Meet Our Governors

Yerbury School has up to 12 governors:

• The Head Teacher
• 1 staff governor (vacancy)
• 1 Local Authority governor (vacancy)
• 4 parent governors
• 5 co-opted governors. (1 vacancy)

We currently also have one associate governor.

To contact the governing body in confidence you can e-mail chair@yerbury.islington.sch.uk or phone 0207 272 6580.

HEAD TEACHER

The Head Teacher can best be contacted through the school at admin@yerbury.islington.sch.uk or on the main telephone number, 0207 272 6580.

Cassie Moss
Head Teacher

STAFF GOVERNOR (vacancy)

There is one staff governor elected by the school staff.  Staff governors can best be contacted through the school at admin@yerbury.islington.sch.uk or on the main telephone number, 0207 272 6580.

PARENT GOVERNORS

There are 4 parent governors.  They are elected by the parents of the school for a 4 year term of office.

Rosemary Marsh
Chair of Governing Body;
Deputy Safeguarding Governor

I have three children currently at the school and have worked with the school through the PTA since my eldest daughter started in 2015 and as a governor since 2017. I am keen to ensure that Yerbury can continue to offer a fantastic education, and experience, to every child. When I am not parenting, I work part time as a doctor and hope I can bring some understanding of people and systems from my career into the school. I am at drop off and pick up several times a week and am happy to talk. As chair of governors, I can also be contacted by email at: admin@yerbury.islington.sch.uk 

Victoria Loki 

SEND (Special Educational Needs) & Equalities/Access/Inclusion – Link Governor
Biography coming soon

Tanja Murphy

Sustainability Link Governor & Safeguarding Link Governor

Hi, my name is Tanja, I am Danish/British and I have lived in Tufnell Park with my partner for 14 years. After lockdown we decided to move our two daughters to Yerbury and we have all been delighted with the school! My eldest is now at secondary school but my youngest will remain at Yerbury for quite a few years to come. For the past four years I have worked in a Scandinavian independent school, as the office manager. During my time there I had many hats, as is typical in a small school; ranging from bursar to dinner lady to project manager, and everything in between. I am excited to use my skills and adaptability to help the school and the children continue to prosper and thrive.  

Sarah Ferguson 
Chair Finance and General Purposes committee 
I work for JPMorgan, where I am an Equity Fund Manager. I have spent my career in finance and am always keen to share my experience to encourage all children to think about careers they may not yet have thought of. I am delighted to be on the Board of Governors for Yerbury School. I am looking forward to help ensure Yerbury continues to provide a strong, fun and broad education for every child..

Zoe Korsner  – Governor Visits Link Governor

Hi, I’m Zoë and I have two sons in Year 2. I really enjoyed being a class rep and love getting actively involved with the PTA to help with school fairs and events which bring the Yerbury community together. I’m passionate about children receiving the best start in their formative years and am excited to be bringing my skills and enthusiasm to Yerbury’s Governing body.

‘From my career as a TV Production Manager, I understand budgets, legal and business affairs, problem solving and the importance of communication and teamwork. I hope that these skills, along with my experience from volunteering as a Parent Champion for Islington Council, will help me to be a productive member of the school Governing team, helping to support the school to provide the best possible education experience for all pupils, now and in the future.’

CO-OPTED GOVERNORS

Co-opted governors are appointed by the governing body on the basis that, in the opinion of the governing body, they have the skills required to contribute to the effective governance and success of the school.

Sahar Abdulrahman

Hello! My name is Sahar. I grew up in Islington and am a former Yerbury student! Since my primary school days, I have gone on to work as a doctor and am currently doing some research on how to responsibly use artificial intelligence in healthcare.

I’m thrilled to be back at Yerbury and am passionate about helping to support the school provide the best education!

Sam O’Leary
Vice Chair of Governing Body;

Chair of Pay Committee;
Equality & Diversity Link Governor;
Careers & Culture Link Governor;
Member of the Islington Community Of Schools Board

I have been a governor at Yerbury since 2013. I live in Islington with my wife and 2 children. I am the Vice-Chair of Governors and a link Governor for Equality and Diversity. I am also the Chair of the Pay Committee.

Fenella Bolton
Chair of Yerbury Foundation Committee

I have two daughters one is still currently at the school and feel very lucky to have Yerbury on our doorstep. I’ve been a class rep and am always involved in the school events in some way or other. I’m a huge admirer of the community that Yerbury has created within the school and at large.  I hope that my skills in running a PR and communications business might be of use in helping the school to continue to flourish.

Rebecca Roden – Chair of curriculum & learning committee & Pupil Premium & Data link Governor

 I began my career teaching Maths and then leading the Economics and Business department at a London secondary school before taking on a role at a tech start up. I currently work in education at a company with a mission to widen access to money skills and financial literacy.  I am passionate that young people should be taught in a relevant and engaging way and, as such, am delighted to be a Governor for Yerbury School with its focus on a broad and creative curriculum and on each child becoming a fulfilled and happy individual. I hope to be able to use my experiences to support Yerbury’s ethos and approach to  nurturing a love for learning.

ASSOCIATE GOVERNORS

Associate governors are appointed by the governing body.  They participate in meetings and may vote in committee meetings, but do not have a vote at meetings of the full governing body.

Sara Birch 

SEN Teaching Assistant

Terms of office of governors serving within the past 12 months:

Governing Body Composition:

In January 2015 the Governing Body was reconstituted as required by law.  The Instrument of Government may be found in the sidebar of this page or click here: Yerbury Instrument of Government. The Governing Body is now smaller than it used to be.  There are 12 governors in total plus any (non voting) Associate Governors that the Board may choose to appoint.  The Governing Body now consists of:

The Head Teacher

1 staff governor

1 Local Authority governor

4 parent governors

5 co-opted governors.

All governors are volunteers.

It is now expected that all governor positions will be filled based on the skills which the governing body requires.

For elected governor categories (staff governors and parent governors) and nominated governor categories (LA governors) the governing body is expected to make it clear to electors or nominating authorities what particular skills the governing body is in need of prior to an election or nomination.

Categories of Governor:

The staff governor is elected by the school staff.

The parent governors are elected by parents and carers of children at the school.

The Local Authority governor is nominated by the Local Authority and appointed by the Governing Body.  The Local Authority is expected to nominate candidates who have the skills needed by the governing body of the school and who support the school’s ethos and mission.

Co-opted governors are appointed by the governing body on the basis that, in the opinion of the governing body, they have the skills required to contribute to the effective governance and success of the school.

Key Documents:

Declaration of interests 23-24

Governing Body Action Plan 23-24

Yerbury primary school governors’ report 2023-24