What is Governance?
Responsibilities of the Governing Body
The Governing Body is dedicated to promoting high standards of educational achievement at the school. As the accountable body, it provides strategic direction by establishing a vision and defining the school’s purpose and aims within an agreed policy framework. The Governing Body diligently monitors and evaluates the school’s performance and the effectiveness of the school improvement plan. Additionally, the Governing Body acts as a ‘critical friend,’ offering both support and constructive challenge to the senior leadership team
The Governing Body
The Governing Body collaborates closely with the Headteacher, staff, and the Local Authority.
Adam Nazar-Bhandari
Chair of Governors
Francesca Rowland
Governing Board and Chair of Standards and Teaching and Learning Committee and SEND link governor
Gajaan Sugumar
Dr King-Chi Yau
Safeguarding & Attendance
Shabnam Khan-Bhandari
YFS reading and writing, Race and Diversity
Nazir Rasul
Resources Committee
Duncan Partridge
Associate Member
When do the Governors meet?
The Governing Body convenes six times a year, once each half term, as a Full Governing Body. The Governors come from diverse backgrounds, bringing a wide range of skills to the table. This diversity, coupled with their shared commitment to the pupils and staff, contributes significantly to their success.
Key Responsibilities:
- Setting the Strategic Direction: Governors work with the headteacher and senior leadership team to develop the school’s vision and long-term goals. They provide strategic oversight to ensure the school remains focused on its core mission and objectives.
- Holding Leaders to Account: Governors support and challenge the headteacher and senior leaders to ensure they have the resources and support needed to lead the school effectively. They provide oversight on key decisions and hold the school accountable for its performance.
- Overseeing Financial Performance: Governors are responsible for ensuring the school’s financial resources are well managed. This includes setting financial priorities, approving budgets, and monitoring spending to ensure it aligns with the school’s improvement plan.
- Policy and Staffing: Governors help set policies and make decisions related to staffing. They work alongside senior leaders to ensure the school has the right staff and policies in place to provide excellent education.
- Community Engagement: Governors act as a bridge between the school and the community. They engage with parents, staff, and the wider community to ensure the school meets the needs of its stakeholders.
- Monitoring and Evaluation: Governors regularly review the school’s performance, including academic results and other key performance indicators. They use this information to drive continuous improvement and ensure the school is meeting its goals.
These responsibilities ensure that school governors play a crucial role in the governance and success of the school.
Types of School Governors:
- Parent Governors: Elected to represent the parent body, they should stay in touch with those who elected them but make independent decisions on voting matters.
- Staff Governors: This group includes the headteacher, teaching staff, and support staff. Except for the headteacher, staff governors are elected and should communicate with their electors. They are expected to vote based on their own judgment.
- Local Authority Governors: Appointed by the local authority, these governors should be committed to raising standards. They should maintain contact with their appointing body but vote in the best interest of the school.
- Community Governors: These individuals should live or work in the community served by the school or be dedicated to the school’s success. They are invited to join the governing body and can vote on the appointment of new community governors.
- Associate Members: Appointed by the governing body to serve on committees and attend full governing body meetings, associate members do not have voting rights.
- Co-opted Governors: Appointed by the governing body, these individuals are chosen for their skills and ability to contribute to the effective governance and success of the school.
Enquiries
The minutes of Governor meetings are available at the school upon request. Please note that confidential matters are recorded separately and are not accessible for viewing.
For any enquiries, please contact the Clerk to Governors, Kerry Thompson using the following details:
Gajaan Sugumar
Gajaan serves as a Youth Ambassador to the Attorney General’s Office Rule of Law Unit, Vice Chair of the British Transport Police Youth Independent Advisory Group, and sits on Transport for London’s Youth Board. He represented Greater London as a Youth Collaborator on HM Government’s National Youth Strategy, helping co-produce the first national youth strategy in decades. He also serves as a Youth Voice Advisor at The National Lottery Community Fund, contributing to decisions on how over £767 million of funding reaches communities across England.
Currently reading Law, Gajaan brings a strong understanding of governance, accountability, and public service to the governing board. He is committed to ensuring every pupil at Perivale Primary is supported to reach their potential, and to being a visible example to young people that civic life is open to them.
Adam Nazar-Bhandari
Chair of Governors
Matthew Hemsley
Co-Vice Chair of Governing Board and Chair of Finance and Resources Committee
Matthew has 12 years experience as a management consultant at Deloitte. He helps public sector organisations review their organisational structures and ensure that the are properly configured for long term success. He has a background in Physics and Computer Science, having studied both at Durham University. Matt has been volunteering in education for 10 years and has been a Perivale governor since 2022. He is currently Chair of the Resources Committee.
Matt is Perivale’s link governor for cyber-security. He works closely with the school to ensure that our student and staff data is kept secure. In his role as Chair of the Resources Committee he supports the Senior Leadership Team set, monitor, and assure the school’s budget.
Francesca Rowland
Governing Board and Chair of Standards and Teaching and Learning Committee and SEND link governor
I am retired having spent my working life in schools, finally as a deputy headteacher in an Ealing primary school. I have been a staff governor at two of my previous schools.
I have seen a lot of changes in education since qualifying and am keen to support Perivale Primary School, and the wider community, to achieve success.
Fareeha Usman
Governor and Vice Chair of Finance and Resources
Fareeha was appointed as a governor in 2024 and serves as Vice Chair of the Finance and Resources Committee. She is Head of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion at Great Ormond Street Hospital and founder of the charity Being Woman. She brings an extensive business background and is a multi-award-winning leader, Fareeha is committed to promoting fairness, inclusion, and strong community values, bringing her expertise to support the best outcomes for children and families at Perivale Primary.
Dr King-Chi Yau
Safeguarding & Attendance
Chi has been a governor since 2024 and is a qualified Clinical Psychologist and serves as a lecturer at UCL. Alongside that he is a Music Therapist, primarily working with children and young people (CYP) and their families in the NHS. Chi has recently been awarded the NIHR Predoctoral Fellowship to investigate the psychosocial factors contributing to fatigue and pain in paediatric inflammatory bowel disease (pIBD).
Shabnam Khan-Bhandari
Behaviour, EYFS reading and writing, Race and Diversity
In addition to her healthcare background, Shabnam is a Trustee of Perivale Hive (Perivale Library) and has experience in family support, mental health, mentoring for teenagers and young adults via a helpline, TV and radio presenting. She has been the recipient of awards recognising her contributions to the community to include, a youth achievement award presented by the Late Lord King of West Bromwich & the Universal Peace Federation, and has attended the late Queen’s Garden Party where she was nominated for her voluntary contributions representing faith and diversity in education. She remains passionate about child development in education and currently serves a parent governor on the school’s governing body.
Nazir Rasul
Finance Resources Committee
As a Behaviour and Curriculum Link Monitor, Nazir has observed the engaging and varied learning taking place in classrooms. He also sits on the Finance and Resources Committee.
Since joining the Governing Board, he has witnessed significant positive changes across the school. Thanks to the dedication of staff and students, he is confident in a bright and successful future for Perivale Primary School.
Outside his role as Parent Governor, Nazir has built a busy career spanning legal and regulatory work. In his spare time, he enjoys following his beloved football team, The Arsenal
Duncan Partridge
Associate Member
Duncan is a qualified coach, specialising in the education sector. Duncan’s previous career has included Headship roles in schools in the UK and internationally, as well as Director of Education positions at two third-sector education organisations. Duncan is a Coaching for Performance ILM Accredited Coach and author of the book, Coaching for Educators, published by McGraw Hill in 2022. When not working, Duncan can often be found on a tennis court. Duncan served as Co-Chair at Perivale before stepping into an advisory role.