School Strategy Board (SSB)

Mr Stephen Alan Minett (interim Chair of Governors)

Stephen is a community member, with 2 boys who happily attended Danetree. Currently working at the University for the Creative Arts in Epsom, as the Campus Operations Manager, having left the private sector after 25 years working in leadership and Management. Stephen has a strong skill set in Health and safety, HR policies, People and culture and Finance. His interests are in Art, History, and Politics and he is committed to support the SSB and Danetree School.

Mrs Gemma Louise Hall (Parent SSB Member)

Mrs Gemma Hall has just been elected to join the governing body of Danetree School as a community governor. She currently has a daughter she plans to send to Danetree when she is due to start school in 2023, and lives in the local area. Having spent her professional life in Primary education, she is currently Deputy Head teacher at a large primary school in Sutton and loves the challenge and variety in her role.

Since joining the Governing Body of Danetree in 2019, she has been inspired by the Outstanding behaviour and provision and the aspirations that staff have for every single child. She is looking forward to being involved as Danetree expands. Her professional interests are Safeguarding and Assessment and she is the school's SSB link for mental health and wellbeing. In her spare time, you will often find her at Hobbledown with her daughter or walking in Horton Country park and splashing in the puddles.

Ms Catherine Lorna Ellis (Parent SSB Member)

Catherine is a parent governor serving on the SSB and has a son currently in KS1 at the school. She has worked in graphic design for nearly 20 years and is currently an Art Director for the largest specialist children’s book publisher in the UK. Catherine manages a department of designers and the accompanying budgets, planning, workloads, processes, recruitment and contracts and hopes that her skills will prove useful to Danetree whilst she sits on the board.

She is enthusiastic that all children are nurtured in their love of reading and is delighted that literacy is a key priority for Danetree. Catherine is keen that all children benefit from not just an excellent academic start at Danetree but also a well-rounded and inclusive experience including music, sport and the arts.

Mr Andrew Kenneth Reid (Community SSB Member)

Andy is a community SSB member and has a daughter currently attending Danetree. 

Andy has worked in the youth sector for over 20 years providing support to young people across south London and Surrey. In 2020 Andy set up his own mentoring charity working with teenagers across the borough. 

Alongside his charity, Andy delivers safeguarding training and is passionate about improving safeguarding provision to those working with vulnerable children and young people. 

Andy is excited about supporting the schools standards board and hopes his experience will benefit Danetree school.

Mr Mark Richards (Community SSB Member)

Mark Richards has been elected to join the SSB of Danetree as a Community Governor. He has two daughters at Danetree with his eldest in Year 3 and youngest in Nursery. Mark is a local resident and has a strong knowledge of primary education in his role as a Surrey Primary Headteacher. 

Mark leads a large primary school with similar numbers to Danetree and has a proven track record for improving standards and adding value. 

His professional interests are in Leadership and Management. Mark will be working closely with our leaders and we have every confidence that Mark will bring strength to our SSB. 

In his spare time, he is a keen sportsman having previously swam nationally. He runs regularly and loves an adventure with his family - often setting off during the holidays to explore new places.

Hayley Roberts (Community SSB Member) - Currently on leave / work sabbatical

Hayley is a community SSB member and used to work here at Danetree as an inclusion practitioner pioneering wellbeing in the school and achieving the School's Silver Mental Health Award.

Hayley has worked in education and youth work for over 30 years both in paid and voluntary positions. During her work with local minority groups she received the Queens Award for voluntary service, helping families access learning and education. She is a local foster carer and currently works as an apprentice social worker.

Seeing children thrive and progress is a passion of Hayley's and she is looking forward to continuing to support the leadership team and staff at Danetree in this area.

Samantha King (Community SSB Member)

Samantha is a mother of 2 children, both of whom happily attend Danetree School. She has an MA in philosophy from the University of St Andrews and currently works as the Deputy Head (Academic) at Hornsby House Prep School in Balham.

With a passion for primary education, she believes in capturing the magic and creativity in young children and inspiring them to marvel at the world around them. She knows that sparking joy at an early age is vital for academic success and that schools should strive to imbue all children with a love for learning and a desire for knowledge. 

Having lived in West Ewell for the past 10 years with her partner, children, 2 cats and many fish, she is a big supporter of the local community and avidly enjoys exploring the surrounding area. Her favourite things to do are paint, read and sample artisanal gins.