Our Governors

At Hazelwood Schools, our Governors are members of the local community who wish to make a positive contribution to our children’s education. The Governing Body's role is strategic. Governors are not expected to be involved in the day-to-day management of the Schools. The Headteacher has responsibility for the internal organisation, management and control of the Schools and for implementation of the strategic framework established by the Governing Body.

The Governing Body works in partnership with the Headteacher and the Senior Leadership Team, acting as 'critical friends'. The Governing Body has a role to support and challenge the work of the Schools. School Governors contribute to the work of the Governing Body in ensuring high standards of achievement and progress by all children in the School by:

setting the Schools’ vision, ethos and strategic direction;
holding the Headteacher to account for the education performance of the Schools and the children;
Overseeing the financial performance of the Schools and making sure its money is well spent.

Almost anyone can become a School Governor. Governors can join the Governing body in five ways:

As Local Authority governors – nominated by local political parties: bringing local community accountability perspectives
As Parent governors – elected by parental ballot: with a key role to reflect the perspective of parents and the local community but also bringing their skills and experience to governance
As Co-opted Governors – by nomination and invitation: bringing a particular skill or area of expertise to the governing body
As Staff governor – elected by staff ballot: bringing the views perspective of teaching and support staff
As Associated governor – by nomination and invitation: bringing a particular skill or area of expertise to the governing body

The period of appointment is typically four years. All new governors receive training and support from the School, the Local Authority and their fellow governors. If you are interested in assisting the School in this way, please ask the School Office for further details.

Please find below details of how our Governing Body is structured, including the names, categories and responsibilities of our Governors.

GOVERNORS’ PROFILES

Tony Burton

Governor Type: Co-opted Governor
End of Term of Office: March 2026
Committee: Chair of RES

I am Tony Burton and I have been a Co-opted Governor since July 2018.

I am Chair of the Resources Committee and member of the Budget Working Group.

In addition to my role on the governing body, I also enjoy the community at Hazelwood schools. My children have also benefited hugely from all that Hazelwood has to offer.

I am a qualified accountant with experience of financial management, planning and education finance.

Louisa Constanti

Governor Type: Co-opted Governor
End of Term of Office: March 2025
Committee: RES

I’m Louisa Constanti and I have been a Co-opted Governor since March 2021.

I have been part of Hazelwood community since 2015 when my son joined the school. Both my children are currently in Hazelwood Schools. In my professional life I am an HR leader with specialisms in project management, and strategy.

Emma Cooper (she/her)

Governor Type: Co-opted Governor
End of Term of Office: March 2026
Committee: Chair of LTS and RES

I have been a Governor at Hazelwood for just over four years. My own children (who are now in secondary school) attended Hazelwood and they enjoyed the learning and extra-curricular activities offered. We loved the sense of community at Hazelwood and the creative way children are taught and the experiences a Hazelwood education offers to the children in their care. I have been a teacher for over 20 years and fully believe in the power of good education to change lives. I have particular interest in the Early Years Foundation Stage, Speech and Language, Phonics and Early literacy, SEND/Inclusion and, of course, Teaching and Learning.

Helen Hattersley (she/her)

Governor Type: Co-opted Governor
End of Term of Office: May 2024
Committee: LTS

Responsibility for Safeguarding and a member of the Learning, Teaching and Standards committee.

I have been involved with primary education since the mid 1980s and am now retired from the profession.

My son attended Hazelwood Schools and is now at University studying Politics.

I know how important a good primary school education can be to a child.

It is a privilege to be able to support my local school and ensure, along with the staff and other governors, that Hazelwood Schools provide an excellent start to the children’s experience of education.

Emma Kolaru

Governor Type: Co-opted Governor
End of Term of Office: April 2027
Committee: RES

I have long experience of working in both the creative and not-for-profit sectors with specialisms in project management and stakeholder / community engagement. I currently work for a mental health charity which funds treatments, support, and faster diagnoses for everyone affected by mental illness.

As a parent of 3 boys, and having managed an Enfield-based education charity for over 9 years, I have a solid understanding of schools’ priorities through both an internal and external lens.

I have a particular interest in ensuring the school is creating an inclusive culture, that resources are being used effectively and efficiently and importantly, contributing towards effective governance and success of the school.

Pani Matsangos (he/him)

Governor Type: Co-opted Governor
End of Term of Office: March 2025
Committee: LTS

I currently have 2 children at Hazelwood Schools and my youngest joined in September 2021. I have had an immensely rewarding and enjoyable career as a teacher for 14 years and am currently a senior leader at an Outstanding secondary school.

Zoe Michel (she/her)

Governor Type: Elected Staff Governor
End of Term of Office: November 2024
Committee: LTS

Sarah Naughton (Chair of the Governing Body) (she/her)

Governor Type: Co-opted Governor
End of Term of Office: December 2023
Committee: LTS

I have been on the Governing Body since December 2019, initially as an elected Parent Governor, and then as co-opted Chair of Governors in September 2023. I have 3 children (2 of them still at Hazelwood) and I love being a part of the thriving school community here.

I have been a primary school teacher for nearly 25 years (most of them in London) and am currently a Year 3 class teacher and RSHE lead at a school in Tottenham.

Josh Newham (he/him)

Governor Type: Headteacher – Ex-officio
End of Term of Office: Ex Officio
Committee: All Committees

Tatiana Okorie

Governor Type: Co-opted Governor
End of Term of Office: March 2025
Committee: RES

My name is Tatiana and I have been a Co-opted Governor since March 2021. I have a child at Hazelwood school. I am interested in the development of the school, the surrounding area and any positive impact we can have on lives of the children and families who live in Palmers Green, to help the community thrive.

I am a Creative Director and appreciate the thought and time that the school puts into encouraging creativity and expression.

Harriet Potemkin (Co-Vice Chair) (she/her)

Governor Type: Elected Parent Governor
End of Term of Office: April 2026
Committee: LTS

I have lived in Palmers Green since 2015, and have two children at Hazelwood Schools. My professional experience includes over ten years working in policy and strategy in local government; covering a wide range of policy areas which impact on the lives of children and young people. I am particularly interested in developing how schools can provide an inclusive education for children with special educational needs and disabilities; developing partnerships and projects to improve literacy; and supporting schools to respond to the climate crisis and improve child health.

Ashley Venn (Co-Vice Chair)

Governor Type: Local Authority Governor
End of Term of Office: October 2024
Committee: RES

I’ve lived in Palmers Green since 2015 having grown up and lived in Kent beforehand. I work in the city where I oversee the cyber security function for a bank.

As a parent, I understand the importance to a child’s education. I became a governor because I have a passion for education and enjoy being active in the community. My hope is, that in my own way, I can make a positive contribution. I am currently a member of the Resources Committee and lead governor for GDPR.

Louise McNamara - Clerk to the governing body

Louise McNamara
Clerk to the Governing Body

We are very fortunate that senior leaders at Hazelwood Schools attend our full Governing Body meetings and Sub-Committees and engage with Governors on strategic and accountability matters.

In addition, we invite school staff to make presentations at our meetings to support our understanding of key aspects of their work when we are discussing a particular topic such as the curriculum or provision for children with special educational needs.

The more our Governors know and understand about the Schools, the more they are able to support and challenge to secure improvements.

The Governing Body has responsibility for both the Nursery, Infant and Junior schools as part of the ‘Federation’ arrangement.

The Full Governing Body meetings take place four times a year. The key focus is to support the strategic direction of the school and monitor the educational progress of the school and its financial performance.

We have two sub-committees - Learning Teaching & Standards (LTS) and Resources (RES) - and Strategic Groups as appropriate. Each Committee has Terms of Reference which are renewed at the start of the school year and Cycles of Work which describe the priorities for the year and the range of activities to be undertaken, including visits to the school.

If you would like to contact a member of the Governing Body, you can use the contact form at the bottom of the page. Alternatively, please email the school office and it will be passed on as appropriate.