Meet the Governors
Please find below details of how our Governing body is structured, including the names, responsibilities and terms of appointment for each Governor.
St. Anne's and Guardian Angels Governing Body
The role of the Board of Governors is to help the school provide the best possible education for our pupils. We do this by thinking and working strategically to raise standards, we monitor and evaluate progress towards the school’s priorities and targets. We support the Headteacher and staff as well as challenging their expectations. We make sure that the schools finances are well spent and support all children but we do not manage the operational day-to-day functions of a school.
Introducing Our Governors
Our Governing Body is made up of 12 individuals, as set out in our Instrument of Governance which is attached below. Apart from the Head Teacher and the elected staff governor, we are all unpaid volunteers with a variety of skills and experiences, who are keen to support the long-term development of the school. All of us have different roles on the Governing Body and we each have responsibilities linked directly to the objectives of the School Development Plan (SDP) as well as statutory responsibilities such as Safeguarding, Looked After Children and SEND.
Vikki Bradney-Spencer - Chair of Governors, Foundation Governor
(appointed by Westminster diocese)
I have been a Governor at St Anne's School since 2008 and became Chair in September 2012. In 2019 I also became Vice-Chair at Guardian Angels School. I am passionate about helping Mrs Mouna and our staff create the best possible environment for our children to learn and develop. In order to do this, I believe we need great teachers, who are happy in their role and feel supported. The other governors and I work together to make sure this happens. My day-job is at IBM where I work lead Corporate Social Responsibility for the UK. I strongly believe in the key role that Catholic schools, as well as the church, play in supporting parents to educate and develop our children. As such, I am an active member of St Patrick's church in Wapping where, in the past, I was one of the team who take the children’s liturgy groups. I am married, have lived in Tower Hamlets all my adult working life and have two daughters who were educated at local Catholic Primary Schools. I manage an U18 Girls Football team at the local Limehouse Laces Club at Stepney Astro and am an FA coach and play football myself – albeit in the Laces Vintage team!
Governor responsibility: Chair of Governing Body; Chair of Staffing & Pay Committee; member of Resources Committee; member of Curriculum & Standards Committee; link governor for Safeguarding and Looked After Children.
Term: Sep 2022 to Aug 2026
Patricia Waterhouse – Vice-Chair of Governors, Foundation Governor
(appointed by Westminster Diocese)
I joined the Governing body at St Anne's in October 2016. I am passionate about education and specifically about all children having the support they need to thrive and to develop a love of learning. I work with the other governors and Mrs Mouna and team to make sure that the school has the tools to help deliver this at St Anne's. I am a programme manager in the City by day. I love learning about other religions and cultures and am passionate about celebrating diversity.
Governor Responsibility: Vice-Chair of Governors; member of Curriculum & Standards Committee; member of Staffing & Pay Committee; link governor for Leadership & Management: middle leadership roles
Term: October 2020 - October 2024
Alan Morton - Chair of the Resources Committee, Foundation Governor
(appointed by Westminster diocese)
I became a governor at St Anne's school in 2012 and Guardian Angels school in 2019 and then governor of the amalgamated St. Anne’s and Guardian Angels school. I am committed to our school thrive and go from strength to strength in developing a caring and supportive environment in which all pupils and develop and prosper. I have a background in finance and investment and currently support a number of organisations work in the not-for-profit sector. I am a keen cyclist and enjoy travelling. In addition to being a Governor I sit on the Tower Hamlets Schools Forum, which is a statutory body, comprising local head teachers, governors and local education authority staff, which advises on the local authority's education budget.
Governor responsibility: Chair of Resources; Member of Staffing & Pay Committee; link governor for Finance & Premises
Term: Sep 2022 - Sep 2026
Miriam Morath – Chair of Curriculum & Standards Committee, Parent Governor
I became parent governor at St Anne’s and Guardian Angels in September 2020. My daughter is currently attending Year 3, and my son has now left St Anne's and Guardian Angels to embark on his secondary school journey. While they are at school, I work as an economist for an intergovernmental organisation. Previously, I was Chair of Governors at Guardian Angels school and parent governor. I firmly believe in the importance of education, but also in realising that children are so much more than just examination results. They need to be nourished, challenged and kept safe in a friendly, happy and welcoming environment and taught by great teachers to achieve their individual potential, which is what the school represents, stands and provides for. I am committed to working with Mrs Mouna and all staff at the school, the governing body and the entire school community to ensure that this great school remain on this path, especially in times of tightening public finances and the ongoing impact of prolonged school closures due to the prevalence of coronavirus.
Governor responsibility: Chair of Curriculum & Standards Committee; member of Resources Committee: link governor for Quality of Education: Curriculum.
Term: Sep 2020 – Aug 2024
Peter Ford – Parent Governor
I’m a parent governor at St Anne’s and Guardian Angels school and joined the Governing Body in September 2021. I have a daughter in Year 3 and I am an ex-pupil of St. Anne’s school myself.
This is my first time as a school governor and I’m finding it fulfilling to be part of the decision-making team of the school looking at long-term vision and development plan. I’m really enjoying my first year, learning all the things that are involved with being a school governor. Its rewarding being part of the team working with the leadership, and understanding how hard the whole school community work to create a happy and stable educational environment for our children.
Governor responsibility: Member of Resources Committee; link governor for Premises
Term: September 2021- Aug 2024
Lorraine Smith – Parent Governor I joined the governing body as a parent governor in September 2021. My son is currently in year 3. I strongly believe that children have the right to a good education and similar opportunities regardless of their background and to learn in a safe and supportive environment that gives children the tools to be the best they can be in every aspect of their life. On a personal level, I have lived in Bethnal Green all my life. I am a qualified accountant and an audit manager at a large accountancy practice. I am also heavily involved with various aspects of the local community including chairing a Tenants and Residents Association and being a trustee of the local charity raising awareness of the Bethnal Green tube disaster. I’m enjoying the role of being a parent governor and aim to support Mrs Mouna and all the staff at the school to enable St Annes and Guardian Angels to be the best that it can be.
Governor responsibility: Member of Resources Committee; link governor for Leadership & Management: Parents Term: September 2021- Aug 2024
Edwina Collins - Foundation Governor
(appointed by Westminster Diocese)
I became an Associate Governor at St. Anne’s in March 2019 and an official Foundation Governor in November 2019. I am a member of St. Anne’s Parish and attended St. Patrick’s Infant School and St. Anne’s Junior School many years ago. I was a secondary school teacher, teaching mainly Geography but also some History. I am particularly interested in environmental and development issues. Since retiring, I have worked with CAFOD as a parish representative and education volunteer. With the other Governors, I aim to support the Headteacher and Staff in doing their best to nurture the talents of all the pupils in a safe and stimulating environment.
Governor Responsibility: Member of Curriculum & Standards Committee; link governor for Quality of Education: SEND, PP, WBB, EAL.
Term: November 2019 - Aug 2023
Jonathan Zephir – Local Authority Governor
I was appointed as the Local Authority governor at St Anne’s and Guardian Angels school in June 2022. I have a background in Computer Sciences and am a software developer in the City by day. I live locally in Poplar.
Governor responsibility: Member of Resources Committee; link governor for Quality of Education: Technology
Term: June 2022 - June 2026
Father John – Foundation Governor
(appointed by Westminster Diocese)
I serve as the local parish priest at Guardian Angels church. When Guardian Angels School and St. Anne’s School amalgamated in 2020, I continued to support the new school by working with the staff to ensure the children understand and actively participate in the celebration of Mass and have the opportunity to explore Catholic life through prayer and pupil chaplaincy, such as Mini Winnies and Caritas Ambassadors as well as classroom acts of worship. I also help the children to make make links between acts of service and the Theology that underpins them. I’m a regular visitor to the school.
Governor responsibility: Member of Curriculum & Standards Committee; link governor for RE and Catholic Life
Carmen Abela – Foundation Governor
(Currently being appointed)
Governor responsibility: Member of Curriculum & Standards Committee; link governor for Personal Development: Oracy, RSE, PSHCE, Healthy Schools
Term: October 2022 - 2026
Sheila Mouna - Head Teacher
My name is Sheila Mouna and I became Head teacher at St. Anne’s school in September 2012. In September 2019, I was appointed as Executive Head of St. Anne's School and Guardian Angels School. I was born in Dublin and I have a degree in English and History from University College Dublin. I moved to London in my early twenties and after working in various different jobs I decided to train to become a teacher. At that time my two sons were in primary school in Tower Hamlets and attended a Catholic Secondary school. I started teaching in English Martyrs Catholic Primary and became Deputy head there in 2005.
I have lived in Tower Hamlets for all my adult life, I married here and my two sons were born and brought up here. It is a great place to live and work.
My passion is to see all children thrive and be happy and education has the power to do that.
Jack Hamilton – Staff Governor
I have been the elected staff governor in September 2020, I am currently the Reception class teacher as well as the Healthy Lives leader. I grew up in Somerset and initially worked at schools in Bath until 2018 when I decided to make the move to East London and landed at St Anne’s & Guardian Angels. I initially taught Year 5 before spending two years teaching Year 6. I really enjoyed both but have always loved teaching in Reception and was delighted to be given the opportunity to do so at St Anne's & Guardian Angels school.
Outside of school I love sport, food and any opportunities to explore new places around the world. I thoroughly enjoy being part of the governing body and it has been eye opening to see all the work it does to keep our school running smoothly.
St Anne’s & Guardian Angels is a special place and I can’t wait to see the school continue to grow and flourish. It has been and always is a pleasure to be part of the children’s journey at our wonderful school!