Robert Dale

Chair of Governors

Parent Governor

I am excited to be joining the Board of Governors as a Parent Governor. I have two boys currently at the school in Year 6 and Year 4, and a daughter in Year 1. This means that I will be involved in the school as a parent for many years, so I have a strong desire to do my part in making our fabulous school the best it can be.

Outside of being a parent at the school, I grew up in Hemel Hempstead and after a few years away moved back in 2003. I work in London for a global IT outsourcing and consultancy organisation as an Enterprise Architect. This has given me a wide range of skills and experiences across commercial, financial, technical and managerial functions which I hope to be able to use in my role as a governor.

Emma Harris

Vice-Chair of Governors

Foundation Governor

As a Foundation Governor and alongside Revd Ben Brady and Mrs Kennedy, I support and encourage links between our wonderful school and Holy Trinity Church.  I am glad to be able to act as a link between the church and school.

I am married to Jay and we have 2 sons, one who is now at JFK Secondary School having been at Potten End since Nursery,  and the other in Year 4.  I work for a Pharmaceutical company managing their omnichannel strategy.

In addition to the role of Vice Chair, I sit on Curriculum Committee & support the school as Data Protection Officer and compliance with GDPR as well as with our website which is a critical tool allowing us to share information, updates and resources with existing school community and also with prospective parents considering the school.

I am committed to supporting our fabulous school and community and by in the role of Foundation Governor to supporting both the Head and the staff to continue to embed a love of learning and allow our children to "nurture, grow and flourish" whilst at our school.

Denise Kennedy

Head Teacher Governor

I am delighted to join the governing body as Head Teacher after having previously been the Principal at a local primary school for 5 years. I have worked on numerous governing bodies throughout the last 15 years, in leadership roles as well as a parent governor. I am really looking forward to working with the children, staff and families within the school community. I enjoy and thrive on the challenge that comes with every aspect of school life and am passionate about high quality education and each and every child reaching their full potential. Nothing but the best is good enough.

Pam Kirk

Co-Opted Governor

After a lifetime of working in both Human Resources and latterly as Cabin Crew for British Airways , I now have time to contribute to the community. The role of school governor will hopefully allow me to have a positive influence, at both a strategic and ground level, on the performance of the school, for the benefit of the children. I am keen to enter a new phase in my personal development, and I am looking for opportunities to learn and immerse myself in this new, and post Covid, very challenging area. I am a sociable person and give my best when working with others in a team. Being on the Board of Governors will offer a chance to meet experts from a new discipline, working and learning from them. I would like to make a difference today to children at primary school stage, using my own life experience.

Valerie Gunn

Co-Opted Governor

I have lived in the village for over 40 years and my daughters were both at the school.  I was chairman of the Friends of the School for a number of years, and more recently I have helped with reading and maths on a voluntary basis.

My early career was as a secondary Maths teacher, but in later years my husband and I ran a financial advice company in Berkhamsted.   At various stages in my life I have served as a volunteer on the management committees of the original Potten End Playgroup, the Iain Rennie Hospice at Home, the Abbeyfield House in Potten End, the Village Hall and the Parish Council.  I have obviously seen huge changes in our school over the years, and I hope that I can bring experience and enthusiasm to support it in the future.

Steve Cutler

Parent Governor

I’m a parent governor and a member of the resource committee. I have been able to volunteer in class, listen to children read and help on school trips. 

I’m married to Louise and my youngest daughter is currently in year 4. My eldest moved up to secondary school in 2020 after starting in Nursery. 

I have worked in IT support and installation for 17 years, this included fortune 500 company’s government and the NHS. I’m currently caring for my family. 

Jack Perkins

Parent Governor

I am pleased to be joining the governing body as a parent governor. I have two children at Potten End- a son in year 4 and a daughter in Reception. 

My background is in IT, I have worked for Hertfordshire Constabulary for the last 14 years currently as a Senior IT Analyst supporting the policing IT estates of Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire and Cambridgeshire. We support operational and non-operational policing with hundreds of computing tools/applications to help with prevention and safeguarding within the three counties. Recently I was involved in the development of a Hertfordshire led notification process between the Police safeguarding teams and Schools which is now being implemented around the country.

I am keen to support the ongoing development of our wonderful school and use my experiences to play an active role within the governing board.

Jane Briffett

Co-Opted Governor

My name is Jane Briffett and I live in Fields End. I have lived in this area for over 30 years and my two grandsons attend the school. I am now retired, and able to spend more time on my favourite hobbies including sewing, knitting, and crochet. During my working life I was the Bursar/ Finance Manager for several Hertfordshire schools, and also worked  within the social/ charity sector.

I am hoping that this previous experience will allow me to support the community of the school in providing the best education for the pupils. Enabling them to set off on their journey of life, having developed a love of learning, a sense of their own value, and an awareness of the wellbeing of themselves and those around them. Enabling them to reach their full potential in their lives ahead.

Joanne Moore

Parent Governor

I have a sincere interest in supporting the school to nurture, grow and flourish and would love the opportunity to contribute towards this by becoming a Parent Governor. I have two sons - one currently in Year 1, and one due to join in the future.

I am a Supply Chain Director with years of commercial and strategic leadership experience which has given me strong communication, financial and organisational skills. I have lived in Hemel Hempstead with my husband for 15 years.

Claire Wallis

Foundation DBE Governor

I am the Foundation Governor appointed by the Diocese of St Albans Board of Education.

I have a long association with the school of over 24 years. My children, now in their twenties, attended the school and I can honestly say that the school provided them with a good grounding for their futures. 

I also worked at the school for over 14 years.  Initially as a Teaching Assistant. I then went on to qualify as an HLTA in 2014 after I had taught French to the children for some years, which enabled me to cover for teaching staff at that time.  

I was also a staff governor for 3 years prior to me leaving the school. 

I am a long standing and active communicant of Holy Trinity Church and have a continuing interest in the school as it plays a major role in the Potten End community.

I am committed to the growth of the school and the continuing Christian ethos of the children and the school.

Danny Richman

Parent Governor

I am delighted to join the Board of Governors at Potten End School, where my son, Finn, is in Year Two. I hope that Finn’s younger brother Freddie will one day join him in Reception.  

I recently retired from a career of founding and growing several software development and technology businesses since 1983. I hold an MA in Acting from the Arts Educational School and studied Behavioural Economics at LSE. My volunteer work includes serving as a business mentor for the Prince’s Trust, where I received the Specialist Mentor of the Year award in 2017. I have supported over 8,000 businesses and continue to run monthly workshops for young entrepreneurs.

Education and employment will be subjected to significant change in the next five years. I am committed to helping the school prepare for an AI-influenced educational system and workplace, supporting staff to provide the best possible education. I am enthusiastic about contributing to the school's strategic development and upholding its values of creating a happy, inclusive environment for all students.

Jane Healy

Co-opted Governor

I’d like to start my bio by declaring my love for Potten End School! 

My Granddaughter (currently in Year 2) is the 4th generation of my family to attend this school (my father- John Mead, myself & my sisters, my two daughters and now my granddaughter).   My father formed and was the first Chair of Friends of the School in the 1960s.  I too was a member and then Chair of Friends of the School in the 1990s.  I am really looking forward to taking on the role of a School Governor.

My day job is Head of Pensions for a large global company, where I oversee and manage several occupational pension schemes.  The skills required for my job include financial, legal, communications, HR, commercial awareness and business strategy.  Skills which I believe could benefit my role on the Potten End School Governing Board. 

Nadia Richman

Associate Governor

I am thrilled to be joining the governor's board, and honoured to feel I can support this wonderful school! I have a six year old boy in Year 1, and a 1.5 year old who I hope will join in years to come so I am heavily invested in supporting the growth of the school. My working background includes 14 years in academia as an environmental research scientist at London Zoo and University College London, and 15 years working as a private biology tutor. At UCL, I'm an active member of the Neurodivergent Staff Network and take an active interest in understanding neurodivergence, and how to design teaching and working environments that are truly inclusive and respect the differences in the way we all work. I am also a gardener and trainee garden designer and have an active interest in the benefits to academic performance and wellbeing from outdoor education.