Who are we?
A number of people form the team who act as current guardians for Chevening (St Botolph's) School. All are committed to serving the school, whether as Staff, Governors or Trustees.
School Staff
The staff team for 2022-23 is listed below. As a small team, each person fulfills a number of different roles. School staff can be contacted via the School Office: office@chevening.kent.sch.uk or 01732 452895
Senior Leaders:
Headteacher: Karen Minnis
Deputy Headteacher: Lisa McLean
Curriculum Lead: Nadeem Qureshi
Teaching & Learning Lead: Cat Edwards
Special Educational Needs & Disabilities Coordinator (SENDCo): Natasha Caisley
Designated Safeguarding Team: Karen Minnis (Lead); Lisa McLean (Deputy DSL) and Natasha Caisley
Class Teachers:
Class R: Hannah Archer
Class 1: Francesca Chiavarini
Class 2: Antonia Gawn and Alex Robinson
Class 3: Alexandra Sweeney
Class 4: Cat Edwards
Class 5: Nadeem Qureshi
Class 6: Lisa McLean and Rebecca Wilde
Teaching & Learning Support Staff:
Clare Burton
Mel Day
Liz Holdak
Bhanu Kandasamy
Lauren Lee
Sirpa Miller
Janet Pontin
Helen Qureshi
Julie Rudge
Office & Support Staff
Office Manager: Kayleigh Derby
Receptionist: Jane Phillips
Bursar: Kirsty Hallissey
Site Manager: Martin Eady
Clerk to Governors: Cathy Thewlis
Wrap-Around Care Team:
Early Morning Club (EMC): Clare Burton Sandra Rogers Adam Mitchinson
Activ8: Helen Qureshi Nicola Courtenay Sandra Rogers Liz Holdak
Governing Board
What we do:
The Governors support the Headteacher, staff, children and families who make Chevening School the special place that it is.
We oversee the school’s strategic direction and hold the school to account for its performance, educational and financial. We ensure that the vision and ethos of the school is powerful, relevant and clear and that it is reflected in all the school’s activities. We help the school to communicate effectively.
You can find us on the playground as parents and carers, at Church as Foundation Governors and at many different school and community activities and events. We welcome all feedback and input from children, parents and staff.
How we work:
Our Governing Board meets three times each year. Between times, our work is progressed through four Committees that meet on a regular basis.
Resources Committee meets every seasonal term and oversees the school’s expenditure and income and premises. Members monitor value for money between meetings.
Learning and Development Committee meets every seasonal term and focuses on the curriculum and quality of learning and school policies.
Steering Committee meets at least once each seasonal term and reviews school staffing issues and well-being, performance data and implementation of the School Improvement Plan.
The Admissions Committee meets once a year to ensure the integrity and implementation of our Admissions Policy.
Who we are:
Governor |
Role and Committee memberships |
Term of office |
Rev Hannah Adams Ex Officio |
Vice-Chair of Governing Board; |
From September 2020. No end date. |
Prue Burrlock |
Chair of Learning and Development; Admissions. |
From September 2020 until September 2024 |
Cllr Nick Chard |
Resources; Chair of Admissions.
|
From November 2020 until November 2024 |
Naomi Day Appointed by the Bishop of Rochester |
Learning and Development |
From March 2022 until March 2026 |
Alan Leaman Appointed by the Diocese of Rochester
|
Chair of Governing Board; Resources; Interim Chair of Steering. |
From November 2020 until November 2024 |
Tom Bailey Appointed by Chevening Parochial Church Council |
Learning and Development |
From March 2022 until March 2026 |
Jenny McCloskey Parent Governor elected by parents |
Learning and Development |
From October 2021 until October 2025 |
Alexandra Sweeney Staff Governor elected by staff |
Learning and Development |
From September 2022 until September 2026 |
Karen Minnis Ex officio
|
Headteacher: Resources; Learning and Development Steering. Admissions |
From October 2018. No end date. |
Zoe Pemberton Parent Governor elected by parents |
Resources |
From October 2019 until October 2023
|
Frank Simon Appointed by Chevening Parochial Church Council |
Interim Vice-Chair of Governing Board. Chair of Resources. Steering
|
From July 2021 until July 2025 |
Nigel Williams Appointed by the Diocese of Rochester |
Resources |
From March 2022 until March 2026 |
Clerk to Governors: Cathy Thewlis |
Previous members of the Governing Board in the last twelve months:
Lisa McLean elected by staff September 2018- September 2022
Selected extracts from the Governors' Statement of Strategic Priorities (2022-23)
Vision and Values:
We will embed our vision in all the work of the school and track its impact throughout the wider Chevening community.
Learning and Development:
We put the highest priority on helping all children to have the best possible educational experience at our school. Our aim is to ensure that all children at Chevening, of all abilities, can achieve their academic potential.
Resources and staffing:
We will review our expenditure and bear down on costs ... where this does not eat into essential provision.
We also aim to grow our income from other sources, such as lettings. We are looking to invest in the future of the school and the daily experience of all children.
Promoting our school:
We will be inclusive and as welcoming as possible to all applicants, whatever their background.
We will promote the school to the local community and potential applicants.
And we will listen - to parents, children, staff and the local community - to ensure that we learn from their views and experiences.
A full copy of the Governor Statement is available via the school office.
You can contact the Governors via the School Office.
School Trustees: Rev Hannah Adams, Rob Hubbard, David Lewis, Les Martin and Jackie Mullins. Trustees can be contacted via the School Office.