Mrs D Cranmer and Mrs M Lenton our co-chairs of the Governing Body and all Governors can be contacted by postal correspondence via the school.
At Churchmead school we recognise that a diversity of thought, voices and perspectives is essential to good governance and the effective running of any school. We regularly collect diversity information from our governors and, depending on current data, can use this to:
· target recruitment to address gaps in experience and diversity
· develop and adapt board practices to ensure full participation
· prioritise training and awareness-raising in identified areas
· To further improve and develop our understanding through seeking wider advice and perspectives on current and upcoming opportunities, challenges and risks
However, we are unable to publish this information as it would mean that individual members of our governing body are identifiable.
Dianne Cranmer - Co-Chair
I joined Churchmead School Governing Body in September 2020, after being Chair of Governors and Parent Governor at Wraysbury Primary School for the previous eight years. I have a son at Churchmead in Year 8 and a daughter who will be joining the school in September 2021.
I have 23 years’ experience in local and central government, including roles as a national specialist adviser for the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and Head of Service in two West London boroughs. I am now an ad-hoc consultant for local authorities; providing service transformation and improvement, project management, preparing services for inspection, writing policies and procedures, and Chairing for multi-agency boards and forums in homelessness, housing and children’s safeguarding.
I first became a Governor when my children started primary school, so that I could offer and transfer some of my legislative and statutory knowledge and skills from local authority into an educational setting. From my job roles in Housing and Children’s Services and working closely with vulnerable families and children, I am deeply committed to children’s physical, emotional and mental wellbeing, which impacts significantly on their capacity to learn well and achieve their best - at school, and throughout their lives.
In my spare time I enjoy outdoor activities including sailing, swimming, and long walks with our very active beagle dog!
I sit on the Teaching and Learning Committee as well as the Full Governing Board, I have specific governor responsibilities for, Pupil Premium at Churchmead.
Margaret Lenton - Co-Chair
I was for 22 years the Principal of Slough Grammar School and am now a JP and for 22 years was an active member of the Berkshire Bench, regularly chairing Courts.
I was awarded an Exhibition from Royal Holloway where I graduated with a History Degree and is now working on a further degree about Bletchley Park.
I am the Secretary of the CASTME, the Commonwealth Association of Science, Technology and Maths Educators; an honorary fellow of Brunel University having served on the Council for eight years; the Chairman of Trustees of ‘True Honour’ which supports Mrs Athwal who gave evidence in an Honour Killing case. The charity now works with those facing abuse.
I am also a historian, a member of the 800 Committee which celebrated Magna Carta in 2015 and currently chairs the revived Thames Valley History Festival and also the Chairman of the Windsor and Eton Society.
In addition, I am the Chairman of Wraysbury Parish Council and is a past Mayoress of the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead.
Lorna Anderton - Vice Chair
I have been actively involved in education, teaching children from nursery through to upper key stage 2, for almost 30 years. For the past 13 years I have been a leader in education and primary headteacher, in schools across the London Borough of Hillingdon and within The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead. During my time as an educator, one of my specific responsibilities has been as SENCO and Family Support Officer.
I am the trustee of two local charities, whose purpose is to support the nutritional needs of disadvantaged children and those families facing emotional and financial challenges.
I have always enjoyed encouraging and mentoring Early Career Teachers, and during my semi-retirement am working as a personal tutor for graduates wishing to achieve teacher status.
I joined The Governor Body at Churchmead Secondary School in September 2021 and sit on The Teaching and Learning Committee, as well as the Full Governing Body. I also have specific governor responsibilities for SEND pupils.
My hobbies include going to the theatre, visiting the ballet, dressmaking and quilting.
Dan Townley – Foundation Governor
I am currently Head of Science at Eton College, having held the role of Head of Chemistry and Head of Science at Cheltenham College. I started my teaching career at Wellington College in 2010 following my graduation from Oxford University having read Chemistry. I was educated at Repton School in Derbyshire following a childhood of living overseas; I spent my formative years living in Australia, Germany and Singapore. I qualified as a teacher in 2012 having completed the PGCE with QTS at the University of Buckingham with a teaching placement at the Wellington Academy in Salisbury. I spent 5 years as a resident member of staff having held the roles of resident tutor and assistant housemaster. My wife was also a resident assistant housemistress at Cheltenham College and now holds the role of Dame at Eton College. Outside of the classroom I have had a long involvement in the Combined Cadet Force and outdoor education, having led a number of overseas trips. During my holidays I enjoy visiting our home in Cornwall to walk our two Sprocker Spaniels, Benson and Rufus, on the beach. Outside of term time I attend services at St Illogan Church, Illogan Parish, Cornwall. This is where Betsy and I married in August 2021. (This is the parish where we own our home). I also hold the role of co-opted governor at Lynch Hill Primary School Academy in Slough.
I joined the Governor Body at Churchmead Secondary School in December 2020 and sit on the Teaching and Learning Committee as well as the Full Governor Board.
Eirian Davies
I am a Foundation Governor representing St. Mary’s Church, Datchet, where I have been a member of the congregation for the last 33 years since coming to live in the village from Bromley in Kent.
My career has been in teaching English language in universities, mostly in the University of London. My first job, after a year as a teaching assistant at the University of Minnesota in the USA, was in the London Institute of Education; and my most recent before retirement was at Royal Holloway University of London, in Egham. I spent some time as a member of the panel of visitors from the London Board of Studies in English to Colleges of Education in the capital, several of which subsequently became independent universities.
Currently, I am writing a book on English linguistics and giving papers on the English language. Recent meetings in which I have taken part include a conference at Guangzhou University in China, and, in Belgium, a seminar at the University of Leuven and an invited workshop at the University of Namur. I have some experience in teaching English as a foreign language on summer schools for the British Council abroad (Germany, Romania, Poland, Japan) and I hope that my experience in teaching and examining the language generally will be of benefit to Churchmead.
I have served twice as a member of a university governing body and I hope that this experience will be relevant also. My connection with Churchmead goes back for several years and I have enjoyed working with other members of the school community.
My interests include travel, gardening, walking and local history. I am a member of the Datchet Village Society and was a reader with Slough Talking Newspapers for several years.
Bill Nhliziyo - Staff Governor
I have worked in international and local secondary schools as Head of Business Studies for over twenty years, and currently am an Assistant Headteacher of Curriculum at Churchmead School. I joined the Churchmead Governor Board in September 2018 as a staff governor. I sit on the Teaching and Learning; Finance, Personnel & Premises committee as well as Full Governing Body committees.
I am continually attending professional development courses to enhance my expertise in teaching and learning. Over the past two years I have been tutoring a number of students, ranging in ages from 8 to 16, in Computing and Business to help them fill the gaps of knowledge caused by Covid during lockdown. I feel I have had great success with the learners who have responded well to my calm and flexible manner, and the provision of interesting learning experiences.
I have keen interest in football and jogging. I play football during weekends or watch my favourite team playing. I also love listening to music and watching movies. Tennis and basketball are other games that I enjoy playing. I have participated in marathons, and in 2015 I took part in the Dead2Red marathon, running from the Dead Sea to Aqaba in Amman with groups of students and teachers from my school.
Dan Townley – Foundation Governor
I am currently Head of Science at Eton College, having held the role of Head of Chemistry and Head of Science at Cheltenham College. I started my teaching career at Wellington College in 2010 following my graduation from Oxford University having read Chemistry. I was educated at Repton School in Derbyshire following a childhood of living overseas; I spent my formative years living in Australia, Germany and Singapore. I qualified as a teacher in 2012 having completed the PGCE with QTS at the University of Buckingham with a teaching placement at the Wellington Academy in Salisbury. I spent 5 years as a resident member of staff having held the roles of resident tutor and assistant housemaster. My wife was also a resident assistant housemistress at Cheltenham College and now holds the role of Dame at Eton College. Outside of the classroom I have had a long involvement in the Combined Cadet Force and outdoor education, having led a number of overseas trips. During my holidays I enjoy visiting our home in Cornwall to walk our two Sprocker Spaniels, Benson and Rufus, on the beach. Outside of term time I attend services at St Illogan Church, Illogan Parish, Cornwall. This is where Betsy and I married in August 2021. (This is the parish where we own our home). I also hold the role of co-opted governor at Lynch Hill Primary School Academy in Slough.
I joined the Governor Body at Churchmead Secondary School in December 2020 and sit on the Teaching and Learning Committee as well as the Full Governor Board.
Rachel Awbery
I am Rachel Awbery, my current role is Go To Market Programmes and Excellence lead at Servicenow, prior to this I was a Finance Director at Experian and have worked in Finance roles for my whole career. I am a Mum to 2 little boys and love the outdoors, be that running, walking, bike riding, skiing or throwing a ball for my children or dog! I am an Associate governor serving on the finance committee. I am thrilled to be part of the Churchmead board of governors to provide an external view, particularly around the financials as the school grows and develops. This is a great way for me to continue my financial role whilst also contributing to the future success of Churchmead.
Simon Calvert
I have worked in various sectors of education for over twenty years, and currently am Assistant Principal of an Alternative Provision school in West Drayton. I have worked in SEN and SEMH (behaviour) schools and enjoy supporting young people with learning and behavioural challenges. My subject area is Health and Social Care and PSHE, and I have always looked to embed equality and diversity into the curriculum. Throughout my career I have sought to work with young people who do not have the same advantages as their peers, or who need that little more support to reach their potential.
I moved from Manchester in 2013 and spent two years living in Datchet before moving to Maidenhead. I am keen to serve my community with this role, and I am also a Governor at Manor Green School, a Special Needs school in Maidenhead. Alongside the Full Governing Board, I sit on the Finance, Personnel and Premises committee. I am also the Governor responsible for the monitoring of CEIAG – Careers Education, Information, Advice and Guidance.
In my spare time, I enjoy travelling with my partner, both city breaks and far away destinations. I collect vinyl records (and am running out of space!), and love chilling out with a good book.
Anitra Cuff
I am a retired teacher of people with special educational needs and my subjects were Performing Arts and English. I particularly enjoy teaching Drama, something that managed to creep into many of my English lessons. While training to be a classical ballet dancer many years ago, I sustained a serious knee injury and chose to qualify as a teacher of Classical Ballet instead. I still have a great love of all forms of dance, drama and music and hope that my skills can be useful in this area of the Churchmead curriculum.
Thirty of my teaching years were spent working for East Berkshire College who like Churchmead, is proud to be a multi-cultural organisation. A practising Anglican, I am an active member of St Peters Church in Iver. I am involved in both youth and children’s work. In Sunday Seekers I support the children with learning difficulties and disabilities. As a member of the Parochial Church Council, I am one of three people who represent St. Peters Church on the Burnham Deanery Synod and it was through Deanery Synod that I heard Churchmead were seeking new Governors.
I am lead Governor for special educational needs and have a passionate belief that people with learning difficulties, disabilities and hidden disabilities such as Asperger’s Syndrome should be taught in mainstream schools whenever possible. Being a Governor at Churchmead school might enable me to continue to use my skills in a positive and useful way on a voluntary basis. It is also my intention to make a useful contribution to the Christian ethos of the school.
I have been happily married to my husband Arthur for 49 years. We have two grown up daughters, one married, one still living at home and we have a delightful two year old grandson who is a great joy to us all.
My hobbies include: Church Bell Ringing, American Square Dancing, Body Boarding, Embroidery and making theatrical costumes. I enjoy gardening, try to play the guitar (but not very well) and have a collection of teddy bears that I am very fond of.
Rev'd Chris Ferris – Foundation Governor
Rev'd Chris Ferris is the Team Rector of Langley Marish which is a neighbouring parish to Churchmead School. He was ordained in 2004 and has served in Kent, Hackney, north London and now is in Slough. In Hackney Chris was a school Chaplain and Associate Rector, as well as serving on the London Diocesan Board for Schools. He has sat on a variety of school Governing bodies and being dyslexic is interested in supporting youngsters with learning difficulties. Before ordination he worked for Marks and Spencer and a L'Arche Community. Chris is married and has two teenage children.
Colin Austin - Parent Governor
I'm Colin and I am an elected parent governor for the school. I have 2 children at the school. I have worked primarily in the private sector in both large and small companies, currently I am working with as a regional manager within financial retail.
I wanted to get involved within the community and give something back using my background and skills while maintaining a balanced parent view at the governor meetings.
Outside of work I coach Rugby at Slough RFC on a volunteer basis, and I am also the Club Safeguarding officer. As I live close to Langley Park and Black Park, I can't help but enjoy walking the dog around the vast beautiful woodland area. I do also like a spot of fishing too.
David Buckly – Associate Governor
I have lived in Datchet since 2013 with my family. Working in the community as a Volunteer through Covid founding Datchet Volunteers, becoming a Parish councillor in 2019, taking on the role of Chairman of Datchet Parish Council in 2020. I then stood in the local election in 2023, where I was supported by residents as an elected member of the Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead Council. I also have the role of Business Champion for RBWM, while sitting on many internal and outside panels giving me a wealth of understanding of local authority and public services. As a business owner for the past 40+ years this hopefully allows me to add value to the role of Governor for Churchmead School to support the exciting future of a progressive school that offers local children the foundations needed to achieve their aspirations.
Governing Body - Information