Governors' Impact Statement

As school governors, we are responsible for the strategic direction and the financial performance of Mathilda Marks-Kennedy. We challenge and monitor the School’s Headteacher and Senior Leadership Team. Within this remit, we meet as a full governing body once a term, contribute to the school improvement plan and regularly oversee various aspects of the school through, for example, learning walks, and meetings of three specific committees:

(i) Curriculum Impact, with a Jewish Studies working party

(ii) Finance and Resources, including personnel, premises and security working parties

(iii) Admissions

The Governing Body comprises relevant skills and expertise; our governors work in fields such as law, accountancy, education and communication. Keen to improve and keep our skills updated, we also regularly attend professional governor training. We volunteer our time and energy to promote the School’s vision to the best of our ability while adhering to our inclusive ethos. Indeed, we aim to drive best practices throughout the school in order to match our aspiration that each child receives the best education to enable him or her to fulfil his or her potential.

The Governing Body

The Governing Body is chaired by David Stone and the vice-chair is Zoe Sinclair.  The Governing Body comprises eight Foundation Governors including the Chair, plus six others including Mrs Kaye as Headteacher, ex-officio. 

All 8 foundation governors are appointed by Scopus Jewish Educational Trust which is the school's Foundation Trust and part of the United Synagogue, each for a 3 year term. Other governor terms of office are 4 years: two parent governors are appointed by parent election, one staff governor appointed by a staff election, one LA governor appointed by the Local Authority and one co-opted governor appointed by the governing body itself.

Mr Smerin, as Deputy Headteacher, is invited to attend Governing Body meetings in a non-voting capacity.

• Please click here to view the Governing Body Committee Membership
• Please click here to view the Governing Body Register of Business Interests
• Please click here to view the Governing Body Committee Meeting Attendance 
• Please click here to access the MMK Governing Body Code of Conduct

David Stone

Foundation Governor, appointed November 2021

David was a Cardiologist and Medical Director at Papworth Hospital, Cambridge. He has always been involved in education, and was Director of Education at Papworth, Associate Dean of the Faculty of Clinical Medicine at Cambridge University and chaired the local Cardiology Training committee. Since retirement he has studied for and been awarded an MA in ‘Literature and Medicine’, and a PhD in English which examined James Joyce’s engagement with Jewish life and the Jewish religion.

David has held several community roles: he was Chairman of the Cambridge Traditional Jewish Congregation for approximately 10 years, and chaired the first Jewish Chaplaincy Board at Cambridge University. He is now a member of the Central Square Minyan management committee where he advises on medical issues arising out of the pandemic.

He feels that the education of children in Judaism and the Jewish religion in a way that allows them to engage with the modern world is of vital importance, and hopes and anticipates that the transferrable skills acquired from working at Board level in the National Health Service will be of value in the governance and future strategic development of MMK.

Zoe Sinclair

Vice Chair of Governors, Foundation Governor, appointed January 2018

Zoe is the Founder of Employees Matter, the largest provider of employee engagement seminars and webinars in the UK.  Zoe works with a wide range of clients across all sectors. In 2017 she joined forces with Jonny Benjamin MBE and Neil Laybourn to start This Can Happen, a corporate mental health conference.

Having owned a nursery in Harpenden for a short time, Zoe developed a further interest in the wellbeing of staff and pupils alike. Zoe sits on the Personnel committee.

She has two children who are both at senior school. They both had a wonderful primary education at a very similar school to MMK and Zoe looks forward to being part of the governing body to give back so that many more children can benefit from the warm and loving ethos of MMK. 

Marc Heller 

Co-opted Governor, appointed September 2023

Marc has a law background but has worked in property for many years (developments and lettings).  He has previously been involved in Jewish Charity and Synagogue committees.  Marc has a deep affection for Israel with lots of family and friends living there and developed through many years of being part of Bnei Akiva.

 Marc was very pleased to be recommended to become an MMK governor, giving him the opportunity to give something back to MMK school where his three daughters attended, thrived and where their love of Israel was nurtured and gave them a solid grounding moving into secondary school.  He now looks forward to supporting and contributing to MMK’s continued success.

 Marc is passionate about sport and particularly cricket (a very proud MCC member).  His other interests includes stand-up comedy which helps with growing confidence which is what he believes can encourage children and people of all ages to develop, speak up, volunteer and get involved.    

 He and his family have been residents of Mill Hill for over 20 years and are members of Mill Hill United Synagogue. 

Miriam Kaye

Head Teacher/Governor, appointed September 2019 

Miriam has been the headteacher of MMK since September 2019. She has worked in education since 2000. In her previous school she was Deputy Head and SENCo for 7 years. In 2015, she attained her  SENCO accreditation having passed the National Award for SENCO accreditation. 

Miriam has a clear vision to lead our school and this is noted in our most recent Ofsted inspection in November 2021. 

‘Leaders and governors have a good understanding of the school’s current strengths and areas for development. They have appropriate plans in place that are being implemented at pace and are closely monitored 

Miriam is an annual lecturer for the LSJS BA Jewish Education Program where she lectures on Assessment.   

Richard Angel

Foundation Governor, appointed January 2020

Richard is a consultant, advising brands on a range of marketing, technology and media projects.

Richard has been involved in MMK security and premises matters for several years and was part of the team behind the MMK60 fundraising and upgrade works. He sits on the Finance and Resources Committee, with a broad remit including facilities, security, technology, value for money and fundraising.

Richard is driven to help enable the school to provide opportunities for every pupil to achieve their personal best so that they may thrive in their future lives. 

 

Vacant 

Foundation Governor, 

 

Natasha Livingston

Staff Governor, appointed September 2023

Natasha is a Year 4 teacher at Mathilda Marks-Kennedy and is the PSHE champion across the school. 

Natasha went to the University of Birmingham to study Sociology. She qualified for QTS in 2017. Having taught in Rosh Pinah for a few years, Natasha understands the importance of community.

She is committed to teaching through the objectives of the national curriculum to ensure progress and success. 

Natasha believes that school should be a welcoming, safe place for every child to learn, grow and achieve their goals. She is thrilled to be elected as Staff Governor and bring a new perspective to the governing body.

Matthew Radstone

Parent Governor, appointed November 2020

Matt is a barrister, specialising in white collar defence work.  He has been involved in Jewish Charity committees for many years and was heavily involved in Jewish youth leadership.

Matt is a member of the Personnel Committee and previously chaired the Admissions Committee. The school's strategic development is very important to him, allied to maintaining the level of excellence that in his view MMK provides.

Matt has three children at MMK. He is passionate about sport, exercise and well-being and believes this is an area that can be further developed at MMK.

Daniel Ruback

Foundation Governor, Chair of Finance and Resources Committee, appointed December 2020

Daniel is the Chief Financial Officer of an AIM listed aviation company, having previously gained significant experience working in FTSE 100 and FTSE 250 companies and in a large professional services company.  Daniel is a qualified chartered accountant.

Daniel chairs the Finance Committee and is focused on ensuring MMK operates on a sound financial footing, enabling it to build on firm foundations for a successful future.

Daniel is married and has four children.  The family are active members of Finchley United Synagogue, where Daniel has previously been on the Board of Management.

Ilana Hutchinson

Parent Governor, appointed August 2023

Ilana is an MMK parent and has been for 10 years. She is a mother of 3 children and two are still at MMK. She feels MMK is a special ‘family’ community.

Following a 15 year career as a primary school teacher, she moved to the charity world and now leads the Schools Programme at Jewish Women’s Aid, educating about healthy relationships and consent.

She is a youth mental health first aider and cares passionately about the wellbeing of young people.

Since Covid, there has been a rise in mental health issues in young people and she would be keen to support in this area.

As parent governor she aim to bring my knowledge of education to support our school in providing our children with the space to learn, grow and foster positive Jewish values that will shape them in their formative years and beyond.