Our Governing Board
Welcome to the Governors’ Page
The aim of the Governing Body is to help the school be the best that it can be through raising the standard of achievement for every pupil by providing a strategic view, acting as a challenging friend, maintaining best value in the setting and management of the budget, and ensuring accountability.
The Governing Body consists of twelve members; three Parent Governors elected by the parents of children at the school, one Local Authority Governor nominated by the local authority, one Staff Governor elected by the school staff, six Co-opted Governors co-opted by the Governing Body, and the head teacher. All governors have equal voting rights. The period of office is four years.
The school has one committee outside of the Full Governing Body – The Finance, Personnel and Premises Committee.
The governors have a close working relationship with the leadership and staff of the school. Our knowledge of the school has been built on regular visits both formal and informal. As a body we have a commitment to training and improving our abilities to govern and develop the school. Many of us help at the school, using our particular skills to contribute in small ways to make Anstey the school that it is - a successful and caring place for children to learn and thrive.
The governors are:
Wilfrid Dimsdale
Local Authority Governor
Term of office – 01/09/2022 to 31/08/2026
Attendance at governors’ meetings 2023/24 - 50%
My background is in Agriculture. I have been associated with Anstey School for over 40 years as a governor, 10 of which as Chair. I am a member of the Finance, Personnel and Premises Committee and the Safeguarding, governor. My children, now grown, all attended and have benefited from their time at Anstey School.
Norman Marston
Co-opted Governor
Term of office - 13/02/24 to 12/02/2028
Attendance at governors' meetings 2023/24 - 100%
I am a retired Civil Engineer with a background of construction and consultancy and first helped at Anstey School in 2012 soon after I moved to the Village. I am Chair of the Finance, Personnel and Premises Committee.
Kate Oxley
Co-opted Governor
Term of office – 19/01/2024 to 18/01/2028
Attendance at governors’ meetings 2023/24 - 75%
I taught for over thirty years, mainly in Hertfordshire, including twenty years as deputy head and then six years as headteacher of a village school, retiring in 2015. I moved to Anstey in 2006 I very much enjoy living here and have found the village to be an extremely friendly place. I am involved with Anstey Village Hall and Anstey Fair, and I became a governor of the school in 2016. I am a member of the Finance, Personnel and Premises Committee, and the Special Needs and Pupil Premium, and English link governor.
Tom Sealy
Co-opted Governor
Term of office – 11/10/2022 to 10/10/2026
Attendance at governors’ meetings 2023/24 - 100%
I have been associated with Anstey School for over 40 years, firstly as head teacher, and since retiring in 2003 as a governor. I am the Chair of Governors and a member of the Finance, Personnel and Premises Committee. I am also the Early Years link governor and the Maths link governor. My five children, now grown, all attended Anstey School.
Amy Myers
Head Teacher
Member of the Governing Body by virtue of headship
Attendance at governor's meeting 2023/24 - 100%
I have been at Anstey First School as the Head Teacher since January 2015. I have been a qualified teacher for 29 years after obtaining my degree in Education from Florida State University. I have worked as a teacher with specialisms in gifted and talented, children's mental health, autism and challenging behaviour. I feel Anstey First School is wonderful and unique place to work and learn allowing for all children to become the best that they can be.
Liz Bagnall
Co-opted Governor
Term of office - 05/03/2023 to 04/03/2027
Attendance at governors' meetings 2023/24 - 100%
I have supported Anstey School since moving to the village in 1990. My daughter attended the school and I was a parent governor at the time. For the last 30 years my business, Stagestruck, also based in Anstey, has provided technical services to support the school's productions and in-class media. I trained as a journalist working both on local and national papers before starting a creative services company with my husband, Simon. I now write, garden to create bio-diverse habitats for our remaining wildlife, and play with my grandchildren. I am the Staff Wellbeing governor.
Adam Smith
Parent Governor
Term of office - 01/10/21 to 10/10/25
Attendance at governors' meetings 2023/24- 25%
I have a keen interest in Anstey School as my family all came from Anstey, in fact my mother lived in the school house until she was 8 years old before moving to New Farm in Langley. My grandparents and my father are all buried at Anstey church. Now that my daughter Henrietta has started nursery at the school, I feel now is a good time to become a part of a lovely community being in a position to assist with my knowledge of running the external environment of a school.
Hannah Fell
Staff Governor
Term of office - 17/10/22 to 16/10/26
Attendance at governors' meetings 2023/24 - 75%
Jennifer Hargrave
Co-opted Governor
Term of office - 12/07/24 to 11/07/28
I am a first school teacher and have been teaching for ten years, both in Essex and Hertfordshire. I have a passion for writing and instilling a love of writing in children. My son is currently in reception at Anstey and is thriving. We love how it is such a warm, welcoming school in a beautiful, rural village. I am looking forward to supporting the school, both as a governor and a parent.
Alex Howes
Parent Governor
Term of office - 24/05/24 to 23/05/28
Attendance at governors' meetings 2023/4 - 100%
My youngest son attended Anstey School shortly after we moved to the village in 2020. I am very impressed with the ethos of the school, particularly as my son received a lot of support and encouragement from the teaching staff. My background includes working in a variety of HR roles, and I am currently a director of my husband's company and provide support with the accounting and administration side of the business. I am the Health and Safety governor at the school.
Janet Fox
Co-opted Governor
Term of office - 17/10/24 to 16/10/28
I taught for over 35 years, first in primary schools and then as a science teacher in a local middle school. I was a farmer's daughter, and a farmer's wife. All my children attended Anstey School, where they enjoyed a stimulating and supportive education.
No current governors have material interests arising from relationships between governors, or with staff.
If you are interested in becoming a governor at our school or would like to contact the Governing Body, you can make contact through the school office on 01763 848 346 or by email: head@anstey.herts.sch.uk
Meeting Dates 2024/5
Full Governing Body Meetings - March 6th, May 22rd, July 10th (1.30 pm in the school)
Finance, Personnel and Premises Meetings - October 7th, February 24th, May 12th, June 30th (11.00 am in the school)