Our Governing Body
As a Church Aided School our Governing Body is made up of Foundation, Parent, Staff and Local Authority Governors, as defined in the Instrument of Government constitution. It has a range of duties and powers, and a general responsibility for the conduct of the school with a view to promoting high standards of educational achievement.
The Full Governing Body meets five times a year to decide our aims and policies and to ensure efficient running of the school.
Their role includes:
- Setting targets for pupil achievement
- Managing finances
- Making sure the curriculum is balanced
- Appointing senior staff
- Reviewing staff performance and pay
- Overseeing the strategic running of the school
Sub-committees
Our Governing Body has two sub-committees. These sub-committees meet regularly to discuss their responsibilities in these key areas (under review).
Leadership and Management (including Finance)
Teaching & Learning (including SMSC)
Maintained schools are now required to publish salary information on any employee earning over £100,000 per annum.
All staff employed directly by the school are paid in accordance with the School Teachers Pay & Conditions Document (STPD) or National Joint Council (NJC) Terms & Conditions (support staff). All salary levels are determined and reviewed annually by the Pay Committee of the Board of Governors.
Please see below the numbers of employees earning over £100,000 per annum:
We have no employees earning more than £100,000 per annum.
Governor Attendance 2025-26 Academic Year
Full Governing Board attendance for the
2025-26 academic year.
| Governor |
Governor Type |
25 Sep 2025
FGB |
03 Dec 2025
FGB |
03 Feb 2026
EFGB |
26 Mar 2026
FGB |
14 May 2026
FGB |
16 Jul 2026
FGB |
| Patrick Bareham |
Parent governor |
Y |
Y |
NS |
Y |
Y |
N |
| Debby Brown |
Staff governor |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
| Lisa Cornell |
Foundation Ex-Officio |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
| Sophie Curra |
Local Authority Governor |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
| Sue Elliott |
Headteacher |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
| Cheryl Schwemm |
|
Y |
N |
|
|
|
|
| Caroline Sharp |
Foundation Parochial Church
Council Appointed
|
N |
Y |
Y |
NS |
Y |
Y |
| Ben Thomas |
Foundation Parochial Church
Council Appointed
|
N |
Y |
N |
Y |
Y |
Y |
| Deborah Whitaker |
Parent governor |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
| David Wright |
Foundation Parochial Church
Council Appointed
|
Y |
Y |
NS |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Attendance Key:
Y = Attended,
N = Apologies Accepted,
NA = Apologies not Accepted,
NS = No Apologies sent,
? = Attendance Not Marked,
Blank = Not Required,
CA = Consent for absence,
- = Not applicable.
Governors
Select to show more details
-
Ann McLeish
Ann McLeish -
Date Appointed - 17th July 2026
Appointed By - The Rochester Diocese
Term Ends - 16th July 2033
-
Ben Thomas
Associate Health and Safety Governor
Ben Thomas -
Associate Health and Safety Governor
Ben is a Foundation Governor and was appointed in 2017. He sits on the Leadership and Management Committee and is the Governor for Finance and Health & Safety. Ben is the Estate Manager for the Penshurst Place Estate since 2010, having previously held similar positions on estates in Ireland and Wales.
Areas of responsibility - Associate Health and Safety Governor
Date Appointed - 13th March 2025
Appointed By - Foundation/Trust
Term of Office - 4 years
-
Caroline Sharp
Foundation Governor
Caroline Sharp -
Foundation Governor
Caroline is a Foundation Governor and was appointed in 2017. She is the current Vice Chair of Governors, sits on the Teaching and Learning Committee and is the Governor for SMSC. Caroline is an employment barrister and sits part time as a District Judge in London and the South East. Caroline has two children at Penshurst School.
Areas of responsibility - SMSC Committee
Date Appointed - 17th November 2021
Appointed By - Foundation/Trust
Term of Office - 4 years
-
Debby Brown
Staff Governor
Debby Brown -
Staff Governor
Debby has been the Staff Governor since 2020 and sits on the Teaching and Learning Committee. Debby is a Higher Level Teaching Assistant and has worked at Penshurst School since 2000. She is responsible for RE and music within the school and covers staff planning time throughout the school.
Date Appointed - 27th November 2024
Appointed By - School Staff
Term of Office - 4 years
-
Patrick Bareham
Parent Governor
Patrick Bareham -
Parent Governor
Patrick is a Parent Governor and was appointed in 2022. Patrick sits on the Leadership and Management Committee. He has a background in corporate finance and corporate governance in both the private and public sectors. Patrick has two children at Penshurst School.
Areas of responsibility - SMSC Committee
Date Appointed - 15th November 2022
Elected By - Parents
Term of Office - 4 Years
-
David Wright
Associate Health and Safety Governor
David Wright -
Associate Health and Safety Governor
David is an Associate Health and Safety Governor. He is a Chartered Accountant and retired some years ago after a career with British Gas. He sits on the Leadership and Management Committee.
Date Appointed - 8th December 2022
Appointed By - Foundation/Trust
Term of Office - 4 years
-
Rev. Lisa Cornell
Chair of Governors
Rev. Lisa Cornell -
Chair of Governors
Lisa is an ex-officio governor and holds the post as the local Rector. Lisa was a Geography teacher for 25 years working mainly at independent schools in London. She has been Chair of Governors since 2022 and also serves on the boards at Fordcombe and Chiddingstone Schools.
Date Appointed - 1st September 2021
Appointed By - Foundation by virtue of the office held
Term of Office - N/A
-
Sophie Curra
Local Authority Governor
Sophie Curra -
Local Authority Governor
Sophie is a Local Authority governor. She chairs the Teaching and Learning Committee and is also the SEN Link Governor. Sophie is a Senior Educational Psychologist for a neighbouring authority.
Areas of responsibility - Vice Chair of Governors, Chair of Teaching & Learning, Committee, SEN Governor
Date Appointed - 19th July 2021
Appointed By - Local Authority
Term of Office - 4 years
-
Emma Hamill
Co-Headteacher - Ex-Officio
Emma Hamill -
Co-Headteacher - Ex-Officio
Emma is an ex-officio governor as Co-Headteacher. Emma joined the school as a Class Teacher on 1st September 2022. Emma then took on the role of SENCo in September 2025 and became a Co-Headteacher on 1st September 2026.
Areas of responsibility - Teaching and Learning and Leadership and Management
-
Sue Elliott
Co-Headteacher - Ex-Officio
Sue Elliott -
Co-Headteacher - Ex-Officio
Sue is an ex-officio governor as Co-Headteacher. Following a career change, Sue began her teaching career in Sussex in 2002. She joined Penshurst in 2015 and taught Years 5&6 before being appointed Headteacher in 2017.
Areas of responsibility - Teaching & Learning Committee, Leadership and Management Committee, Finance Committee
Date Appointed - 1st January 2017
Appointed By - Virtue of office as headteacher/principal
Term of Office - N/A
-
Deborah Heard
Parent Governor
Deborah Heard -
Parent Governor
Deborah is a Parent Governor and sits on the Leadership and Management Committee. Focus on school marketing and pupil recruitment.
She has a commercial background, leading a Pharmacy publishing business across sales, marketing and content functions. In recent years she has a acted as a consultant across the pharmacy supply chain.
Deborah has two children at Penshurst School and was elected by parents in June 2025.
Date Appointed - 27th June 2025
Elected By - Parents
Term of Office - 4 years
