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; Chair of Steering.	From September 2020. No end date.
Prue Burrlock Appointed by St Botolph’s Church Council	Chair of Learning and Development; Steering. Admissions.	From September 2020 until September 2024
Cllr Nick Chard Appointed by Kent County Council	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.