Governance at West Thornton
Welcome to West Thornton Primary School. We are really proud of our school. West Thornton Primary School strives to be an outstanding school at the heart of the local community in which every child is empowered to have self-belief and to aspire to achieve her/his highest potential.
Our Trust Governance
At Inspire Partnership, we value and celebrate the diversity of each school and community we serve. While every school is unique, we share ideas, skills, and resources across our trust to help every child thrive.
Our trust has three key layers of governance:
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Members (who hold the Trust to account),
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Trustees (who make strategic decisions), and
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Committees (who focus on specific areas of work).
Your Local Community Council (LCC) is made up of local voices who work with school leaders to represent the views of families and the wider community.
Other committees focus on areas like finance, staff, standards, and safeguarding—all working together to support strong, well-run schools.
Local Community Councils: Strengthening the School–Community Connection
At Inspire Partnership, Local Community Councils (LCCs) are an important part of how we make sure every school stays closely connected to its local community.
LCCs are made up of parents, carers, and community members who work with school leaders and the Trust to help shape decisions that put children and families first. They listen to the voices of parents, pupils, and staff, and use this feedback to make sure the school is meeting local needs and continuing to improve.
LCCs support our values in action:
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Community First – They strengthen the link between school and home by listening to what matters most to families.
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Collaboration Matters – They work in partnership with school leaders and the wider Trust to share ideas and drive improvement.
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Excellence in Everything – They ask thoughtful questions and provide support to help schools be the best they can be.
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Equity in Everything – They help ensure that every child, no matter their background, gets the support and opportunities they deserve.
Through regular school visits and involvement in school life, LCC members stay visible, active, and informed—ensuring that parent and community voices are always part of the conversation.
If you’d like to learn more or get involved, please contact jnewman@inspirepartnership.co.uk.
For more details please see the Scheme of Delegation and the Guide to Governance.
Meet your Local Community Council
Eli Ovia –LCC Community member (Chair)
- Term of office: 1st May 2023 to 30th April 2027
- Relevant business/pecuniary interests: None
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I have lived and have been educated in and around south London for many years and particularly love the diversity of community that it offers. I chose to be a governor, because it was important for me to find a way to invest my time and experience to ensure that local children received the very best education to set them up for future success. My commitment to our school community drives me to foster an inclusive and responsive school that prioritises community engagement.
Tim Barnes - LCC parent member (Woodside)
- Term of office: 20th September 2024 to 19th September 2028
- Relevant business/pecuniary interests: None
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I care deeply about the education and school environment for my six-year-old daughter who attends Woodside. As a parent and the Treasurer of the PTA, I’ve seen how staff embody the Partnership’s values in her learning and development as a neuro-diverse young person. I will be a collaborative governing body member, supporting students, staff, carers and the schools' wider communities. Over the last nine years, I’ve delivered projects to modernise the UK Parliament and I believe I can support the Trust’s governance.
Suregah Balachandran - LCC parent member (West Thornton)
- Term of office: 21st October 2024 to 20th October 2028
- Relevant business/pecuniary interests: None
Anthoney Simms - LCC Community member
- Term of office: 10th June 2024 to 9th June 2028
- Relevant business/pecuniary interests: None
- I have been working jointly with a range of professionals for 20years or more, supporting
parents/families that have children with a wide range of needs and abilities. I have set up and run parenting support programs with other professionals to support staff working with these families and children, setting targets and initiating strategies in the home, play and environment to meet the child/family needs.
Shreya Patel - LCC Community member
- Term of office: 6th June 2022 to 5th June 2026
- Relevant business/pecuniary interests: None
Jonathan Owen - Headteacher (West Thornton Primary School)
- Appointed governor by virtue of role
- Term ends: ongoing
- Relevant business/pecuniary interests: None
Donna Callaghan - Headteacher (West Thornton Primary School)
- Appointed governor by virtue of role
- Term ends: ongoing
- Relevant business/pecuniary interests: None
Iman Atwal - Headteacher (Woodside Primary School)
- Appointed governor by virtue of role
- Term ends: ongoing
- Relevant business/pecuniary interests: None
Resignation or term ends:
Annette Adams - Community Governor -Term of office: 17th June 2024 to 16th June 2028. Relevant business/pecuniary interests: Yes. Term ended 3rd February 2025.
Amanda Boyne - Community Governor- Term of office: 1st May 2024 to 30th April 2028 - Relevant business/pecuniary interests: Yes. Term ended 3rd February 2025.
Mel Chambers - Staff (Woodside) - Term of office: 1st September 2021 to 31st August 2025 - Relevant business/pecuniary interests: None. Term ended 3rd February 2025.
Shama Abraham - Staff (West Thornton) - Term of office: 5th September 2022 to 4th September 2026 - Relevant business/pecuniary interests at 5th September 2022: None. Term ended 3rd February 2025.
Sherdin Omar - Community Governor - resigned 8th October 2024 Term of office: 1st May 2023 to 30th April 2027; Relevant business/pecuniary interests: None declared
Daniel John - Associate Governor -resigned 1st September 2024 (Term of office: 30th April 2024 to 22nd June 2026); Relevant business/pecuniary interests: None
Nataliah Douglas - Community Governor resigned 24th June 2024 (term of office 23rd January 2024 to 22nd January 2028). Relevant business/pecuniary interests at 1st September 2024 Langley Park School for Girls.
Jessica Kissoon - Parent Governor (Woodside) resigned 1st May 2024 (term of office: 16th March 2022 to 15th March 2026). Relevant business/pecuniary interests: None
Saorise O'Donavan - Community Governor - resigned 3rd May 2024. (Term of office: 11th May 2022 to 10th May 2026). Relevant business/pecuniary interests: Employee Eltham College
Ashley Basdeo - Community Governor - resigned - 30th April 2024 -(Term of office: 2nd February 2022 to 1st February 2026). Relevant business/pecuniary interests: None.
Nicola Wright - Community Governor - resigned - 28th March 2024 (Term of office 1st September 2022 to 31st August 2026). Relevant Business/peucniary interests: Deputy Head in a London Borough School)
Marino Buccolini - Community Governor - Resigned - 7th December 2023 (Term of office 22nd November 2021 to 21st November 2025 Relevant business/pecuniary interests: None)
Roshith Nambar - Community Governor - Resigned - 23rd November 2023 (Term of office: 28th June 2022 to 20th November 2023 (attended 4 from 5) Relevant business/pecuniary interests: None
Amanda Agard - resigned as community governor 31st August 2023 ( attended 4 from 5) Relevant business/pecuniary interests: Yes)
Valbona Sulaj - resigned as parent governor 31st August 2023 ( attended 4 from 5) Relevant business/pecuniary interests: Yes
Andrew Lawrence – Chair of Governors - Appointed Governor - Resigned as Community Governor 31st August 2023. (attended 5 from 5) Relevant business/pecuniary interests: Yes