Governance

What the Local Governing Board Does

We are an Academy Trust school, with the Orchard Learning Alliance (OLA).

The OLA Board, made up of Members and Trustees, is an integral part of our organisation, holding the Executive Team to account and ensuring best practice in terms of compliance and governance.

The South Lake Local Governing Board plays a critical role within the school. Whilst the Headteacher is responsible for the day-to-day running of the school, it is up to the governors to take on responsibility for the strategic, or long-term, direction of the school. No member of the Governing Board has power as an individual; decisions are taken as a body.

At South Lake, the Governing Board is made up of volunteers drawn from the "stakeholders" of the school, including parents, staff and members of the local community. Each has an equal say in matters regarding the school.

The Local Governing Board meets half-termly; six times per year. The Governors operate under a 'flat structure' where all governors attend those meetings.

The Grievance Committee, Complaints Committee and Discipline Committee meet if required.

Local Governing Board

Local Governing Board
Dr Jon Mainhagu – Chair of Governors Term of office: 4 years Date of appointment: 06/05/2026 Appointing body: Co-opted by GB Register of interests: Parent of pupil at South Lake Voting rights: Yes	Mrs Claire Ward Term of office: 4 years Date of appointment:01/04/24 Appointing body: Co-opted by GB Register of interests: Teacher at Waingels College. Voting rights: Yes Safeguarding governor
Mrs Samantha Hamer – Head of School Term of office: duration of appointment Date of appointment: 01/01/2026 Appointing body: GB (Ex-officio by appointment)** Register of interests: Head of School of South Lake Primary School Voting rights: Yes	Mrs Victoria Thorpe – Staff governor Term of office: 4 years Date of appointment: 01/04/24 Appointing body: Staff Register of interests: Member of school staff. Voting rights: Yes
Mrs Andrea Gielow Term of office: 4 years Date of appointment: 01/04/24 Appointing body: Parents Register of interests: Parent of two pupils. Voting rights: Yes From November 2024 - EYFS governor.	Rev Jackie Case Term of office: 4 years Date of appointment: 13.12.23 Resigned 1/10/24 Appointing body: co-opted by GB Voting rights: Yes
Dr Melek Demirdag Term of office: 4 years Appointing body: co-opted by GB Voting rights: Yes	Mrs Carol Jewell Term of office: 4 years Date of appointment: 01/04/24 Appointing body: co-opted by GB From November 2024 - EYFS governor. Voting rights: Yes

Mrs Sarah Noye Term of office: 4 years - Now ended Date of appointment: 01/04/24 Appointing body: Parents Register of interests: Parent of a pupil. Member of Campbell Rd Residents group. Employed by The Bulmershe Secondary School. Voting rights: Yes Standards and behaviour governor	Mrs Antoinette Butler-Willis - Headteacher Term of office - now ended Term of office – duration of appointment Date of appointment: 01/04/24 Appointing body: GB (Ex-officio by appointment)** Register of interests: Headteacher of South Lake School Voting rights: Yes - now ended
Mr Stephen Vegh - Vice Chair Term of office: 4 years Date of appointment: 01/04/24 Appointed Chair October 2024 - now ended Appointing body: Co-opted by GB Register of interests: Teacher at Virtual School for Looked-after children in Bracknell. Chair of Wokingham SACRE*. Voting rights: Yes SEND and CLA governor	Mrs Elizabeth Rowland - Chair Term of office: 4 years Date of appointment: 01/04/24 Appointed Chair: September 2025 - now ended Appointing body: Local Authority Register of interests: Local Councillor for Wokingham. . Vice-Chair of Wokingham SACRE*. Trustee of Orchard Learning Alliance Voting rights: Yes SEND and safeguarding governor.

Local Governing Board

Dr Jon Mainhagu – Chair of Governors

Term of office: 4 years

Date of appointment: 06/05/2026

Appointing body: Co-opted by GB

Voting rights: Yes

Mrs Claire Ward

Term of office: 4 years

Date of appointment:01/04/24

Appointing body: Co-opted by GB

Voting rights: Yes

Safeguarding governor

Mrs Samantha Hamer – Head of School

Term of office: duration of appointment

Date of appointment: 01/01/2026

Appointing body: GB (Ex-officio by appointment)**

Voting rights: Yes

Mrs Victoria Thorpe – Staff governor

Term of office: 4 years

Date of appointment: 01/04/24

Appointing body: Staff

Voting rights: Yes

Mrs Andrea Gielow

Term of office: 4 years

Date of appointment: 01/04/24

Appointing body: Parents

Voting rights: Yes

From November 2024 - EYFS governor.

Rev Jackie Case

Term of office: 4 years

Date of appointment: 13.12.23

Resigned 1/10/24

Appointing body: co-opted by GB

Voting rights: Yes

Dr Melek Demirdag

Term of office: 4 years

Appointing body: co-opted by GB

Voting rights: Yes

Mrs Carol Jewell

Term of office: 4 years

Date of appointment: 01/04/24

Appointing body: co-opted by GB

From November 2024 - EYFS governor.

Voting rights: Yes

Mrs Sarah Noye

Term of office: 4 years - Now ended

Date of appointment: 01/04/24

Appointing body: Parents

Register of interests: Parent of a pupil. Member of Campbell Rd Residents group. Employed by The Bulmershe Secondary School.

Voting rights: Yes

Standards and behaviour governor

Mrs Antoinette Butler-Willis - Headteacher

Term of office - now ended

Term of office – duration of appointment

Date of appointment: 01/04/24

Appointing body: GB (Ex-officio by appointment)**

Voting rights: Yes - now ended

Mr Stephen Vegh - Vice Chair

Term of office: 4 years

Date of appointment: 01/04/24

Appointed Chair October 2024 - now ended

Appointing body: Co-opted by GB

Voting rights: Yes

SEND and CLA governor

Mrs Elizabeth Rowland - Chair

Term of office: 4 years

Date of appointment: 01/04/24

Appointed Chair: September 2025 - now ended

Appointing body: Local Authority

Register of interests: Local Councillor for Wokingham. . Vice-Chair of Wokingham SACRE*. Trustee of Orchard Learning Alliance

Voting rights: Yes

SEND and safeguarding governor.

*SACRE - Standing Advisory Council on Religious Education

** The Headteacher of a school is always reserved a place on the Governing Body.