Meet the Governors

Chair - Ms Tiina Mutru

Vice Chairs - Mrs Adella Bridges and Mr Karl Fuhrmann

Head Teacher - Ms Sandra Bradley 

Co-Opted and Parent Governor Attendance

Please click on the following link to see the attendance information for 2019-2020.

Observer

Headteacher, Amherst Junior School - Mr Andrew Reid

Clerk to the Governors  - Ms Patricia Ferrus

The Governing Body is led by the Chair, elected by the Governing Body from within its membership. The role of Chair is set for a one year period.

The Chair is supported in her work by two Vice Chairs, who are delegated certain tasks and responsibilities. The role of Vice Chair is  also set for a one year period.

The Governing Body may choose to appoint Governors to take on other additional specific roles. Currently, these are as follows:-

Mr Nic Pocknall- Lead Governor for Premises

Mrs Claire Davison - Lead Governor for Finance

Mr Karl Fuhrmann - Lead Governor for Safeguarding

Mr Anthony Judge, Mrs Jenna Crittenden and Mrs Claire Davison  - Staffing and Pay Governors.

Mrs Jenna Crittenden - Lead Governor for SEND

To see the Governors' Terms of Appointment and Register of Interest, please click on the link below.

Tiina Mutru - Chair - (Co-Opted Governor)

My background is in Public Health Nutrition and I have worked for different organisations and companies across Europe in the field of food and nutrition. At the moment my time is dedicated to my family and to volunteering.

When my eldest started at Riverhead I was overwhelmed how different the English education system is to that of my home country Finland. I was worried that at four he was far too young to start! He had a very happy and rewarding time at Riverhead and so I was more relaxed second time round. To learn more about the education system and to give back to the community I decided to join the Governing Body in 2015. I was elected Chair in October 2019.  Becoming a school governor has been hugely rewarding and has made me realize how much work, dedication and flexibility is required, by the staff and the Governing Body, to run the school.

Claire Terry (Co-Opted Governor)

Helping to set a strategy for buildings and to appreciate the diversity of the governor responsibilities were my initial reasons for joining, however having seen the breadth of experience the children are exposed to, I am amazed by the continual drive to improve the school, and I hope to have positive impact on the governing body.

I am an Engineer and Physicist by training, and a Safety professional and Auditor by experience - mostly in the oil industry, but also for buildings and projects.  I am a member of the Buildings and Premises Committee and have a keen interest in data and monitoring.

Claire Davison (Co-Opted Governor)

I became a Parent Governor in November 2012 and a Co-opted Governor in October 2013. Both my children attended Riverhead and my daughter is now in Year 5 at Amherst.  Having helped at various Riverhead PTA events over the years, I decided that I would like to be involved with the school from a different perspective.

I trained as a Chartered Accountant but am not working at the minute so being a governor has been a great opportunity both to use existing skills and to learn new ones. I am really enjoying the breadth and variety of involvement with the school that being a governor entails.  I have always felt that the staff at Riverhead do an amazing job and it is great to be able to make a contribution to such an outstanding school.

I am Chair of the Finance Committee and a member of the Premises and Pay and Staffing Committees.

Karl Fuhrmann - Vice Chair - (Co-Opted Governor)

I have recently moved to Sevenoaks from Berkhamsted in Hertfordshire, and wanted to use what I have learnt in my career so far to help out within the local community. Becoming a governor seemed like an obvious choice, and since my appointment in May I have really enjoyed learning about how the school is run, and how I can have a positive impact on the strategy of Riverhead over the next few years. My first impression of the staff and children has been excellent, and there is clearly a desire from everyone to maintain an outstanding learning environment.

I have spent the majority of my working life in financial services procurement, and been involved in driving buying strategies across a variety of different categories, from IT to professional services. I hope that this will stand me in good stead as a governor, and that in turn I will be able to take away knowledge and skills that I can use elsewhere.

Helene Bligh (Co-Opted Governor)

I have taught at Riverhead for more than 20 years having joined the staff in 1993. During this time I have worked in all three year groups, had responsibility for a range of subjects including maths and ICT and managed to have 3 boys of my own! As the deputy headteacher and inclusion manager I have responsibility for developing the spirit and practice of inclusion throughout the school and I am proud of our inclusive ethos and our shared commitment to ensuring that our school community values and respects diversity.

I have seen many changes during my time at Riverhead but one constant has been a continual drive to school improvement supported by a committed staff, supportive parents, a tireless PTA and an effective governing body which I am pleased to be able to contribute to.

Sue Manning (Co-Opted Governor)

I started working at Riverhead in 1998, when the younger of my two children joined the school, after 16 years of working as a Cartographer for Geographers A-Z Maps. During this time I worked mainly with the Early Year classes as a Teaching Assistant, helping them settle into the routine of school and encouraging them in their educational skills, watching them develop and move onto Amherst.

Whilst my own children were at Riverhead, I spent many happy hours helping out on the PTA especially with the catering!

I am now a Non Teaching Governor and want to get involved helping and supporting the team to maintain the high standards achieved by our amazing children on their learning journeys.

Clare Smeaton (Parent Governor)

I was elected as a Parent Governor on April 30th 2018. I am a stay at home mum to three children. My eldest child is currently in Year One and my second child is starting Riverhead in September. Prior to having my children, I taught in the Early Years and in Key Stage 1 and held management positions in both. As a member of the Governing Body, I am keen to use my knowledge to assist in maintaining and improving our outstanding school.

I have lived in Sevenoaks since 1995 and was appointed as a Governor in May 2018. I have recently retired and with three children I have always had in interest in education and this gives me an opportunity to help with this sector. I am looking forward to working with Governors on the development of this great school.

For 28 years I was a solicitor specialising in commercial property and with an interest in sustainable development. I remember the school being built and was fascinated by the roof in particular. Environmental issues are important for all of us and I can help the school play its part here.

I joined the governing body in September 2018 as I wanted to support a school within my local community of Sevenoaks. I have a little girl and work flexibly to spend time with her but also work in a role I love.

I have been teaching for over ten years in diverse schools across Manchester, Germany and now in Bromley; where I work as a deputy head in a large primary school. I have a keen interest in early education and the importance of early intervention for those who need support. I have a background in EYFS, SEND and curriculum design and look forward to working in partnership with the school. In my daily role I am a designated safeguarding lead.

I am also looking forward to joining the community of such a well respected local school.

I look forward to working as a “critical friend” within the governing body.

I have lived in Sevenoaks for 17 years, more recently close to the school and was appointed as a Governor in August 2018.  I have 2 children at secondary school locally.

I am a Chartered Surveyor specialising in commercial property development and sales and look forward to using some of my skills to benefit the school community.

Riverhead Infants' has an excellent reputation and I look forward to enhancing the community of such a well-respected local school.

I became a governor in June 2019. Both my children attend Riverhead Infants and are very happy there and both have made excellent progress from very different starting points. 

I combine family life with a career in primary mathematics education. Formerly a primary school teacher I am now a primary mathematics expert  providing maths training to schools across the UK as well as advice on curriculum & assessment at government level, including supporting the development of the KS1 and KS2 SATs. I hope that my skills and expertise will be invaluable to the school in my role as governor and I hope to make a positive contribution to the school supporting all the hard work that the staff put into maintaining and improving an outstanding school.