Kunal Patel
Co-opted Governor
Chair
School Business Committee, Standards Teaching and Learning Committee
Link area – Maths, Science and Computing
I am a senior manager working in Internal Audit and have been doing this role in the financial services industry for 9 years. My work involves supporting the business to have a robust governance framework and control activities to manage its key risks. This is particularly challenging in the globally connected, digitally enabled, and diverse world that we live in.
Having grown up in Merton Park and studied at Wimbledon Chase, the area and community is very much part of our lives. I have fond memories of my time at the school and the platform it gave me in my education and development, and am proud to still be a part of the local community. This deep-rooted connection with the school means that I am very passionate about supporting it in its journey.
I am married to Yogi and we have two young children who we hope will join and create their own memories at the school in the near future.
Tom Jeans
Associate Member
I have worked in the public service for BBC Children’s. Learning is at the heart of CBeebies and CBBC and we’re very proud of the trust that we’ve established with parents through our stimulating, enriching content for kids. I’m a commercial lawyer and have led legal and commercial teams in both public and private sectors.
My job has given me an insight into the mounting challenges facing children in the UK and I am particularly looking forward to working with the Governing Body to celebrate diversity in all its forms and to promote a culture of inclusiveness and social cohesion amongst adults and children alike within our community.
I’m married to Becky and have two children who attend the School.
Michael Fernando
Co-opted Governor
Vice Chair
Chair of Standards, Teaching and Learning Committee
Link areas: Assessment, SMSC/British Values, RE, Diversity & Inclusion
I am a solicitor with over 19 years post qualification experience. I am a litigation and regulatory compliance specialist.
I am passionate about education, excellence, aspiration and social mobility. I have a long and happy association with the school. I deeply value its role in improving the life chances of all the children and the integral part it plays in our wonderful local community. I am committed to identifying and maximising any untapped areas of potential within our organisation to ensure it continues to flourish and thrive.
My wife Kathryn Ferguson and I have lived in the area since 2010. Our youngest daughter is a pupil at the school and our eldest daughter is a former pupil.
Alex Nicholson
Staff Governor
Whole School Community Committee
Since joining Wimbledon Chase in 2022, I have seen first-hand how fantastic this school is. The staff work hard to create a welcoming, positive atmosphere with the children at the core of every decision.
I have been working in educator roles since 2011. I have been a sports coach working with Fulham FC Foundation and a teaching assistant at a primary school before finally settling down as a class teacher. Currently, I am undertaking a Master’s degree in ‘Education and Leadership’ at University College London.
I am excited and committed to helping the running of the school. I will use my experiences and passion to aid the Governing Body in any way to help this community continue to provide the children of Wimbledon Chase with an excellent education.
Sophie Makepeace
LA Governor
Chair of School Business Committee
Link areas: History and Geography, English, PE
I joined the Governing body as a local authority governor in November 2023. Having completed my early years education in Wandsworth, it is a privilege to return to the area and to support the School.
In my role on the finance leadership team for a London based coffee company, I am wholeheartedly passionate about implementing a finance strategy that will add value whilst simultaneously prioritising and leveraging the wellbeing and potential of our people. I hope to bring this to my role as an LA governor, providing challenge and thought leadership that will further enhance the learning experience for the students.
Caroline Burnett
Co-opted Governor
Standards, Teaching and Learning Committee
Link areas: Training
I have had the pleasure of working at Wimbledon Chase Primary School as Deputy Head teacher since 2002. Prior to working at Wimbledon Chase I worked as Deputy Head in two other schools in the borough of Wandsworth.
As part of the range of responsibilities incorporated into my Deputy Head role I lead on curriculum development. This is an exciting area to be working on as the curriculum is developed with the new Ofsted Framework. I am working alongside the Senior Management Team Subject Leaders to assist in reviewing the delivery of subjects across the school. I also lead on supporting the training of students on placement in our school. It is very rewarding to support trainee teachers to become confident class leaders in the educational workforce.
I have a son who is himself in Primary education and this has helped me in creating a real personal passion for teaching and learning and ‘getting it right’ for our children.
Jonathan Hearn
Co-opted Governor
School Business Committee
Link areas: Children Looked After/Children Previously Looked After/Pupil Premium, Equality, GDPR
I’m a senior lawyer at the global law firm DLA Piper, and I specialise in employment law. It’s been my privilege to be a governor of Wimbledon Chase since soon after my elder daughter joined the school, when I was elected as a parent governor. I was re-elected, and while my other two children went right through the school too, I was asked to remain as a co-opted governor, which has been great.
I adore the school, its ethos and approach - and its huge potential too, for even greater achievements now and in the future. I bring legal expertise, and a lot of knowledge about what’s worked and not worked in the school in the past - plus my commercial expertise from working with a huge range of client organisations in the private and public sectors. I live very locally, and I also bring this perspective: I’ve seen my three kids go through the school, receiving a great all-round education at Wimbledon Chase, which gave them the very firmest foundations for happiness and success at secondary school. I want Wimbledon Chase to continue to deliver on this, for current and future generations - it’s a privilege to be involved.
I am a member of the School Business Committee, and the governor with specific responsibility for equality issues and literacy.
Kate Baker
Associate Member
School Business Manager
Having worked in IT Training for 20 years in both delivery and management roles, I started at Wimbledon Chase as the School Business Manager in September 2006 when my son was in Year 1.
I report directly to Keith and have overall responsibility for managing the strategy and operation of the business functions, including financial management, Capital expenditure, health and safety, human resources, compliance and administration.
As an Associate Member of the Governing body my role, alongside Keith is to report on financial, site and HR matters through the School Business Committee, Full Governing Board meetings and Local Authority.
Keith Ellis
Headteacher
ex-officio member of all Committees
I am the Headteacher at Wimbledon Chase and am proud to work with such a dedicated staff team, enthusiastic and happy children, committed governors and supportive parents.
I became part of the Governing body at Wimbledon Chase when I joined the school in 2015 and have sat on all of the Governing body committees. I previously worked in Wandsworth for 26 years.
I am very proud to be a member of the Wimbledon Chase community and am passionate about achieving the best possible outcomes for all of the children at the school.
Theodora Theodoratou
Parent Governor
Chair Whole School and Community Committee
Link areas: SEND, Mental Health
I work as a Senior Educational Psychologist in an inner London Local Authority with 17 years of experience in child and adolescent development, safeguarding, wellbeing and learning. This includes direct involvement with assessment of children's needs and intervention planning. I have a passion and extensive experience in teaching practices that promote learning, mental health and inclusion as well as direct involvement with creating school communities that promote parental and child participation and belonging. At a more strategic level my daily work involves guiding and supporting school leaders in their roles as well as helping staff reflect on their practice and develop their own emotional wellbeing and teaching. My involvement with local authority SEND strategic planning means I have a lot of first hand knowledge of implementing new legislation and shaping local borough wide initiatives.
I was born in Greece and moved to the UK to study Psychology in 1998. My husband and I moved in the area in 2017 and my daughter attends Wimbledon Chase.
Jon Fuller
Parent Governor
School Business Committee, Whole School Community Committee
Link area: Safeguarding, Online Safety
I am senior civil servant leading on Energy and Environment policy at Her Majesty’s Treasury. I have over 18 years’ experience working in both the public and private sectors and led policy development for the Building Schools for the Future programme under the New Labour government.
I am delighted to be a parent school governor for Wimbledon Chase Primary School and I hope to bring my experience of working at the heart of government on critical policy areas to the benefit of the school.
My partner Jessica and I have lived in the local area since 2016 and we have two children who attend the school.
Sharon Furlong Beaumont
Co-opted Governor
Whole School Community Committee
Link areas: Sustainability, EYFS & Eco
I joined the Governing body in 2022, and I am the Early Years Foundation Stage Governor and the Eco Governor. I am currently a member of the Whole School Committee.
I am a finance professional and I work full-time as a Product Manager in a global Corporate and Investment Bank. I am a qualified chartered accountant with deep financial services experience and in business assurance and auditing. I also have significant recruitment and training experience.
I bring my genuine interest in education, my financial background and my risk and control awareness to the Governing Body. I am committed to ensuring that the children educated at Wimbledon Chase Primary School continue to be offered the best learning opportunities possible.
Mrs D Newell
Associate Member
I have worked at Wimbledon Chase Primary School since 1999. I am passionate about education for all pupils and staff. I currently work as a Deputy Head Teacher and have responsibility for Phase 2 and oversee Assessment and Pupil Premium across the school.
I joined the Governing body as an associate member to support the committees, share my knowledge, skills and expertise.
Sema Ocakoglu
Parent Governor
Whole School Community Committee and Standards Teaching and Learning Committee
Link Areas: Art, DT and PHSE
I have been working as an SEN (Special Educational Needs) Specialist, and Primary School Teacher for 15 years. After a Master’s Degree from the University of Exeter and working at independent schools as an SEN Specialist, Primary Years Academic and Curriculum Coordinator, I have been working closely with local authorities including Merton Council to support children and young people with their EHCPs (Education, Health and Care plan) and IEPs (Individualized Education Program). I also run sessions and consultancy services in my educational consultancy company.
I am eager to be part of the education team to assist children and young people with student-centred approaches as well as inclusively. I look forward to sharing my experience with the enriching education system and settings of the school as a governor. I am passionate about specific needs and strategies for the learning environment of children with/without special needs. Every young person is unique with their own strengths and needs. I believe if we provide an enriching social and emotionally supportive learning environment, then we can lead the children to achieve their potential academic success.
Siân Dotchin
Clerk to Governors
I have worked at Wimbledon Chase Primary School since 2001. In addition to being Clerk to Governors my roles at school, include being PA to the Headteacher and Parent Support Advisor.
I am contactable via the school office and by email sdotchin.315@lgflmail.org