Governors Gallery

Christine Blewett

Chair of Governing Body, Co-opted Governor

Member of the Attainment and Progress Committee, the Personnel Committee and the Finance and Premises Committee. Chair of the Pay Committee and Link Governor for Safeguarding.

I have been a Governor since 2011. I am the Link Governor for Safeguarding. I have worked in health and social services across the tri-borough area for over 30 years both as a clinician and a Social Worker. Currently I work as a specialist nurse in contraception and sexual health for Brook Advisory, and I am a specialist advisor to the Care Quality Commission. I am a Trustee on the Board of Age UK, Kensington and Chelsea and I served as a Governor at the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital for nine years up till November of last year. I am committed to the School's vision to inspire and create children who are successful in their education and in their lives beyond.

Peter Blagg

Co-opted Governor

Member of the Personnel Committee. Member of the Finance and Premises Committee. Link Governor for Health and Safety.

Peter lives locally and was a former pupil; as were his children and currently his grandchildren are pupils at Oxford Gardens. Peter has been a Governor at Oxford Gardens for 35 years.

Tim Jones

Co-opted Governor

Member of the Personnel Committee and Chair of the Finance and Premises Committee.

I have been a Governor since 2010. For four years (2010 – 2014) I was an elected Councillor on Kensington and Chelsea Council, where I served on the Family and Children’s Scrutiny Committee and the Corporate Parenting Panel. I spent over thirty years as a Headteacher of primary schools, firstly in Newham and more latterly in Brent. I have worked as an Associate Consultant on the National Qualification for Headship Programme and now I work in a voluntary capacity for Brent Council on Employment Appeal Hearings and I am Chair of Governors at one of their Primary Schools.

Warren Boutcher

Co-opted Governor

Chair of the Attainment and Progress Committee, Member of the Personnel Committee and Member of the Pay Committee. Quality of Education Link Governor.

Warren Boutcher is Professor of Renaissance Studies and from January 1 2017 will be Head of the School of English and Drama, at Queen Mary University of London. Between 2010 and 2013 he served as Dean for Taught Programmes for the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences in the same university, with overall responsibility for student experience and teaching and learning across nine Schools from English and History to Law and Economics. He has been a governor at Oxford Gardens since May 2012.

N Dahdouh

Staff Governor

Member of the Attainment and Progress Committee.

I have been teaching at Oxford Gardens Primary School for 9 years and have become a teacher Governor recently. Initially I started teaching in KS1 for a number of years (specifically in Year 1) then later on I progressed into teaching across Lower KS2, then Upper KS2 and Year 6. I feel that as a teacher who has taught extensively across both Key stages I have been fortunate enough to see the progression of the school curriculum, skills and attitudes within each year group first-hand and how these feed into the children’s progress and attainment. Having studied further and completing a MA in Special and Inclusive Education, whilst teaching at Oxford Gardens has given me a broader perspective on children’s needs and outcomes in education. I have also had the opportunity to further my skills by training as a Mental Health First Aider and engaging in Emotional Health Coaching to support our children in the school; not just with their education but also pastorally. Over the years I have forged close working relationships with parents, colleagues and other external agencies and I believe that as a Governor I can bring a different and crucial teacher perspective to the meetings.

Tara Swan

Co-opted Governor

SEN and Attendance Link Governor

I have been working at OGPS, in Foundation Stage for 8 years. I recently completed a BA Honours Degree in Teaching and Education and also have a Foundation Degree in Leadership and Management for Early Years. I have personal experience of Special Educational Needs and am the Link Governor for this area.

Yossef Rapoport

Parent Governor

Vice Chair of the Governing Body. Member of the Attainment and Progress Committee and the Pay Committee

I have had three children attending Oxford Gardens since 2006, with the oldest now at University and the youngest currently in Key Stage 1. They all benefitted from excellent teaching and Oxford Gardens' unique community spirit, which shone through in the aftermath of Grenfell. In this long period, I have definitely seen the school develop and improve. I joined the Board as a Parent Governor in March 2019. I am also a Professor at the School of History at Queen Mary University London, where I teach undergraduate students the history of the Islamic world.

Samantha Dossetter

Governance Professional

Clerk to the Governing Body

I am the Governance Professional to the Governing Body and have worked with the school since 2013. I work as an independent clerk across the Boroughs of Kensington and Chelsea; Southwark and Bromley.

Tomomi Yoshida

Parent Governor. Member of the Attainment and Progress Committee.

I have three children who have all attended OGPS from nursery and now the youngest is in year 4. The two older children have left and now in secondary school, years 11 and 9. I have worked on a number of art projects for the school and some of these projects have included the input of children. I have also run the after school mosaic art club for 4years and I have recently started working on a Co-operative enterprise art workshop in the morning. I work externally with the local community on a variety of projects. I joined as a parent governor in November 2019. I hope that my experience as a parent of children who have come to the school and continue to do so, as well as my experience in my professional life will help me accomplish my role as a parent governor.

Cllr Walaa Idris

LA Governor

Member of the Finance and Premises Committee

I was elected councillor for the beautiful Brompton and Hans Town ward in 2018, and became the LAE governor for Oxford Gardens Primary in 2020. Between 2006 and 2012 I was the LEA governor for Chelsea Open Air Nursery School, during the same time I was a trustee for the Chelsea Youth Programme. A resident of RBKC since 1991, I lived in the north, the south, the west and now live in the east of the borough since 2005. With a degree in Psychology and Sociology, professionally I am a Property Consultant and split my time between council duties and my consultancy. Rooted in the community where I served as a neighbourhood watch panelist, resuscitated a failing youth program and co-founded a Residents Association. I also, set up a mentoring program for a financial think-tank, to help students from disadvantaged backgrounds get mentoring from top FTSE companies. Helped in reforming the Legal Aid programme and was a trustee for Mankind Initiative, a charity for male victims of domestic violence. My professional training coupled with my diverse experiences allows me to work well with others and gives me the ability to understand and positively tackle a variety of issues and challenges.

Arjun Kohli

Co-opted Governor.

Co-opted Governor. Member of the Attainment and Progress Committee

I have been a Governor since 2020, and I am a member of the Attainment and Progress Committee. I am committed to the school's ethos to have a positive impact on pupil's lives both inside and outside the classroom.

Lauren Charsley

Co-opted Governor.

Co-Chair of the Personnel Committee

Both working and living in the local area, I joined OGPS as a co-opted governor in November 2020 looking to further integrate with my local community. Having graduated in 2016, I worked at a local school uniform business which gave me the opportunity to interact with schools on a daily basis. Now, working in marketing my role comprises of planning and buying media campaigns. I am also a member of my company's Diversity & Inclusion and Charity teams.