Our Governors

A very warm welcome from the Governors of Fair Field Junior School.

The Local Governing Body performs a strategic leadership role in the running of Fair Field Junior School and we work closely with the senior leadership team to ensure that the school provides the best possible education for its pupils. We act as a “critical friend”, providing both challenge and support to school leaders.

Our key responsibilities are:

policy development and strategic planning, including target-setting to keep up momentum on school improvement;
ensuring sound management and administration of the school, and ensuring that managers are equipped with relevant skills and guidance;
ensuring compliance with legal requirements;
establishing and maintaining a transparent system of prudent and effective internal control;
monitoring performance and the achievement of objectives, and ensuring that plans for improvement are acted upon;
helping the school be responsive to the needs of parents and the community and making it more accountable through consultation and reporting;
setting the school’s standards of conduct and values;

The Local Governing Body meets twice a term and in addition has a joint Personnel Committee with St John’s Infant and Nursery School. The local governing board is a committee of the Poppy Academy Trust.

Should you wish to contact the Chair of Governors, please email him on chairofgovernors@fairfield.herts.sch.uk

Our governance diversity information is here.

Current Governors
Simon Mitchley (Chair of Governors) Co-opted governor Link Governor for Safeguarding Current term of office: 14/12/21 - 13/12/25
Joanna Berwitz (Vice Chair of Governors) Co-opted governor Current term of office: 30.11.22 - 29.11.26 Joanna is a qualified solicitor who transitioned into teaching in 2007, bringing her skills to both the private and state education sectors. Currently, Joanna works as a private tutor, specialising in teaching maths and English for the 11+ exams as well as providing general academic support. She has a particular interest in upper primary education and is passionate about helping children reach their full potential during these crucial years of learning. Joanna is the Vice Chair of Governors at Fairfield Junior School and the Link Governor for English.
Jane Williams Co-opted governor Member of Personnel Committee Link governor for Inclusion and Diversity Current term of office: 01.07.20 - 30.06.24 Jane’s career in law was mostly spent as a Welfare Rights lawyer with the CAB. She has been a governor at Fair Field School since 2019 and Chair of Governors for 4 years. Having lived in Radlett for over 40 years, she has always been involved in local community work often through Christ Church.
Davinia Leggett Headteacher Ex-offio Governor Davinia Leggett has been working in education for over 20 years working in South and North London before moving to Hertfordshire. She was previously Head of School at St John's Infant and Nursery School in Radlett, before becoming Headteacher Fair Field Junior School. Davinia wants all children achieve their full potential regardless of their starting point. She is passionate about Inclusion, outdoor learning, art and developing a lifelong love of learning.
Sam Gray Staff governor Link governor for eSafety Current term of office: 01.07.24 - 30.06.28 Sam has been working in education for 10 years, working first in Deaf education in South Africa before joining the Fair Field team in 2017. She previously worked as a Pastor, working with the most vulnerable members of society. She is passionate about helping children discover and reach their full potential and believes that every child can be successful.
Josephine Kasirye Parent governor Current term of office: 06.02.24 - 05.02.28 Josephine Kasirye is a dedicated and dynamic individual who serves as a Parent Governor and Link Governor for Curriculum. She holds a Bachelor of Commerce in Accounting, which has provided her with a solid foundation in financial management and analytical skills. With a career predominantly in the retail sector, she has held various management positions, gaining extensive experience and knowledge in the field. Her transferable skills from the retail sector, such as leadership, strategic planning, and problem-solving, enable her to adapt swiftly and add value in different environments. Her experience in compliance and audit has equipped her with a keen eye for detail and a thorough understanding of risk management. As a Parent Governor, she is committed to ensuring that the educational needs of children are met. As the Link Governor for Curriculum, she plays a crucial role in supporting the school ensuring the curriculum meets high standards and aligns with educational goals.
Rozanne Margerrison Co-opted governor Link governor for curriculum Current term of office: 29.06.23 - 28.06.27 Rozanne is currently the Director of Operations at an independent school, which involves extensive experience in school management, risk & compliance, contract management and strategic planning. Since 2015, she has worked in various roles within the independent education sector, gaining a deep understanding of school operations, resource management and the broader educational landscape. As a mother to two school age children and as a local resident, she is committed to supporting the school and the wider community. Rozanne is passionate about ensuring that all children have access to high-quality education and the opportunities they need to thrive. She strongly believes in the role schools play in nurturing not only academic success but also personal development, well-being, and life skills. Rozanne is proud to contribute to the governance of the school and looks forward to working collaboratively with staff, fellow governors, and the wider school community to help shape a positive future for our students.
John Grace Parent Governor Link Governor for Health & Safety Current Term of office: 21/03/22 - 20/03/26 John is a Business Development Manager with over 40 years’ experience in the Facilities Management sector. This has given him a good understanding of all issues to do with infrastructure and the systems we have to have in place to keep our pupils, staff and visitors safe in our buildings. He joined as a parent governor in 2021 and was given responsibility for the oversight of health and safety at Fair Field Junior School. He has also supported the Trust with understanding the condition of their infrastructure assets and the financial planning for life cycle replacements.
Patrick Mroz-Dawes Co-opted governor Current Term of Office 16.03.23 - 15.03.27 Currently on Sabbatical
Bernie Soffair Personnel Committee Current term of office: 16/12/20 - 15/12/24 Bernie is a retired dentist, and ran a family-orientated dental practice for over thirty years. This involved developing procedures and policies necessary to run a business. Bernie lives in Radlett, and his three children all attended St John's and Fair Field, so is keen to help current pupils thrive at the school.

Current Governors

Simon Mitchley (Chair of Governors)

Co-opted governor

Link Governor for Safeguarding

Current term of office: 14/12/21 - 13/12/25

Joanna Berwitz (Vice Chair of Governors)

Co-opted governor

Current term of office: 30.11.22 - 29.11.26

Joanna is a qualified solicitor who transitioned into teaching in 2007, bringing her skills to both the private and state education sectors. Currently, Joanna works as a private tutor, specialising in teaching maths and English for the 11+ exams as well as providing general academic support. She has a particular interest in upper primary education and is passionate about helping children reach their full potential during these crucial years of learning.

Joanna is the Vice Chair of Governors at Fairfield Junior School and the Link Governor for English.

Jane Williams

Co-opted governor

Member of Personnel Committee

Link governor for Inclusion and Diversity

Current term of office: 01.07.20 - 30.06.24

Jane’s career in law was mostly spent as a Welfare Rights lawyer with the CAB. She has been a governor at Fair Field School since 2019 and Chair of Governors for 4 years. Having lived in Radlett for over 40 years, she has always been involved in local community work often through Christ Church.

Davinia Leggett

Headteacher

Ex-offio Governor

Davinia Leggett has been working in education for over 20 years working in South and North London before moving to Hertfordshire. She was previously Head of School at St John's Infant and Nursery School in Radlett, before becoming Headteacher Fair Field Junior School.

Davinia wants all children achieve their full potential regardless of their starting point. She is passionate about Inclusion, outdoor learning, art and developing a lifelong love of learning.

Sam Gray

Staff governor

Link governor for eSafety

Current term of office: 01.07.24 - 30.06.28

Sam has been working in education for 10 years, working first in Deaf education in South Africa before joining the Fair Field team in 2017. She previously worked as a Pastor, working with the most vulnerable members of society. She is passionate about helping children discover and reach their full potential and believes that every child can be successful.

Josephine Kasirye

Parent governor

Current term of office: 06.02.24 - 05.02.28

Josephine Kasirye is a dedicated and dynamic individual who serves as a Parent Governor and Link Governor for Curriculum. She holds a Bachelor of Commerce in Accounting, which has provided her with a solid foundation in financial management and analytical skills.

With a career predominantly in the retail sector, she has held various management positions, gaining extensive experience and knowledge in the field. Her transferable skills from the retail sector, such as leadership, strategic planning, and problem-solving, enable her to adapt swiftly and add value in different environments. Her experience in compliance and audit has equipped her with a keen eye for detail and a thorough understanding of risk management.

As a Parent Governor, she is committed to ensuring that the educational needs of children are met. As the Link Governor for Curriculum, she plays a crucial role in supporting the school ensuring the curriculum meets high standards and aligns with educational goals.

Rozanne Margerrison

Co-opted governor

Link governor for curriculum

Current term of office: 29.06.23 - 28.06.27

Rozanne is currently the Director of Operations at an independent school, which involves extensive

experience in school management, risk & compliance, contract management and strategic

planning. Since 2015, she has worked in various roles within the independent education sector,

gaining a deep understanding of school operations, resource management and the broader

educational landscape.

As a mother to two school age children and as a local resident, she is committed to supporting

the school and the wider community.

Rozanne is passionate about ensuring that all children have access to high-quality education and the opportunities they need to thrive. She strongly believes in the role schools play in nurturing not only academic success but also personal development, well-being, and life skills.

Rozanne is proud to contribute to the governance of the school and looks forward to working

collaboratively with staff, fellow governors, and the wider school community to help shape a

positive future for our students.

John Grace

Parent Governor

Link Governor for Health & Safety

Current Term of office: 21/03/22 - 20/03/26

John is a Business Development Manager with over 40 years’ experience in the Facilities Management sector. This has given him a good understanding of all issues to do with infrastructure and the systems we have to have in place to keep our pupils, staff and visitors safe in our buildings. He joined as a parent governor in 2021 and was given responsibility for the oversight of health and safety at Fair Field Junior School. He has also supported the Trust with understanding the condition of their infrastructure assets and the financial planning for life cycle replacements.

Patrick Mroz-Dawes

Co-opted governor

Current Term of Office 16.03.23 - 15.03.27

Currently on Sabbatical

Bernie Soffair

Personnel Committee

Current term of office: 16/12/20 - 15/12/24

Bernie is a retired dentist, and ran a family-orientated dental practice for over thirty years. This involved developing procedures and policies necessary to run a business.

Bernie lives in Radlett, and his three children all attended St John's and Fair Field, so is keen to help current pupils thrive at the school.

Elliot Isaacson

Co-opted governor

Current Term of Office 27.03.24 - 26.03.28

Elliot has15 years of experience in the advertising technology industry, where he has led teams and driven innovation in both strategic and technical capacities. Outside of his professional career, he is the treasurer and co-founder of a local children’s football club, where he also manages a team. Previously, Elliot served as treasurer for a voluntary charity. He is passionate about fostering a positive learning environment and am committed to supporting the school’s continued success, ensuring the best outcomes for its students.

Attendance Table for FF LGB 110325