Our School

Governors

The largest volunteer force in the country

Brimsdown Primary School logo icon

School governors are ordinary people from the local community who wish to make a positive contribution to children’s education. They are the largest volunteer force in the country and have an important part to play in raising school standards. Governors are not involved in the day-to-day management of the school.

Almost anyone can become a school governor and you can find out more information here. All new governors receive training and support from Ivy Learning Trust and their fellow governors. If you are interested in assisting the School in this way, please contact governance@ivylearningtrust.org.

Local Governing Body

Matt Miller

Matt Miller

Trust Appointed Chair of Governors (interim)

Matt is a highly experienced chair of governors having been involved in school governance for over 20 years and since retiring from the Metropolitan Police where he was a senior detective, he has developed a second career as a consultant within the education sector.

His working week is divided between investigating incidents or cases which take place in schools and delivering governance training and support. He was first appointed as a national leader of governance (NLG) in 2012 before taking on wider duties as an NLG advocate across London and large parts of central and south east England.

In this role he has conducted many external reviews of governance across MATs and maintained schools including special schools and faith schools.

He has chaired interim executive boards in often challenging circumstances and is also the chair of Highlands School, a large outstanding secondary school in north London.

Matt is committed to supporting all efforts to level up the educational playing field so that all children, irrespective of backgrounds or academic ability are provided with equal choice and opportunity to succeed.

In 2016 Matt was awarded an MBE for services to education.

Matt Clifford

Matt Clifford

Headteacher

Bio coming soon.

Paul Kirsarkye

Paul Kirsarkye

Parent Governor

Bio coming soon.

Katerina Pascali

Katerina Pascali

Parent Governor

Bio coming soon.

Zainab Iqbal

Zainab Iqbal

Trust Appointed Governor

I was appointed Trust Governor of Brimsdown Primary School in March 2021.  I am currently a Management Consultant in the City, working with a range of clients in both the public and private sectors. Previously, I taught History at a Secondary School in Walthamstow, where I worked closely with teachers and pupils to develop an accessible and inclusive KS3/4 curriculum. I am passionate about improving education access and standards, primarily amongst traditionally marginalised communities.

Saziye Kemal

Saziye Kemal

Trust Appointed Governor

Saziye has ten years experience as a class teacher including four years as a subject leader. She has extensive experience of working with pupils with neurodiverse needs and integrating them into the classroom setting.
Madeleine Roberts

Madeleine Roberts

Trust Appointed Governor

After completing my English degree at the University of Cambridge, I trained as a Primary teacher and I have taught in Inner and Outer London schools for the last 7 years. Despite teaching in Hackney and Camden, I am an Enfield girl at heart! Having previously led English and Assessment, I am now the Assistant Principal for Curriculum at Ark John Keats which is just down the road from Brimsdown. I believe that education has the power to transform lives and I love being part of that journey!

Janice Tunney

Janice Tunney

Trust Appointed Governor

I spent 40 years working in the primary education sector, 25 years as a class teacher across a variety of London boroughs and then 15 years as headteacher of an infant school with an attached nursery in Essex. Since stepping down from that role I have been studying with the Open University as well
as playing netball and looking after two grandchildren. I am also an enthusiastic singer belonging to two choirs, one in Enfield and one in central London. I am of course still keenly interested in children and their learning.

Marina Sophocleous

Marina Sophocleous

Elected Staff

I have part of the Brimsdown community for nearly 24 years as my three children all attended Brimsdown from nursery.

I have worked at Brimsdown since 2011 during this time I have held several different roles from starting as a lunch supervisor to working in Early Years to being a 1-1 with SEND children.

In my present role as Pastoral Care Manager and Designated Safeguarding Lead I work very closely with parents and children supporting them.

I have been a staff governor since 2015 and really enjoy being part of the Local Governing body and supporting Brimsdown.

Governors

NameTitleDate of AppointmentTerm of OfficeAppointed by:Declaration of InterestDate Interest Declared
Matt MillerChair of Governors (Interim)15/06/20221 YearIvy Learning Trust1. National Leader of Governance

2. Governance trainer Enfield LA

3. Consultant Director of Governance - Enfield Learning Trust

4. Governor Training and Consultant - Ivy Learning Trust

5. Matt Miller Consultancy Ltd

6. Chair of Governors, Highlands Secondary School

7. Chair of Governors, Chesterfield Primary school

8. Chair of Governors, Delta Primary school
1-7. 15/06/2022

8. 11/11/2022
Matt CliffordHeadteacher01/09/2022Ex-officioEx-officioGovernor at St Georges Catholic School01/09/2022
Marina SophocleousStaff GovernorRe-appointed 3/12/2019, 03/12/20154 YearsElected StaffNoneNA
Paul KirsarkyeParent Governor22/02/20234 YearsElected ParentNoneNA
Katerina PascaliParent Governor22/02/20234 YearsElected ParentNoneNA
VacancyTrust Appointed Governor4 YearsIvy Learning TrustNone NA
Madeleine RobertsTrust Appointed Governor01/06/20224 YearsIvy Learning TrustNoneNA
Saziye KemalTrust Appointed Governor01/06/20224 YearsIvy Learning TrustNoneNA
Zainab IqbalTrust Appointed Governor25/03/20214 YearsIvy Learning TrustNoneNA
Janice TunneyTrust Appointed Associate Governor01/07/20224 YearsIvy Learning TrustGovernor at Eastfield primary school.01/07/2022
All governors are voting members of the Local Governing Board. Panels and working groups are established as needed, but there are no ongoing committees.

Declarations of Interests for Ivy Learning Trust Members and Trustees

Attendance record

Click here for The Trust’s Annual Report and Accounts, Memorandum, Articles of Association, Funding Agreements and the names of Trustees and Members

Local Governors who have stepped down in the last 12 months

Local Governors who have stepped down in the last 12 months.

NameTitleDate of AppointmentDate Stepped DownAppointed by:
Elliott PlumbTrust Appointed Governor12/12/201906/01/2023Ivy Learning Trust
Paul VenusActing Headteacher06/07/202031/08/2022Ex-officio
Stuart PopeActing Headteacher21/02/202231/08/2022Ex-officio
Kirstie BarrettChair of Governors17/9/202015/06/2022Ivy Learning Trust

Governance documents which need to be available for public inspection can be requested by emailing the governance professional at governance@ivylearningtrust.org