Welcome to our Governors' section.
Woodside Primary School is part of the Ivy Learning Trust. The overarching responsibility for governance of the Trust and its schools lies with the Trust Board. The Trustees are responsible for setting and monitoring strategic objectives, as well as compliance with charity and company law and the Trust’s funding agreements.
Each school within the Trust has a Local Governing Body (LGB). We are responsible for monitoring and evaluating standards and pupils’ achievements. We act as a critical friend to the headteacher and work both with her and with the Trust Board. The Local Governing Body meets at least once a term and our minutes can be found on the school website within the governors page.
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.
Further information can be found on the Ivy Learning Trust website. Please see link above.
Samantha Kersley
Chair of Governors - Trust Appointed
Inclusion Governor (joint)
I fell in love with the school from my first visit and my daughter joined Woodside in 2018. Since attending Woodside, she has thrived and grown so much and the support she has received has been exceptional.
Having been on the Governing Body for a number of years now, I enjoy working with the school leadership team and my fellow governors to support and continually improve all aspects of school life and look forward to continuing this positive relationship.
I work as an Operations Manager for a local Financial Services organisation and have a Master’s Degree in Human Resources. I have over 20 years’ experience working with people and believe this experience has proved valuable within my governor role.
Caroline Ginty
Headteacher
I am delighted to be the headteacher here at Woodside. I started in September 2017 and know that under my leadership Woodside can go from strength to strength. I hold the children’s well being and achievement at the heart of my leadership.
I have been a teacher for over 28 years and prior to coming to Woodside I was a deputy head of a large junior school in Enfield. I have worked in a variety of different schools fulfilling various teaching and leadership roles, all of which have given me valuable experience when it comes to leading a school.
I have two beautiful children, aged 20 and 22 so understand the joys and stresses of parenting.
Luke Brown
Staff Governor
I have been a teacher at Woodside Primary School for 5 years now and have enjoyed working in the classroom alongside everyone in this wonderful team of staff and children.
Before Woodside, I had taught for 7 years in different schools across the country and in Wales, in different capacities. I am the computing coordinator, which allows me to use my outside interests and my degree in digital film animation and 3D technology in a role I enjoy. It enables me to help staff as well as pupils develop their skills while trying to bring new technology and skills to the classroom.
I have now been fortunate enough to have taught almost all the children in the school, which makes me feel even more part of the community. It has been amazing seeing these children grow and develop over the years. As an established staff member, I wanted to have more of an impact on the school, to be able to help shape the future of the school and have a say in how it will develop for the children that are here now and in the future.
Yemi Ajeku
Parent Governor
I am a proud and loving mother to two incredible girls who attend Woodside Primary School.
As a dedicated professional, I have chosen a career path in nursing, specializing in the Theatre Recovery Unit at a London hospital. With years of experience in nursing, I have honed my skills and knowledge to provide exceptional care and support to patients during their critical recovery stages.
In addition to my nursing career, I have always had a strong desire to work with children and young people. My experience as an assistant junior church teacher allowed me to nurture and guide young minds, instilling in them values and knowledge that will shape their futures.
My personal goal in life is to contribute to making this world a better place, one person at a time. Whether it is through my nursing career, my work with children and young people, or simply by spreading positivity and kindness, I am committed to making a difference. I believe that every individual has the power to create positive change, and I am determined to use my skills and experiences to do just that.
Sophie Everist
Trust Appointed
Inclusion Governor (joint)
Myself and my entire family have lived in Cheshunt all our lives and I attended Flamstead End Primary School and Goffs Secondary School as a child and young adult.
I have a degree in English Literature from the University of Greenwich and I have been teaching at Goffs-Churchgate Academy since 2018, after previously working at Goffs Academy for many years. My current working roles are English Teacher and Head of Literacy, both of which I enjoy equally.
Before becoming a teacher, whilst doing my A Levels and Degree, I worked for Marks and Spencer for seven years, in a customer services advisor role.
I am particularly interested in the cross-over from Primary to Secondary education and what we can learn from each other. As well as this I am also interested in the provision for SEN children and inclusion. It is also very important to me, as someone who has lived in the area all their life, to ensure that the schools in our area are prosperous for the future community and perhaps one day, my own future children.
Chris Theodoulou
Trust Appointed
I have been a teacher at Eastfield Primary (a school which is part of Ivy Learning Trust) for 7 years now, and have just recently moved to the Goffs Oak area. Prior to this, I ran my own house renovating company and I was an area manager running a number of after school clubs in Highgate. All of which was done after completing my degree in Sport & Exercise Science.
Becoming a Governor has been something I have wanted to do for some time now so that I can enhance my understanding of the inner school workings, and help promote the importance of education, helping to provide children with the best possible start.
Being a part of the Woodside Local Governing Board will give me the opportunity to build valuable relations, by sharing my experiences and understanding of education. I hope this will help Woodside continue to promote a love for learning, and assist in providing the children with greater opportunities for their future knowledge and development.
Information on governance arrangements is available on Ivy Learning Trust's website
Governance documents which need to be available for public inspection can be requested by emailing the governance professional at governance@ivylearningtrust.org