Our Governors

Peter Williams

Chair of Governors and Health and Safety Governor
peter@kingswood.herts.sch.uk

I serve as Director of the Family Education Trust (a charitable research institute), much of my present and past career for over fifteen years being dedicated to the rights and welfare of children.

I am a long-standing member of the local community, having lived on the Kingswood estate for over 35 years. I attended St Michael’s Secondary School when I was younger and starting out there as a second Caretaker before and during university, before going into sustainable construction at the Building Research Establishment in Bricket Wood at the start of my working life.

I discerned that serving as a School Governor would be a great opportunity to ‘give back’ to the local community, and so love supporting the brilliant school team and helping to further the flourishing of the children for whom they work so hard.

Benedicta Apeh-Odiase

Safeguarding Governor
benedicta@kingswood.herts.sch.uk

I am a dedicated parent with three wonderful children of which two are currently attending this school, and I am deeply committed to ensuring the best possible educational experience for all pupils. My background in paediatric nursing has instilled in me a passion for safeguarding and promoting the well-being of children.

As a parent governor, I aim to advocate for policies and practices that prioritise the safety and welfare of every child in our school.   I am committed to serving the best interests of our school and ensuring that every child has the opportunity to reach their full potential in a safe and nurturing environment.

It is my aim to promote diversity and inclusivity within the school community, advocating for initiatives that celebrate different cultures, backgrounds, and abilities. I believe I can foster open and transparent communication between parents, staff, and governors, ensuring that everyone feels heard and valued in the decision-making process.

Susan Parritt

Vice Chair of Governors SEN and CLA Governor
susanp@kingswood.herts.sch.uk

I am a local resident having lived on the estate for over 30 years and both my children and grandson attended Kingswood. They loved their time here, so I know that children that attend this nursery have a great start to their development and education.

I am now retired but I had a 36 year long career in the civil service where I gained a wealth of experience in a variety of roles. I have worked on the front line where I dealt with the public and managed operational teams. I also have a lot of experience in Human Resources including in organisational welfare support and mediation and as a business partner helping managers with planning and recruitment. More recently my experience was in Organisation Design and Corporate Governance.

I wanted to become a governor at Kingswood to give something back to my community and support the great work of the Head Teacher and staff at this school, enabling the children here to grow and learn in the best environment. I hope that all my experience will be useful in that role.

Sally - Ann Auigar

Teaching and Learning Governor
sally@kingswood.herts.sch.uk

I am delighted to serve as a school governor, bringing both professional experience and a strong personal commitment to our school community. I am a School Business Manager with over eight years’ experience working in independent schools. Through these roles I have developed a deep understanding of school operations, governance best practice, and the vital role governors play in supporting school leadership to ensure high standards of education, wellbeing, and community engagement. 

I am currently studying for a Master’s degree in Educational Leadership, further strengthening my ability to contribute meaningfully to strategic discussions and support continuous school improvement. My formal education includes a BA in Childhood and Youth Studies and a School Business Manager Diploma, which underpin my professional and governance work with a solid grounding in child-centred practice and organisational leadership.

I am also a parent of three children, two of whom attended this school, and I believe passionately in the transformative power of education, in making a positive difference for pupils and families, and in working collaboratively with staff, parents, and fellow governors to uphold our school’s values and aspirations.

Clare Macdonald

Headteacher
admin@kingswood.herts.sch.uk

I have over twenty five years of teaching experience, mainly based in Early Years!  The uniqueness of this phase of education has always been a passion of mine. I am very privileged to be the Headteacher at Kingswood and to be working with such a committed group of staff, governors and parents, who represent our community. Observing the progress children make, and how practitioners and families encourage this, is delightful. I am also a parent of two boys, and observe first hand how their Early Years experiences continue to impact their learning, even in the secondary and tertiary phase of their education.

I became a Governor when I joined Kingswood in January 2021, however I was previously a Governor at another school as I believe it is important to support your community in whichever way you can. We are lucky to have some dedicated members of our Governing body, and I am committed to growing the members of the Governing team in order to achieve the strategic aims of our school.

Sue Salter

Staff Governor – Nursery Key Person
admin@kingswood.herts.sch.uk

I have been a Key Person at Kingswood, working in the nursery in the morning and in the specialist provision (Nest) in the afternoons, since September 2023. I previously ran a pack-away pre-school/nursery for 10 years. After a break working in a different sector, I realised my happy place is working in the early years. I have a Level 3 SENCo qualification and an Early Years Foundation Degree.

My son is a PC for the Metropolitan Police, and my daughter is in her final year at Newcastle University working towards a Speech and Language Degree.

I am happy to take on the role of staff governor as I have been welcomed into Kingswood by all of the team and have thoroughly enjoyed my first year here. I will fulfil my role to the best of my ability.

We have currently have vacancies on our Governing body and looking to recruit both Parent and Co-opted Governors.