Our Governors

School governors are volunteers whose collective aim and responsibility is to ensure that the education and welfare of all of the children remains the primary focus of the school.

We do this by holding to account the headteacher and staff in a constructive and supportive way.

We take collective responsibility for the overall strategic management of the school and we are legally responsible for this. We are not responsible for managing the day to day running of the school – that is the responsibility of the headteacher.

Our three principal responsibilities are:

• a) To determine the school’s vision, ethos and strategic direction.
• b) To hold the Headteacher to account for the educational performance of the school and its pupils.
• c) To oversee the financial performance of the school to ensure that its money is well spent.

Our Governing Body

	Nominating Authority	First Appointed	Term Start	Term End
Co-opted governors
Mr A Marlow	Board of Governors	19 May 2025	19 May 2025	18 May 2029
Mr G Letley	Board of Governors	16 Jul 2016	15 Jul 2024	14 Jul 2028
Dr R Van de Merwe	Board of Governors	26 Jan 2022	15 Sept 2025	14 Sept 2029
Headteacher
Mrs K Dyer	Board of Governors	01 Jun 2019	01 Jun 2019	N/A
Parent governors
Dr J Korzelius	Parent Election	18 Oct 2025	18 Oct 2025	17 Oct 2029
Mrs H Lily	Parent Election	09 Feb 2023	09 Feb 2023	08 Feb 2027
Mrs C Gouldson	Parent Election	26 Sep 2024	26 Sep 2024	25 Sep 2028
Staff governor
Mr D Wood	Staff Election	21 Sep 2023	21 Sep 2023	20 Sep 2027
Foundation governors
Mr P Wells	Methodist Church	19 Sep 2023	19 Sep 2023	18 Sep 2027
Miss D Irons	Methodist Church	16 Nov 2023	16 Nov 2023	15 Nov 2027
Local Authority Governors
Mr J Benner	KCC	27 Sep 2017	27 Jan 2025	26 Jan 2029
Foundation Ex-Officio
Rev Dr P Kabonde	Methodist Church	01 Sep 2025	01 Sep 2025	N/A
Governance professional
Deborah L Stryzyk	KCC	20 Jan 2023	09 Feb 2023	N/A

 

Governors at St Peter’s are drawn from the local education authority, the church, parents, teachers and representatives of the local community.

In consultation with Mrs Dyer and her senior leadership team we are responsible for setting the annual budget, preparing and reviewing the multitude of policies schools are now required to have, appointing staff and agreeing pay, monitoring the school’s performance, and agreeing targets.

The governors have to act collectively and not as individuals although we encourage each governor to take a leading role in a particular area of the school’s affairs.

To sum up our role in a phrase, we are expected to act as a ‘critical friend’ to Mrs Dyer and the school. We challenge in a constructive way how the school is run and support her and her team in carrying out the policies we have agreed. We come from very varied backgrounds: some of us are retired; some of us are still at work; some are parents (with all the family demands that entails) and we can all bring a different contribution to the life of the school including expertise in various fields that can reinforce the resources available to the school. The common strength we have is that we all care about the education and welfare of the children in the school, albeit from varying points of view, and we contribute our experience freely.

We are expected to undergo regular training so that we are up to date in a wide variety of topics including: Safeguarding, Handling complaints, Analysis and interpretation of data, Financial management and Performance management of the headteacher. We monitor what is happening at the school by visiting, observing and asking questions of the staff and the children.

annual governance statement 2024 2025 stp.pdf

Role/Area of Responsibility	Governor(s)
Safeguarding	Mrs C Gouldson
SEND	Mr A Marlow
Health & Safety	Mr G Letley
Finance	Mrs H Lily  Mr P Wells
Pupil Premium	Mrs H Lily
Governor Training & Development	Dr R Van de Merwe
Website	Mr G Letley
Christian Distinctiveness	Rev Dr P Kabonde Mr P Wells
Quality of Education	Dr R Van de Merwe Mr A Marlow
Behaviour & Attitudes and Personal Development	Mr G Letley Mrs C Gouldson
Leadership & Management	Dr R Van de Merwe
Early Years Foundation Stage	Mrs D Irons
OPAL Play Governor	Dr R Van de Merwe
Well Being Governor	Dr R Van de Merwe
Resources Committee	Mr J Benner (Chair) Mrs H Lily Mr P Wells

If you want to contact governors, either with positive comments about the school or about an issue that concerns you, please do so by emailing:

rvandemerwe@st-peters-canterbury.kent.sch.uk

 

Governor Biographies 2025-26

Dr Rachel Van de Merwe, Chair of Governors

Rachel has an academic background, completing a PhD in Molecular Medicine at Newcastle University in 2015. More recently Rachel undertook a post-doctoral research fellowship at UCL resulting in a publication in the esteemed journal Nature Immunology. Since the birth of her son, Rachel has worked as a private tutor teaching science, maths and Kent Test preparation for students from KS2 to A level. Additionally, Rachel is a co-owner of a private dental practice in Kent.

Rachel contributes to the governing body in several ways. Her experience as a business owner helps with strategic planning and financial/legal issues. Her training as a scientist helps with data analysis tasks and the critical evaluation of documents. Rachel has extensive experience of speaking at public science events. This passion for communication with others across all ages and walks of life is of great benefit to her role as a parent governor.

Ashden Marlow, Vice-Chair of Governors

Ashden brings over a decade of experience in education, with a passion for Psychology and a deep commitment to removing barriers to learning. Having worked across alternative provisions, further education, and specialist settings, Ashden is dedicated to ensuring that every young person—regardless of their starting point—can access a high‑quality, meaningful, and inclusive education.

Currently serving as Deputy Head of a SEN college, Ashden leads with a passion for equity, student‑centred practice, and creating environments where all learners can thrive. As Vice Chair of Governors, Ashden is committed to championing high standards, supporting strategic development, and ensuring that the school community remains a place where every student has the opportunity and support to succeed.

John Benner, Resources Committee Chair

My daughter joined St Peter’s in 2007, following in the footsteps of 5 other wider family members. The ethos of the school has always been about the children and that each and every one of them is special. I was elected as a parent governor in 2009 with the aim of helping the school in any way I could. As a child I was very lucky to have a good state education and want to help others have those chances. I trained as a lawyer and then became an accountant. I have experience running large corporates as well as small charities and I aim to help our St Peter’s team give opportunities to every child.

Graham Letley

Graham has four daughters all of whom attended St Peter's School. He became a governor of the school to serve the current St Peter's community to achieve the best outcomes for the pupils, staff and parents. He has over 30 years’ experience teaching in the State and Independent education sector as well as working as a school inspector in the UK and overseas.

Hannah Lily

Hannah is an international lawyer, focused on oceans and environmental law. Hannah's previous work experience includes as a business manager for a large international NGO, a trustee for a children's charity, and as a legal advisor for the UK's Charity Commission. This involved work on compliance issues like child protection and financial management, as well as strategic planning, project management and fundraising, which experience Hannah hopes may prove useful as a school governor. Hannah attended state schools in Canterbury herself and cares about all children being given an opportunity to fulfil their potential.  Hannah's son has attended St Peter's since 2020 and she joins the Board as a parent governor. 

Philip Wells

Philip worked in the NHS as a Medical Physicist for 40 years and Director of Medical Physics for 14 years.  In this role, Philip oversaw a £30 million budget and 150 employees; with his experience in budgets and data, he is looking forward using his skills to support the school.  Philip was previously a Governor at St Peter's from 1979 - 1993 and had been a Chair of Governors at another school until 2019. Philip is married with two daughters who have fond memories of St Peter's, as does his wife, Janice, who worked at St Peter's in the 1990's. Philip also has 2 granddaughters, aged 3 and 6, who live in Twickenham. 

Dawn Irons

Dawn was born and brought up in the Methodist Church in East London and moved to Canterbury to study Religious Studies and Education at university. Dawn has been a member of St Peter’s Methodist Church since 1991 and runs the Junior Church each Sunday morning.

As a primary school teacher around East Kent and for the last 23 years at Blean Primary School, where Dawn is a staff governor, she brings an understanding of the changing nature of education and the joys and challenges that this brings.

Dawn is pleased to be able to use her knowledge and faith to support the pupils and staff at St Peter’s Methodist Primary School.

Claire Gouldson

Claire is a regulatory lawyer with experience both at regulators and in private practice, advising clients on all aspects of health, social care, and education regulation. Before moving into regulatory work, Claire practised in crime and family law as a legal adviser to Magistrates in Canterbury.

Claire’s daughter joined St. Peter’s in 2021 and her son started in 2023. Claire is passionate about inclusive education and is delighted to join the Board as a parent governor.

Dr Jerome Korzelius

Jerome was born and raised in Dordrecht, the Netherlands and first studied Biology at Utrecht University, followed by a PhD in Genetics in 2010. He then moved to Germany, where he held several research positions and became involved in teaching at undergraduate and graduate level as well as health and biological safety for the labs that he worked in. Jerome and his family moved to the U.K. in 2020, where he was appointed as Lecturer in the School of Biosciences at the University of Kent. Jerome’s daughter joined St. Peter’s in 2023 and he is now a parent governor who will apply his knowledge in Health and Safety-related matters to support the school community.

David Wood, Staff Governor

Dave is delighted to have been elected as the Staff Governor for St Peter's. In his role as Deputy Headteacher, Dave supports the day-to-day running and management of the school alongside Mrs Dyer. He has worked in education for over 13 years, most recently as a senior leader within primary education since 2019. At St Peter's, Dave leads on Pupil Premium and is keen to champion disadvantaged pupils within the school community. Dave attended St Peter's as a child and is passionate about contributing to its continued development. Dave is proud to represent the staff team on the governing board. 

Statutory Information

Copies of minutes of the FGB meetings can be obtained from the school office on request

Governors’ declarations 2024-25

 

/docs/Governance/Declarations-StPetersMethodistPrimary.pdf

FGB attendance 2024-2025

/docs/St__Peters_Methodist_Primary_Governors_Attendance_Record_2024-25.docx