Welcome to the Governance page of The Valley School website.
The Governing Board is responsible for:
- Ensuring there is clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction.
- Holding executive leaders to account for the wellbeing and educational performance of pupils and staff.
- Overseeing the financial performance of the school and ensuring its money is well spent.
- Ensuring the voices of stakeholders are heard.
The Board is made up of two committees:
Resources: dealing specifically with finance, health and safety, and building maintenance.
School Improvement Committee (SIC) dealing specifically with the curriculum, teaching, learning and data, and staff wellbeing.
Chair of Governors – Elizabeth Ellis
Elizabeth Ellis became a governor at The Valley School in January 2020. Following a career in education, including French and English language teaching and several years as a class teacher at Woolgrove School, she is now a writer and a director of Baldock Arts and Heritage Centre. She holds a diploma in French from the Chartered Institute of Linguists.
Vice Chair of Governors – Sandra Barr
Sandra Barr was born in London, moved to Royston as a child, and on marriage moved to Stevenage to give her family better opportunities in life. She loves this town and its people and has watched Stevenage grow, mature and thrive and is extremely proud to be a citizen of this town. In order to give something back to the town, for the past 40 years she has served our community as a voluntary school governor, served on St John’s day care steering committee and Leyden House day care committee for user improvements and is a Stevenage Borough Councillor. Sandra’s great passion is to nurture the talents of children in the Arts, especially dancing.
Headteacher – David Pearce
Co-opted Governors
Dr Rona Tutt is a former head teacher of Woolgrove School, Past President of the National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT), and she has been awarded an OBE for her services to special needs education. She has written and co-authored several books on education. Rona is also a governor at an all-age school for profoundly deaf pupils. She has a PhD in the education of children with autism and has studied British Sign language (BSL) up to level 4.
Martin Denmark was elected as a parent governor at The Valley School in April 2018 and is now a co-opted governor. He is the board’s representative for health and safety, the year 11 link governor and chair of the resources committee. Working in the aircraft industry for the last 25 years and being self-employed has given him a good understanding of business management. Martin has experience in both large and small companies, working as part of a team that follows rigorous processes through clear communication and attention to detail. He has a thorough understanding of human factors. As a governor he is honoured to have the opportunity to support The Valley School and to help ensure the students have the very best resources and environment possible in order to achieve their full potential in education.
Thomas Plater
Elected Parent Governors
Nikki Marr
Dervla Downing
Staff Governor:
Catherine Wharton
Associate Members
Taney Howarth
Jack Hugo
Clerk to Governors
Judith Aggett
