Templewood School Governing Body

Link Roles

Governors have a range of link roles, as demonstrated above in the responsibility column. We carry out our link roles through a range of methods such as, meeting with the Senior Leadership Team and staff, attending visits, book looks, discussion with pupils and reviewing data.

SIP refers to the School Improvement Plan for 2024-25.

SIP 1 - Refine the curriculum across all subjects to ensure all pupils develop deep, interconnected knowledge. This should include a focus on enhancing the curriculum in the Early Years Foundation Stage and how it links to Key Stage 1.

SIP 2 - Enhance the quality of teaching and learning to ensure it is engaging, challenging and accessible for all pupils. 

SIP 3 - Create calm, purposeful learning environments that support pupils' wellbeing and facilitate effective teaching and learning. 

Governor Profiles

Hillary Skoczylas MA, PCGE

Hillary was elected as Parent Governor in May 2022 and has since become a Co-opted Governor. As a qualified primary school teacher and former school Senior Leadership Team (SLT) member she uses her experience to support Templewood. 

Hillary holds a BA in Education and a PGCE from the University of Cambridge, and an MA in Education and International Development from the Institute of Education, UCL. 

Within schools she has taught across all primary age groups and has held the role of Head of Music and Head of ICT.  Hillary has also worked within education systems internationally, most notable for the British Council as Programme Manager of nationwide English language teacher training and assessments in Rwanda. 

Hillary's daughter is currently in Year3 and her son is in Year1.

Helen Pendell BSc. (Hons), M.Dip, PGCE, NASENCO

Helen has been a Governor at Templewood since 2019. She is Vice Chair of the Governing Body and also has responsibility for SEND. Helen lives locally in Welwyn Garden City and has three children. She is a teacher at Aldwickbury School where she teaches English to Years 5 & 6, is Designated Safeguarding & Mental Health Lead, as well as their SENCO. She also has responsibility for Community Links and Educational Outreach. Prior to doing her PGCE, and retraining as a teacher, Helen worked at Goldman Sachs Asset Management in London and Hong Kong, specialising in Marketing Communications. She has a BSc. Hons from the University of Liverpool, a Postgraduate diploma in Marketing and the National Award for Special Educational Needs Coordination.

Katherine Martindill 

Katherine Martindill has been the Headteacher at Templewood Primary School since September 2021. Before that, Katherine was the Assistant Headteacher for 3 years and Deputy Headteacher for 7 years at Creswick Primary and Nursery School, Welwyn Garden City.  Katherine originally began teaching in Stevenage and always knew that was what she wanted to do. As Headteacher, she holds the children’s best interests at the heart of everything that the school does and recognises each child as an individual.

Katherine lives locally in St. Albans with her partner who is an Innovation & Experience Director, and they have two young children. She is also a Governor at Bernards Heath Infant and Nursery School in St. Albans. 

Nick Kingesley-Johnson 

Nick is our Safeguarding Governor since Sept 2023. He was appointed or “co-opted” in December 2020, having previously been elected as a Parent Governor from 2017 to 2020 - his 2 daughters attended Templewood over a total 12 year period until 2021. Nick has fulfilled a range of governance roles at Templewood, including being our Chair of Governors (2019-2023).

Outside of his role at school, Nick is an independent consultant. He works with social enterprises all over the world to accelerate their positive impact through market-based approaches (in Education, Healthcare, Clean Cooking, Renewable energy, Nutrition, Financial Inclusion etc.). He helps them to develop strategy, implement frameworks for effective leadership, and master skills of selling ethically. 

As a local resident, Nick is inspired to contribute to our community and chooses to do that by serving Templewood school - working with leaders to creating a safe, vibrant environment for our young people to learn.

Katharine Lovell BSc.(Hons), PGCE, NPQH

Katharine Lovell has been a Governor at Templewood since December 2018; initially as a Parent Governor but now as a Co-opted Governor since 2022. Having served as Vice Chair of the governing board, she had also held responsibility for Early Years and the Sports Premium. 

Katharine lives locally in WGC and has two boys who left Templewood in 2022 and 2023.

Katharine has considerable school experience having worked in both secondary and primary phases and she is currently Headteacher at Dallow Primary School in Luton. Prior to completing her PGCE and retraining as a teacher, Katharine was a police officer in the Metropolitan Police Service. 

 

Jonathan Essex BA (Hons), PG Dip, DipArb, MRICS

Jonathan Essex was elected as a Parent Governor in March 2021 and has since become a Co-opted Governor. He lives in Welwyn Garden City with his wife and their two children, who both attended Templewood, one is still a pupil. He is link Governor for premises and health & safety matters. 

Jonathan is a Chartered Surveyor working in central London for a large international property services firm and undertakes rent review and lease renewal negotiations on commercial property for clients in the retail, leisure and hospitality sectors. 

He also acts as an expert witness in disputes and is on the RICS Chairman’s panel of dispute resolvers acting as an Independent Expert or Arbitrator to settle rent review and lease renewal disputes.

Gavin Johnstone

Gavin Johnstone was Co-opted as a Governor in June 2022 and takes responsibility for the Finance role. He is himself a former Templewood pupil and now lives locally in Welwyn Garden City. His older son is in Year2 and a younger son will be joining the school in the years to come.

Professionally, Gavin is a qualified actuary (financial statistician) and works in the insurance industry - he put those numerical skills to good use in his role on the Governing Body. 

Outside work, Gavin is very busy looking after his two young children, together with his wife. Gavin holds two degrees in Mathematics from the University of Cambridge.

Dhyuman Metha

Dhyuman joined Templewood as a Governor in 2023. He brings a technology and Gen-Z perspective, being the youngest member on the board, and having a professional background as an IT Project Manager for a pharmaceutical company in Hertfordshire. In 2021 he graduated from University with a BSc hons in Computer Science with a year in placement.

Dhyuman recently got married in July 2023 so is settling in to married life! His sister-in-law has SEND and so he has experience and insight in to working with children within the SEND remit, including helping around her school.

Since moving to Welwyn four years ago, Dhyuman wanted to find a way to help contribute to the community - with this opportunity being a perfect fit. Being born and raised in India, but moving to the UK in 2017, he is able to learn about the UK schooling process whilst bringing an outsider perspective.

Matthew Parkin

Matthew was elected as a Parent Governor in March 2024. He lives in WGC and has two children currently at Templewood, Ella is in Year2 and Finn is in Reception. 

He is a Senior Site Nurse Practioner at Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust in central London. Within this role, Matthew is responsible for the day-to-day operational leadership across the hospital site, dealing with internal and external partners including the Metropolitan Police, and other Acute and Mental Health Trusts. This gives him a great understanding of both adult and child safeguarding challenges.

Having always had an interest in teaching, Matthew is qualified in teaching advanced life support to other healthcare professionals, which is something he enjoys.

Zardia Edwards

Zardia was elected as a Parent Governor in October 2024. She lives in Welwyn Garden City and has two children at Templewood School.

She is the Events and Strategic Communications Manager at Nuffield Trust, an independent health and social care think tank. With over 10 years’ professional communications experience, Zardia is responsible for Nuffield Trust events, marketing, stakeholder and project management.

Zardia has an MSc in Control of Infectious Diseases from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, a BSc in Microbiology from the University of Bristol and a diploma in Public Relations from CIPR.