First elected as a governor in September 2011, re-appointed co-opted governor in April 2015 for a term of 4 years, resigned as co-opted governor and reinstated as the Head Teacher governor on 1st September 2017.

Governor with joint responsibility for the following areas of the School Development Plan:

• Embed a value based system through and alongside the holistic development of our school community
• Focus on health and well-being of our school community to enable them to become responsible, respectful and active citizens

Member of Finance & Children and Learning Committees.

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Tara started teaching at Stepgates Community School during the academic year 2005/2006, having previously taught in various maintained schools across the primary age range, in September 2010 she became the Deputy Head Teacher and in September 2017 she took up the post of Head Teacher. Tara was born at St Peter’s Hospital and has lived locally all her life. She graduated from Kingston University with a degree in Education, completed a Mathematics Specialist Course at Brighton University and her NPQH through the National College of Teaching and Leadership.

In her spare time she enjoys camping with her family and friends, going to the theatre and attending England Rugby games – when she can get tickets!

Appointed Local Authority Governor in November 2024 for a period of 4 years. Previously appointed Co-opted Governor in November 2023 for a term of 4 years, appointed by the Full Governing Body. Elected Chair of Governors by the board on 22nd September 2026, previously Chair of Governors 2024 & 2025, Vice Chair of Governors in 2020, 2021, 2022 & 2023.

Governor with joint responsibility for the following areas of the School Development Plan:

• Focus on the health and well-being of our school community to enable them to become responsible, respectful and active citizens 
• Raise the profile of Mathematics, developing pupils understanding in fluency, mathematical reasoning and problem solving across the curriculum.

Member of the Pay Committee and the Finance Committee, Class Governor for Kites. Governor for Safeguarding. 

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I was born and raised in North Yorkshire, attended university in Sheffield and then moved to the South East to take up a position in the NHS. I met my husband in Chertsey, married and settled down here and now my two children attend Stepgates School.

I have worked in Health and Social care for over 20 years holding leadership positions  with both commissioning and provider organisations including experience in good governance, strong leadership, operational delivery, Human Resources and strategic planning.  My current role focuses on providing improvement support to spread and deliver good practice across NHS services in South East Coast.

I am delighted to be appointed in the role of school governor and hope to support the school and its staff to continue to improve the education and experience of the students attending Stepgates Community School. 

Co-opted governor, first appointed by the Full Governing Body in January 2015, re-appointed for a further term of 4 years in March 2023. Elected Vice-Chair of the Governors by the board on the 9th December 2025, re-elected Vice Chair on 22nd September 2026.

Member of the Pay Committee and Finance Committee, governor with joint responsibility for the following area of the School Development Plan:

• Embed a value based system through and alongside the holistic development of our school community.

Class Governor for Owls Class.

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Mark has been a governor since 2015. He is the local Runnymede Borough councillor for Chertsey St Annes and the county councillor for Chertsey at Surrey County Council where he holds the office of Cabinet member for Health and Wellbeing and Public Health. Mark has lived in Chertsey for most of his adult life and likes to get involved, helping on the committee of the Black Cherry Fair and the Christmas Goose Fair. He is also a trustee of many charities, including the FEOFFEES of Chertsey and the local Almshouses. He still plays cricket at Chertsey Cricket club where he is a life vice president and holds the ominous record for being the oldest player to have scored a century with the bat ! During the winter you can hear him as he announces the teams at his beloved Chertsey Town Football Club, where he is the Patron of the club.

Co-opted governor, first appointed by the Full Governing Body in 2017,  re-appointed on 23rd September 2025 for a further term of 4 years.

Governor with joint responsibility for the following areas of the School Development Plan:

• Provision of a broad, sequential, aspirational and balanced curriculum 
• To raise the profile of mathematics, developing pupils understanding in fluency, mathematical reasoning and problem-solving across the curriculum.

Member of the Children & Learning and Resources Committees.

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I was born and raised in Ealing, West London and moved to the local area in 2012.  I have been teaching across the primary phases since 2005 and have been Deputy Headteacher at Stepgates Community School since September 2017. 

As a teacher, I have a particular passion for Mathematics and oversee the provision of this subject throughout the school. 

In my spare time, I love spending time with my daughter, husband and extended family, making memories.

As a governor and member of the teaching staff at Stepgates, I am committed to helping all of our pupils to succeed in all areas and pride myself on encouraging children to recognise their self-worth and full potential.   

Re-elected staff governor 20th May 2025 for a term of 2 years.

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I was born and raised in Chertsey, lived in the town for 35 years and, as a child, went to Stepgates school myself! I love the school as it holds fond memories for me, and it is a grand premises to work in.

I have been teaching for over 15 years after training at Kingston University. I have always worked with children and love my job. I have taught at Stepgates for 6 years and am totally dedicated to my job. I have been the head of Early Years for 4 years, and am also the Arts Lead. As staff governor, I am committed to help drive the curriculum forward and gain support for projects that will benefit all pupils.

In my spare time, I am a football mum and enjoy watching my boys play. I like to read, spend time with my family and friends, and relax, when I get the time!

Appointed Co-opted Governor by the Board on October 22nd 2024 for a term of 4 years.

Member of Children & Learning and Pay Committees.

Class Governor for Busy Bees and Robins Classes & Nominated School Councillor Governor for 2025/26.  Governor for children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities. 

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I attended Stepgates as a child and my mum taught in both the Infant and Junior schools for many years.  When I returned to live in Chertsey and saw there was a vacancy for a co-opted governor I was keen to apply as I have a strong connection to the school. 

Until 2 years ago, I was a Team Manager in Children’s Services and have a continued interest in ensuring children are safeguarded and supported to achieve their full potential.

In my spare time, I crochet baby blankets and toys which I take to The Gambia, where we also sponsor 4 children through their education. 

Appointed Co-opted Governor by the Board on October 22nd 2024 for a term of 4 years.

Member of Children & Learning Committee.

Class Governor for Sunbeams, Ladybirds & Butterflies Classes.

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I live in Chertsey, and my granddaughter attends Stepgates. I recently retired from a senior leadership and Designated Safeguarding Lead role at a Surbiton school. My career started as a Specialist Teaching Assistant for Special Educational Needs, later becoming a teacher for Early Years Foundation Stage and Key Stages 1-3. I am passionate about inclusive education, language and literacy, safeguarding, and school values.

In my free time, I enjoy nature, painting, spending time with friends and family gatherings. I am excited to be a Co-opted Governor at Stepgates and look forward to contributing to its nurturing environment that fosters curiosity and creativity.

Appointed Co-opted Governor by the Board on March 25th 2025 for a term of 4 years.

Member of Children & Learning Committee.

Class Governor for Hawks Class.

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Hello! My name is Tadhg and I'm honoured to be a Governor for Stepgates.

As an educator by profession, in my role as the Head of Digital Teaching and Learning, I focus on innovating education through technology. My entire career has been dedicated to education. I began as a teaching assistant before training as a teacher, working closely with young people experiencing special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). Supporting inclusive learning environments is deeply personal to me and remains a cornerstone of my work.

Working with a school in my community is important to me, to give something back and be involved! My promise to the school, its pupils, and staff is to act in their best interests, using my experience and understanding to support the amazing work happening at Stepgates.

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Appointed Co-opted Governor by the Board on the 9th December 2025 for a term of 4 years.

Member of the Children & Learning Committee.

Class Governor for Grasshoppers Class.

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I relocated to Chertsey from London with my family in 2025 having grown up in a town nearby. 

I have been teaching for twelve years and currently work as an Assistant Headteacher at a secondary school in West London. My work as a school leader has been focused on pastoral care and the transition from primary into secondary school. 

Outside of work I enjoy splashing in puddles with my little one and working out at the weekends when I can fit it in! 

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Appointed as Parent Governor by the Board on the 9th December 2025 for a term of 4 years.

Member of the Resources Committee.

Class Governor for Sunbeams & Ladybirds Class.

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Appointed as Parent Governor by the Board on 9th December 2025 for a term of 4 years.

Member of the Children & Learning Committee.

Class Governor for Falcons Class.

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I was born and raised in the Midlands, attended university in Leeds before moving to London in 2011. 

I have worked as a journalist since then and have been with Sky Sports for the past 10 years. 

I am thrilled to join the Governors board at Stepgates, where my two young children attend. It is a school I have grown hugely fond of over the past five years, and I’ll do all I can as a Governor to support the amazing children, parents and staff to ensure Stepgates continues to thrive. 

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Appointed as Parent Governor by the Board on the 9th December 2025 for a term of 4 years.

Member of the Resources Committee.

Class Governor for Owls Class.

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I am originally from the North East of England and attended university in Edinburgh, where I met my wife. We moved to the South East over 15 years ago and have proudly called Chertsey our home for the last decade. As a parent with a daughter currently attending Stepgates School, I have a deep, personal vested interest in the school’s continued success and the well-being of its pupils.

I currently work in the E-commerce and Technology sector for a large international organisation. My professional background has equipped me with a robust set of skills that I believe would be a significant asset to the Governing Body:

• Strategic Planning: Experience in aligning technology and commercial goals within complex, global frameworks.

• Digital Transformation: Expertise in navigating the rapidly changing digital landscape, which is increasingly relevant to modern education and school operations.

• Problem Solving & Efficiency: A career spent optimising processes and finding technological solutions to organisational challenges.

• Collaboration: Working across international teams has taught me how to build consensus and support diverse stakeholders to achieve a common goal.

• Governance & Social Enterprise: I sit on the board of a social enterprise dedicated to supporting entrepreneurs and young adults. This role involves providing the strategic direction and support needed to create businesses and real-world opportunities for the next generation.