Governors
The Governors are appointed by the Dunraven Educational Trust, the charitable company and Multi Academy Trust which runs the school. The governing board has a wide range of responsibilities - clearly defined by the scheme of delegation and by law. Governors aim to support the staff team to ensure that the standards of student achievement remain high and help to steer the school's future direction. Governors are also accountable for the performance of the school to parents and the wider community.
The Dunraven School Local Governing Board (LGB) have at least 4 full meetings each academic year. Governors need to be able to prioritise their diaries to attend these meetings and our Strategic Planning Day held on a Saturday in the autumn term. Governors also need to support the school at other meetings and activities often held during school hours in term time.
Governors have to complete an enhanced DBS check before appointment and sign up to our Code of Conduct. The LGB works in partnership with the Trust Board under a Scheme of Delegation which is reviewed annually.
We are always happy to hear from anyone interested in the role of a Governor, either at Dunraven School or at one of our Trust's schools. If you would like to find out more, please contact governance@det.org.uk
Meeting minutes are available by request. If you wish to request minutes for the Local Governing Board, please email governance@det.org.uk
Meet the Governors
Mark Riddaway
Chair of the Local Governing Board
Term of office - September 2023 - September 2027
Paul Thomas
Paul worked at a large specialist Housing Association for 26 years where he was a director for the last 15 years of that time. He now runs a land management and forestry company. Paul originally joined Dunraven’s LGB as a parent governor and is now Chair of Governors and the Health & Safety link governor.
Term of Office – May 2023 - April 2027*
*Second term of office
Mel Nieuwenhuys
SEND Link
Following a successful career as a film and television editor, Mel moved into education; first as a film tutor at a drama college and currently as a Learning Support Assistant at a local primary school. Committed to child-centred comprehensive education that serves the whole local community, she considers it a privilege to be the link governor for Inclusion and Special Educational Needs and Disabilities. Mel has been a governor at DET since 2011.
Term of Office - April 2023 - April 2027*
*Second term of office
Nina Paul
Safeguarding Link
Nina is a Primary school teacher and has worked in education for 12 years both in London and internationally. She has a particular passion for improving outcomes for all children and equality in education. Having previously sat on a governing body for a Free school, Nina is now the safeguarding link governor at Dunraven. She is pleased to be supporting Dunraven and committed to help ensure all learners receive the best education.
Term of Office - November 2020 to November 2024
David Burke
David is a civil servant with a range of experience in policy and strategy, professional development, and data protection and information rights. He has worked in law enforcement, and at the Department for Education and Department of Health. He is currently working on data protection at HMRC. He was previously a Trustee at the Great North Wood Trust.
Term of Office - December 2021 to December 2025
Omena Osivwemu
Omena is a Primary School Teacher in Lewisham, having taught in EYFS, KS1 and 2 across England and internationally. She has worked as a Content Developer for an EdTech company and is studying for a Master's in Social Justice and Education at the Institute of Education. Previously a Humanities Lead and consultant for educational publishers such as Pearson, Omena is passionate about diversity, equity and inclusion in education. She will bring her commitment to social justice, experience and knowledge to help ensure the best school experience for all children at Dunraven School.
Term of Office - May 2022 - May 2026
ALISON ISMAIL
Parent Governor
Alison Ismail is a Parent Governor with one daughter in at Dunraven's Secondary phase and another currently at Hitherfield Primary. She is a Senior Civil Servant currently holding the post of Director for Special Educational Needs & Disabilities and Alternative Provision at the Department for Education. Previously Alison has held roles in different Government departments and the NHS, with a particular focus on children and young people's health and education policy. She was a Community Governor at Heathbrook Primary for 10 years with responsiblity for PHSE.
Term of Office - October 2022 to October 2026
PETER JARVIS
Parent Governor
Vice Chair and Health & Safety Link
Peter initially was an environmental consultant leading on projects to identify and remediation pollution events before moving into the commercial insurance industry specialising in environmental. He has continued in this industry for over 14 years and now is a senior manager within a global insurance company. Peter's particular responsibilities are for developing and execution of strategy and the underwriting controls and governance within specialised commercial insurance. He joins the governors as a parent of two children currently within Dunraven's Primary phase.
Term of Office - October 2022 to October 2026
Jordan Noble-Smith
Staff Governor
Jordan is a staff member in the secondary phase and has worked at Dunraven School since 2014. He teaches Geography across key stages 3 to 5 and Politics at key stage 5. Having contributed to his local community voluntarily for a number of years, he now hopes to use his experience of working in comprehensive secondary education in London for the past 15 years to contribute to the governance of the school.
Term of Office - September 2022 to September 2026
Sarah Graham
Staff Governor
Term of Office - October 2023 - October 2027
Governors who have left in the last 12 months
Timo Asling - 3 June 2024
