Governors - Mobile

SHANE HARFIELD

JAMES REID

Co-opted Governor

Parent Governor

EILEEN TUFF

CAROLINE MCNALLY-JOHNSON

KAREN DU ROCHER

JEORGE TEHARA

JAN BLEASE

Co-opted Governor

DONNA SELMES

Co-opted Governor

JOAN HILLCOCK

Co-opted Governor

FIONA COLLINGRIDGE

Staff Governor

CHRIS NORWOOD

Foundation Governor

Vice-Chair of Governors

Headteacher

CLIVE BROOKE

Chair of Governors

JUDITH HUGHES

Co-opted Governor

SASCHA SEMANSHIA

Co-opted Governor

RICHARD HUGHES

Co-opted Governor

I have over 20 years experience of working with young people in local youth services. I am professionally qualified within informal and community education as well as management. Within my role as governor, I will provide an additional link with local youth services to help ensure young people’s needs, well-being and meaningful participation is central to the school. I feel very lucky that my daughter attended Northfleet School for Girls. She has recently attained a scholarship to achieve her doctorate, showing that hard work and passion, alongside a great education can lead to amazing things!

Caroline McNally-Johnson

Co-opted Governor

It is a privilege to be a part of the Governing Body at NSfG. I appreciate the opportunity to play a part in making a difference in our local community, having grown up and now working here. I've been a primary school teacher for 5 years and value the opportunity to contribute to the next phase of my pupil's education. I am able to use my experience as a Year 5/6 and Maths lead along with my wider primary school knowledge to help with the transition between primary and secondary, especially for those who struggle.

Shane Harfield

Co-opted Governor

I have over twenty years’ experience working in IT Procurement for large companies. This includes working with suppliers’ contracts from legal and financial perspectives. My family and I moved to Northfleet from Australia four years ago, which meant settling into a new country and learning how the English school system works. There are lots of positives for both countries to learn from each other. Outside of work I love to do DIY and am involved with organising activities for a youth group. I am passionate to watch and encourage young people to grow and reach their full potential in life regardless of the challenges that they face.

James Reid

Parent Governor

Shane Harfield

Co-opted Governor

I have been a solicitor for over 30 years working in the local area for over half of that time with Hatten Wyatt in the Gravesend office. I specialise in residential and commercial property and I am also qualified as a Notary Public dealing with documents for use abroad. Outside of work I am a trustee of a local charity in Northfleet, Alzheimer and Dementia Support Services. I love to garden and enjoy keeping chickens so I enjoy the idea of the school farm and wish I had gone to a school with that amazing facility. Having been educated in the state system and with a teacher in my close family I have a great interest in how schools are run and as an employer myself particularly how schools deal with the transition for students into the workplace.

Karen Du Rocher

Co-opted Governor

The educational attainment and well being of children and young people has always been a passion of mine. I have worked with children and young people for over 20 years in a range of settings across the Youth Justice system, Early Help and within schools in London and across Kent. I have spent many years teaching within the secondary sector- and have spent the past 6 years teaching at a local primary school. When my daughter started her journey here at NSFG and the opportunity of a governor arose, I believed my working experience would be beneficial in contributing to the growing success of the school. I am an avid supporter of engaging girls in sport and transferring the skills learned into the different areas in their lives. Through my work with a local football team-we have supported girls to develop the confidence in coaching through the Kent FA volunteering programme. In my free time, I coach a girls football team, enjoy reading and travelling to new and exciting destinations.

Sascha Semanshia

Co-opted Governor

Jeorge Tehara

Co-opted Governor

I joined the governing body for Northfleet School for Girls in 2009, when my daughter joined the school in Year 7. Before taking on this role I had previously been a part of the governing body for Wrotham Road Primary School in Gravesend, where two of my daughters began their education. Having lived in Gravesend the majority of my life and I am also currently raising my own family here, the education and welfare system has always been the main priority for myself and my wife, as we want to provide the best for our children. This is why I decided to act as a parent governor as I wanted to ensure that schools were providing outstanding qualities our children deserves. Since the appointment of the new Headmaster in 2014, I can proudly say that I have seen a much anticipated improvement in the school, from empowering, inspiring and building the confidence of their pupils. As both a parent and a critical friend of the school, I am proud to be a part of such a progressive community whose framework is based on delivering the best results to the people most important to us, our students, as well as setting directions to promote effective changes in all the members of our community and engaging people to help build partnerships between the students, parent and teachers. Outside of the governing body I currently have 18 years of experience in the gas industry, acting as a Senior Commercial Operator, managing and operating a physical bi-directional gas pipeline that provides commercial and physical gas transport services between the United Kingdom and continental Europe.

I’m a long-standing member of the Northfleet ‘family” both as a former student and now an employee. My role as designated Deputy for Safeguarding and School Mental Health Lead is both challenging and rewarding but I love that every day is different. I am a trained counsellor which is very beneficial to my role and I have a passion and interest in all things mental health. I feel privileged to be a staff governor at Northfleet School for Girls and currently sit on two of the sub-committees.

Donna Selmes

Staff Governor

The educational attainment and well being of children and young people has always been a passion of mine. I have worked with children and young people for over 20 years in a range of settings across the Youth Justice system, Early Help and within schools in London and across Kent. I have spent many years teaching within the secondary sector- and have spent the past 6 years teaching at a local primary school. When my daughter started her journey here at NSFG and the opportunity of a governor arose-I believed my working experience would be beneficial in contributing to the growing success of the school. I am an avid supporter of engaging girls in sport and transferring the skills learned into the different areas in their lives. Through my work with a local football team-we have supported girls to develop the confidence in coaching through the Kent FA volunteering programme. In my free time, I coach a girls football team, enjoy reading and travelling to new and exciting destinations

Sascha Semanshia

Co-opted Governor

I have been a school Governor since 1984, and have always lived in Gravesend. Having been educated locally, I was given a full Scholarship to Trinity College of Music. I was employed by the Bank of England, and also worked within the commercial and Civil Service sectors. I worked at a Solicitors in Admiralty and as a Law Costs Draftsman. Having been a volunteer fund raiser for the NSPCC (1962 to 1984) and Scope (1987 to the 2000s), I was a Member of the Community Health Council, District Health Authority and Trust Board at Darent Valley Hospital; I am currently a Member of the Charity Management Board, Darent Valley Hospital. My hobbies include textiles, music and current affairs, and dogs.

Eileen Tuff

Co-opted Governor

I have been Headteacher at NSFG since September 2014, having previously worked as Deputy Headteacher at Northfleet Technology College.. Prior to working at NTC I undertook the role of Assistant Headteacher and College Leader at Valley Park School in Maidstone. Throughout my career I have always held a passion for working with young people to identify their talents and achieve not only amazing results, but also the life and learning skills to make a great start in their working lives. As Headteacher of NSFG it is a privilege to work with the highly committed and experienced Governors who are effective in developing our school so that all students can ‘Dream big and achieve’.

Chris Norwood

Headteacher

Clive has been a governor at Northfleet School for Girls since 2007, and Chair since 2011. He has also been a governor at Langafel Primary School, Longfield. Born in Gravesend, Clive has lived in, or around, the area ever since. Both of his twin daughters attended NSfG. After leaving Gravesend Grammar School for Boys, Clive studied part-time to qualify as a chemist whilst working in local manufacturing industries. He later moved into production management, inventory management, and eventually into systems management. Finally he worked as a freelance consultant in systems implementation. Having taken early retirement, he has had the opportunity to pursue his interests of DIY, cooking, gardening, music, and, of course, school governance.

Clive Brooke

Chair of Governors

Joan has a legal background and has worked in the Construction Industry of over 25 years, including holding Directorships in both Kent and Essex Construction companies over that time. She has always been a firm supporter of women in construction and over her years in the industry has mentored a number of professional construction women. Joan has a grown up family and has lived in Kent for the last 37 years. Whilst her children have moved through the Kent education system she has had an active involvement in education including 7 years as a Parent Governor of a Kent Primary School. Joan became involved in Northfleet School for Girls when Willmott Dixon one of her previous employers refurbished and extended the school. Now retired from Kier Construction, Joan brings her business experience and commercial approach to the role as Governor and aims to support Kent girls in looking at the Construction Industry as a sustainable employment choice.

Joan Hillcock

Foundation Governor

I have worked in procurement for over 26 years, having spent the last 20 years working in the public sector with experience across local authorities, the NHS and the charitable sector. I have vast experience in dealing with contractual and financial matters, following a defined set of rules and governance in spending public funds. I have lived in local area for 19 years and have always been interested in the education system, when my daughter started at NSfG I knew then that I wanted part of the governing body and when the opportunity arose, I didn’t hesitate in putting my name forward. I’m excited about being part of the school’s journey going forward, I’m hopeful my experience can contribute to helping NSfG achieve its vision for the future. I love spending time with my family, my happy place is on a sun lounger with a good book!

Judith Hughes

Co-opted Governor

Fiona Collingridge

Vice - Chair of Governors

I retired in 2020, after 38 years at NSfG working in various roles. Having started as a PE and English teacher, my passion was with the pastoral side of school life which led my career down the Head of Year route before becoming a member of SLT and, finally, a Deputy Headteacher.As a member of SLT, my skills and capabilities considerably broadened. Whilst maintaining my passion for the more pastoral aspects, I very quickly increased my knowledge, expertise and confidence in all aspects of becoming an effective leader. One example is of Data Analysis, both of individual students and departments. This was, previously, “dangerous” ground for me. However, in my role as DHT I line managed Colleges and, as such, significantly increased my knowledge and understanding of data so that I was able to ask probing questions, monitor and evaluate outcomes.I always led by example, maintaining high standards and having high expectations, as per the ethos of the school, leading to significant improvements for the school. An example of this is the year-on-year improvement in whole school attendance as well as the significant annual decreases in Persistent Absence. Actions taken were reported on, with evidence of their impacts, to the Full Governing Body as well as the Link Committee.I was respected by students and staff for being consistent, robust and fair as well as for being able to challenge, hold myself and others accountable and support others to find solutions and achieve their goals. In my role, I showed I have the 7 Nolan Principles:- selflessness, integrity, objectivity, openness, honesty, accountability and leadership; all of which are paramount to the role of a governor.When choosing to retire two years ago, I believed my time in school was over and I had given all I had. However, having recently visited the school, my great passion to use my skills to support young people hit me like a thunder clap. I knew that I had to get back into the school environment to do this and my heart and soul have been, and always will be, with NSfG.

Having served as Deputy Head at Northfleet School for Girls from 1987 to 2012, I was delighted to return to teach at the school, on a part time basis, from 2017 to my third and final retirement in 2020. I have taught in three other high schools including St. George’s in Gravesend and have worked with gifted mathematicians in years 3 to 6 and special needs children in preparation for year 6 SATs in Medway primary schools. However, my heart belongs to NSFG and I hope to continue as a volunteer in the Maths department. During my time at NSFG I was fortunate to embrace both pastoral and curriculum roles and oversaw many changes including the move to local financial management. I believe that these experiences will help me to make a positive contribution to the governing body and thereby the students of the school. In my leisure time I enjoy classical music, especially singing with Gravesham Choral Society, reading a wide variety of literature, walking my dog in Jeskyns and other local parks and woods, gardening and spending time with my family.

Jan Blease

Co-opted Governor

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