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Governors

On behalf of the Governing Body, welcome to Trinity CE Primary School.

The governing body is made up of representatives from the school staff, the parent community, the church community, the local community and the local authority. We have a wide range of backgrounds and skill sets that we bring to the role. We are passionate about supporting the school and ensuring that our children get the best possible education.

As a governing body, our role is to provide strategic leadership and accountability within the school. We are responsible for providing a clear vision and strategic direction, holding the headteacher to account for the educational performance and well-being of all pupils and for the financial performance of the school. As a Church school, the governing board must also ensure that a full and relevant programme of religious education and the study of Christianity is delivered by the school.

As well as meeting as a full governing body, we also have a number of subcommittees that focus on specific aspects of the school: performance and communication, finance, HR and premises.

Trinity Governing Body Members

Eileen Barnes-Vachell, Co-Chair

I have had over forty years’ experience working with schools and school systems in the UK and internationally and am delighted to be able to use my skills and experience as Co-Chair of the Governing Board. I started my career as a primary school teacher and headteacher of two London schools and in the course of my career have been an adviser, inspector, and Head of School Improvement in four very different local authorities and have worked directly with over two hundred schools. It has been a privilege to work with such a broad range of professionals who are all committed to securing and improving the educational experience and outcomes for the children in their care.

Having spent my whole adult life working in education, I am now semi-retired and am very pleased to be the local authority representative on the governing board supporting what is a very successful and vibrant school. I have one granddaughter at Trinity School and another who will be joining in September. In my spare time, I enjoy reading, yoga, weight training and travelling.

Iliffe Kenyon, Co-Chair

I first became a Governor in 1992 shortly after my son joined Trinity Primary School. All three of my children attended Trinity and thoroughly enjoyed every minute of their time there.

I have worked as a teacher of mathematics in local comprehensives, grammar schools, Henley College and independent schools. Most recently working as the Pastoral Deputy Head and Designated Safeguarding Lead at Godstowe Preparatory School in High Wycombe.

Currently, I am studying Nutrition & Health Coaching and Nutritional Therapy at IINH.  In my free time I enjoy walking my dog and reading.

Anne Griffith, Foundation Governor

I have been a teacher since qualifying in 1980. I have worked in a number of different schools during my career, teaching children throughout the Primary age range, and children with additional needs in the Secondary sector, holding a variety of different positions.

Since moving to Henley in 2005, I have worked at Trinity, teaching in different Phases throughout the school, and working in different roles before retiring in July 2021. Trinity is a great school with amazing children and an equally amazing staff.

I joined the Governing Body at the beginning of 2021; now, in my Governor role, I hope to be able to support the school into the future.

Charlotte Miles-Kingston,Co-Vice Chair

I have been an active member of the Congregation of Holy Trinity Church since moving to Henley over 15 years ago and felt immensely privileged to be asked to become a Foundation Governor of Trinity Primary School in 2021.  Previously, I have also been a Governor of another primary school in the local area and I am a Trustee for a local Henley Charity.

I am a qualified Chartered Accountant, though decided in March 2021 to make a change as I wanted to be able to work with and support young people through challenging times.  Since then I have been working as a Learning Support Assistant at a local College. I am also studying towards an MSc in Psychodynamic Counselling and Psychotherapy with Children and Adolescents. I am passionate about working with children and helping them to achieve and develop. I would like to ensure that every child is able to reach their potential and has the experiences and opportunities which they all so richly deserve.  I have two teenage children and in my ‘spare time’ I love reading and enjoy a trip to the theatre.

Paul Haines, Co-opted Governor 

We moved to Henley in 1989 with our three young children, who all spent a wonderful time at Trinity. We were 11 years in total as Trinity parents.  As well as providing our children with an excellent educational start in life, they all made so many special friends whilst at the school with whom they are all still very close. At my 34 year old son's recent wedding this summer, his best man and 5 of his 7 groomsmen were friends from Trinity!

I have been a governor since 2006, and as a retired Structural Engineer I have found my natural role for the last 12 years as chair of the Premises Committee, looking after repairs and improvements to the buildings and grounds.  Working with the school management on many exciting projects, and with the very generous support of FOTS it has been a very rewarding role for me.  I feel I’ve been able to give something back to the school for the wonderful start in life provided to our children.

Debbie Pattinson, Co-Vice Chair

I moved to Henley just in time for the arrival of our second daughter in 2016.  We were looking for a thriving community, a great school for our girls, and the open space to breathe after being cooped up in central London, and Henley has returned that in spades.

In London I worked for many years in TV, then in sales and marketing and finally as an executive for a global children’s channel that focused on development and learning. I’m now fortunate to be able to use the skills I developed working for a local small business focused on the arts.

I was Co-Chair of the Trinity Preschool committee for four years, and now the girls are both at Trinity I am honored to be working as a governor to help our school continue its vital role.

Katie Pollard, Parent Governor

Biography to follow

Alex Clarke, Parent Governor

I am father to two boys, with my youngest at Trinity. I have worked in the service industry for over 25 years and currently am an Operations Manager for a Guest Services company providing high-end Reception and Concierge services across the UK and Ireland. I create high-performing teams in challenging environments and have always managed people and relationships from entry level through to C-level and Board.

I sit on the Patient Advisory Board of a national charity for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, assisting in advising how best to invest funds raised for the charity. I also sit on the World Duchenne Organisation, Community Advisory Board and founded a Community Charity for my eldest son, who has Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy.

I have knowledge of the SEND process for primary schools, and work closely with the school SENDCO at Trinity.

I am connected to the Community Support Services to ensure accessibility and care is provided for all those children at Trinity who may require it. Ensuring the Local Authority provide for the needs of the children at Trinity.

Sam Brewster, Ex-Officio

I moved to Henley with my family in 2019 to join the ministry team at Holy Trinity Church where, since September 2024, I now serve as vicar. Married to Lucy, we have four young children. We are both passionate about serving our Henley community, and it's a particular privilege for me to serve Trinity Primary School, both in my role as vicar and governor. 

After a short spell as a youth worker in my early 20s, I trained for Church of England ministry in Oxford, and was ordained in 2013. I served my curacy at a vibrant town-centre church in Maidenhead. Other passions include music (I studied music as an undergraduate), and running, (when time and energy allow!). I hope my presence on the governing body will help to keep growing the fruitful connection between school and church which has existed for so many years already. 

Nick Strange, Parent Governor

I have a daughter who has been at Trinity for 3 years and is now in Year 3. I am a retired Olympic rowing coach and current chartered accountant.

I competed at the Atlanta Olympics in 1996 as a rower whilst I work in the insurance industry in London, after which I moved to Henley where I qualified as a chartered accountant. The following year I took up rowing coaching, from which I went onto coach at the 2004 Athens Olympics and 2012 London Olympics, the latter was certainly one of the most extraordinary experiences of my life.

Throughout my coaching career I continued with Accountancy and have run my own business since 2000. I still have a small client base, although my main passion is coaching rowing which I now do part time at Abingdon School. This is where I became more aware of how influential the many environments a child experiences at a school can be in order to deal with what the world has install for them and can set them off on a good course and influence their choices throughout their lives.

In my spare time I try to kitesurf and surf.  My daughter is a better surfer than I am and kitesurfing appears to be a labour of love.

Charlotte Whittle, Headteacher

Caroline Newman, Deputy Headteacher

Katie Pearson, Clerk to the Governors

Katie Pearson has been appointed as Clerk to the Governors, from January 2024. If you have any complaints relating to the Governors, please contact Katie on  clerktogovernors@trinityprimaryschool.org