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Governing Body

Chair of Governors: Dr Jokie Bakker

If you wish to contact the Chair of Governors, please address your letter to:-

Dr Jokie Bakker, Chair of Governors, c/o The Commonweal School, The Mall, Swindon, SN1 4JE.

The school will ensure your letter is passed on in a timely fashion.

Governance Professional (Clerk): Mrs Liz Daryan

If you wish to contact the Governance Professional (Clerk), please address your letter to:-

Mrs Liz Daryan, Governance Professional (Clerk), c/o The Commonweal School, The Mall, Swindon, SN1 4JE.

Appointed Governors

  • Dr Jokie Bakker (Chair of Governors) – attends Full Governing Body, CCG, Curriculum, Finance and Planning and PAWS Committee – re-appointed 31/12/2021
  • Mr David Mason (Chair of Curriculum Committee) – attends Full Governing Body, CCG and Curriculum Committee – appointed 31/12/2023
  • Mr Grev Parmenter (Vice Chair of Governors and Temporary Chair of PAWS Committee) – attends Full Governing Body, CCG and PAWS Committee – re-appointed 1/1/2022
  • Mr Neil Williamson (Chair of Finance and Planning Committee) – attends Full Governing Body, CCG and Finance and Planning Committee – appointed 09/10/2023
  • Mrs Florence Leroy – attends Full Governing Body and PAWS Committee – re-appointed 17/05/2024
  • Mr Ali Aram – attends Full Governing Body and Curriculum Committee – re-appointed 31/08/2024
  • Mr Tony Forsythe (Vice Chair of Governors) – attends Full Governing Body, CCG and Curriculum Committee – re-appointed 02/02/2026
  • Mrs Amy Pearce – appointed 02/02/2026

Parent Governors

  • Mrs Helen Burch – (Vice Chair of Curriculum Committee) – attends Full Governing Body and Curriculum Committee – appointed 12/12/2022
  • Mrs Mirella Ibrahimovic – attends Full Governing Body and Finance and Planning Committee – appointed 12/12/2022
  • Mr Nigel Green – (Vice Chair of Finance and Planning Committee) attends Full Governing Body and Finance and Planning Committee – appointed 09/12/2024
  • Mrs Sam Heron-Taylor – attends Full Governing Body and Finance and Planning Committee – appointed 03/02/2025
  • Ms Hayley Jackson – (Vice Chair of PAWS Committee) attends Full Governing Body and PAWS Committee – appointed 14/07/2025

Staff Governors

  • Mr Charles Drew (Headteacher) – attends Full Governing Body, CCG, Curriculum, Finance and Planning and PAWS Committee – appointed 1/9/2021
  • Mrs Sarah Moore – attends Full Governing Body, and Curriculum Committee – appointed 12/12/2023
  • Mrs Esme Balance – attends Full Governing Body, and Finance and Planning Committee – appointed 09/12/2024

Staff in attendance at governors meetings

  • Mr Nick Bartlett (Deputy Headteacher – Curriculum)
  • Mrs Ali Merk (Deputy Headteacher – Student Support)
  • Mrs Lottie Cox (Deputy Head – Operations)
  • Mr James Woods (Assistant Headteacher – Student Support)
  • Mrs Maz Drew (Assistant Headteacher – Student Support – Designated Safeguarding Lead)
  • Mr James Matcham (Assistant Headteacher – Curriculum – C6)
  • Mr Paul Battye (Assistant Headteacher – Curriculum)
  • Mrs Emma Hill (Head of Finance and Payroll)

Link Governors

  • Mr Grev Parmenter – Sixth Form
  • Dr Jokie Baker – Looked After Children (LAC)
  • Mrs Amy Pearce – E-Safety (Filtering & Monitoring)

All governors, except staff governors, are trustees and members of the Governing Body

Staff governors are trustees of the Governing Body

Ex-Governors

  • Dr Mari Williams – resigned 31st December 2016
  • Mr Julian Pinn – resigned 10th May 2017
  • Mr Paul Clarke – resigned 22nd May 2017
  • Mr Keith Defter – resigned 31st August 2017
  • Mrs Justine Evans – resigned 16th October 2017
  • Ms Lucy Whetman – resigned 24th September 2019
  • Miss Angela Edwards – resigned 14th May 2018
  • Mrs Alexandra Martin – resigned 6th September 2019
  • Ms Lucy Whetman – resigned 24th September 2019
  • Mr Jay Bourne – resigned 4th October 2019
  • Mr David Skinner – resigned 11th February 2020
  • Mrs Deb Wilson – resigned 24th September 2020
  • Mr Robert Linnegar – retired 31st August 2021
  • Mr Nick Weaver – resigned 8th November 2021
  • Mrs Wendy Butcher – resigned 6th December 2021
  • Mr Gurcan Fidan – resigned 20th July 2022
  • Mr Nick Ware – resigned 31st August 2022
  • Ms Erica Ford – resigned 10th October 2022
  • Ms Joyce Birnie – attends Full Governing Body and Curriculum Committee – resigned 23rd May 2023
  • Mrs Anna Tuersley – attends Full Governing Body and PAWS Committee – resigned December 2023
  • Mrs Simone Franklin – attends Full Governing Body and PAWS Committee – resigned 12/04/2023
  • Ms Genny Williams – attends Full Governing Body and Curriculum Committee – resigned 31/08/2024
  • Mr Axel Remoiville – attends Full Governing Body and Finance and Planning Committee – resigned 31/12/2024
  • Mrs Linda Peele – role ended 06/01/2025
  • Mr Phil Hutton – resigned 09/12/2024
  • Mrs Crystal Clifford-Budden – resigned 31/10/2025
  • Miss Megan Watts – resigned 03/12/2025
  • Mr Francis George – resigned 26/01/2026