the school’s development plan, balancing the requirements of Ofsted with the needs of individual pupils. I am passionate about ensuring that children from all backgrounds and abilities are able to grow and thrive in a safe, secure and inclusive environment. My term of office ends 24/4/2027.
Lavinia Ter Horst – Co-opted Governor (Support staff)
Lavinia has been as a teaching assistant at Holly Park School for the last seven years and is passionate in ensuring that the children in our school have the best opportunities and the best education possible. Lavinia is a mother to a 13 year old son who has ASD. He is a past pupil of Holly Park having journeyed through the school. Vi has been a consultant parent for the Barnet Autism Advisory service. Vi is a member of staff, a parent and local resident. She knows many of the neighbours surrounding the school and likes to be involved in the community. My term of office ends 24/4/2027.
Atia Rafiq – Parent Governor
Atia is a GP, GP Educator, and honorary lecturer at UCL. She works with patients from every background, teaches junior doctors and supports university students in their projects. Working in teams, critical thinking and analysis of systems are part of her working life which are useful skills in being a school governor. Atia is keen to ensure that we don’t just stop at safeguarding, but teach children physical and mental wellbeing skills and community responsibility. Atia loves the diversity seen at Holly Park and wants to see this celebrated in order to produce children who are confident in being themselves. My term of office ends 24/4/27.
If you would like to find out more about the work of the Governors, or would like to be join the governing body, please contact the school.We will continue to develop the school for benefit of the children. This is why we do what we do.
A passion and concern for the development of our children are the main requirements for any Governor. Please feel free to contact the chair of governors via the school office or by email at chegarty6.302@lgflmail.org
Clare Hegarty – Chair of Governors
Here you can see how often Governors attend school events and meetings:
Governor Attendance Spring Term second half 2024
Governor Attendance Spring Term first half 2024
Governor Attendance Autumn Term second half 2023
Governor Attendance Autumn Term first half 2023
Governor Attendance Summer Term second half
Governor Attendance Summer Term first half
Governor Attendance Spring Term second half 2023
Governor Attendance Spring Term first half 2023
Governor Attendance Autumn Term first half 2022