The Governors of the school would be delighted to hear from parents, carers and local residents who may be interested in becoming a governor.
David Eteen - Chair of Governors
My name is David Eteen, and I am chair of Governors at HGJS. I have a number of years’ experience of being a governor (and a Chair of Governors) and took on this role on 1 September 2024.
I have lived in Holmer Green for over 30 years and my three now grown up children all enjoyed their time at the junior school.
My key aim is to support the school in its ambition to be the best it can be and to provide children with the best possible education during these formative years. I regularly visit the school and enjoy seeing the children energised and focussed on their learning.
My career has been in finance where I have been the scheme actuary to a number of large defined benefit pension schemes for large employers. I am pleased to be able to use my finance skills as part of my governor role and I chair the Finance and Personnel Committee.
In my spare time I enjoy walking, travelling and watching cricket (England and Middlesex), having had the pleasure a few years ago now of watching my son play cricket in Sri Lanka, Dubai, South Africa and Australia which was organised by his cricket club in Chesham.
Jenny Mason - Co-Opted Governor
I am a parent governor and for some time have wanted to offer my support to the local village schools. As a parent, the school is a consistent part of my family's daily life and I naturally have an interest in the delivery of teaching to my child and how the school is managed.
I work in consumer electronics, dealing with planning, logistics, and product management across Europe. I believe these skills could really help the HGJS team bring their long-term vision to life.
Sadie Thorne - Co-Opted Governor & Finance Lead
My name is Sadie Thorne and I am one of the Parent Governors at the school.
I originally trained as Chartered Tax Adviser, working in the private sector, to help businesses move their expatriates around the world in a cost-effective way. After being on a career break for a month I applied for a job as the Holmer Green Junior School bursar and spent 6 years in this role. Working in a school was a real eye opener to the pressures that Schools are under and when leaving my role as bursar I had the opportunity to become a Parent Governor. The role of a Parent Governor is the same as all other Governors on the board, however we have the unique viewpoint of the parent perspective at school and bring this to our discussions.
Being part of the governing board provides insight into the strategic direction of the school and allows me to use the knowledge I built up during my time working in public sector finance. I am also the Development governor for the board so I am responsible for ensuring Governors have the correct training and development in order to fulfil their roles.
I have three children who have all attended the School and have seen many changes during this time. Throughout my experience of being a parent at this school, the commitment of the staff to providing great learning experiences has remained consistent.
I am now working full time in a Tax Technology Transformation role which allows me to travel to a variety of European destinations where I get to sample a lot of good food! I also have two dogs and enjoy walking them through the local woods and countryside.
Helen Weber - Staff Governor
Hi, I am Mrs Weber. I am currently teaching in Year 3 and although this is my first year teaching, I have been a part of this amazing school community for 11 years. I am passionate about pastoral care and mental health and am dedicated to supporting the wellbeing and development of all our children.
In my spare time, I enjoy immersing myself in the magical world of Harry Potter and the thrilling twists of crime novels. I also love watching films, guess which ones? Harry Potter and crime thrillers. Walking my dog is one of my favourite ways to relax and enjoy the outdoors while indoors, I love cooking delicious meals for my family and occasional the odd cake or two for the staff room.
Aylish Showan - Co-opted Governor
I have been a teacher at Holmer Green Junior School since 2015. I have a particular interest in STEM subjects and I have a passion for teaching with technology. I am also a co-opted member of the governing board and a mentor to early career and student teachers.
At home, I have a 3 year old boy and a 1 year old girl who keep me very busy. I also love cooking (eating), reading and sci-fi.
Danny Mitchell - Co-opted Governor
Hi, I’m Danny. I work for a large international transport company who specialise in providing the film industry with facilities trailers and technical trucks. I have worked with this company for over 15 years and have responsibility for around 280 drivers and trucks as they travel all over Europe. A large area of my work involves HR, Health and Safety and GDPR. It is these fields of expertise that I feel I can bring to the Governing Body of HGJS.
I have a child now in secondary school, but who attended HGJS and having spent years wondering how I could make a difference, so I decided to step forward as a parent Governor.
In my spare time I enjoy spending time with my family, tinkering with my many cars and I am a keen Moto-GP enthusiast!
Ms Gemma Tuffney - Co - Opted Governor
My name is Gemma, and I am a co-opted governor at the school. I am also a proud parent of three, My two older children have both progressed through the school, and my youngest is currently a pupil. Having experienced the school from a parent’s perspective over many years, I feel particularly invested in supporting its pupils, families and staff.
I have 6 years governor experience, particular focus on SEND, PSHE and pupil wellbeing. I have a strong passion for SEND and have developed a good understanding of the importance of inclusion, supporting individual needs and ensuring that every child has the opportunity to thrive. Through ongoing governor training, as well as my professional and hands-on experience, I am continually developing and expanding my knowledge.
Since my eldest child started school, I have always enjoyed being actively involved in the school community. I regularly volunteered on school trips, listened to children read and supported the PTA. As my youngest has grown older and my working hours have increased, I have less availability during the school day, but I still wanted to contribute and make a positive difference to the school. Becoming a governor has given me the opportunity to continue doing this in a different way.
My professional background is rooted in childcare and education, with higher education qualifications and experience in the sector. More recently, my career has moved into an administrative role within nursing care, where my responsibilities include rota management, Payroll, learning and development, and supporting staff training. I am also an assessor for moving and handling risk assessments and competencies.
I am passionate about supporting children, promoting inclusion and wellbeing, and helping to ensure that every child feels valued, supported and able to reach their full potential. I am looking forward to using my experience, knowledge and perspective as a parent and governor to contribute positively to the school and its community.
Tom Coleby Co - Opted Governor
My name is Tom Coleby, I have lived in Holmer Green for over 10 years and feel very fortunate to be part of such a strong and welcoming village community. My two children have both been educated within the village, which has given me a personal appreciation of the important role local schools play in supporting children, families and the wider community.
Outside of work, I enjoy a wide range of sports and value the confidence, teamwork and resilience that sport can help develop in young people. I also volunteer my time coaching my youngest son’s age group at Holmer Green Football Club, which is a role I find hugely rewarding and another way to contribute to local children’s development.
From a career perspective, I have held a number of sales roles supporting organisations within the financial services sector. These roles have helped me develop strong communication, relationship management, problem-solving and strategic planning skills. I hope to use this experience, alongside my local knowledge and commitment to the village, to make a positive contribution during my tenure as a governor.
Governor details and interests
What do school governors do?
The National Governors Association website is a useful information website for school governors and anyone with an interest in school governance, and designed to save you time and keep you up to date; the site is here.