Governance

At Birchwood Nursery School we are proud to have a dedicated governing body that plays an important role in the leadership and strategic direction of our school. Governors work closely with the headteacher and senior leadership team to ensure the best possible outcomes for our children and families.

Structure of the Governing Body

Our governing body comprises the headteacher, one staff governor, two parent governors, four co-opted governors and one local authority governor, as defined in our Instrument of Government  

All governors are appointed or elected to serve a four-year term of office, except the headteacher, who is ex-officio. 

Governors work together to reach consensus decisions that are in the best interests of the school and its pupils and they are bound by the collective decisions of the team.

Meet our Governors

Our governors are volunteers from a range of backgrounds, bringing together a variety of skills and experience to support the school. Please click on each individual governor to find out a little more about them.

• Julie Cahill
  Co-opted Chair of Governors
  Julie Cahill

  I am a co-opted governor at Birchwood Nursery School, joining the governing board in the early stages of the pandemic in 2020. I became a governor for a number of reasons. My granddaughter loved her time at the nursery and my daughter was a key worker and was proud to work at Birchwood. I firmly believe in supporting schools at the heart of the community and I hoped that I would have something to offer the school through my experience in education.

  I was a primary headteacher in a school with both full and part time nursery provision before becoming a senior adviser in a London borough. I then worked part time as a school improvement specialist until 2022. I have substantial experience in all aspects of leadership and management, teaching and learning and school improvement. I have particularly valued working with governing bodies, providing training and support, as well as having been a governor myself.

  I enjoy my role as Chair of Governors at Birchwood and aim to do all I can to support the school as we look to the future and implement our vision.

• Margaret Stocks
  Headteacher
  Margaret Stocks

  I am Headteacher at Birchwood Nursery School and, as such, I am an ex officio governor and it was a privilege to take on this role in September 2019. I am committed to working hard and ensuring all children who attend Birchwood have an enriching environment to learn in and to be the best that they can be. I have always worked within Early Years since starting my teaching career in London 30 years ago. I moved to Hertfordshire with my family in 1997 and gained experience across a variety of settings, settling down in my previous school, where I taught for 20 years and my roles included Early Years Lead, Inclusion Co-ordinator and Assistant Headteacher.

  I am passionate about Early Years and firmly believe if we get the foundations right in Nursery, then we send the children equipped for the next step of their educational journey. As our Mission Statement says, Â 'A secure and happy child today promotes a fulfilled, independent adult of tomorrow'.

  Beyond school, I have three grown up children, although my youngest is at University and therefore still in fulltime education. I enjoy pottering around in my garden, cooking and walking my dog Oscar.

• Caroline Neville
  Staff Governor
  Caroline Neville

  I am the Lead Nursery Teacher at Birchwood Nursery School and have been so since April 2022. I have worked in schools as a trained teacher for nearly 15 years and have taught children from Nursery to Year 6.

  Having two young children myself, I know how important the Early Years of a child's life are. I am passionate in my role as an educator and excited about being an active Staff Governor. Â

• Geoffrey Strack
  Local Authority Governor
  Geoffrey Strack

  I am an Associate governor of Birchwood Nursery School. My children and most of my grandchildren have been fortunate in being able to attend Hertfordshire Schools.

  My own career has been across all sectors of education - Primary, Secondary, University and working with Ofsted. I worked as a local authority adviser and was fortunate in being involved in the introduction of ICT in schools at a National and International level. This included working in the USA, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Germany and Viet Nam.

  My current interests are team building, well-being for children and staff, improving my own knowledge of Early Years and the format of governing body meetings. In 2018, I was presented with the Herts Outstanding Governor of the Year Award. In addition to having the privilege of being a governor at Birchwood Nursery, as required I help with other Herts Primary Schools.

• Naomi Pascall
  Vice Chair - Parent Governor
  Naomi Pascall

  I am a parent governor at Birchwood Nursery School. My daughter previously attended the preschool and Nursery School.

  I am currently studying Dental Hygiene at Eastman Dental Hospital and have over 11 years' experience in the dental field.

  I am enjoying taking a more active role within the Birchwood Nursery School community.

• Lauren O'Keefe
  Co-opted Governor
  Lauren O'Keefe

  I am a co-opted governor at Birchwood Nursery School, having joined the Governing board in May 2023.

  I have a wide range of knowledge within early years, having attained my Level 3 Diploma in Childcare and Education whilst working and volunteering for both Hatfield and Welwyn Garden City schools. I am eager to broaden my knowledge and understanding whilst governing to continue having a positive impact on all the children who attend both the Preschool and Nursery at Birchwood.

  Aside from being a governor, I adore spending time with my little boy, baking cakes and pursuing a personalisation business.

  ,

• Dharm Stezaly
  Co-opted Governor
  Dharm Stezaly

The Role of the Governing Body

The governing body provides strategic leadership and accountability. It is responsible for setting the school's vision and strategic direction, overseeing finances, and holding the headteacher to account for educational performance. Collectively, governors are responsible for key decisions like approving the budget and appointing senior leaders, but they do not get involved in the day-to-day management of the school - this is the headteacher's role.

Core governing body responsibilities include:

• Clearly defining the vision, ethos and strategic direction of the school.
• Supporting and challenging the headteacher and senior leadership team.
• Ensuring accountability in all aspects of the school’s performance to ensure every pupil has the best possible education.
• Approving the budget, overseeing the financial performance of the school and making sure its money is well spent.
• Monitoring safeguarding, inclusion, and wellbeing across the school.
• Approving and monitoring the impact of school policies
• Promoting high standards of education and care in line with the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) and local authority expectations.

The governing body may also be called upon to consider complaints from parents, in accordance with the school’s Complaints Policy. 

Contacting the Governing Body

Parents are welcome to contact the Chair of Governors by letter c/o the school office or by email jcahill@birchwoodnursery.herts.sch.uk

Please note, however, that governors will not get involved in individual pupil matters or queries relating to the day-to-day running of the school. If you have queries of this nature, you should contact the child's key person or a member of the leadership team, as appropriate.

Register of Interests

Governors are required to declare any relevant business, financial or pecuniary interests that they have including governance roles in other institutions and any material interests arising from relationships between governors and school staff, including spouses, partners and close relatives. 

The register of such interests can be found below:

Governor Register of Interests

Other Governor Information

Additional information about governors, including those who have left in the last 12 months, can be found below. This includes the date they were appointed, their current term of office, who appointed them and their attendance at Full Governing Body meetings.