Current Governing Body Members Page
The members of the Governing Body are drawn from parents/carers, staff and the wider community. Most Governors are initially appointed for a 4 year term which can be extended if necessary.
Stanford Infant School Governor Roles 2023-2024
On this page, you can find information about each the Governors, including the date of their appointment and end date, register of interests and more information on the responsibilities of our Governing Body and its Committees & Working Groups.
| Jenny Stratton | Head Teacher | Appointed – 22/04/2025 |
Register of Interests: None
Governing Roles in Other Schools – None
Elected by: Ex-officio by virtue of office as headteacher/principal
| Emma Remnant | Staff | Original Appointment 4/10/2013 | Appointed – 04/10/2021 | End date – 3/10/2025 |
Register of Interests: None
Governing Roles in Other Schools – None
Elected by: School Staff
| Martin Blake | Co-opted | Appointed – 28/09/2021 | End date – 27/09/2025 |
Martin is a recruitment professional who has worked for several large recruitment and technology companies as well as running his own business for almost 6 years. Martin is an Arts graduate from the University of Essex who was previously active in the PTFA and volunteering for various school events. He was keen, therefore, to continue this association after both of his children moved up to the Juniors. He feels passionately about the role of the school in the wider community and has a particular interest in the educational needs of looked after and previously looked after children.
Register of Interests: None
Governing Roles in Other Schools – None
Elected by: Appointed by GB/board
| Lauren Cole | Co-opted | Appointed – 28/09/2021 | End date – 27/09/2025 |
Lauren has served on the Governing Body since 2021 during which time, both of her sons have enjoyed being at the Infants. Her career background is in both Marketing and Human Resources having first graduated with a degree in Applied Psychology. Lauren currently works for a small Marketing Agency in Brighton on social media and digital campaigns and previous experience included 20 years working in various roles in an international healthcare organisation, for a global consumer electronics company and at a consultancy firm. She understands the complex nature of decision making when multiple stakeholders are involved and wants to support the school to thrive in challenging circumstances. Lauren is a strong believer in the opportunity good educational foundations provide for children and is a proud advocate of the school.
Register of Interests: Parent.
Governing Roles in Other Schools – None
Appointed by GB/board
| Andrew Eastel | Parent | Appointed – 17/12/2021 | End date – 16/12/2025 |
Andrew’s daughter started in reception at Stanford in 2021. He is Creative Director at a television production company in Brighton. His job involves overseeing multiple productions, leading several different teams of people, all working on tight schedules and often under a lot of pressure. Working in documentary, he has had the opportunity to learn about and spend time with people from all walks of life. He is very aware and understanding of the different life experiences within every community and hopes this will help him in his governor role. He is particularly keen to help the school provide every pupil with the chance to start seeing their unique creative talent and potential, no matter what that might be.
Register of Interests: Parent.
Governing Roles in Other Schools – None
Elected by: Parents
| Tess Gill | Local Authority/Co-opted | Appointed – 27/02/2019 | End date – 26/02/2023 |
Register of Interests: None
Governing Roles in Other Schools – None
Elected by: Nominated by LA and appointed by GB
| Susie O’Neill | Parent | Appointed – 04/11/2021 | End date – 03/11/2025 |
Susie works for NHS Sussex as the Commissioner for children’s services, aiming to ensure that we use our limited resources as effectively as possible to improve health outcomes for children and young people. She understands the immense challenges for the public sector workforce, managing increasingly complex needs with care and commitment when resources are really stretched, and she hopes to bring a compassionate and problem-solving approach to supporting the school with these challenges. She started her career in child and adolescent mental health and so also brings a keen interest in the emotional wellbeing of pupils.
Register of Interests: Parent
Governing Roles in Other Schools – None
Elected by: Parents
| Andy Cottle | Co-Opted | Appointed - 01/07/2022 | End Date - 30/06/2026 |
Andy is a qualified accountant and spent a number of year working with innovative businesses in the London tech-scene. He now runs a practice that focuses on providing accounting support to mental health and wellbeing practitioners. His daughter started in reception in 2021 and he was immediately impressed with how happy and keen to learn she was on joining the school. He feels very strongly about supporting the school going forward.
Register of Interests: Parent
Governing Roles in Other Schools - None
Elected by: Parents
| Kate Nicholroy | Co-opted | Appointed – 07/10/2024 | End date – 106/10/2028 |
Register of Interests: Parent
Governing Roles in Other Schools – None
Elected by: Appointed by GB/board
| Lauren Gilligan | Parent | Appointed – 02/12/2024 | End date – 01/12/28 |
Register of Interests: Parent
Governing Roles in Other Schools – None
Elected by: Parents
| Sarah Court- Brown | Parent | Appointed – 31.01.2025 |
End date – 31.01.2029 |
Register of Interests: Parent
Governing Body Roles in Other Schools - None
Elected by: Parents
| Yasha Gosrani | Associate | Appointed – | End date – |
Register of Interests: Parent
Governing Roles in Other Schools – Stanford Junior School
Elected by: N/A
John Parr (Clerk) Appointed – 04/11/2021
Governing Body Responsibilities/Committees
At Stanford Infant School, all governors meet at least twice a term to discuss strategic matters, ensuring that there is a clarity of vision and ethos. At these meetings they act as questioning friends, holding executive leaders to account for the educational performance of the school and the management of staff, as well as making sure that funding is well spent.
Every Governor takes responsibility and an interest in at least one area of the School’s Development and Improvement Plan. Governors will work hard with the school’s Senior Leadership Team to ensure all of the priorities are progressing in the right direction and will break into smaller working groups to achieve this.
The responsibility of the Clerk is crucial to the success of the Governing Body. The clerk arranges and publishes the agendas for meetings. The clerk will prepare and circulate minutes of all meetings- when minutes have been formally agreed, they are published on the school website. The Clerk will also circulate training opportunities for Governors, and advise Governors on legal and procedural matters.