Governors
Welcome to our Governors’ section.
Please find below details of how our Governing body is structured, including the names, categories, responsibilities and terms of appointment for each Governor.
A very warm welcome from the Governors of Newberries Primary School.
The role of the Governing Body is a strategic one and by working closely with the Headteachers and their senior leadership team, we aim to ensure that the school is providing the best possible education and standards for its pupils, as well as financial management. The Governors, who are all volunteers, bring a diversity of knowledge, skills and experience and act as a ‘critical friend’ to the Headteachers by asking questions and providing support and strategic guidance. Our key responsibilities are to:
- Ensure clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction;
- Hold executive leaders to account for the educational performance of the school and its pupils, and the performance management of staff; and
- Oversee the financial performance of the school and making sure its money is well spent.
The full Governing Body convenes three times a year and the three main sub-committees: Resources & Finance, Curriculum and Personnel meet at least termly.
The Governors are all passionate about education and committed to ensuring that Newberries maintains its high standards and continually improves to ensure the best possible outcomes. Newberries already has a fantastic reputation and one that we wish to see continue for years to come.
If you wish to contact the Governing Board you can do so by emailing the Chair of Governors:
If you want to find out more about school governance, you can read the Governance Handbook, published by the Department of Education and available on the gov.uk website.
We will be very happy to hear from you.
About our Governors
Lewis Myers (Chair of Governors)
When I decided that I wanted to be a school governor and made the application through the national Governors for Schools placement facility, I was delighted to learn that there was a vacancy at Newberries.
The local community and its culture are very important to me and Newberries is clearly a key part of the Radlett community. The size and configuration of Newberries reminds me so much of the primary school I attended growing up in Leeds.
I am a partner in the Real Estate Department of a major City law firm. I have over thirty years’ experience in property law matters. I am married with two grown up sons and live in Radlett.
I have been a governor at Newberries School since 2017
Sarah Ginsberg (Vice Chair of Governors - Interim)
I first became involved with governance eight years ago as I wanted to make contribution to Newberries School, where my children were pupils. I felt my professional background as a Speech and Language Therapist enabled me to understand the education and healthcare systems and the pressures of working within these areas. I also had experience in safeguarding and the possible impact of SEN on pupil attainment.
Governance provides the opportunity be involved in school strategy and policy decisions, which ultimately help shape the primary school experience of pupils.
The governing board is made up of volunteers with a range of skills, which help to ensure standards for governance are met, and the school is challenged but well supported so the staff can continue the excellent job of educating our children.
My children have now left Newberries for secondary school, but they were lucky to have started their educational journeys in our warm, inclusive school where they were nurtured to develop a love of learning.
Richard Finer
I have been a parent governor at Newberries since February 2017, sitting on the Resources and Finance Committee, which I co-chair.
I stood as governor to help ensure that Newberries remains the enviable community asset that it is and continues to deliver excellence in the formative years of its pupils. Both my son and daughter attended Newberries from reception, having now left for secondary school.
I am a commercial lawyer, experienced at advising businesses in both legal and strategic matters.
Neil Caplan
Co-opted Governor. Currently Chair of the Curriculum Committee.
I live locally and have previously had 2 boys at Newberries. I began as a parent governor and have recently been co-opted for a 2nd term as I was keen to continue the good work of the governing board. I am also passionate about making Newberries the best it can be, and to work with the rest of the board and Senior Leadership team to realise all our goals.
Professionally I work in IT, helping companies implement new financial software, enabling them to get the most out of their new resource by re-defining the business processes around the new system. These skills are transferrable to the school as they involve challenging the status quo and suggesting new ideas that will maximise current resources.
Josh Handel
As a former pupil of Newberries myself (many years ago), and now with a son in the school, I am delighted to have the opportunity to serve as a governor for Newberries. I bring to the board, over a decade of experience in management consulting, including skills such as process optimisation, driving cost reduction initiatives and management of large scale transformation programmes.
Iain Blakeley
I became a governor and joined Newberries governing body in order to help give every child the opportunity to achieve their full potential in a safe and positive learning environment.
I have 10 years’ experience as a school governor, and was Chair of Governors at my previous school. I am a Hertfordshire Strategic Leader of Governance supporting schools in the development of their governance practice, ensuring high-quality leadership and performance. As part of this role, I am also a mentor to Chairs and governors at other schools when required.
Jonathan Miller
I have lived in Radlett for nearly 10 years and my two daughters attend Newberries. I welcome the opportunity to be involved in setting the school’s strategic direction and am passionate about providing the best platform for our children to succeed.
For work, I am involved in analysing and recommending investment funds, to help people meet their future goals. I bring experience in leadership, inquisitiveness and data-driven decision making.