Governors work with the headteacher and senior leadership team to drive the strategic development of the school and raise standards of achievement. Duties include setting the school’s vision, aims and objectives, approving the school budget and appointing the headteacher.

Governors are either elected by fellow parents or carers or are appointed as co-opted governors based on their skills. Governors generally serve for a term of four-years at which point they either decide to go for re-election if a parent governor or re-appointment if a co-opted governor.

We are always keen to hear from committed people to join Rokesly Infant and Nursery School’s Governing Body, and currently have a vacancy for a parent governor. Parent governors are in a unique position on a governing body. They bring their parental or carer perspective to work in the best interests of the school, as well as communicate the concerns and feelings expressed by parents and carers to other members of the governing body.

We work very closely with the Junior School’s Governing Body.

If you would like to contact the Governing Body on any matter including to register an interest in becoming a parent governor please contact the school office: admin@rokesly-inf.haringey.sch.uk

Governors’ Who’s Who

James Wilde, Parent Governor 

James was elected as a parent governor in December 2025 and has two children at the school. He has a particular interest in careers provision within schools and spent a decade working with Haverstock School in Camden shaping their sixth form careers network. Working in the digital media and advertising sector, James brings commercial, operational, and financial governance expertise to the governing body.

Lucy Blake, Parent Governor 

Lucy has two children at the school and was elected as a parent governor in December 2025. She brings the practical property knowledge and skills of having worked as a Chartered Surveyor for 20 years to the role and has a personal interest in connecting children with nature.

Alex Collins, Co-opted Governor

Alex was appointed as a co-opted governor in September 2019. She is the deputy Chair and is also the governor lead for safeguarding matters. She is a secondary school teacher, teaching at Highlands school in Enfield where she has previously held the post of Head of English. Alex is highly experienced in working with disadvantaged students and taking action to narrow the gaps in attainment.

Harriet Darley, Parent Governor

Harriet was elected as a parent governor at the end of July 2023. She has worked in early years education for the last 17 years. As a principal of a group of Ofsted outstanding preschools, she has extensive knowledge of the Early Years Foundation Stage. Within Harriet’s role she hosts a number of parenting events and has a particular interest in the experience of the parent.

Lucy Johnson , Co-opted Governor

Lucy was appointed as a co-opted governor in September 2023. She has a special interest in SEND education and has experience accessing SEND provision. Lucy practices corporate law in the City.

Nigel Leskin, Local Authority Governor

Nigel brings over 20 years of experience to the position, having first been elected as a parent governor. Nigel is the co-Chair of the Infants Governing Body and  Local Authority representative for both the Infants and Juniors Governing Bodies. He is also the Chair of the Infant Resources Committee By profession, Nigel is a criminal and immigration lawyer.

Ellie Northam, Co-opted Governor

Ellie is one of our most experienced governors, having been doing the role since October 2013.  She is Chair of the Curriculum Committee and is governor lead for special educational needs provision at the school.  Ellie’s background is as a corporate finance lawyer having spent time in a leading city law firm and then in-house at a bank.

Emma Rehm, Co-opted Governor

Emma was appointed as a co-opted governor in May 2022. She has special interests in arts education and Diversity & Inclusion which stem from her background working in museums and galleries to engage diverse audiences with the visual and creative arts. She brings relevant knowledge of delivering the National Curriculum and collaborating with teachers, artists and communities to develop inclusive cross-curricular learning programmes.

Marisa Schultz, Co-opted Governor

Marisa is a highly experienced early years practitioner at Rokesly and is a nursery nurse. She is also the staff representative at the PSA meetings. She is the Arts Co-ordinator and a member of the Arts school network learning group for the area.

Thomas Stogdon, Associate Governor

Thomas was elected as an associate governor in December 2025. He is the lead governor for racial equity reviewing the school’s progress in raising the achievement of children from black, Asian and other minority ethnic backgrounds. Thomas is a film & TV producer and founder of a production company that makes award winning children’s content.

Rachel Turnbull, Staff Govenor

Rachel was elected as the staff governor having previously being a co’opted governor. She has worked in Haringey schools for 20 +years having worked primarily in the infants and EYFS. She is a qualifeid SENDco having been awarded her NASEND in 2020.

How does the governing body work?

The Rokesly Infant and Nursery School governors work closely with the Headteacher and school leadership team. We make decisions at full governors’ meetings, in committees or by supporting plans made by the headteacher when this is appropriate. Most of our business is conducted through meetings and we receive guidance from Haringey Council and the Department for Education. We also collaborate closely with the governors of the Junior school and some governors sit on the boards of both schools.

What are the different kinds of governors?

• parent governors who are elected by other parents with children at the school
• a local authority governor nominated by Haringey Council and appointed by the board
• the headteacher
• a staff governor elected by other teaching and non-teaching staff
• co-opted governors appointed by the board for their specific skillsets

Can I be a governor?

Role of Governors

• Approval of the school budget
• Performance management of the headteacher
• Delivery of the National Curriculum
• Reviewing pupil exclusions
• Approving arrangements for school trips as well as other health and safety issues
• Generally monitor and evaluate progress in school development and achievements
• Participate in the appointment of senior staff (including appointing the headteacher) and regulate staff conduct
• Draw up an action plan after an inspection by the Office for Standards in Education (OFSTED)

We also play an important role in accountability. Not only is the headteacher accountable to the governing body, but the governing body is accountable to parents, the LA and ultimately to the Department for Education (DfE). Perhaps one of the best phrases used to summarise the role of the governing body is that of ‘critical friend’.

Much of the content of the governors’ work is set by DfE. By law, governors are expected to:

• Set the strategic framework
• Monitor and evaluate progress towards the school’s priorities and targets
• Support the head and staff to raise standards and challenge where necessary
• Account to all stakeholders for the school’s overall performance and the decisions they have made.

The Headteacher’s role is to:

• Be responsible for the organisation, management and control of the school
• Formulate aims and objectives, policies and targets for the governing body to consider adopting
• Advise on and implement the governing body’s strategic framework
• Provide governors with the information they need to help the school raise its standards
• Report on progress
• Parents and School Partnership

Structure of governors

The Rokesly Infant and Nursery School governors work collaboratively with the Junior School governors and attend each other’s meetings. Much of the work of the governing body is carried out by the following committees:

• Resources (combined Finance and Personnel) – each school has its own resources committee
• Premises – a joint committee between the Junior and Infant governors
• Curriculum – each school has its own curriculum committee

The committees each take responsibility for different elements of running the school including setting the budget, reviewing staffing arrangements, reviewing both curriculum-based and whole-school policies such as the behaviour policy. The governors also ensure that the school implements the changes that the government and the local authority have authorised. Each committee meets at least once a term and there is a full governors meeting each term. The meetings are divided into two parts with parents and others allowed for the first part of the meeting that is not confidential.