The role of the Governing Body
School governors are people who want to make a positive contribution to children’s education. Governors are one of the largest volunteer forces in the country and have an important part to play in raising school standards. Every maintained school in England has a Governing Body. Time and again Ofsted (the national inspection body for schools) has noted that the most effective schools demonstrate effective leadership and management – including by the Governing Body.
Governors provide strategic leadership and accountability in schools. The key functions of the Governing Body are to:
- set the aims and objectives for the school;
- set the policies for achieving those aims and objectives;
- set the targets for achieving those aims and objectives;
- monitor and evaluate the progress the school is making towards achievement of its aims and objectives; and
- be a source of challenge and support to the Headteacher (a ‘critical friend’).
Introduction to our Governing Body
The St. John’s Wood Primary governors include volunteers from the local community with useful skills and experience to offer, elected parent governors, the Headteacher and a member of school staff, elected by their colleagues. Our shared commitment is to ensuring that our school makes best possible use of all the resources available to us (both human and financial) for the benefit of the children whose education is entrusted to us, enabling every child to learn and make progress, to the fullest extent possible, each academic year.
We carry out our responsibilities by examining data about children’s progress and achievement, always seeking to ensure that the progress made by children in our school compares favourably with the progress being made by children of the same age at primary schools in London and across the country. In doing so, we also look at particular groups of children, to ensure that both boys and girls, children of all ethnic and socio-economic backgrounds, and children with special educational needs are making good progress. We also work to ensure that the school provides a safe, welcoming, supportive and happy environment in which children enjoy learning.
The Governing Body is responsible, with the Headteacher, for the School Development Plan in which the school sets out its targets for continuous improvement and development, and how those targets will be met. We are also responsible for the school’s various policies.
It is also part of our role to ensure that the school actively seeks, and takes account of, the views of pupils, parents and the local community.
The Governing Body is responsible for holding the Headteacher to account, and also for ensuring that the school as a whole is accountable to parents and the local community.
Governing Body 2025/26
Cory Mclauchlan – Headteacher
Nicola Bustin - Co-Chair of Governors/Local Authority Governor
Jeff Masters - Co-Chair of Governors/Co-opted Governor
Efe Acaroglu - Co-opted Governor
Danielle Fobel - Co-opted Governor
Helen Kimber - Safeguarding Link Governor/Co-opted Governor
June Pujarini Basu Nadaf - Co-opted Governor
Radeyah Saud - Co-opted Governor
Dipa Shah - Co-opted Governor
Vacant - Staff Governor
Vacant - Parent Governor
Vacant - Parent Governor
For more information about our Governing Body's committees and link roles, please click here.
You can contact any member of the Governing Body via the school office or by emailing the Clerk to the Governing Body.
Catherine Hughes – Clerk to the Governing Body
Cathi is responsible for advising on legal aspects of the governing body’s role, arranging and preparing documents for meetings, maintaining records and attending and writing minutes of meetings.
Email: chughes@sjwps.co.uk
St. John’s Wood Primary was previously named Barrow Hill Junior School until 31 August 2025 when the school amalgamated with George Eliot Primary School and Robinsfield Infant School. Some information refers to Barrow Hill Junior School.
