Our Governors
Mrs Judith Shepherd
Chair of Governors, Co-Opted Governor
Mrs Shepherd is the Chair of the Governing Body, the designated Safeguarding Governor and Early Years Governor. She was originally appointed as a Community Governor in October 2010 and was appointed by the Governing Body as a Co-Opted Governor in the reconstitution of the Governing Body in October 2014. Her current term of office ends on 3rd October 2026. Mrs Shepherd has no declarations of interest and does not hold governance roles in any other educational institution.
In the 2023-24 academic year, Mrs Shepherd attended 6 of 6 Full Governing Body meetings and a Pay & Staffing Committee meeting.
Mr Julian Dempster
Vice Chair of Governors, Co-opted Governor
Mr Dempster is the Vice Chair of the Governing Body, the Health and Safety Governor and the Eco-Travel, Outdoor Learning, Gardening & Green Team Governor. Mr Dempster was re-appointed as a Co-Opted Governor on 29th November 2022. His term of office ends on 28th November 2026. Mr Dempster has no declarations of interest and does not hold governance roles in any other educational institution.
In the 2023-24 academic year, Mr Dempster attended 5 of 6 Full Governing Body meetings, 3 of 3 Health & Safety Audits and a Pay & Staffing Committee meeting.
Mrs Phillipa Dunn
Local Authority Governor
Mrs Dunn is the Local Authority (LA) Governor and her term of office ends on 26th March 2026. Mrs Dunn is Development Governor, SEND Governor, LAC & PPG Governor and Science Governor. Mrs Dunn has no declarations of interest and does not hold governance roles in any other educational institution.
In the 2023-24 academic year, Mrs Dunn attended 6 of 6 Full Governing Body meetings and a Pay & Staffing Committee Meeting.
Mrs Asmita Gore
Parent Governor
Mrs Gore is the Maths Governor. Mrs Gore was appointed as a Parent Governor on 30th November 2021. Her term of office ends on 29th November 2025. Mrs Gore has one child who attends the school and does not hold governance roles in any other educational institution.
In the 2023-24 academic year, Mrs Gore attended 1 of 6 Full Governing Body meetings.
Mrs Lucy Granger
Parent Governor
Mrs Granger is the Sports Governor. Mrs Granger was appointed as a Parent Governor on 5th February 2024. Her term of office ends on 4th February 2028. Mrs Granger has one child who attends the school and does not hold governance roles in any other educational institution.
In the 2023-24 academic year, since joining the Governing Body in February, Mrs Granger attended 3 of 3 Full Governing Body meetings.
Ms Raha Razeghi
Headteacher
Ms Razeghi has been Headteacher at The Hawthorns since April 2020. The Headteacher holds ex-officio status. Ms Razeghi has no declarations of interest and does not hold governance roles in any other educational institution.
In the 2023-24 academic year, Ms Razeghi attended 6 of 6 Full Governing Body meetings, 3 of 3 Health & Safety Audits and a Pay & Staffing Committee Meeting.
Miss Rebecca Reading
Staff Governor
Miss Reading is the Staff Governor. Miss Reading was elected by staff on 2nd October 2023 and her term of office ends on 1st October 2027. Miss Reading has no business interests to declare and does not hold governance roles in any other educational institution.
In the 2023-24 academic year, since joining the Governing Body in October, Miss Reading attended 5 of 5 Full Governing Body Meetings.
Mr Adam Prout
Co-Opted Governor
Mr Prout is the IT, Computing, e-Safety and Website Compliance Governor. He was appointed by the Governing Body as a Co-Opted Governor in March 2023. His term of office ends on 28th March 2027. Mr Prout has two children who attend the school and does not hold governance roles in any other educational institution.
In the 2023-24 academic year, Mr Prout attended 5 of 6 Full Governing Body meetings.
Mrs Helen Vernon
Co-Opted Governor
Mrs Vernon is the English & Library Governor, History & Geography Governor and the Mental Health & Wellbeing Governor. She was appointed by the Governing Body as a Co-Opted Governor in March 2023. Her term of office ends on 14th March 2027. Mrs Vernon has one child who attends the school and does not hold governance roles in any other educational institution.
In the 2023-24 academic year, Mrs Vernon attended 5 of 6 Full Governing Body Meetings.
Governors that left The Hawthorns during the Academic Year 2023-24
Ms Sarah Mapleston
Miss Mapleston was the Maths Governor and the Travel Governor. Miss Mapleston was originally appointed by the Governing Body as a Co-Opted Governor in September 2017 and resigned on 1st September 2024 due to personal reasons. Miss Mapleston had declared that she was employed as a Class Teacher and Maths Co-ordinator at another primary school. Miss Mapleston was also a supervisor for a children's holiday club during the holidays. Miss Mapleston did not hold governance roles in any other educational institution.
In the 2023-24 academic year, Miss Mapleston attended 4 Full Governing Body meetings.
Mr Will Mitchell
Mr Mitchell was the EAL & Racial Equity Governor and the Sports Governor. Mr Mitchell was appointed by the Governing Body as a Co-Opted Governor in March 2023. He resigned on 28.04.24 due to personal reasons. Mr Mitchell had one child who attended the school and was a teacher at another school. Mr Mitchell did not hold governance roles in any other educational institution.
In the 2023-24 academic year, Mr Mitchell attended 3 Full Governing Body Meetings.
Mr Dozie Nnabuife
Mr Nnabuife was the PSHE, RE & Philosophy Governor and was re-appointed by the Governing Body as a Co-Opted Governor in February 2020. His term of office ended on 4th February 2024. Mr Nnabuife had one child at the school and was also a Parent Governor at Reading Boys School and a trustee of the Reading School Foundation. In the 2023-24 academic year, Mr Nnabuife attended 1 Full Governing Body Meeting.
Ms Adrienne Hunter
Ms Hunter was appointed as a Parent Governor on 24th February 2021. She resigned on 06.12.23 due to personal reasons. Ms Hunter was the Art, DT, Music & Modern Foreign Languages Governor. Ms Hunter had two children at the school and was an Art teacher for Artspiration. She did not hold governance roles in any other educational institution. In the 2023-24 academic year, Ms Hunter did not attend any Full Governing Body meetings.
*FGB- Full Governing Body
Associate members (Associate members have voting rights for the committees in which they serve)
Mrs N Wallace (Deputy Head) (Voting rights in the absence of the Head Teacher)
Mrs A Atkinson (Health & Safety Administrator)
Clerk to the Governors
Mrs P West (Full Governing Body and all Committees)(No voting rights)