Our Governors
We want to take this opportunity to introduce ourselves and the role we play at Christ Church CE Primary School.
The Governing Board has an important part to play in raising school standards. We set the strategic direction for the school, ensure financial accountability and monitor and evaluate school performance. Whilst the headteacher and senior leadership team are responsible for the day-to-day running of the school, our role is often described as acting as a 'critical friend'. We provide strategic governance to ensure that all children get the best possible education, constantly challenging the school to attain the best possible performance.
We have responsibility, together with the senior leadership team, for agreeing the policies for the general running of the school. We fulfil statutory duties to ensure that the school is a safe, healthy and inclusive environment. We provide support and challenge to the senior leadership team on all issues that affect the learning and welfare of our pupils. We also have a responsibility to handle complaints, though it is important to note that individual problems should, at the outset, be directed first to your child's class teacher and then to the leadership team.
As a Voluntary Aided school, we appoint and employ all staff and we are responsible for admissions and ensuring that Religious Education and the National Curriculum are being taught properly.
The Governing Board is drawn from Foundation Governors (appointed by the PCC or Southwark Diocesan Board of Education SDBE), school staff, parents, the community that our school serves and people who have applied through - or been nominated by - the Local Authority.
If you are interested in the work we do, would like to find out more, have any questions or are interested in becoming a governor, please contact the school.
The full Governing Board meets once a term (twice in the Autumn term) and there are sub-committees dealing with Resources, Admissions, Faith and Curriculum & Standards. Once approved, the minutes of all our meetings are available from the school office.
Governing Board Membership and Appointing Bodies
The current and historical membership of the Governing Board can be viewed online via the 'Get Information About Schools' webpage which lists each governor's term of office and appointing body. Pen Portraits of our current Governing Board can also be viewed at the bottom of this page.
Christ Church CE Primary School, Surbiton - Get Information About Schools (Governance)
Governing Board Diversity Information
Diversity is important and the DfE want governing boards to be increasingly reflective of the communities they serve.
The DfE encourages schools to collect and publish governing board members' diversity data. Board members can opt out of sharing their information, including protected characteristics, at any given time and so the information in the report may not include all members of the board.
Christ Church CE Primary School, Surbiton Governing Board Diversity Report COMING SOON
Governor Roles and Committees 2025/2026
Chair of the Governing Board: John Shepherd
Co-Vice Chairs of the Governing Board: Carol Buchanan and Amanda Hawkins-McKay
Clerk of the Governing Board: Emma Lloyd-Williams
Headteacher: Elena Hough (member of all committees)
Resources Committee
Chair: Tom Hawkins-McKay
Vice Chair:
Other members: Tris Anderson (SBM adviser), Louise Morton, Nick Herod, John Shepherd
Curriculum & Standards Committee
Chair: Carol Buchanan
Vice Chair:
Other members: Amanda Hawkins-McKay, Rachel Jones, Sarah Bray, John Newell, Beth Tillyer (adviser), Naomi Ascroft-Leigh (adviser)
Faith Committee
Chair: John Shepherd
Vice Chair:
Other members: Amanda Hawkins-McKay, John Newell, Naomi Ascroft-Leigh (adviser), Kate Kim (adviser)
Admissions Committee
Chair: Amanda Hawkins-McKay
Vice Chair: Carol Buchanan
Other members: Tris Anderson (SBM adviser), Louise Morton, John Shepherd
Governing Board Terms of Reference, Declarations of Interest and Record of Attendance
Terms of Reference
Curriculum & Standards Committee
Record of Attendance 2025/2026
Archive Attendance / Declarations of Interest
Declarations of Interest 2023/2024Attendance 2021/2022 and 2022/2023
Governor Pen Portraits
Please click on the photos below for more information about our governors.
Governors (ID 1281)
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Rev. John ShepherdChair of Governing Board & Ex-Officio Governor
Rev. John Shepherd
I joined the Governing Board at Christ Church School as the new Vicar of Christ Church Surbiton Hill in September 2021. I have been involved in ministry in London, Manchester, NE Brazil and Chesham and have 12 years experience as a governor at a Junior School in Buckinghamshire.
I am excited about being part of a school community where the educational, emotional and spiritual development of young people are integrated. I hope to see close links between the church and the school develop, with both serving as important community hubs in Berrylands and Surbiton, and that children and families feel welcome in the life of the church.
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Carol BuchananCo-Vice Chair of Governors & Local Authority Governor
Carol Buchanan
I have been a governor at Christ Church for a number of years. I live locally and have lived in, and worked in, the borough for thirty years.
I have recently retired after working in Education as a school advisor in Kingston and more recently in Richmond. I have also worked as an Ofsted inspector with a particular expertise in Inclusion and Special Educational Needs. As a teacher, I worked in primary and secondary schools in London.
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Amanda Hawkins-McKayCo-Vice Chair of Governors & Foundation Governor
Amanda Hawkins-McKay
I am the previous owner of a boutique business, which involved leading all aspects of the organisation, including strategy and client-facing teams. These teams provided recruitment and consultancy solutions to investment management organisations.
I started my career working for a start-up technology recruiter before moving to a global company where I developed capabilities exclusively for the investment management industry.
In 2013, I joined a leading management consultancy to take responsibility for client projects, partnerships, in addition to launching and taking responsibility for the group's specialist recruitment business.
More recently, I have been involved in voluntary work, which has included producing and delivering sessions to groups of young people from disadvantaged backgrounds in secondary schools, mentoring young women starting careers within investment management, and delivering sessions for a social mobility promoter looking to support young people getting involved in financial services via apprenticeship programmes.
As well as being a member of the Christ Church community, I have a child at Christ Church School and look forward to contributing all I can to support the school.
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Emma Lloyd WilliamsClerk to the Governing Board
Emma Lloyd Williams
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Sarah BrayStaff Governor
Sarah Bray
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Robert DunnFoundation Governor
Robert Dunn
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Thomas Hawkins-McKayFoundation Governor
Thomas Hawkins-McKay
I am Head of Data Analytics at a niche consultancy and I am a qualified management accountant specialising in data analytics and data science.
I began my career in the finance division of a boutique private bank and I am a transformation and change management specialist delivering business-critical projects for many leading global financial institutions.
I joined the Governing Board in 2023 and currently chair the Resources Committee.
I have lived in the London area for many years and settled in Surbiton 10 years ago. I have one daughter at Christ Church and I look forward to contributing all I can to the school and its community in the coming years.
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Nick HerodParent Governor
Nick Herod
I qualified as a Chartered Accountant with Ernst & Young in Manchester and have since worked in a number of industries including technology, publishing, insurance and not-for-profits. Since 2013, I have been Chief Financial Officer at a children's mental health charity where I have responsibility for finance, legal, compliance, property, technology and data.
I volunteered for over ten years for a charity providing residential holidays for children with disabilities and behavioural issues.
I have lived in Surbiton since 2020 and I have two daughters at Christ Church.
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Elena HoughHeadteacher & Ex-Officio Governor
Elena Hough
I have been the headteacher at Christ Church CE Primary School since September 2023. Prior to joining the Christ Church family, I spent 17 years at a school in Hammersmith & Fulham. I have had experience teaching across the key stages, leading on the curriculum and I was the Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator for several years. I am passionate about inclusion of all learners and developing a broad, balanced and enriching curriculum learning from evidence-based research. I am also passionate about supporting colleagues at all stages of their careers but especially in the early stages. I enjoy working with governors in setting the strategic direction of the school and having the opportunity to celebrate the successes of the school.
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Rachel JonesFoundation Governor
Rachel Jones
My professional background is as a primary school teacher. Although not in post currently, I have over 20 years experience across key stages, curriculum areas and in senior leadership. I now provide consultancy input for Local Authorities and Regional Adoption Agencies primarily related to post-adoption support.
As of September 2023, I have two children attending Christ Church Primary School (one in Year 6 and the other in Year 1). I am a committed member of Christ Church, Surbiton Hill and have been for well over a decade.
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Amy KimbangiFoundation Governor
Amy Kimbangi
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Louise MortonParent Governor
Louise Morton
I have lived in Surbiton for over 10 years now, having settled here when I met my husband. We have one son who attends Christ Church and we love the community of the school.
I was elected as Parent Governor in 2023 and would like to use my skills and experience to support the school during my son's time there, and to give back to the community we live in.
My mother was a secondary school teacher at my school when I was growing up, so I am familiar with the challenges and 'behind the scenes' world of teaching. I also studied child development as part of my psychology degree. I have worked with young children for years, in mentoring roles and on children's camps and I understand how important a well-rounded early years education is in setting children up for their future lives.
I have worked in various communications and marketing roles over the last 20 years and currently work for Surrey County Council as a senior communications manager.
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John NewellFoundation Governor
John Newell
Recently retired, I spent ten years working in the City and almost thirty years as a secondary school teacher. As an educator I will seek to bring a different type of teacher's perspective to the governing body.
As a parent with all three of my boys having gone through the school, I can bring my experience of navigating these crucial years at CCPS, with my family.
Finally, as a member of a local church and a foundation governor I understand the vital need to both protect and promote the Gospel in schools.