Governors
Meet the Governors
The Governors of Maidenbower Junior School are responsible for the strategic long-term development and improvement of the School by establishing suitable policies, monitoring standards and ensuring a happy learning environment where every child can succeed according to their ability.
The Governing Body consists of 17 Governors; The Headteacher, 1 Staff Governor, 1 Local Authority Governor, 6 Parent Governors and 8 Co-opted Governors who attend six Full Governing Body meetings each academic year; one per half term.
Future Aim – To be a beacon of excellence in which everyone within our school community achieves.
All governors serve for four years on the Governing body and this consists of:
| Name | Bio | Term start / end date & source of appointment |
|
I am very proud to be Headteacher at Maidenbower Junior School. Our governing body is fantastic and I enjoy working with them to ensure our pupils have the best chance to succeed in their time at the school. |
N/A Appointed by Ex Officio |
Stephanie Linnell No photo provided |
I am a Legal Executive with a background in Civil Litigation. I have been a Parent Governor at Maidenbower Junior School for 8 years and all three of my children have attended the school. I became a governor because I wanted to make a positive difference, helping to provide a safe, supportive and enjoyable learning environment for all children. |
12/12/2022 Appointed by Parents |
Sarah Henden-Woodward |
I am a Head of English at a Secondary school, with a son currently attending MJS and a younger son beginning school in September. I became a governor as a way of supporting my son’s school, sharing my knowledge of English in a school setting and to support my own students - knowing where our students come from, helps us to ensure we can support them fully with where they are going. Being a part of the school community is an area I feel that I thrive - I am passionate about education and love working with young people. |
23/11/2023 Appointed by GB |
Marcus Poppitt |
I am a Maidenbower resident and first became a parent governor in 2019 when my daughter attended the school. I am now a co-opted governor. With a background in audit and risk management I bring a wealth of experience and expertise to the Board. I am keen to give back to the local community and firmly believe in education as a key building block for helping children to grow and reach their full potential. |
18/05/2023 Appointed by GB |
Georgina Child |
I have been a member of the MJS team for 9 years and have served on the governing body for the past 6 years as the Staff Governor. My passion for education and commitment to the school drives me to be a strong voice for staff, ensuring their perspectives are heard and valued. I am dedicated to helping the school work effectively and collaboratively, always with the best interests of the children at heart. My goal is to support decisions that foster a positive learning environment for everyone at MJS. |
22/03/2018 Appointed by Staff |
Nick Harnett |
I live in Maidenbower with my wife and two daughters, one is at MJS and one has now moved on from MJS to Oriel. I am a Chartered Accountant with over 20 years experience originally in accounting practice and more recently working in the electricity industry. I am also the Treasurer of our PTA. |
27/01/2023 Appointed by Parents |
Oscar Carballo Balboa |
I am a seasoned business leader with expertise in management consulting, strategic partnerships, and digital transformation. With a successful track record in senior roles at top-tier firms, I have a passion for driving innovation and fostering team growth. My strategic mindset and ability to navigate complex challenges have enabled me to make a significant impact across various industries.
Motivated by a desire to give back to the community, I am committed to becoming a school governor. My aim is to leverage my leadership experience to support MJS in shaping the next generation of learners. I am particularly driven by the opportunity to contribute to improving educational standards. I believe in the transformative power of education, and I'm eager to use my skills to help students and teachers thrive. |
19/01/2024 Appointed by Parents |
Sarah Garland |
I am a registered Dietitian with experience of both clinical and quality improvement work in the NHS and an interest in the prevention of ill health through a healthy diet. I have lived in Maidenbower for many years and saw the role of school governor as an opportunity to give back to the local community. |
20/11/2025 Appointed by LA |
|
Louise Young |
13/10/2025 Appointed by Parents |
|
Alison Cresswell |
I chose to join the Governing Body after seeing the positive impact the school has had on my son and his friends and wanted to offer my support. With an extensive background in market research & insight I enjoy working with others to find solutions and want to be involved with helping to foster a strong educational foundation and a love of learning for all our children. |
11/10/2024 Appointed by Parents |
|
Amisha Patel |
|
20/11/2025 to 19/11/2029 |
Co-opted |
Joining MJS as School Business Manager in January 2022, I oversee financial management, resource allocation and operational planning to ensure an optimal learning environment for our pupils. Being a part of MJS and its community has been incredibly enjoyable; I'm fortunate to work with such talented professionals. As a member of the Governing Body, I collaborate on governance topics to support our leadership in achieving its goals. |
01/01/2022 Appointed by GB |
Kerry Negus |
As Deputy Head and Governor, my role involves a blend of strategic leadership and governance responsibilities aimed at supporting the continuous improvement of the school. As Deputy Head, I work closely with the Headteacher to implement the school’s vision, lead on safeguarding, support teaching and learning, manage staff development, and ensure high standards of pupil achievement and wellbeing. In my capacity as a Governor, I contribute to the broader strategic direction of the school, helping to shape policies, monitor performance, and ensure accountability. This dual role allows me to bring an informed, day-to-day perspective to the governing body while ensuring that decisions made at governance level align with the practical needs and priorities of the school community. |
13/09/2018 Appointed by GB |
David Footman Williams |
I started teaching at Maidenbower Junior School in 2012, and I have been a deputy headteacher since 2023. I love supporting our brilliant pupils, who are enthusiastic, respectful and love learning. It is a privilege to work with our highly-committed team of staff and governors, to make pupils’ experiences and outcomes the best they can be. |
02/02/2023 Appointed by GB |
Julia Szczotok |
I have worked in Maidenbower Junior School office for the past 4 years and started my role as clerk at the same time. I enjoy learning about the background of how schools operate as well as supporting the governing body. |
STATUTORY RESPONSIBILITES
The following Governors hold these positions for the academic year 2024-25
- Chair – Stephanie Linnell
- Vice-Chair – Sarah Henden-Woodward
- Child Protection and Safeguarding – Sarah Henden-Woodward supported by Stephanie Linnell
- Governor responsible for liaising with the Local Authority in the event of an allegation (Child Protection) issued against the Headteacher – Stephanie Linnell
- Pupil Premium – Marcus Poppitt
- Pay Working Party – Stephanie Linnell, Sarah Garland and Sarah Henden-Woodward
- GDPR/Policies – Marcus Poppitt
- Attendance – Oscar Caballo Balboa
- SEND – Louise Young, Sarah Garland supported by Steph Linnell
- Finance Working Party – Marcus Poppitt, Nick Harnett and Georgina Child
- Health & Safety Working Party – Sophia Richardson
- Curriculum Monitoring Party – Sarah Henden-Woodward, Sarah Garland, and assisted by all governors.
The Clerk to the Governors is Miss J Szczotok and she can be contacted via the school office.
Register of Governor Business Interests
| Name | Relevant Business Interests |
Governance in other |
Relationships with other Governors or School Staff |
| Georgina Child | None | None | None |
| Nick Harnett | None | None | None |
| Stephanie Linnell | None | None | None |
| Amisha Patel | |||
| Marcus Poppitt | None | None | None |
| Kerry Negus | None | None | None |
| David Footman Williams | None | None | None |
| Sarah Garland | None | None | None |
| Sarah Henden-Woodward | Works at Oakwood School, Horley | None | None |
| Louise Young | None | None | None |
| Oscar Carballo Balboa | None | None | None |
| Elliot McGuffie | None | None | None |
| Simon Pike | None | None | Married to Mrs Pike - TA in Year 4 |
| Julia Szczotok - Clerk | None | None | None |
Governors Attendance Records
| Name | FGB 20/11/25 |
FGB 25/09/25 |
FGB 04/07/25 |
FGB 15/05/25 |
FGB 13/03/25 |
FGB 06/02/25 |
FGB |
FGB |
| Alison Cresswell | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Not yet appointed |
| David Footman Williams | Y | Y | Y | Y | A | Y | A | Y |
| Elliot McGuffie | Y | Y | A | A | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Faisal M Javed | Resigned | Resigned | Y | A | X | Y | A | Y |
| Georgina Child | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | A | Y | Y |
| Hayley Matthews | Y | Y | A | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| James Beer | Resigned | Resigned | Resigned | Y | Y | A | Y | Y |
| Julia Szczotok - Clerk | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Kerry Negus | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | A | A | A |
| Marcus Poppitt | Y | Y | Y | Y | X | Y | A | Y |
| Nick Harnett | A | Y | Y | A | X | Y | Y | Y |
| Patricia Wright | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Sarah Garland | Y | Y | Y | Y | A | Y | Y | A |
| Sarah Henden-Woodward | Y | Y | Y | Y | A | Y | Y | Y |
| Louise Young | Y | Not yet appointed | Not yet appointed | Not yet appointed | Not yet appointed | Not yet appointed | Not yet appointed | Not yet appointed |
| Amisha Patel | Y | Not yet appointed | Not yet appointed | Not yet appointed | Not yet appointed | Not yet appointed | Not yet appointed | Not yet appointed |
| Simon Pike | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Stephanie Linnell | Y | Y | Y | A | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Oscar Caballo Balboa | A | A | A | Y | X | A | Y | Y |
| Sophie Richardson | Y | Y | Y | Y | Not yet appointed | Not yet appointed | Not yet appointed | Not yet appointed |
Y = Attended; A = Apologies received; N = Not required to attend meeting (Associate Members only);
X = Apologies not received.