John Betts Governing Body

Chair’s Introduction

The governors work with the Head and staff to pursue the school’s core values which have persisted since its foundation by Dr John Betts: happy children, equality of opportunity, educational excellence, and service to others.

We focus on three strategic functions and are responsible for the school’s vision and ethos and its strategic direction; for overseeing the financial performance of the school and making sure its money is well spent; and for holding the Headteacher to account for the school’s educational performance. This is done through four committees:

• Admissions
• Curriculum and Children
• Pay and Performance
• Resources

The minutes of governing body meetings, once ratified, are available upon request.

In addition, as a non-denominational voluntary-aided school, we ensure that the school’s founding ethos is maintained; we employ the staff and we are responsible, working together with the Trust, for maintaining and utilising the school’s buildings. 

We want every child here to be happy and successful and enjoy school. We are always pleased to hear comments and suggestions from parents, and you can contact the governing body via the school office.

Sophy Doyle

Chair of Governors

chair@johnbetts.lbhf.sch.uk 

Governor Portraits

Governors at John Betts come from various backgrounds. They are volunteers and attend regular meetings of the Governing Body as well as committees related to the school’s resources, staffing, and curriculum. Governors are appointed or elected for the skills and experience they bring to the core functions of the Board - strategy, scrutiny, and support.

Some governors are current parents (maybe you will recognise them in these pictures!), whereas others may have no primary aged children but regularly attend our school events. All governors share the school’s ethos, vision, and values, and are proud to be part of the John Betts community.

Sophy Doyle – Parent Governor

Chair of the Governing Board

I am a Year 6 parent at John Betts with a professional background in Human Resources. I have worked as an HR Director for many years across a variety of businesses. As an HR generalist, operating at a senior level, I have had extensive experience across a full spectrum of responsibilities in both strategic and operational HR. In addition to being a Governor of John Betts, I am a trustee of a charity which supports families in need.

Adrian Butler – Local Authority Governor

I am a Hammersmith & Fulham resident of almost 20 years and a CIMA qualified finance professional with over 20 years’ experience in the education, not for profit and corporate sectors. 

I enjoy working with people and organisations to help them plan and think strategically about their futures.

Cathy Carney – Foundation Governor

Chair of the Admissions Committee

I had two children who attended John Betts School and have lived nearby for many years. I have worked for the BBC for twenty years, producing children's programmes and more recently as an advisor on editorial policy.

Sara Chiappara – Foundation Governor

Chair of the Curriculum Committee

I am a year 6 parent and parent of a year 10 child who previously attended John Betts. I specialise in book and multimedia publishing and am currently a translator and a freelance editor of textbooks for secondary-school-aged children.

Aidan Coburn – Foundation Governor 

I have an MA (Cantab) in Music from Cambridge and completed a Post Graduate Vocal Course (MMus and MPerf) at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama (GSMD) where I was a Teaching Fellow. I also have a Graduate Diploma in Law from The City Law School. I qualified with QTS through the Graduate Teacher Programme and first started teaching 12 years ago. From 2018 to 2022 I worked at John Betts as a music specialist teacher. 

Sarah Collinson – Staff Governor 

I joined John Betts as a Year 5 teacher in 2020. I have been working in education for over 10 years across Hammersmith & Fulham, Kensington & Chelsea and Ealing. Previously, I worked in Project Management and Management Consultancy for the Arts and Transport Sector. 

Vivek Kumar – Foundation Governor 

I am a barrister who has lived in the borough for nearly 30 years. I specialise in public law and human rights working for the UK Government and a charity promoting the rule of law in Myanmar/Burma.

Jessica Mair –Head Teacher and Governor 

In April 2015 I joined John Betts as Headteacher. Prior to this, I was Deputy Headteacher of Queen’s Manor School, as well as Head of their SEND Unit. My experience includes being Deputy Head at San Andres School in Buenos Aires Argentina. I started my teaching career in 2000 and have taught and worked in a number of schools across London including City of London, Westminster, and Kensington & Chelsea. As Headteacher, I am a member of all the committees on the board. Our governing body are dynamic and progressive and I enjoy working alongside them all to plan strategically the future of John Betts and the best outcomes for all children.

Dave McNamara  - Foundation Governor

Vice Chair of the Governing Board

I have worked in Local Government finance for 30 years, specialising in schools finance. I was the Director of Finance for Children’s Services at LBHF until 2018 and since then have been involved as a governor at six local schools.

Janet Moffat – Foundation Governor 
I have worked in education for over 40 years. I was a primary headteacher in Hammersmith for 18 years and since 2012 have worked for several Local education authorities as a School Improvement Advisor. My primary role is helping school leaders and staff improve learning and teaching practices on order to secure the best possible outcomes for all their pupils.

Nanda Ray – Foundation Governor 

I am a Year 6 John Betts parent and I also have a Year 8 child in another local school. I have spent most of my career working in domestic and international policy and strategy both in Government and wider. As part of the governing board, I feel privileged to be in a position to support the amazing work John Betts school does and to help it to grow and strengthen to face future challenges.

Tom Shepherd – Parent Governor 

Chair of the Resources Committee
I am a barrister and part-time Circuit Judge (Recorder) specialising in commercial litigation, restructuring/insolvency and professional liability. I previously taught law at the University of Bristol and was heavily involved in the University’s outreach and widening participation programmes. I have two children at John Betts (Year 2 and Year 5) and have thoroughly enjoyed getting involved with our exceptional school and superb parent community.