Mrs Pat Furness

Chair of Governors 

2020 marks my fiftieth year in education: my early days teaching English  in secondary schools, lecturing in FE; private all through school and penal education. I have worked with male prisoners of all categories in two establishments, heading Education in a Young Offenders. Finally, full time inspection was followed by retirement. Governance was a new venture 10 years ago, though I was a consultant trainer with Herts for Learning until this year. There are many challenges to being a governor and chair in particular, but the rewards exceed them and I look forward to working with the staff and developing a strong governing board at Thundridge.

Mr Joe Lock

Vice Chair of Governors

Joe joinged as a Governor at the end of 2019 after moving into the village. He has worked as an IT/System trainer for the past 10 years and currently heads up training for a Global fashion company predominately based in London. Joe is keen to help the school develop its digital communications and improve its website going forward.

Head Teacher/Resources/School Improvement/

Pecuniary interests - paid member of staff

Mr Mick Furness

Chair of Resources and Finance

I started my professional life as a policeman in Leeds before transferring to Her Majesty’s Prison Service, where I worked through all grades in several establishments across the country to become a Governor. Among my many hats was Prison lead for Race Relations training, Lifer management and Liaison, and National Offender Management Service. I managed a workforce of over 600 and a prison budget of £16 million.  My governance experience covers two other schools, including one where I am still on the GB. I joined Thundridge to support developing the governing board in a small Church School and am Chair of Finance and Resources.  As a grandparent of ten I think I have sufficient experience of children’s expectations  in school and much enjoy  seeing the excitement that new learning brings to them.

 Ms Sam Clark

Parent Governor - Chair of the School Improvement Committee

Sam Clark has one child in the school and one who has just left to join Year 7. She has formerly been vice chair and now holds the position of Chair of the School Improvement Committee. As an experienced biology teacher at a school in Bishop Stortford she has a strong background in education. 

Pecuniary Interests - None declared

Miss Katie Mcbride

Governor 

Katie joined as a governor at the end of 2019 after moving into the village and wanting to become involved with the local community. Katie was born in Wadesmill and was a previous pupil of Thundridge school. Katie qualified as a Primary Teacher with BA Hons in Birmingham and has been working in London for the past 6 years. Katie has taught across KS2 and has experience leading Humanities and English. Katie is currently Head of Year 6 at a 3 form entry school in North London and has a passion for developing a creative curriculum. Katie looks forward to supporting the school in any way she can, to be the best it can be.

 Mr Derek Clarke MBE

Governor

Having been brought up in Bournemouth I gained a place at Oxford to study Physics. This led to my first teaching job at the Grammar School in Slough. When there I was heavily involved running The Boys’ Brigade at the Methodist Church and I am still a church member. My next job was as Head of Physics at Broxbourne School and I soon began running many school trips to mountains. This led to starting the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award and the group became one of the largest in Hertfordshire. I retired from that school but volunteered to start D of E at Richard Hale School. This group also became very large and in my last year there gained more Awards than any other school in the county. My ‘service to the young people of Hertfordshire’ was recognised by the award of an MBE. I still love the outdoor life particularly in Snowdonia, but my other great love is classical music. I sing with Hertford Choral and play the violin (not very well!). I miss contact with school life and am delighted to try and support Thundridge School.

Associate Governor

Mr Francis Higgins

Staff Governor - Year 5&6 Teacher

Pecuniary interests - paid member of staff

 Dr Lisa Menozzi

Parent Governor

Hello my name is Lisa Menozzi, I have a daughter in year 1 and a 20 month old little boy. My family enjoys living in the local area and I wish to support this lovely village school so that as many children as possible can benefit from it now, and in the future. I work as a GP caring for the wider community. Through my career I’ve developed skills in Clinical Governance, Public
Health, Child Protection, Business Management and Academic Teaching, each of which I believe can benefit the parent governor role. During these unprecedented times a collaborative
parent – school relationship is increasingly important. With your support I hope to help strengthen this relationship, so that all our children can have a holistic education from which they can thrive academically, physically and personally.

 Clerk - Mrs Naomi Murray

Also holds position as Administrative Receptionist and Clerk to the FGB at Bengeo Primary School.

Meetings: Academic Year September 2019- July 2020

• FGB meetings

Tuesday 19th November 2019 6.30pm

Tuesday 25th February 2020 6.30pm

Tuesday 7th July 2020 6.30pm

• School Improvement Meetings

• Resources Committee Meetings 

Tuesday 21st January, 2020 6.30pm

Tuesday 4th June, 2020 6.30pm

Meetings: Academic Year September 2020-2021

• FGB meetings

 Tuesday 22nd September 2020 6.30pm

• School Improvement Meetings

 Tuesday 18th November 2020 9.30am

• Resources Committee Meetings 

 Tuesday 10thNovember 2020 6.30pm