Governors

The Local Governing Body meets each term. They carry out the responsibilities of the Governing Body throughout the year.
 
For information about the Poppy Hill CMAT Members and Poppy Hill Portfolio Directors please visit www.poppyhill.org.uk 
 
Members of the Governing Body can be contacted via info@henlowacademy.org.uk or by writing to Henlow Academy, Church Road, Henlow, Beds, SG16 6AN

Mr Jordan Robbins

Parent Governor/Chairperson

I have recently been appointed as Parent Governor and have a strong connection with the Meppershall Academy as my daughter currently attends and I attended myself during the nineties. I am passionate about supporting the development of the Academy, its pupils and the Local Community.

I am a qualified Quantity Surveyor and have worked within the Construction Industry since 2009, more recently I have commenced the role of Contracts Manager, where I lead teams in delivering projects in a safe, timely manner and to high quality, whilst ensuring commercial and legal compliance. The experience I have gained to date and skill set surrounding critical thinking and problem solving, will support the Governing Board in the strategic development of the Academy and raise the standards of achievement.

Mrs N Cooper

Henlow Staff Governor

I am excited and proud to be on the Local Governing Body, I have a strong background of working as a School Governor. I have been a staff governor in another school I previously worked at and more recently was on the Governing Body of one of our feeder schools for almost ten years. During that time, I was Chair of Governors for five years. This was an excellent opportunity to work as part of a team with different people and stakeholders, it was thoroughly rewarding and enjoyable. It gave me a working insight of the everyday, medium and long term challenges and opportunities facing our schools.

I have been Head of Geography in three schools and have taught Geography and Business at GCSE and A- Level. I have also had a pastoral management role as Assistant Key Stage Three manager in a large Secondary school in Buckinghamshire. I currently enjoy my role as a Key Stage 3 Form Tutor at Henlow.

I also have some business management experience, having been a partner in a small company for ten years. This, along with my previous governance experience helps to give me a wider perspective and understanding of school strategy and direction.

Rev P Critchley

Trustee Elected

I qualified as a secondary school English teacher in 1970.I Taught in schools in Basildon, Harlow, Middlesbrough and Reading before taking a career break to bring up my children.
By the time I returned to teaching I was living in Bedfordshire and joined the staff of Samuel Whitbread Community College. During this time I was involved with middle school liaison with Henlow Middle School.
In 2003 I retired from teaching and trained as an Anglican priest. I was ordained in 2007 and became curate in the benefice of Meppershall and Shefford.

I became a governor of Meppershall lower school in November of that year. In 2010 I became curate in the benefice of Henlow and Langford, ceased my governorship of Meppershall, and became a church foundation governor of Henlow Academy. I bring knowledge of the schools in this area from my teaching career.

My main concern as a church governor is to be involved in upholding the Christian ethos of the school. I have the ability to be involved in the taking of Church services and assemblies if required. I believe that my main function is to support the teaching and ancillary staff at the school and to make sure that the community is aware of the unique position of the school in being able to provide parents with choice when it comes to providing a Christian education which is fully inclusive of all faiths.

Mr Anthony Grieveson

Meppershall Parent Governor

I qualified as a Diagnostic Radiographer in 2007 and worked in the NHS for 8 years. Since then I have worked in the medical device industry working with consultants across Europe, the Middle East and Africa to provide custom made solutions to complex aortic disease. For the past 3 years I have worked in a Team leadership role in this setting I've been able to develop my critical thinking and strategic skills whilst we've created a team where we're continually seeking improvement and developing a growth mentality. Problem solving and challenging conversations are a routine part of my day and I look to bring this skill-set to the Governor role.

I am originally from the North East of England, though I have made my way through the North West and the South Coast before settling in the region. Both of my children currently attend, and are very happy at, Meppershall Academy.

My aims in the role are to support the trust on their improvement pathway and to ensure the best outcomes are achieved for all stakeholders as the two tier system is introduced, providing a viewpoint from outside of the education system.

Mrs A Parsons

Trustee Elected

I have been involved in education all my life principally as a teacher of Science and Mathematics. I started my career as an upper primary teacher in Hitchin and after a maternity break returned to teaching Science GCSE , again in Hertfordshire. However after a second maternity break I taught in Henlow Middle School part time before moving to full time at Etonbury teaching Science and Maths in both establishments. Over the years of teaching I developed a particular interest and enjoyment in special needs students and therefore spent the last years of my career at a local Special School. I was involved in the KS4 department with a wide spread of ability within each class ranging from an academic ability of Entry Level to students who gained a good GCSE grade C in Maths and /or Science. I held management posts at both traditional and specialist schools.


My husband’s family have been involved in Meppershall School for over one hundred years. All my sons attended there and I was a parent volunteer in Reception/Year 1 where I learnt useful tips from the very experienced teacher in that class. My husband was Chair of Governors for some years whilst our children were there. On my retirement from teaching in 2013 I felt I wanted to continue contributing in education. Therefore supporting our local school as a governor seemed a logical step in gratitude for all that the school had given to our sons.
I believe that my varied experience across nearly all phases of education will be an area of strength as Central Bedfordshire changes the age ranges within educational institutions particularly with reference to Meppershall extending to upper KS2.
I am also involved in the local community in particular as PCC Secretary and I have served on the PCC for many years. I have very much enjoyed being part of the Sparks Holiday Club involving in a relaxed setting many of the local children.
I am looking forward to working together in the Poppy Hill MAT with new opportunities and horizons for all students and staff. It is going to be an exciting time.

Mr Gavin Watkinson

Henlow Parent Governor

I'm a new parent governor and am excited to help out in anyway I can. I've previously been on the Meppershall Preschool committee and was chair of the committee at the start of the pandemic, I learnt lots about dealing with staff and helping children in my time on this committee. My daughter went to Henlow a few years ago and my son is currently at Meppershall Academy. I'm a software engineer and have worked in this sector for other 30 years, having started before the internet took off and worked alongside it's growth.

Mrs J Mitchell

Meppershall Staff Governor

Mr K Callard

Trustee Elected