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The Beaconsfield School A specialist Arts College

Governance 

Welcome to The Beaconsfield School website, where we hope you will be able to see the enthusiasm, sense of achievement and pride that our students enjoy in their everyday life at The Beaconsfield School.

The Beaconsfield School Governing Body is committed to ensuring that all our students have the best possible start in life. Working with the Headteacher and her team, we are responsible for setting the vision, ethos and strategic direction of the school. We are also responsible for challenging and monitoring the school's performance and ensuring effective management of the way resources are used, so that we know money is being well spent.

We take these responsibilities very seriously, actively asking informed questions at our regular committee and link meetings, understanding the data presented to us, making regular visits to the school and keeping up to date with good practice in other schools. We are personally committed to high achievement and keep ourselves updated through regular governor training.

Chaired by Jo Fisher, the governors are subdivided into committees that focus on individual aspects of the school operations

  • Teaching and Learning

  • People and Personnel

  • Finance and Operations

We have a range of specialist skills, for example in business strategy, education, finance and project management, that we use to benefit the school, through our support for the Headteacher and staff. As people who live locally, we provide a link between the school and our community. 

We all work together, as volunteers, to ensure that every student at The Beaconsfield School has as many opportunities as possible to achieve and succeed.

Meet the Governors

  • Jo Fisher
    Chair of Governors

    Jo Fisher

    Chair of Governors

    I am a parent governor with two daughters. I have lived in Beaconsfield for 14 years, before which I lived in Somerset and Edinburgh. I grew up in Scotland, where I obtained a degree in Marketing Management. Before setting up my own Business and Marketing Strategy Consultancy, I worked in various Marketing and Sales roles in large corporate retailers like Timberland and Clarks Shoes.

    I am passionate about education and the right that all children have to the best education available, regardless of their starting point, background or academic ability. I firmly believe that there is a path for every child, and them finding what they are good at is key to igniting their passion in learning, and that this comes from supportive teachers who can nurture, encourage and challenge to see the potential in every child

    I love cycling, skiing and travel, and when not working you will find me with my family enjoying these passions together.

  • Natasha Foligno
    Vice Chair of Governors

    Natasha Foligno

    I am a parent governor with two children at local schools. I have been part of the Beaconsfield community for 17 years, after spending most of my adult life in London; where I gained my degree in French, and subsequently built my career in Media; working for international film and TV companies, such as Disney, Sony and - most recently - Amazon Prime Video. My roles have focused on Operations, Business Strategy and Execution, and People Development, and I am enjoying learning how I can use some of these skills to support our school.

    My decision to become a governor at TBS was driven by a keen interest in how education is evolving to ensure our children can take advantage of the opportunities and adapt to the challenges of our rapidly changing world. I fervently believe that every child can be successful whatever their starting point and feel closely aligned with the TBS approach to developing each child as an individual; providing a nurturing but stimulating environment that allows them to thrive.

    I spend any spare time I have sharing my love of movies or great TV shows, as well as being an avid music fan - I will forever be trying to educate my children in what good music sounds like!

  • Paula Hashmi
    Chair of Finance & Operations Committee

    Paula Hashmi

    I am a Community Governor with two sons. Â I have lived in Beaconsfield all my life and both I and one of my sons attended Beaconsfield School as pupils.

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    I have over 10 years' experience of being a School Governor at both Primary and Secondary levels. I work in the university sector as an IT Director. The combined knowledge and experience gained in these roles, has enabled me to acquire a good understanding of leadership and management roles and duties, within an education setting.

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    I believe it essential that students of all abilities are helped to ââ ¬ find their voiceââ ¬  and are given the opportunity to speak up and discuss the problems they face, with confidence, in a safe and supportive environment.

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    When not working or being a governor, I enjoy gardening, quilt making and walking and I have completed the Thames and the Ridgeway National paths and I have completed 190 miles of the South Coast Path.

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  • Felicity Poole
    Chair of People & Personnel Committee

    Felicity Poole

    Joined July 2021

    Having spent 15 years working in Financial Services, where a large part of the portfolio is financing for the Public Sector, including Schools I felt I could give something back and take advantage of my Employers Volunteering scheme.

    I'm a Mum to 3 children, one who attends TBS, so I also wanted to get an insight and better understanding of the Secondary education system.

    As the Founder of Holtspur Scarecrow Trail I also felt the benefit of being involved with something in the local Community

  • Patrick Wimble
    Parent Governor

    Patrick Wimble

    I joined the board in November 2021 as a Parent Governor. We have lived in Wooburn Green for over 10 years and both my children at some stage have attended TBS.

    I am a member of the Teaching and Learning and People and Personnel Committees, and link governor for 6th form.

    I was born and grew up in South Africa where I studied Hotel Management at the University of Johannesburg. In 2000 we came to live in the UK where I worked for a software company before joining InterContinental Hotels Group, spending 13 years in their head office in the UK and regional offices in Dubai and Bangkok.

    In 2016, we returned to the UK where I set up my own consulting and training company, predominantly focussed on supporting the hospitality sector. I am also an executive coach, working across industries, helping people figure out what they need to do to become even more effective leaders.

    I wanted to be a governor because the ethos of the school really resonates with me. My eldest has been at the school from year 7 and has really benefited from his experiences here and I wanted to use my knowledge to support the leadership team to continue to strengthen this in the coming years.

    When not working I can likely be found on my bike somewhere in the Chiltern hills. I also love to travel and have a passion for wildlife photography.

  • Sohko Fujimoto
    Community Governor

    Sohko Fujimoto

    I’m a Community Governor, having recently moved to the South Bucks area with my husband Ben and our Irish Terrier, Fio.

    I grew up in Tokyo, Japan, and moved to Vancouver, Canada to study history at the University of British Columbia. I moved to the UK in 2007 to obtain my Master’s degree in Global Politics at the London School of Economics, and have been working in and around the financial industry since. I’m currently a senior trader at a global asset management firm.

    Both my husband and I have had relatively international lives, so when we moved to South Bucks, we wanted to find a way to grow some roots and contribute within our local community. In the past, I’ve volunteered as a girls’ football coach in East London (I’m FA Level 1-certified), and have also engaged with young people through internship and work experience programs at work. I’m truly excited to be a part of the community at The Beaconsfield School. Using my knowledge and experience, I hope I can contribute positively to the school’s pursuit for better outcomes, and help enable educators to set pupils up for long-term success.

    Outside of work, I’m an avid trail runner and we’re often out and about, making the most of the beautiful trails of the Chilterns!

  • Steve Smith
    Community Governor

    Steve Smith

    I became a governor at Beaconsfield in 2023. I am a member of the Finance and Operations committee and the link governor for Safeguarding.

    My early years were spent as an electrical engineer and nuclear submariner in the Royal Navy. Then I used this knowledge and experience to commission and operate nuclear power stations in various countries, eventually specialising in advising governments and organisations on safety and security of critical national infrastructure. After living in 8 countries (including Russia and China) and working in 19, I am now a Programme Director for a major aerospace and defence company. My current focus is on developing cooperation between the aviation and wind energy industries.

    Previously a parent governor at a specialist autistic school, and with a teenage daughter at school, I have a strong interest in the quality of education. I see how educational outcomes, especially in the ‘STEAM’ subjects, shape the careers of the many graduates and apprentices I interview each year.

    Outside interests include sailing where I also assist at national and international events.

Each committee meets termly and reports back to the meeting of the Full Governing Body. The Governing body consists of 11 Governors.

To contact the Governing Body:

By Email: office@beaconsfield.school addressed to the governor you wish to contact.
By Email: chairofgovernors@beaconsfield.school for the Chair of Governors.
By Post: Addressed to the school c/o Headteacher’s PA, marked private and confidential.

Members

  Appointed by From
J Fisher Appointed by Academy Members 6 July 2022
J McEvoy Appointed by Academy Members 6 July 2022
P Henry Appointed by Academy Members 6 July 2022
L Woodward Appointed by Academy Members 6 July 2022

Previous Members and Resignation Dates (last 12 months)

J Roberts

P Harwood

 

Trustees 

J Fisher P Hashmi
N Foligno F Poole
P Wimble S Fujimoto
S Smith C Legg

 

Association Documents

 

 

 

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