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:
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Katie Adams |
I have been a Governor at Clore Shalom School since January 2011, initially as a Parent Governor and now serves as a Foundation Governor.
Aside from being the current Chair of Governors, which includes co-ordinating the Governing Body, planning and chairing meetings and headteachers performance management, I sit on the Curriculum and Safeguarding Committee, the Ofsted Ready Group and attend Finance meetings. I am also the named Safeguarding Governor which involves ensuring all policies and procedures around safeguarding are current and I carry 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, I am also the Safer Recruitment governor so ensure that the recruitment process is fair and safe at all times.
My background as a Probation Officer and now as a Community Outreach Worker for a mental health charity enables me to be well equipped to govern. I attend regular governor training sessions to ensure that my practice is up-to-date and relevant. I am also an ex-parent of the school - my 3 children were at Clore Shalom from 2004 until 2016.
Classification: Foundation Governor Term of office: January 2018 to January 2020 Areas of interest: Chair of the Governing Body, Safeguarding Governor, Member of the Curriculum and Safeguarding Committee Pecuniary interests: None |
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Karen Cohen |
Mrs Cohen is an experienced leader and educator, with over fifteen years of experience in the classroom, and as a consultant advising schools on improvement strategies. She has also worked at the London School of Jewish Studies, training and mentoring student teachers. Mrs Cohen has held a variety of leadership positions, at Clore Shalom and Menorah Foundation, Burnt Oak including Assistant Headteacher and since April 2013 was the Deputy Headteacher for Hertsmere Jewish Primary School. Mrs Cohen has had considerable impact since taking up the position of Headteacher in January 2017 and enjoys being the Headteacher of such a special school.
Classification: Headteacher Term of office: From January 2017 Areas of interest: Headteacher Pecuniary interests: None |
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Ben Konopinski |
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: Parent Governor Term of office: April 2018 to April 2020 Areas of interest: Chair of the Finance Committee Pecuniary interests: none |
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Simon Barr |
Simon Barr 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 have given him an in-depth understanding of the vital role the governing body plays in the running of schools. Simon is looking forward to the exciting opportunities that being a Governor at Clore Shalom will bring, and to being able to make a vital contribution to the school.
Classification: Foundation Governor Term of office: February 2016 to February 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 |
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Geraldine Louch |
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: January 2019 to January 2021 Areas of interest: Member of the Curriculum and Safeguarding Committee Pecuniary interests: Governing Body Improvements & Independent Consultant for Herts for Learning |
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Maurice Balfe |
Maurice Balfe is a semi-retired Chartered Accountant, currently working part-time for working for the JCoSS Trust with responsibility for voluntary contributions, Ethos and Pears accounting, budget monitoring and reporting. Prior to his retirement, Maurice had considerable experience in both business and accountancy practice, most recently with a well-known firm of Chartered Accountants in the City. Before that, he worked as Director of Finance in small to medium private and quoted companies in the chemical, agribusiness and printing industries in the UK and Ireland. Maurice lives in Southgate with my wife and has four grown up children and one granddaughter. Maurice regularly co-ordinates the Christmas shelter for homeless people in Barnet and helps with the Winter Shelter, again for homeless people in Barnet. His hobbies include motor boating, gardening and bread making.
Classification: Foundation Governor Term of office: June 2016 to July 2020 Areas of interest: Member of the Finance Committee Pecuniary interests: Finance Officer at JCOSS |
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Hannah Morris |
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: May 2016 to May 2020 Areas of interest: Member of the Curriculum and Safeguarding Committee Pecuniary interests: None |
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Carly Lax |
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 Pastoral Leader. 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: September 2019 to September 2020 Areas of interest: Member of the Curriculum and Safeguarding Committee Pecuniary interests: None |
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Rabbi Celia Surget |
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: July 2016 to July 2020 Areas of interest: Member of the Admissions Committee Pecuniary interests: None |
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Sara Levan |
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: December 2018 to December 2020 Areas of interest: Member of the Curriculum and Safeguarding Committee Pecuniary interests: None |
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Hayley Herman |
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: May 2017 to May 2019 Areas of interest: Member of the Finance Committee Pecuniary interests: |
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Emma Caplan
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I am a Coach, Trainer and Theatre Practitioner, with a background as a theatre director and actor trainer. Over the past 20 years I have 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. Working in partnership with clients and other expert trainers, I create bespoke training programs using actors in role-play, across a wide variety of sectors. My areas of expertise are in positive communication, culture and change management, relationship building, Mediation and interpersonal behavior. I also enjoy one to one coaching in career and life development, actor coaching, confidence and esteem building and interview/audition technique. I am Artistic Director for award winning Moving Stories Theatre Company. As an Academic, I was Senior Lecturer in Drama at Bath Spa University, and I am 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 my learning comes from being mother to Bertie (8) and Jessica (4), who are at Clore Shalom school.
Classification: Foundation Governor Term of office: May 2017 to May 2019 Areas of interest: Member of the Finance Committee Pecuniary interests: |
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Ben Conway
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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. Over the past six years, in addition to his permanent roles, he has supported 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 over the past three years, as Deputy Headteacher, and am committed to support the school in 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: Associate Governor Term of office: September 2019 to September 2020 Areas of interest: Member of the Curriculum and Safeguarding Committee Pecuniary interests: none |