Our Governors

Mrs Sandra Brown

Mrs Sandra Brown

I am pleased to have been a School Governor since July 2019.

I have a background in education both in the classroom and through the local authority from which I retired.   I have lived in the village since 2009 and as a founder member of the Open the Book team, I have been a regular contributor to school assemblies.  I graduated from the University of Wales with a Joint Honours BA in German and Theology. My hobbies include gardening, bridge playing, reading New Testament Greek and Old Testament Hebrew.  I am also regularly on grandparent duties!

 My current governor roles include monitoring the quality of teaching to help ensure that every child is enabled to reach their potential.  I am a SEN governor, ensuring that the Pupil Premium funding the school receives supports our SEN pupils in their learning.  I also monitor any additional funding the school currently receives such as the PE and Sports Grant and the Catch up Premium funding.  These funding streams enable our children to receive additional learning support and provide them with opportunities for more structured outdoor sporting activities.   In addition, I monitor how the school can best serve our pupils by providing opportunities to develop their life skills in a variety of settings, preparing them for life ahead.  I regularly check the school’s website to confirm that it meets its statutory duties.

Governors are required to undertake professional training and development.  As governor responsible for Training and Development, I encourage the Governing Body to enhance their skills and to continue to gain a robust understanding of primary education.  This equips us to carry out the role of challenging and supporting the school’s senior management team. 

I look forward to meeting you and to continue to serve your school as a Governor.

 

Chair of Governors

As Chair of Governors of our wonderful school I hope to be able to work with our entire community to help to deliver our mission to live life in all its fullness according to our core values of care and compassion, learning together and forgiveness.  I live locally and have a family of three children and three dogs, all of whom love running around and chasing balls!  I have worked for most of my life in financial services and am also involved with an exciting youth charity in the South East.  I am always happy to be contacted for whatever reason so please do get in touch

Reverend Lorraine Turner

Reverend Lorraine Turner

I have a keen interest in education following on from ten years as a science teacher in West London secondary schools. As the vicar of St. Mary's, Platt it is a delight to engage with primary education in the parish.
I see my role as a school governor as one where I can draw on my previous professional skills as well as my commitment to seeing church schools thrive. I hope to be able to offer a lively christian perspective and pastoral support.

 

Mr Jonathan Harley

Mr Jonathan Harley

Vice Chair of Governors

I have lived in St Mary's Platt since 2011 with my wife Heather. We have three children, all of whom are pupils at Platt Primary School.

I am a qualified chartered surveyor with 20 years of experience working in commercial and residential real estate. I have spent the last 14 years working in strategic asset management and property management, on both the advisory and client side.

Outside of work and family, I am a keen runner and cyclist.

I am the Vice Chair of Governors and I also have monitoring responsibility for Early Years, Health and Safety, and GDPR.

Clerk to the Governors - Mrs Karen Proctor

Clerk to the Governors - Mrs Karen Proctor

To Contact the Governors please email:

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Mr Alan Atkin-Park

Mr Alan Atkin-Park

My wife and I moved to St Mary’s Platt in 2018, and we, along with our two young children (and Bella the dog!), have been excited to watch the new school grow in its new location. We were keen to make a contribution to the village, so I was delighted to have been appointed as a Foundation Governor.

 

I work at the Thames Barrier in London, and hope I can bring some environmental and health and safety benefits to the governor group.

Mr James Cooper

Mr James Cooper

I am excited to take up a position as a Foundation Governor for this brilliant local school. My wife and I live in St Mary's Platt with our young son and 2 dogs and love the local community. 


I am hoping to bring my expertise from working in financial services and understanding of risk management, statistics and communication as a member of the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries to help to improve the futures of all of our local children.

Outside of work I am a keen sportsman, dog walker and family man.​​

 

Mr. Matthew Palin

Mr Matthew Palin

I am Matt and I'm a parent governor at Platt school with two children, one who is at Platt school and one who joins later this year so I have a vested interest in the success of the school. Platt is a wonderful school and I am delighted to be a governor.

 

I am a qualified chartered accountant working for Hovis. I love playing football in my spare time and spending time with my family.

Mrs Fiona Newton

My husband, Ben, and I moved to St Mary's Platt, from Sevenoaks, in 2017. I am recently retired from teaching but I am delighted to still be involved in education through my role as a governor. I taught in a Catholic school for over 17 years as a class teacher and as a member of the leadership team. I have a keen interest in the teaching of maths and how schools can support parents in the development of a child's faith.

As a governor I am involved with safeguarding and monitoring the curriculum.

Natalie Sultana

Mrs Natalie Sultana

I was appointed as foundation governor in April 2022 having decided I wanted to serve the local community. I have been living in Platt since 2016 and have two grown up children. I have a background in medicine and am now retired. I am grateful for the opportunity to play my part in ensuring the children at our school are safe, happy and receive the best educational experience possible.

My governing roles are in well-being and ensuring the school’s Christian vision is promoted at all levels.

 

Jackie Lane

Miss Jackie Lane

 

Justine Smith

Mrs Justine Smith

 

Katy James

Katy James

I moved to Platt with my husband and two young children in September 2022 and was appointed a governor for the school in September 2023. I wanted to become a governor to help serve the community in which we live. Our eldest has also just started at Platt in Reception so it is fantastic to be able to be involved with the school.

I have an undergraduate degree in History from UCL and graduated with a PGCE from the Institute of Education in 2011. I have worked in secondary schools for the last 12 years, both as a classroom teacher and a middle manager.

As a governor I am involved in the provisions for pupils with special educational needs and disabilities, pupils who qualify for pupil premium and looked after children.

According to the Instrument of Governance Platt CE Primary School's Governing Body consists of 14 governors: 


(a) 2 Parent Governors; 
(b) 1 Local Authority Governor; 
(c) 1 Staff Governor; 
(d) 1 Headteacher; 
(e) 1 Co-opted Governor; 
(f) 7 Foundation Governors; 
(g) 1 Ex-Officio;


The following are the Foundation Bodies, and if applicable, persons entitled to appoint Foundation Governors and the appointments are to be made on the following basis: 
Three appointed by the Rochester Diocesan Board of Education. 
Three appointed by the St Mary’s Platt Parochial Church Council. 
One appointed by The Bishop of Rochester. 

The holder of the following office shall be a Foundation Governor Ex-Officio: 
The Principal Officiating Minister of the Parish of St Mary, Platt.

 

Platt CE Primary School operates a circle model of governance (no committees).
The 3 core functions of the Governing Body are explained in the Governance Handbook as:

  • Ensuring clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction
  • Holding executive leaders to account for the educational performance of the organisation and its pupils, and the effective and efficient performance management of staff
  • Overseeing financial performance of the organisation and making sure its money is well spent