Dulwich Village Infants

Governors

“We thank you Lord for our children, a precious gift from you. May we use the gifts of our time, wisdom, and experience to help them to learn and grow, fulfil their potential and become all that you want them to be.”

Governors Book of Prayers

Welcome our Governor’s page. Hopefully this will have the information you require about the governing body.

Our governors are drawn from the staff, parents, community and church congregations of the area. We are a strategic body, we are not involved with the day to day running of the school but create the policies which are implemented by the staff. Our role is to support and to hold to account the teaching body of the school, but we are not experts on education, we do receive training but we bring to bear our experience from varying walks of life and a wide range of jobs.

The majority of our work is done through our committees which meet twice a term. We meet together twice a term at the Full Governing Body meetings where we monitor the impact of the policies on the work of the school.

Ms. Megan Pacey

Foundation Governor, Chair of Governors

Megan is a Foundation Governor and Chair of Governors, and has a background in public policy with a particular focus on early childhood development, early education and care and families and working life. She currently works with schools, statutory bodies and charitable funders supporting the implementation of early childhood policy initiatives into practice. She has previously had a daughter and currently has a son at the school. Megan is also leads the PTFA.

Mrs Helen Poyton

Head Teacher, Chair of Church School Working Group

Helen Poyton has been Headteacher at DVIS since 2006 and a teacher since 1995. She is passionate about creating a caring and fun ethos for the children at the school.

Mrs Sara Rayment

Foundation Governor, Chair of Personnel

Sara Rayment is a secondary school English teacher, whose daughter attended DVIS. Currently on a career break, she has the time to devote to governance; she is Chair of the Personnel committee and is the link governor for English.

Miss Natasha Ridout

Staff Governor

Natasha Ridout is currently a Year 2 class teacher who has been at DVIS since 2020-21. She is passionate about teaching inclusively and enabling all pupils to enjoy the richest possible learning experience, whatever their circumstances.

Mrs Francesca Nezrek

Staff Governor

Francesca Nezrek is a Teaching Assistant, currently in Year 1. Her previous career was as a qualified nurse. She has been with the school since 1993. She has one daughter who was a past pupil and has now made a career in teaching.

Mr Simon Ellis

Parent Governor

Simon works as a chartered surveyor with responsibility for running a commercial property fund. He lives in Dulwich and has two sons, one of whom has been through the school with the other currently attending.

Mr Brian Davies

Foundation Governor, Chair of Learning and Inclusion

Brian is a foundation governor with a particular interest in Education for Sustainability. He has ten years teaching experience at Primary level and has also worked in market and media research. Brian lives locally and his three children attended DVIS over 20 years ago.

Rev John Watson

Foundation Governor – Ex Officio

John Watson is Vicar of St Barnabas and Christ’s Chapel and Foundation Chaplain. He is married and has four quickly growing up children.

Mr Max Davidson

Foundation Governor

Max Davidson has been a teacher since 2005 and has considerable experience in pastoral roles, having been a Head of Year and Boarding Housemaster. He has two children and lives locally in Dulwich.

Mr Jonathan Taylor

Parent Governor

Jonathan Taylor works part-time in the financial services industry. He has three daughters, one of whom is a past pupil and the youngest is currently attending DVIS. Jonathan is also part of the treasury team of the PTFA.

Mrs Bethan Rundall

Foundation Governor, Vice Chair of Admissions

Bethan is a solicitor and worked in the London office of an international law firm before taking a career break. She lives locally and has two children, one of whom currently attends the school.

Mrs Chabala Surry

Foundation Governor

Mrs Margy Newens

LA Governor

Documents & Information

The Chair of Governors is Ms Megan Pacey.

The role of the governors is to help the school provide the best possible education for our pupils. We do this by thinking and working strategically to raise standards, we monitor and evaluate progress towards the school’s priorities and targets. We support the Headteacher and staff as well as challenging their expectations.

There are 14 governors at DVIS:

2 Parent Governors who are elected to be representative of the parent body.
2 Staff Governors to represent teaching and non-teaching staff, the Headteacher is also a governor. With the exception of the Headteacher, staff governors are elected.
1 Local Authority (LA) governor who is appointed by the local authority.
8 Foundation governors (including the Vicar) who are normally appointed by either Southwark Diocese Board of Education or St Barnabas, our local church.

We meet twice a term as a Full Governing Body. We also have five committees and one working party that meet once or twice a term.

Our committees

Admissions – oversee the admissions arrangements, changing policy if required and hearing appeals.
Learning and Inclusion – meet and discuss teaching and learning, progress of all pupils, curriculum delivery, policy and practice, safety and care of all children.
Premises and Finance Committee – set the budget, ensure budgets are adhered to, value for money is gained and that financial regulations are followed. The committee also oversee the building maintenance program, deciding priorities for development and renewal, health and safety of the property, checks of equipment.
Personnel – oversee staffing in school, staff structure, pay and conditions of employment, interviews and attendance and absence.

We have one working group and this is the Church Group which focuses on self evaluation of all aspects of school life relating to the school’s ethos, leadership, RE and worship, as well as looking holistically at the children’s education at DVIS.

If you would like to contact the Governing Body regarding a school related matter please email or send a letter via the school office clearly addressed to the Chair of Governors.

Governor Vacancies: There are currently no vacancies.