Welcome to our Governors' section.
Please find below details of how our Governing body is structured, including the names, categories, responsibilities and terms of appointment for each Governor.
We have also provided a Register of Governor Interests and an Annual Statement of Issues for your information.
This is achieved through:
The Governing Body consists of:
Governors are generally appointed for a two year term, this includes the Staff Governor. The Chairs and Vice Chair are appointed at the beginning of each academic year. The Full Governing Body meets five times per academic year as do the Resources Committee and the Curriculum Committee.
Co-opted Governors are appointed by the Governing Body, on the basis of a regular skills audit, because they have the skills required to contribute to the effective governance and success of the school.
Purpose of the Finance Committee
The purpose of the Finance Committee is to:
The purpose of the Curriculum and Safeguarding Committee is to:
Katie Adams Foundation Governor |
Katie has been a Governor at Clore Shalom School since January 2011, initially as a Parent Governor and now serve as a Foundation Governor. She sits on the Curriculum and Safeguarding Committee. Katie is also the named Safeguarding Governor, which involves ensuring all policies and procedures around safeguarding are current and she carries out termly audits with the member of staff responsible for safeguarding to ensure that this very important area meets all statutory requirements. In addition to the above, she is also the Safer Recruitment governor so ensure that the recruitment process is fair and safe at all times. Katie has been a Probation Officer and now as a Community Outreach Worker for the local community enables her to be well equipped to govern. She attends regular governor training sessions to ensure that my practice is up-to-date and relevant. Katie is also an ex-parent of the school - her 3 children were at Clore Shalom from 2004 until 2016.
Classification: Foundation Governor Term of office: 6 January 2018 to 5 January 2022 Areas of interest: Safeguarding Governor, Member of the Curriculum and Safeguarding Committee Pecuniary interests: None |
Simon Barr Foundation Governor |
Simon has been teaching for 27 years and is currently Deputy Headteacher at a large four-form entry primary school in Wembley. During his time in education, he has held a variety of senior roles (including Acting Head on three occasions) and has lectured in Education at the University of Hertfordshire. Simon has 10 years’ experience of sitting on governing bodies and various committees (including personnel and curriculum) which has given him an in-depth understanding of the vital role the governing body plays in the running of schools. Simon is enjoys being a Governor at Clore Shalom, and being able to make a vital contribution to the school.
Classification: Foundation Governor Term of office: 22 March 2018 to 21 March 2020 Areas of interest: Chair of the Curriculum and Safeguarding Committee Member of the Curriculum and Safeguarding Committee Pecuniary interests: Deputy Headteacher of Wembley Primary School |
Emma Caplan Parent Governor |
Emma is a Coach, Trainer and Theatre Practitioner, with a background as a theatre director and actor trainer. Over the past 20 years she has blended the skills and experience gained from the theatre and performing arts industry to offer dynamic and engaging training for the corporate and public sectors with my company Emma Gersch Training Ltd. Emma’s areas of expertise are in positive communication, culture and change management, relationship building, Mediation and interpersonal behaviour. She also enjoys one to one coaching in career and life development, actor coaching, confidence and esteem building and interview/audition technique. She is also an Artistic Director for award winning Moving Stories Theatre Company. As an Academic, she was Senior Lecturer in Drama at Bath Spa University, and she is currently a member of the Higher Education at Shakespeare’s Globe, and lead acting coach on a Masters Music Theatre Programme at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, and visiting director at Lamda. Most of her learning comes from being mother to Bertie (8) and Jessica (4), who are at Clore Shalom school.
Classification: Parent Governor Term of office: 15 February 2019 to 14th February 2021 Areas of interest: Member of curriculum and safeguarding committee Pecuniary interests: none |
Karen Cohen Headteacher |
Karen Cohen is an experienced leader and educator, with over twenty years of experience in the classroom, and as a consultant advising schools on improvement strategies. She has held a variety of leadership positions in different schools and has been the Headteacher of Clore Shalom since January 2017. Karen has had considerable impact during her time at Clore Shalom, she is proud to be the Headteacher of such a special school.
Classification: Headteacher Term of office: From January 2017 Areas of interest: Headteacher Pecuniary interests: Local Authority Governor at Shephalbury Park Primary School Partner in an educational and leadership consultancy business |
Ben Conway Foundation Governor |
Ben is an experienced primary school leader, having worked in various schools across Enfield and Hertfordshire. He is currently a Headteacher of another Hertfordshire primary school, and has previously held the positions of Deputy Headteacher, Maths Leader and Achievement Year Group Leader to name a few. In addition to his permanent roles, he has always supported, and continues to support, a range of schools in different contexts, as a consultant senior leader, acting and interim headteacher and through leading staff development. He is proud to have contributed to the development to Clore Shalom in the recent past, as Deputy Headteacher, and is committed to support the school on its onward journey. Prior to working in education, he attained an honours degree in sports therapy and spent time working with professional and semi-professional football teams. Ben lives in Broxbourne with his young family, and enjoys participating in a wide range of sporting activities, cooking and socialising in his spare time.
Classification: Foundation Governor Term of office: September 2020 to September 2024 Areas of interest: Member of the Finance & Resources Committee Pecuniary interests: Headteacher Shephalbury Park Primary school Partner in an educational and leadership consultancy business |
Olivia Gordon Foundation Governor |
Olivia is an experienced political consultant who advises the senior leadership teams of FTSE 250 companies, trade bodies, charities and higher education institutions on policy matters impacting their business. Olivia’s experience means that she is well versed on policy impacting schools, including budget concerns, curriculum changes and teacher retention. Olivia lives and grew up locally, she attended a Jewish secondary school giving her a deep and lasting understanding of the importance of a well-rounded Jewish education.
Classification: Foundation governor Term of office: 2 April 2020 to 1 April 2022 Areas of interest: Member of the Finance Committee Pecuniary interests: none |
Hayley Herman Foundation Governor |
Hayley is a homemaker and has three children aged 22, 21 and 16, who all went to Clore shalom. Hayley is able to bring skills of fundraising due to her extensive charity work and she is involved in the wellbeing of the staff and pupils and sits on the finance committee. She has always had a love of the school, it’s ethos and the Clore way and attributes her children’s happiness and successes to the start they had at Clore.
Classification: Foundation Governor Term of office: 1 May 2019 to 29 April 2021 Areas of interest: Member of the Finance Committee Pecuniary interests: None |
Ben Konopinski Foundation Governor |
Ben Konopinski has worked in the IT Industry for over 18 years during which he has run a company and then started his own business in 2012. Ben is able to bring his skills of managing budgets, business management and health & safety to the Governing Body. Ben is also active in fundraising and utilising contacts made throughout his personal and business life. Ben lives locally and has two children at Clore Shalom so has a very keen interest to make sure the future of the school is one to be proud of. Ben is currently the vice-chair of the governing board and chair of finances committee.
Classification: Foundation Governor Term of office: 8 January 2020 to 7 January 2022 Areas of interest: Chair of the Finance Committee Pecuniary interests: none |
Carly Lax Staff Governor |
Carly Lax has been a teacher since 2003 and has worked at Clore Shalom since 2011. Prior to working at Clore Shalom, she has worked in different settings including spending many years working in an inner London Catholic School and a private school, gaining a wealth of experience. Since working at Clore Shalom, she has undertaken many roles including Class Teacher, Senco, Curriculum Leader, Phase Leader and now Assistant Head for Pastoral and behaviour. She has a young family, who she enjoys spending time with and enjoys going to the gym, baking and reading in her spare time.
Classification: Staff Governor Term of office: 1 September 2019 to 31 August 2021 Areas of interest: Member of the Curriculum and Safeguarding Committee Pecuniary interests: None |
Sara Levan Chair of Governors |
Sara Levan is the Director of Jewish Life and a member of the Senior Leadership Team at JCoSS. She has taught in the UK, Japan and Israel as well as working in youth and community development across the Jewish community. She holds an MA in Counselling and Psychotherapy and also volunteers as a parenting mentor and coach.
Classification: Foundation Governor Term of office: 18 December 2020 to 17 December 2022 Areas of interest: Member of the Curriculum and Safeguarding Committee, Finance and Resources Committee, Admissions Committee. Pecuniary interests: None |
Geraldine Louch Co-Opted Governor |
I worked in primary education in Hertfordshire for 47 years. I have been a class teacher, deputy headteacher, headteacher, acting headteacher and latterly was a County Adviser, working with schools in difficult circumstances. My experience of working in many different schools, in differing circumstances has given me a real insight into primary education. I have served as a governor at Clore Shalom for three years and have watched the school move forward under good management. I am also on the board of a multi academy trust in Stevenage. I still enjoy working with schools, sharing my experience and expertise.
Classification: Co-Opted Governor Term of office: 24 January 2021 to 23 January 2025 Areas of interest: Member of the Curriculum and Safeguarding Committee Pecuniary interests: Governing Body Improvements & Independent Consultant for Herts for Learning |
Hannah Morris Local Authority Governor |
Hannah is an independent educational psychologist, helping families and schools to understand the learning strengths and needs of children in relation to all aspects of child development, behaviour and the psychology of teaching and learning. Hannah has previously worked with children in care, co-ordinated a Local Authority Anti-Bullying Strategy and taught reception at a Hertfordshire primary school. On a voluntary basis, Hannah has been a youth leader, Childline telephone counsellor and a trustee for the NSPCC. She is actively involved in the Masorti community, with particular focus on leading activities for under 5s. She enjoys dance, theatre and spending time with her family. Hannah is committed to supporting the school in ensuring all children learn and succeed through quality first teaching, in an environment that is safe and nurturing.
Classification: Local Education Authority Governor Term of office: 22 May 2020 to 21 May 2024 Areas of interest: Member of the Curriculum and Safeguarding Committee Pecuniary interests: None |
Neil Rosen Parent Governor |
Neil has recently changed roles to concentrate on his property business which enables him to spend more time with his family and his voluntary activities. He is also the inventor of a new patent pending product which he is bringing to market. The above experience, along with over 20 years in business will help support the school with all aspects of cost savings and efficiency. Neil also takes an active role in the safety and security of the school. Neil lives in Borehamwood and has been a parent of the school for the last 8 years with his eldest daughter just left to go to Yavneh and the youngest daughter in Year 4.
Classification: Parent Governor Term of office: 14 February 2020 to 13 February 2022 Areas of interest: Member of the Finance Committee Pecuniary interests: none |
Rabbi Celia Surget Foundation Governor |
Rabbi Celia Surget is the Associate Rabbi and Director of Youth at Radlett Reform Synagogue where she is involved in all aspects of synagogue life, especially leading services, adult education, pastoral work and officiating at life-cycle events. Rabbi Celia also leads the flourishing Cheder and continues to develop our exciting youth provision across all ages. Celia studied History of Religions, Hebrew and Philosophy at the University of Geneva and began her Rabbinic studies at Hebrew Union College, before transferring to Leo Baeck College in London. On graduating, she spent four years working for the MJLF Mouvement Juif Liberal de France in Paris, where she worked both as a congregational Rabbi and as Director of Education. Celia co-wrote a Talmud Torah curriculum designed to meet the specific needs of the French Progressive congregations and she developed informal education programmes such as camps and Israel tours.
Classification: Foundation Governor Term of office: 20 July 2018 to 18 July 2020 Areas of interest: Member of the Admissions Committee Pecuniary interests: None |