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Our Governance

St Clement Danes School is part of Danes Educational Trust. The Danes Educational Trust Board has responsibility for the operation of the Trust, but delegates some of the responsibilities to a local level. Therefore, schools within the Trust have a School Board, comprising local Governors. The School Board holds 4 meetings per year. In addition, each School Board has an Admissions Committee and a Senior Staff Pay and Remuneration Committee.

For goveranance documents, structure and financial information about the Trust, including the school's funding agreement please see the Trust website.

To contact the Chair of Governors or request the minutes of the School Board meetings, please email governors@scd.herts.sch.uk 

School Board of St Clement Danes School

Below you will find further details of our School Board. 

Steve clarke 300dpiMr Steve Clarke (Chair)

Steve Clarke was appointed co-opted governor in September 2019 and he has a son currently at the school. Steve is co-founder of a technology consultancy and he has also been a corporate Chief Technology Officer. As a result, he is particularly interested in helping develop the school’s technology strategy and capability and the student’s engagement with STEM. Steve is the community link governor for staff.

20251111 134352Ms Stephanie Gou

 

 

HEC Nominated Governors:

     Shane MMrs Shane Markanday

Shane was appointed as a Co-opted Governor in June 2021. She is an experienced accountant currently working as an Internal Audit Manager at a large global banking group. Shane has had varied experience managing and delivering a range of specialist reviews across both the public and private sector including HR, Finance, Operations and Compliance. She is passionate about inclusion and diversity and the importance of wellbeing at work. Shane is the community link governor for parents and the wider community.     

 

MrStefan Stefan Simons

Stefan was appointed as a Co-opted Governor in March 2024. He brings 25 years of experience of working for financial services companies in the City. Stefan is a Technology Director at an international financial services company. Stefan is a father to four children who are at various stages in their education, ranging from university to primary school. In his spare time, he enjoys all sports, particularly football.

 

Mr20251111 134225 Paul Read

Paul Read was appointed a co-opted governor in October 2024. He is the link governor for staff. Currently working for his own consultancy company, he has over 20 years experience working in the private sector and public sector. Paul has experience in running large operations as well as commercial and procurement functions. He is passionate about bringing the best out of people and creating environments where everyone can thrive.

      

Elected Staff Governor:


Henry fryMr Henry Fry 

Henry Joined the School in January 2016 and was appointed as staff governor in December 2023. Henry has over ten years teaching experience working in various educational settings including secondary and higher education where he has been involved in teacher training.

 

Elected Parent Governors:

BlachaMrs Jaime-Lee Keen

Jaime-Lee has a son in Year 9 and twin girls joining the school in September 2023. She believes she will bring a sound parent perspective to the governor role. Jaime-Lee currently works at Deloitte, where she is a senior management consultant alongside mentoring early talent. Prior to this she worked at NHS England in young people’s mental health, policy and transformation team. Jaime-Lee is the community link governor for vulnerable learners.

 

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Mr Danny Kindell

Danny was appointed a parent governor in 2023 and has two sons at the school. For the past seven years, Danny has also been involved in the SCD Business Mentoring Programme. Danny is a former student and former Head Boy of the school in 1992. Following his time at St Clement Danes, Danny was awarded a 4 Year Soccer Scholarship at the University of Hartford, Connecticut USA. On returning to the UK Danny joined the family IT business, NBM Technology Solutions Ltd and after holding various roles in the Company, became Managing Director in 2004. Danny is the community link governor for SEND.

 

Headteacher: 

Mr Toby Sutherland

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Mr Sutherland joined St Clement Danes School in September 2017 as Deputy Headteacher before being appointed Headteacher in January 2018. He joined us from Queens’ School, Bushey where he was Deputy Headteacher for four years. Mr Sutherland is a member of the Education Advisory Group for Challenge Partners, an organisation of 500 schools nationally supporting school improvement. He also Chairs the Herts and Bucks Challenge Partner Hub of twelve schools and is currently the Chair for the South West Herts Consortium group of Secondary schools. 

School Board Meeting Attendance

School Board Membership

School Board Declarations of Interest

 

 

Latest News

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Posted on: 29th January

Sporting Success: A Season of Triumphs for the PE Faculty

It has been an exceptional start to the year for our sports teams, with pupils across Year 7 and Year 11 delivering outstanding performances on the pitch, the court and the track. Here is a roundup of the latest results from the PE Faculty. Football Successes: The Year 11 Boys football team produced a fantastic display to reach the U16 County Cup Quarter Finals. While all 15 squad members contributed superbly to the team effort, special mention must go to Frankie and Myles, who were named Players of the Match after scoring two spectacular long range strikes. Ollie and Sammy also found the net to complete the scoring. Meanwhile, the Year 7B team showed true grit in wet conditions to secure their second win in the district league against CDS. A great goal from David and a composure-filled penalty from Player of the Match, Zak, secured the victory.  Athletics Achievements: Our Year 7 Athletics teams have seen their dedication pay off after training hard on Thursdays throughout the term. At the TR&W SSP Indoor Athletic Meeting, the Girls’ team took home a brilliant 1st place, while the Boys’ team finished a strong 3rd. We also have a massive individual achievement to celebrate. Theo (Year 7) has been crowned the U13 South of England Shot Put Champion at the Lee Valley Indoor Track. In what was his first-ever indoor competition, Theo smashed his personal best by 50cm. He also showed great pace on the track, reaching the semi-finals of the U13 60m sprint and missing out on the final by a heartbreaking 0.06 seconds. Basketball Season Opener: The basketball season got off to a super start with a thrilling game against Rickmansworth School. In a contest between two evenly matched sides, our team came out on top, led by a fine performance from captain Seth. Congratulations to all pupils for their hard work and sportsmanship!
Posted on: 29th January

Year 8 Swimmers Make Waves at County Championships

We are delighted to announce that two of our Year 8 pupils, Sam C and Grace F, have achieved significant success in the pool, qualifying for and competing at the prestigious County Swimming Championships. Qualification for Counties is a major milestone in the swimming world. To be eligible, swimmers must achieve strict published qualifying times and rank within the top 25 competitors in their age group across the entire county. Both students have demonstrated exceptional talent to reach this elite standard. Sam has secured his place in an incredible variety of events, demonstrating his versatility across both sprints and long-distance endurance races. Representing Berkhamsted Swim Club, Sam will be competing at the Westminster Lodge Leisure Centre in St Albans throughout January. His comprehensive schedule includes: Freestyle: 50m, 100m, 200m, 400m, 800m, and 1500m Butterfly: 50m, 100m, and 200m Individual Medley: 100m, 200m, and 400m Matching this high standard of performance is Grace F, who represents the U13 age group. Grace has already secured a fantastic 9th place ranking in the county for the 100m breaststroke. Beyond this individual success, Grace is a dedicated member of Ricky Swim Club and a vital part of the SCD team, regularly representing the school in the Herts League. Reaching this level requires a sustained and high level of commitment. Over the past eight months, both swimmers have balanced intense training schedules and regular licensed galas alongside their academic studies. Their success is a testament not only to their athletic ability but also to their discipline and excellent time management. Please join us in congratulating Grace on her top10 ranking and wis