Governors
Welcome to our Governors’ Page
Thank you for your interest in finding out more about the governance of St. Giles. Below you will find out a little more about the Governing Body, including how we are structured, along with the names of our governors, categories, responsibilities and terms of appointment.
Our governing body is made up of a group of volunteers; including staff, parents, a local authority and foundation governors. We receive training and support so that we can effectively participate in the strategic leadership of the school.
Governors have three main roles:
- Strategic: Governors are involved in the school development and improvement planning process, allocating resources and in considering the direction, aims and values of the school governors. The governing body’s focus is on raising the achievement of all pupils. Governors help to set and regularly review all school policies (e.g. homework, special educational needs) and seek to ensure that the school meets its targets.
- Critical friend: Governors monitor and evaluate progress in the school.
- Accountability: The governing body must account to the whole school community for the performance of the school, the educational standards it achieves and the quality of education it provides.
We volunteer for these important roles because we care deeply about the wellbeing and education of the children at our school. We want to ensure that the school provides the best standard of care and education for our children, as well as complying with the school's statutory duties.
We are elected to four-year terms of office and during that time we are committed to attending regular meetings, visiting the school, taking an active role in school improvement and recruiting and supporting and challenging senior leaders.
As a governing body we welcome your views and feedback. If you would like to find out more about us or have anything you would like to share with us, please contact the Chair of Governors through via the school office.
Governing Body Membership 2024-25
| Name | Category | Appointed |
Responsibilities | Declaration of Interests | Attendance 2024/25 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Mark Pipe | Headteacher | 01/01/2023 | Ex-Officio | None Declared | 5/5 |
| Mary Butcher | Co-Chair of Governors
| 8/1/2025 | Co-Chair of Governors Science Link Governor | None Declared | 2/2 |
| Elaine Hartland | Co-Chair of Governors | 28/1/2024 | Co-Chair of Governors Maths Link Governor | None Declared | 4/5 |
| Rev Philip Green | Foundation Diocesan Board of Education | 20/11/2020 | None Declared | 4/5 | |
| Jacqueline Martin | Foundation Diocese Board of Education | 01/2/2023 | Co-Vice Chair Safeguarding and CLA Governor SEND Link Governor | Trustee of Joan Badger Trust | 4/5 |
| Jane Canton | Foundation (PCC) | 1/9/2024 | English Link Governor | None declared | 5/5 |
| Vacancy | Foundation (PCC) | ||||
| Vacancy | Foundation (PCC) | ||||
| Vacancy | Foundation (PCC) | ||||
| Shira Daniels | Vice-Chair Parent Governor | 19/05/2022 | Co-Vice Chair | Three children at the school | 4/5 |
| Kelly Carty | Parent Governor | 11/10/2022 | Heath and Safety Link Governor | Three children at the school | 5/5 |
| Natalie Dowdall | Staff Governor | 31/3/2023 | Deputy Headteacher | None Declared | 5/5 |
Governor Biographies
Mr Mark Pipe
Experienced senior leader and headteacher with experience across the state and independent sectors.
Mrs Natalie Dowdall
Deputy Headteacher with many years experience working in education, having worked at St Giles for the past 6 years. Mrs Dowdall returned from maternity leave in April 2023 after the birth of her son.
Miss Kelly Carty
Mum of four boys, three of whom still attend St. Giles.
Mrs Shira Daniels
Mum of three children, all of whom currently attend St. Giles.
After over 10 years as a graphic designer I have dedicated the last five years to being a full time parent and house keeper, as well as running cookery workshops and selling my food products. Coming from a completely different background and education system, I bring a fresh attitude of social responsibility and a drive to involve the parents and the community in supporting the school. I believe a village school should reflect its surroundings and atmosphere in the curriculum and in the school's daily routine and strive to being stability and a good communication stream between the school and the parents.
As a local resident I enjoy spending time with my husband Jon and our three children Sam, Maya and Ben, walking in the fields and cycling the paths. I am passionate about nutrition, natural health, reading and knitting.
Rev Philip Green
Foundation Governor appointed by the Diocesan Board.
I’ve been at St Peter’s Church in London Colney since being ordained in June 2014. I serve as a Self-Supporting Minister, which means that I combine my work as a parish priest alongside my employment at Aldenham School near Elstree. Much of my time there is spent in my role of heading up the Safeguarding team, but I also act as Assistant Chaplain and teach Economics and Politics in the Sixth Form. I feel passionate about the fact that we are all “called to make a difference” in the words of the Bishop of Hertford in a recent talk he gave. I believe we all have a part to play in building the Kingdom of God, whatever role God has called us to take in the great journey of faith we are on together. I feel very fortunate in that have the opportunity to fulfil my calling by (hopefully!) making a difference both at work and in the parish. When not at St Peter’s or Aldenham, I may well be found following the progress (or lack thereof) of my beloved Stoke City, completing a parkrun or trying to keep up with the lives of my wife and daughters!
To contact our governors by email, please do so via the school office: office@stgiles.herts.sch.uk