The Role of a Local Governing Body (LGB)

The Totteridge Academy is part of United Learning whose Trustees hold the ultimate responsibility for the governance of each United Learning school.

​

The Department for Education's governance handbook 2019 identifies the essentials of effective governance as follows:

​

• Ensuring clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction;

• Holding the executive leaders to account for the educational performance of the organisation and its pupils, and the effective and efficient performance management of staff; and

• Overseeing the financial performance of the organisation and making sure its money is well spent.

​

United Learning’s Trustees delegate certain key roles and responsibilities to the school’s Local Governing Body (LGB) and these are set out clearly in the Scheme of Delegation (Appendix 4 to United Learning LGB Members Handbook), which can be seen on the United Learning website.

 

Meet the Governors

The LGB formally took control of governance back from United Learning on 1st September 2017. Prior to that the Board had only met in shadow form during the Spring and Summer Term 2017.

 

Bronwen Tumani – Chair of Governors

Bronwen is a National Leader of Governance and freelance governance consultant working for Barnet Partnership for School Improvement. Bronwen is also Chair of Governors at Foulds Primary School in High Barnet. Bronwen works for Judicial Appointments Commission as a fee paid panel member and for World Class Schools Quality Mark as the Assessment Manager. Bronwen has previously been a Non-Executive Director for an NHS Board and a leader within the HM Courts & Tribunals Service. Bronwen is English Subject Lead and the Safeguarding Governor.

 

Anahita Milligan – Vice Chair of Governors

Anahita was previously Executive Director of Strategy at a top ten communications agency before entering the world of education to follow her passion for helping people reach their full potential. She is also an active member of the local community, helps run a Persian community school, is a key-worker at a SEND secondary school, as well as training world-class organisations in creative leadership and problem solving. She has been a Parent Governor at Northside Primary N12 since 2013, where she is currently Chair of Governors. She has recently joined the Governing Body at TTA where she currently has one son, with another two children waiting to join in the next few years.

​

Paul Edwards

Paul is the LA Governor and is a local ward Councillor on Barnet Council representing the Underhill ward. Paul has many links with the local community and has lead responsibility for the LGB for community engagement. He has been a Social Work Manager and has worked in Brussels for an NGO. Paul is currently working as a Parliamentary Assistant in Westminster. Paul has subject link responsibility for Science.

​

Fred Groom

Fred was born and raised on the Isle of Dogs in the East End of London, but has lived in High Barnet for over 40 years. He is a retired Secondary Headteacher and the former Principal of one of the first Academies between 2001 and 2007, with an excellent track record of sustained improvement and school effectiveness. He completed his career as the Principal Education Adviser for one of the largest multiple academy trusts, monitoring standards in academies across the country.

​

Steve Hart

Steve joined the LGB in 2018. He has worked for the London Borough of Camden for 24 years as Post and General Services Manager and also Senior Admin Officer for Camden's Right to Buy Services. He has also worked as Site Manager at Christ Church Primary School and currently works as Caretaker for Coppetts Wood Primary School. He is a volunteer and Trustee for the Chipping Barnet Seniors Day Centre in High Barnet. He leads of Health & Safety. 

​

Mohammed Khalil

Mohammed is a local resident and joined the LGB in 2023. He currently runs consumer goods and data analytics businesses, both of which he founded. He previously worked in financial services for over 15 years and has an Engineering degree from Cambridge University. He has a particular interest in STEM subjects and how advances in technology are impacting all aspects of learning.

 

Sejal Patel

Sejal is the Headteacher at Whitings Hill Primary School and has previously been a SENDCo.

​

Amy Trevethan

Amy joined the LGB in June 2018. She grew up in Barnet and has previously served as Councillor for Underhill ward, adjacent to The Totteridge Academy. She has also been Labour Parliamentary Candidate for Chipping Barnet. Amy currently works as public affairs and policy manager at the University of Cambridge, with a particular focus on education and access to university. She leads on Behaviour for Learning at the LGB and has subject link responsibility for Drama, Art and Technology.

 

Petra Yazbeck

Petra is currently the EMEA strategy and operations lead for the Treasury-Finance team at Stripe, a technology company often considered as one of the world’s most successful start-ups. She has built her career as a change professional with over 12 years of experience across top-tier investment banks and as a consultant for Accenture working on the largest regulatory, technology and business model changes of the last decade. Petra read Land Economy at Cambridge University, a tripos of economics, law and finance.

 

Susan York

Susan joined the LGB in February 2022 and is the SENDCo at Underhill School. Sue has taken on the role of the Governor for SEND.

​

Robbie Solomons

Robbie lives in Barnet and is a primary school teacher. He has previously specialised in PE and was the subject leader at a large primary school for over a decade. He coaches girls' football: Barnet Nightingales. He has two children currently attending TTA and will have a third in the next few years. 

​

Governing Body Appointments

Parent/Carer governors are appointed following a ballot of parents of pupils of the Academy.

The roles of staff governor are appointed following a ballot of the whole staff of the Academy.

Other posts are appointed by the Chair of Governors, in consultation with the Principal and the LGB.

All governor terms are for three years.

If you are interested in becoming a governor please contact the Chair of Governors (cog@tta.org.uk) or the Clerk to Governors (clerk@tta.org.uk) for more information.

 

Governance

For details of governor terms; attendance at meetings and business interests, please follow the link below:

https://unitedlearning.org.uk/About-Us/Governance/School-Governance

 

Contact Us

If you have any queries about the LGB work or wish to raise an issue with the local governing body then please contact cog@tta.org.uk