Publication of Governor Information 2023 – 2024

Responsibilities of the Governing Body:

The Governing Body is responsible for setting the strategic direction of the school, agreeing policies and ensuring that sufficient resources are available. Governors undertake specialist governor training to ensure that they are competent in all aspects of governance. The Headteacher is responsible for the day-to-day management of the school.

The Governors meet as a full body three times a year. In addition, a number of sub-committees meet on a regular basis including; Finance & Premises, Teaching & Standards and Ethos.

Governors aim to visit the school regularly and meet with subject and key stage leaders to focus on areas for development as identified in the school’s SEF (Self Evaluation Form) and gather evidence that informs judgements regarding progress, achievement and any areas of concern which may need to be addressed.
Constitution of the Governing Body:

Foundation Governors: 6 (+ 2 additional vacancies to be filled in due course) 
Parent Governors: 2
LEA Governors: 1
Co-opted Governors: 1
Staff Governors: 1
Headteacher: 1
Governing Body Committees:

Please click here for current sub-committee membership

 

Governing Body Members:

 

  • Mrs Sarah Chessis – Foundation

    It is an honour to be appointed as a governor. As a former pupil and parent to two young children
    currently at the school, I want to see the school achieve its full potential and continue to grow.

    I want to work to ensure that WIJPS is at the heart of, and works in harmony with, the local Jewish
    community. It is important that all children get the best education possible, in a safe and welcoming
    environment, whilst still upholding the Jewish ethos of the school.

    I have been a primary school teacher at a school in Redbridge for 14 years, where I currently lead
    Lower Key Stage 2 and Maths. I look forward to using this experience to help with a range of aspects
    within the school and I to be able to assist in whatever way possible.

  • Mrs Carly Conway – Parent

    Hello, my name is Carly Conway. I have two daughters at WIJPS, one in Year 5 and one in Year 2, and I dearly adore the school and its ethos. I’m interested in supporting both the educational side but the children’s welfare and ensuring that every child matters. I’m honoured to be part of the Governing Body and feel my knowledge in education from the past 11 years, and my marketing knowledge from the 4 years prior to that, will really help support the school, along with rest of the Governing Body.

  • Mrs Deborah Epstein – Foundation

    I am honoured to have been appointed a Foundation Governor in 2023. As a parent of two current
    pupils in the school I am committed to the school’s ethos and educational provision.

    I am a qualified Social Worker with just under 15 years’ experience in the field of Mental Health in
    the NHS. My current roles include being  a Team Manager of a mental health service, and recently as
    a Project Manager setting up a new Maternal Mental Health Service across North East London. My
    career has given me transferable skills in people and risk management; service delivery; funding bid
    processes, and co-production, whilst helping me provide a wider systemic overview to a situation or
    organisation.

    The emotional well-being of both pupils and staff is vital to the school’s ongoing development. As
    part of the governing body I am eager to to help propel the school through the current social
    challenges created post-covid into a sustainable school that is prepared to meet those challenges,
    and to help it remain at the heart of the local community.

  • Mr Joshua Fineman – Foundation

    I am privileged to have been appointed as a Foundation Governor of WIJPS. My wife went to IJPS, and our three children are at various stages along their journey through the school.

    I am passionate about ensuring the School continues to provide high quality education to all children, maintains its proud Jewish ethos and remains a vibrant part of our local community, welcoming to all who enter.

    I am solicitor by profession, specialising in litigation. I often undertake significant project management work. I am well-versed in overseeing multiple moving parts and working alongside others in the development and delivery of a plan of action, and I look forward to putting these attributes to good use and working alongside my fellow governors for the benefit of WIJPS and all of its pupils.

    It is vital that we always strive to ensure our children are given every opportunity to achieve the very best of their potential, and I am delighted to be a part of that.

  • Mr Daniel Hunter – Foundation (Vice Chair)

    It is a privilege to have been appointed as a Governor in 2022.  As a former pupil and parent to three children – two currently attending WIJPS and one future pupil – I have a long-standing connection with the school and a strong interest in its continued success.

    I am committed to ensuring that WIJPS maximises opportunities for all children, with the continued advancement of educational standards, coupled with its proud Jewish ethos, a welcoming environment and outstanding facilities.

    I serve in a senior corporate development role at a global technology company, and as a board observer at several start-ups, with experience in investment banking, governance and strategy.  I hope to utilise some of what I have learnt in my professional career to benefit the school, particularly around financial sustainability.  More broadly, I look forward to working with other Governors / WIJPS’ senior leadership and helping in any way that I can.

  • Dr Emma Lautman – Local Education Authority Governor

    I have worked in central government for a number of years, spending the last six in a variety of policy and corporate roles at the Department for Education. Prior to that, I completed my PhD which explored the way the school system adapted to the changing circumstances of children during the Second World War. I have a longstanding professional and personal interest in the role played by schools in providing young people with enriching and high-quality educational experiences. I’m excited to be part of the WIJPS Governing Body and am committed to supporting the school to continue to flourish and deliver for all pupils.

    My daughter is currently attending the pre-school.

    Mr Bill Pointon – Parent

  • With two sons at the school and another to join soon, I am honoured to be part of the Governing body at WIJPS. I feel passionately about state education and want all our children to flourish in preparation for secondary school. I am a keen believer in students learning from all the experiences open to them, and I believe that WIJPS offers a great setting for all our children to do this.

    I have worked in education for over 15 years and am currently an Assistant Headteacher at a secondary school in Redbridge. This puts me in a strong position to understand the present issues within education and helps me in my role as Chair of the Teaching and Standards committee and to support the school on its journey to even greater things.

  • Mrs Mandie Preston – Staff

    I have been involved with WIJPS for over 12 years. My eldest daughter started the school in 2007 and I felt such an immediate connection and love for the school that I decided to run as a Foundation Governor. Whilst being part of the Governing Body, I oversaw the move from our old site on Carlton Drive to our current location. I was also the Lead Governor for safeguarding and was an active member of the Governing Body’s Staffing Committee.

    After several years as a Foundation Governor, I realised how important the School had become to me and I accepted a teaching post in KS1. I am currently one of the Reception class teachers but I have had an excellent oversight of the whole school because of the different roles I’ve played within WIJPS.

    Recently, the WIJPS Staff Governor position became available and, because of the previous experience that I have had within the school, I knew this would be the perfect role for me. I am totally committed to the School in every way and feel I am in an excellent position working at the heart of our School with the children.

  • Mr Ben Saltman – Foundation (Chair)

    A former pupil of the school (as is my wife), I haven’t moved far from my roots – I now have 4 children in the school. When my eldest joined the school, I was asked to join the Governing Body. I was appointed Chair in June 2014 and am also a member of the Teaching and Standards, Ethos, Admissions and Pupil Disciplinary Committees.   I’m interested in the welfare of the children and the school and am prepared to give my time and effort when required, having a positive impact on the future generation. I have been able to use my knowledge from my working profession as an Asset Management Surveyor, helping to solve problems, engaging with a variety of people in different professions and backgrounds, to progress ‎matters, reaching a successful conclusion. These skills are easily transferrable into my role as a governor.

  • Mr Barry Soraff – Co-opted

    I joined WIJPS as a governor during 2014 having myself attended the school between 1977 and 1982. I still live and work in the local area and have been a partner in a firm of accountants since 1999 during which time I have worked closely with hundreds of organisations, businesses and individuals across the country helping them with their financial and commercial affairs. I help manage the school’s finances and ensure that the school is able to operate on a sound financial footing.

  • Rabbi Sufrin - Foundation

    I am delighted to join the governing body of our school, with the specific role of Rabbinic Governor.

    I have lived and worked together with my wife, Mrs Sufrin, in the wider Ilford area for some 40 years as the senior Rabbi of Chabad across Essex.  We are both no stranger to the school. In fact, we have both taught here at different times in our communal life. I was a Jewish studies teacher in the old school in Carlton Drive for two full academic years. Mrs Sufrin taught on and off for some 30 years. It is for this combined reason, amongst others, that I am delighted to take on this role.

    As a governor, my ear will always be open to the leadership, teaching and auxiliary staff at the school, and you, the parent body, our most important stakeholders. You are the ones that entrust your children into the care of our staff at the school.

    A child will learn best when they are happy and content. It is our earnest desire as a member of the governing body together with the entire dedicated staff, supported by our parent body, to build on decades of achieving excellence in education, producing happy, fulfilled students. I hope and pray that I can play my part to the fullest.

  • Mrs Lisa West -  Headteacher

    My journey at WIJPS began as a Learning Support Assistant to a pupil in Year 2, some 13 years ago. I then retrained to become a class teacher and moved up to the role of Deputy Headteacher a few years later. My three children have been through the school and I feel that my heart is at WIJPS and the WIJPS community is my community.

    It has been my pleasure to serve on the school’s Governing Body for several years as an invitee and I have been an active member of the Teaching and Learning Committee and of the Ethos Committee. As the previous Designated Safeguarding Lead and Assessment Lead, I have supported Governors to understand the fast-changing landscape in which we operate.

    Now as Headteacher, I will endeavour to continue to support the Governors in their knowledge and understanding of the school, its curriculum, assessment procedures and the challenges we face. I am excited at the prospect of being an integral part of the school’s next chapter and of all of the positive opportunities that we have at WIJPS.