Our Governors

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As a federation we have a single governing board covering eight schools, with an individual local advisory board for each school. One of the underpinning principles of the Primary Advantage Federation is to ‘promote a collaborative approach whilst developing the capacity of each school to serve its own community and retain its distinct identity.’ The structure of the current Governing Board ensures decisions can be made at local advisory board level and the local advisory boards can closely monitor the work in their school.

Governor Documents

Our Governing Board

  • John Clark

    Chair of the Central Governing Board
    John’s working life has been in education, initially in a further education college then in higher education.  He taught leadership, change management and research methods in a Business School and held a senior post managing research staff and students.  John still supervises a small number...
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  • Robert Adediran

    Foundation Governor, Bishop of Stepney, Chair of St John the Baptist Local Advisory Board
    Rob Adediran is Executive Director at the award-winning education charity London Music Masters. In parallel he has been a faculty member at the Verbier Festival and chair of the strategy board for the Lambeth Music Education Hub. Currently, Rob serves on advisory groups for several...
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  • Ralph Eliot

    Co-opted Governor and Chair of the Business & Finance Committee
    Ralph is a management consultant, having previously held similar roles in finance and consulting. Having studied Mathematics at university and spent several years as a financial analyst, Ralph is an experienced problem solver, and is comfortable performing financial and commercial due diligence at the highest...
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  • Gwen Gutzmore

    LDBS Governor, Chair of the Holy Trinity Local Advisory Board
    Gwen trained as a Nurse, then qualified as a State Certified Midwife in 1967. She has worked in a number of midwifery roles including a Clinical Specialist for Delivery Suite before her transition to Midwifery Manager at the Homerton Hospital. Following her retirement from the...
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  • Rev. Graham Hunter

    Foundation Governor, Bishop of Stepney, St John the Baptist Local Advisory Board Member
    Rev. Graham Hunter has been Vicar of St John’s Church in Hoxton since 2010 after completing his Curacy in Islington. He trained for ordination at Ridley Hall in Cambridge, where he also completed an MA in Pastoral Theology. Before ordination, Graham worked as a Youth...
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  • Melissa McIntyre

    Parent Governor
    Melissa McIntyre was elected as a Parent Governor in April 2017. She is a former pupil of St John & St James Primary School and has over 15 years’ experience within finance, legal and the property industry. With this experience she has developed a strong...
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  • Jahsita Farrell

    Parent Governor
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  • Donna Thomas

    Local Authority Governor, Safeguarding Link Governor, Chair of St John & St James Local Advisory Board
    Donna has been a local authority governor on Primary Advantage Federation governing body since 2011 and she has been the Chair of St John and St James local advisory board since 2016. Donna works for London Borough of Hackney Education Department within the Early Years...
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  • Frankie Vinelott

    Foundation Governor, Deanery Synod, Health and Safety Link Governor
    Frankie has had a varied career, starting in the theatre before spending 4 years in Asia and Australia. This led to a degree in Japanese as a mature student followed by 3 years living and working in rural Japan in a local Board of Education....
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  • Vacancy

    Foundation Governor, Bishop of Stepney
    Foundation (Bishop of Stepney Appointment)
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  • Bridget Fagan

    Foundation Governor, Deanery Synod, Chair of De Beauvoir Local Advisory Board
    Bridget has worked in education since graduating from the University of Sussex. Her passion for teaching developed while working as an Adult Literacy volunteer. Following a primary PGCE in London, she taught in Essex and Tower Hamlets, spending 22 years as a deputy and Headteacher. ...
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  • Heather Rockhold

    Co-opted Foundation Governor, SEND Link Governor, Chair of the Morningside Local Advisory Board
    Heather has been involved in education for over 40 years as a pupil, student, teacher, parent, grandparent and Headteacher, all of which has given her a real insight into educational needs and the entitlement of all pupils to the best possible educational experience. Heather’s teaching...
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  • Hilary Ryan

    Co-opted Foundation Governor, Chair of the Outcomes & Provisions Committee
    Hilary was previously a member of De Beauvoir’s governing body for two years and joined the Central Governing Board in 2019. She is very experienced in school improvement work and has also worked as a headteacher. Hilary currently works for Hackney Learning Trust as a...
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  • Imogen Allan

    Staff Governor
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