Meet the Governors

Tinuke Akinbulumo, Co-opted Governor

Tinuke Akinbulumo, Co-opted Governor:  I joined the governing body as an associate governor in 2014 when I was working in the community department of a local charity who worked with CHS, and was co-opted in March 2017, I am the link Governor for Pupil Welfare. While I do not have any children at Childs Hill School, I have played the role of class rep, treasurer and Head of PTA at the school that my children attend. I was particularly drawn to Child’s Hill School as I liked the inclusion, the fact that it is a restorative school and the vision and passion of the Head Teacher, Dan.

Needless to say, Dan’s vision, passion and commitment flow to the staff members and this means that pupils are encouraged with love, passion and dedication to reach their potential, whatever that may be. I firmly believe that with the right support, anyone can be anything they want to be.  Child’s Hill School has great support in place for its pupils.

I currently work in administration at a charity in Barnet and in my spare time I volunteer for Homestart Barnet, helping families in need in the boroughs of Barnet and Harrow. I also facilitate parenting classes and confidence building workshops in the local community.

Emma Casey, Co-opted Governor (Chair of Governors):  I have been a parent governor for the past 4 years, my roles include; chair of governors and ask link governor for safeguarding, teaching and learning and SEND.  I have been an active member of the school community for more than 17 years.  All my children have attended the school and I still have 2 children in years 6 and 3.

I volunteer on a regular basis in the school - I especially enjoy listening to the younger children read. I also assist on school trips and I am a familiar face at most of our school events throughout the year.  I participate in governor training courses and attend regular committee meetings and full governing body meetings. 

As governors we are ambitious for all children to thrive and gain a passion for education alongside taking pride in themselves as part of Childs Hill school.  I am committed to effectively support and challenge the school to enable the best possible outcomes for all pupils.

I have a background working in Postgraduate studies for an NHS Trust and the Institute of Child Health.

Cory English, Parent Governor: I moved to the neighbourhood in 2002 from New York City where I was lucky to perform in Broadway shows for over a decade. Most of my work since then has been in the West End, voice overs, film and television. My wife and I chose to bring up our children here and I am so happy that they are part of the Childs Hill community. I have taught children alongside my performance career, as both a baseball and drama / dance coach and teacher. I have a passion for the arts and sports, understanding that the discipline required in both these fields have lasting effects on children’s development in all they do. I look forward to sharing this as I work with Childs Hill’s governing body as a parent governor.  I am the link governor for Premises.

Alan Gelfer, Parent Governor: I was elected as a parent governor in 2017. We have one son who really enjoys being at the school and a daughter at secondary school.

I have lived in the area of the school for most of my life in London.

I trained as a solicitor and have worked in various NGOs providing immigration advice and representation and have worked for the last 9 years in higher education providing immigration advice and training to international students.

I have also served as an executive member of a race equality charity.  As well as offering my perspective as a parent I bring my experience and perspective of higher education to support the governing body.

Dan Hawkins, Headteacher: As Headteacher of Childs Hill School I am proud of the school, our place in the local community and most of all our wonderful children. As a member of the school's governing body I feel lucky to work alongside a dedicated and highly motivated group of people who all support our school. Importantly it is a group who value our school's individual qualities as highly as they do our constant drive for further school improvement.

I have taught in four London boroughs and been a member of other governing bodies, in places I've worked and at my children's schools. As well as class teaching, and advanced skills teaching, I've also worked as an inclusion manager, Senco and deputy head. In my sixth year as a headteacher I am currently a member of the LBB SEND partnership board, the primary representative on the ASD Pathways Board and the Children's Services South Locality Advisory Boards. 

Alex Scott, Co-opted Governor

Alex Scott, Co-opted Governor: I am a co-opted member of the Childs Hill School Governing body. Both of my daughters attended Childs Hill School and both were very happy students at Childs Hill School. I have a specific interest, in my role as a governor, in how parents, teachers and the school can work together and communicate helpfully to support student learning. The rest of my time, I am a Premises Manager which is a very interesting role that gets be involved within all areas of the school.

Nigel Taylor
Co-opted Governor