Trustees and Governors are responsible for the general control and management of the administration of the school in accordance with the provisions set out in the memorandum and articles of association.
They are the accountable body for the performance of the school and as such must:
i. ensure clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction;
ii. hold the Senior Leadership to account for the educational performance of the school and the pupils, and the performance management of staff;
iii. oversee the financial performance of the school and make sure its money is well spent
Trustees and Governors delegate responsibility for the day to day operation of the school to the Co-Headteachers.
Trustees
- Howard Zetter
- Michael Kutner
- Ali Durban
- Lee Portnoi
- Sarah Sultman
- Joseph Tager
Governors
RAMA VENCHARD
Chair of Governors
Having worked in the retail, hospitality and banking sectors for over 20 years, Rama has run his own project management consultancy supporting schools and colleges for over 15 years. He is the Chair of Trustees of an academy trust of 20 primary schools and the Vice Chair of Trustees on a family board of 15 special schools and 7 college centres for young adults with SEND. He has over 10 years of governance experience and is a member of the NGA’s National Leaders of Governance Advisory Panel and a member of the DfE’s new London Regional Director’s Advisory Board. His passions are music, food and the company of good friends. Please contact the Chair of Governors here: [email protected]
ALI DURBAN
Governor & Trustee
Ali is the co-founder of Gesher, and founder of the Gesher Assessment Centre. Ali's journey from exhausted SEND parent to co-founder of a thriving school community has transformed her into a ringleader for system-wide transformation. Ali currently chairs a SEND council for the Foundation of Education Development which is creating a 10-year plan and vision for UK education. Ali also sits on the Education Council for the Autism Centre of Excellence.
SARAH SULTMAN
Governor & Trustee
Formerly worked in the city for 12 years in fund/portfolio management for Life Assurance Companies. She left to start up her own art company and consultancy which she ran for five years until the birth of her third child. As a result of his diagnosis of Autism, Sensory Processing Disorder and Dyspraxia. Sarah began to research the educational provision on offer to her and her son and this led to the journey with Ali and the creation of Gesher. Sarah has always been very active and involved in both in her local Jewish community and the wider Jewish community and believes passionately that all children, regardless of any diagnosis should have the right to access a Jewish education and communal activities and events whilst having their SEN needs met.DR JONATHAN ORNSTEIN
Governor
Jonathan trained as a doctor in Manchester, and after medical and surgical posts, he moved to London in 2000 to work as a Psychiatrist. He has held posts across London in a variety of settings, working with people from all walks of life and of all ages and backgrounds, and has been an NHS Consultant in community adult psychiatry since 2008.. He has experience in treating depressive, psychotic and anxiety conditions and with medical legal work. Jonathan practices in Private Psychiatry in Harley Street and in Mill Hill and although he has limited direct experience working with people with special needs his work as a psychiatrist gives him some understanding of mental health in general and the role that plays in the wellbeing of the students, families and carers and staff alike.RON BROWN
Governor
Ron is a senior professional and specialist in Adult and Children's Social Care, Health and SEND delivery, who has worked extensively in local government, not for profit organisations and commercial organisations. Originally qualifying as a social worker, followed by an MBA in Corporate Finance, Ron has over 30 years’ experience in the care sector where he has specialised in learning disability and autism. He has a strong track record of performance across a number of very challenging operating environments where he has achieved turnaround by targeting care quality and practice improvement alongside commerciality. He is currently Director of Care at HSN Care Ltd. Ron’s previous roles include Director of Services and Nominated Individual at Norwood, Head of Service (Integrated Learning Disability Service) at the London Borough of Hackney and Principal Consultant (Capita Procurement Solutions) Capita Ltd.RABBI ANDREW DAVIES
Governor
Rabbi Andrew Davis has been teaching Jewish Studies full time in secondary schools since September 2005. He is currently Deputy Headteacher of Yavneh College and the Executive Director of Jewish Life of the Yavneh Schools. He has a BA and MA in Jewish Studies and Jewish Education and is currently studying for his PhD at the UCL Institute of Education. He received his Semicha from Yeshivat Pirchei Shoshanim and Rav Zalman Nechemia Goldberg in 2008. He is also a Pikuach Section 48 Inspector and member of the Reshet Jewish Youth Advisory Board.PATRICIA TIWALADE-SOYEMI
Governor
Patricia has worked as an educator for over 20 years. She has had a successful career in teaching, first as a class teacher and later in senior leadership roles. She recently retired as Lead SEND Officer, working across three primary schools in a large mainstream Multi-Academy Trust. Patricia’s responsibilities included staff training and development, ensuring SEND provision met the needs of individual children, and that reasonable adjustments were planned for and implemented. Patricia developed an interest in SEND while working as an Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) teacher, and that initial interest has become a passion. She holds professional qualifications in SEND and a Master’s degree in Education (Social Justice, Equity and Inclusion); she is now pursuing a doctorate in education. Patricia enjoys cooking and spending time with her family in her free time.JANE ROME
Governor
Jane Rome is Managing Director at Insight Strategy Limited, a retail management consultancy specialising in consumer and market research for the retail sector. The company also delivers strategic brand positioning and buying and merchandising training working with several HE institutions and well-known retail brands. Jane is a NED for a Promotional Marketing company where she mentors the senior management team and is also a mentor for the charity G2G and a judge for the Young Enterprise Scheme.STEVEN DANIELS
Governor
Steven is a Fellow of the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries. He spent virtually his entire career working as an investment manager. He spent over 20 years at Liverpool Victoria (LV=) where he ran the investment subsidiary for many years. He was a Director of the Group and was heavily involved in their mergers and acquisition activity. He retired from LV in 2010.He spent about a year consulting before he was hired to set up an investment management company for Tesco’s staff pension fund which had almost 100 people working in it by the time he retired (again) in 2021.He has been Chairman, Treasurer and Warden of Pinner Synagogue and was on the Investment and Burial Committees of the United Synagogue for many years. He was also a member of the Investment Committee of the Alzheimer’s Society for nine years.He is currently an Independent Member of the Investment Committee of St James’s Place and a non-executive director of Edge Future Capital, a venture capital investment management company.KIRSTEN JOWETT
Governor
Kirsten is Headteacher at Wolfson Hillel Primary School and acting CEO of the Jewish Community Academy Trust. Prior to this she was Deputy Head at Yesodey Hatorah Senior Girls School. In the previous 10 years Kirsten was the London Regional Adviser for the DfE supporting on school improvement, behaviour and attendance and Healthy Schools. Kirsten also ran her own successful education consultancy for 11 years; advising schools across all 33 London boroughs, Kent and Essex. She has two children,her eldest son has atypical ASD and severe dyslexia and is schooled in a designated special provision attached to a mainstream secondary school.SAMUEL ZIFF
Governor
Samuel started his career at J.P. Morgan Cazenove working in the UK Industrials Corporate Finance team for 4 years. Following that he joined Oldfield Partners where he co-manages the global equity income portfolio and contributes to the overall investment selection. He has helped support a number of causes over the years – notably raising money for Nightingale House and Teenage Cancer Trust as well as mentoring young adults from foster homes.PER SIMONSSON
Governor
Per was born in Sweden and moved with his late wife and his children to the UK in 1985. He was working in the computer industry for 40 years until his retirement in 2012. During the last 10 years of his career he specialized in contract management in the Financial sector. Per has been involved with the Board of Management of his local synagogue for 30 years with various responsibilities including Health & Safety for approximately 3 years. He is also the Deputy National Chairman for a Cultural Society for elderly.DAVID SUMMERS
Associate Governor
After Newcastle University, David enjoyed a 30-year career with Shell in their UK and overseas petrochemical, coal, and oil businesses. In 1996, David established a consultancy, servicing oil and manufacturing companies in USA, UK, Africa, and the Indian Subcontinent. He was also a project funding advisor to Shell’s environmental UK CSR step-out. Simultaneously David became a board member on Harrow Council’s Strategic Partnership, Chair of Greener Harrow, Chair of the Community Engagement Forum, a member of the Project Development Board, and an adviser to Harrow Town Centre & Major Projects Panel. In 2004, David as de facto Facilities Manager of Pinner Synagogue, commenced a complete refurbishment and re-engineering of the safety and security infrastructure. He is a member of the Synagogue’s security management team. In 2014, David successfully managed a complex 3-year planning application process and the licensing / permission to establish an Eruv for the Pinner Jewish Community. He subsequently jointly project-managed its construction and remains involved. David also advises residents on planning applications which, on one occasion, included representing them in the High Court. He is a member of the Royal Society of Chemistry, the Energy Institute, Pinner Probus and B’nai B’rith UK.GRAHAM SHERLING
Associate Governor
Graham is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England & Wales. He spent his whole career in practice becoming a partner in Gibson Appleby in 1982 and became a partner in Hillier Hopkins LLP when they merged in 1996 before leaving in 2010 and becoming a sole practitioner. He semi-retired in February 2023. Graham will be joining the Infrastructure to provide valuable expertise in financial aspects.PAUL HODGKINSON
Associate Governor
Paul started working at Youth Challenge Pupil Referral Unit in 1997 and held numerous positions there. He started as a voluntary mentor before becoming a class teacher and eventually the Teacher in Charge in 2003. During his time as Teacher in Charge, Youth Challenge was twice judged to be Outstanding by Ofsted. Paul became the Manager of the Bolton Pupil Referral Service in 2010 and supervised the federation of all of Bolton’s PRUs. In 2014 he also become the Interim Executive Headteacher of Lever Park School where he worked with the staff team on a Rapid Improvement Plan which eventually resulted in the School being moved out of Special Measure. In 2016 he became the new Executive Principal of the Bolton Impact Trust. In total, Paul’s Schools and Academies have been judged Outstanding by Ofsted on eight separate occasions.
Paul has advised the DfE, Local Authorities and Schools on Leadership, Behaviour Management Strategy, Alternative Provision and Special School funding and Governance. He also recently co-chaired the Foundation for Education Development’s AP/SEND Council. Paul currently sits on three School Trust Boards and is also the Chair of Trustees for a local charity which supports young adults with Special Educational Needs.
SIMI BEN-HUR
Associate Governor
Simi has 17 years of experience working in the charity sector. She has been the Executive Director of the fundraising charity Shaare Zedek UK since 2013. Previously she was Public Affairs Manager at CST. She runs an online network of over 1,000 Jewish charity staff and advises causes within her passion areas of education, youth, female empowerment and community building. Simi home educates her own child following a self-directed play led philosophy. If she won the lottery Simi would set up an inclusive multigenerational community centre with self-directed education at its heart.
MARK COHEN
Parent Governor
Mark works as an IT Consultant for a global engineering firm leading a team of 30, advising clients on all aspects of IT and technology in their new building design & construction projects, he has responsibility for all areas of running the business unit including HR, finance, and project delivery.Committees
Gesher School GB Committees_16.01.23
Governor Constitution
Gesher School GB Constitution_16.01.23
Governor Attendance Information
Gesher School GB Attendance_16.01.23
