Mrs Kathy Dunnett

Chair of Governors/Member of finance committee 

I work for Herts for Learning as a Governance Adviser and I am also a governor on 5 other boards.
I am really interested in Governance and I wholeheartedly believe that education can make a real difference in young people’s lives.
Prior to my role in Herts for Learning, my background was in health. I have worked in hospitals and in the community as a school nurse.
I have 3 grandchildren now, so still have a personal vested interest to support schools to be the best they can.

Mrs Pat Furness

Vice Chair of Governors, Co-opted, Safeguarding link/Member of finance committee

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.

Pecuniary Interests - None declared

Mrs Sarah Bridgman

Head Teacher

Executive Headteacher/ Member of finance committee

I began my career in education in 2002 following completion of a Bachelor of Education degree. I have worked across five primary schools of varying sizes and demographics serving on the governing board of each one. I have taught across the full primary range as a class teacher, spent fifteen years at senior leadership level and am an experienced SENCO.

Pecuniary Interests - None declared

Mr Joe Lock

Co-opted Governor - Maths Link

Joe joined as a Governor at the end of 2019 after moving into the village of Thundridge. He has worked as an IT Systems Training Manager for the past 10 years and currently heads up training for a large Software company. Joe is keen to help both schools develop its digital communications and improve its website going forward.

 Pecuniary Interests - None declared

Mr Mick Furness

Co-opted Governor, Chair of Finance committee and link for Health & Safety and EYFS

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.

Pecuniary Interests - None declared

Mrs Lynda Mckenzie

Governor (RE Link)

 Lynda joined the board of governors in 2022. Lynda is a retired teacher and brings her extensive experience from working in secondary modern foreign languages to our school. She is an active member of Holy Trinity Church, Bengeo. 

Mrs Anne Shearman

Governor (Foundation/ Curriculum Link)

I have joined Thundridge School as a governor in early 2021. I live in the village and am delighted to be able to contribute to the life of the school.

My working life has had three stages:

- I was a teacher in comprehensive schools for fifteen years, latterly as a deputy head, curriculum.

· From there I moved into the commercial world while retraining in psychology and management development. After a few years I became Head of Management Training in PricewaterhouseCoopers (then Coopers & Lybrand).

· Finally, a former colleague and I built a psychology consultancy business, specialising in leadership development, coaching and team development across a range of industries and organisations.

There is a theme here of helping people develop themselves, whatever their stage of life!

Outside work I have always liked to contribute my time in the area where I live. I have been a governor at Chauncy School and recently retired from a role as chair of a local housing association.

Pecuniary Interests - None declared

Mr Matthew Clutterbuck

Governor PE and PPG Link/ Member of finance committee

 I have been on the Tonwell governing body since May 2019. I am a PPG and music link governor and a member of the Finance and Staffing committee.
In day to day life I’m a father of 2 daughters and I live in the village of Tonwell, where I am also a local district councillor.
I am passionate about STEM where my role as an airline pilot for a major airline comes in useful.

Miss Victoria Harris

Staff Governor 

Mrs Naomi Murray

Governing Clerk to the Federation

Also holds position as School Secretary & clerk at Bengeo and clerk at Little Hadham.

Governors'  News

Update from the Collaboration/Federation Committee

 Term of Office

• Pat Furness, Co-opted Governor - 01/04/22 - 01/04/26

• Mick Furness, Co-opted - 01/04/22 - 01/04/26
• Victoria Harris, Staff governor - 01/04/22 - 01/04/26
• Joseph Lock, Co-opted - 01/04/22 - 01/04/26
• Anne Shearman, Foundation - 01/04/22 - 01/04/26
• Sarah Bridgman, Executive Head Teacher - 01/04/22 - 01/04/26
• Kathy Dunnett - Chair of Governors - 01/04/22 - 01/04/26
• Lynda McKenzie - 01/04/22 - 01/04/26
• Matthew Clutterbuck - 01/04/22 - 01/04/26

Attendance at meetings April 22-April 23

 Sarah Bridgman  Full GB: 6/6 Finance 2/2

Matthew Clutterbuck Full GB: 6/6 Finance 2/2

Kathy Dunnett Full GB: 6/6 Finance 1/2

Pat Furness Full GB: 6/6 Finance 2/2

Mick Furness Full GB: 6/6 Finance 2/2

Vicky Harris Full GB: 4/6

Joe Lock Full GB: 5/6 2/2

Lynda McKenzie Full GB: 6/6

Anne Shearman Full GB: 6/6