Governance - Local School Committee (LSC)

The Local School Committee (LSC) provides strategic oversight, support and challenge to the school’s senior leadership team to ensure high standards of education and the best possible outcomes for pupils. It works within the vision, ethos and policies of the Trust and ensures that statutory responsibilities are met, including those set out in Keeping Children Safe in Education and Working Together to Safeguard Children.

The LSC is made up of the Headteacher (and Head of School where applicable), elected staff and parent members and co-opted community members who are appointed for their skills and experience and meets 4 times a year alongside a programme of LSC member visits to the school.

The LSC has delegated responsibility to work with senior leaders on the following:

Standards
Stakeholder engagement
Safeguarding
Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND)

The LSC is a committee of the Spiral Partnership Trust which is legally responsible for overseeing the operations of the Trust’s schools. Our decisions are monitored by, and may be influenced by, the Board of Directors who are ultimately responsible for all the actions of the Trust’s schools.

The LSC supports the work of the Trust and Board of Directors, acts as a questioning friend to the school, monitoring decision making and its impact on pupil progress, achievement and attainment and ensures that the Trust’s vision, ethos and strategy is adopted and applied by school leaders.

If you would like to contact the Local School Committee or find out more about how it works, please contact the school office by telephone or email at admin@mountpleasant.herts.sch.uk

LSC members do not deal with individual pupil matters or specific complaints and parents and carers should first raise concerns with their child’s class teacher and then with the Headteacher or Head of School where necessary.

Chair of Local School Committee

Mr David Newsome

Clerk to the Local School Committee

Mr Patrick Aikman

The Local School Committee (LSC) meets at least once a term. The dates for the academic year 2025-2026 are:

- 25/9/25

- 4/12/25

- 12/3/26

- 26/6/26

Signed minutes and agenda of future LSC Meetings are available from the school office upon request.

Current members and their main roles

Dave Newsome - Co-opted LSC Member- Chair

Current term of governance 26.09.24 - 25.09.2028

Pecuniary Interest - None

Link Responsibilities: Attendance, Safeguarding, H&S

I joined the Local School Committee for MPL in 2023. I served as a Police Officer for 30 years and retired as a Detective Chief Inspector and Head of Safeguarding teams in 2018. I have extensive investigative experience, and served as a Firearms Commander and Senior Investigating Officer. I managed all Child Protection Teams in Hertfordshire between 2015 and 2017 and worked with Local Authority partners to safeguard children. More recently I have worked in both the Local Authority as a Community Safety Manager and in a secondary school as a Behaviour Lead. I have been trained and deployed as a Designated Safeguarding Lead. I have since retrained and has qualified as a workplace investigator, supporting a number of organisations to investigate internal allegations of bullying, harassment, discrimination and victimisation. I am married and lives in Bricket Wood. The last of my children is completing university and I hopes he can bring his family and professional experience to the fore and to support the fantastic team at MPL.

Joan Hooker - Co-opted LSC -Vice-Chair LSC Member

Current term of governance: 01.09.23 - 31.08.26

Pecuniary Interest - None

Link Responsibilities: Behaviour & Personal Development, Quality of Education, Leadership & Management

I am retired from a career in IT and have lived in Bricket Wood for over 40 years. I have had a long association with MPL school initially as a parent of 3 daughters and an active member of the PTA and in more recent years as a Governor. I am a Community Governor and currently the link Governor for English.

Melanie Nevill - Parent LSC Member

Current term of governance 15.11.22 - 14.11.26

Pecuniary Interest - None

Link Responsibilities: SEN/D, Vulnerable/Disadvantaged children, Clubs

My background is in marketing and psychology before becoming a writer. I write about all sorts of subjects including fashion, lifestyle, health and travel. Currently I write web content and articles about family life, and in particular parenting and caring for children with disabilities and neurodiverse conditions such as Autism, ADHD, FASD (foetal alcohol spectrum disorder), Trauma & attachment and processing spectrum difficulties.

I am a parent to two children aged 7 and 23 and have been a foster carer for over 10 years. We have an autism service dog called Paxton who is an Italian Spinone/Pointer cross with boundless energy and a love of muddy puddles! Over the years of being a foster carer I have had many children placed at Mount Pleasant Lane Primary School before moving on to adoption or other schools.

Lisa Franks - Co-opted LSC - Community LSC Member

Current term of governance 25.09.2025 - 24.09.2029

Pecuniary Interest - None

Link Responsibilities: Vulnerable/Disadvantaged children

Shreya Barot- Co-Opted LSC Member

Current term of governance 06.02.24 - 05.02.2028

I currently works as a Member Services Manager at the Association of Colleges working; a membership organisation promoting, supporting and representing Further Education colleges. Previously, I have held positions at the London School of Economics and the New Jersey Department of Education. I holds a Master's degree in public policy from Rutgers University's Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy and has over 10 years of experience working in social and education policy. I am passionate about improving access to education for all and strongly believes in the value of learning.

Adam Deane - Parent LSC Member

Current term of governance: 17.07.24 - 16.07.28

Pecuniary Interest - None

Link Responsibilities: Assessment, Finance

I live in Bricket Wood and have a daughter in MPL, therefore I have a vested interest to ensure the school provides a first-class education and inspiring environment for our children. Professionally, I work in data and have over 15 years of experience in solution architecture and analysis.

I find the role of a school governor very thought-provoking for me both as a parent and a professional. I believe all children deserve a good quality education in a safe and nurturing environment. I believe that parents, schools and the broader community have to come together to raise happy and confident children who can achieve and thrive. I feel privileged that I can contribute to this through my role as a governor and be a part of an amazing team of dedicated people.

Vikki Tyler

Staff Local School Committee Member

Jen Bradshaw

Head of School

Alex Lindley

Executive Headteacher

Patrick Aikman

Clerk

LSC members who have held office in the past 12 months:

Lauren Wilson - Staff LSC Member

Linda Crocker - Co-opted LSC Member

Neil Boss - Co-opted LSC Member

How do I become a Local School Committee member?

Vacancies for LSC members do arise from time to time so if you would like to be considered, please contact the School Business Manager via email on sbm@mountpleasant.herts.sch.uk

LSC Code of Conduct

LSC Code of conduct

Spiral Partnership Trust - Members and Directors

Governor Attendance 2024/25

Clerk 4/4
Linda Crocker 4/4
Joan Hooker 3/4
Mellie Nevill 3/4
Dave Newsome 4/4
Shreya Desai 2/4
Lauren Wilson 2/4
Adam Deane 3/3