Governors

About School Governors

Who are the School Governors?

The Governing Body is made up of members of the local community, parents and school staff including the Headteacher.

What is the role of School Governors?

Our main role is to work with the Headteacher and staff to make Bullers Wood School for Boys the best school it can possibly be.

Our role is primarily strategic: we are not involved in the day-to-day running of the school.  In practice, this means we decide with the Headteacher what we all want the school to achieve and set out a framework for getting there.  This involves setting aims and objectives, agreeing policies, targets and priorities, and regularly monitoring and reviewing these aims and objectives to check they are being achieved.

We also act as a “critical friend” to the school.  Many of the Governors have particular areas of expertise and can offer support and constructive advice when necessary. We can also question, seek information and make suggestions in order to help the school arrive at the best results.

More Information?

If you would like more information about school governors, please consult http://www.governornet.co.uk.

For more information about Bullers Wood School for Boys Governors, please contact the Clerk to the Governors, c/o Bullers Wood School for Boys.

Both the Chair of Governors and the Clerk can be contacted via e-mail to: enquiries@bwsmat.org 

Or writing to: The Clerk to the Governors, Bullers Wood School for Boys, Chislehurst Road, Bromley BR1 2NW

Chair of Governors – Mr Cogswell

Meet the Governors

Ian Cogswell, Chair of Governors, Link Governors for Behaviour and Attitudes

I joined the governing board as a co-opted governor in 2018 and have served as Chair since September 2019.

I am married with 3 grown-up children (a girl and two boys) and have lived in the Chislehurst area for over 25 years.

Most of my professional career has been spent as a banker, primarily focused on funding projects across the oil & gas and energy sectors.  I now provide advice to developers seeking funding for energy and infrastructure projects, and I am the co-founder of a financial services training company.

For most of my life I have been a keen footballer and, until recently, spent many years coaching local youth football teams.  I also enjoy running and vainly attempting to improve my golf handicap.

Mark Norman, Link Governor for Careers and Destinations

I have been a co-opted governor since March 2021.

I am a retired barrister, having previously worked extensively in local government and for other public bodies such as Ofsted.

I currently run a part time consultancy practice assisting with one off public sector projects. I also volunteer at a food bank.

I have three children all of whom have now graduated from university.

In my spare time I enjoy travelling, gardening and following tennis.

Lynda Buchanan, Independent Governor, Vice Chair Bullers Wood School for Boys, Link Governor for Vulnerable Groups

I have been a Governor since 2019 without any previous experience within the education domain.

I have lived in Bickley for over 30 years and have two grown up sons.

After 20 years working in senior roles at large corporate investment banks’ operational/change departments I had a change in career that lead to me into self employment property development. Despite being retired I constantly have a project ‘on the go’.

Sunil Chotai, Co-opted Governor, Link Governor for Academic Standards

I have been involved in the world of education for the past 38 years, I recently retired (October2023) from a position of CEO of Charles Darwin Academy Trust.

I started my career in teaching, after a short spell as a chemical engineer, in 1985 as a Mathematics teacher.

I have worked in a range of boys and mixed schools. The highlights of my career in secondary teaching are summarised below.

I have had a rich and varied career, I have held the roles of Mathematics teacher, Head of Mathematics Department, Assistant Headteacher, Deputy Headteacher and Headteacher of two schools, and CEO of a Trust. I have often worked with schools that were in very difficult circumstances in terms of their academic performance, standards of student behaviour, pastoral care etc. I have worked in partnership with committed colleagues and without exception we have been able to improve such school’s performance significantly.

I live in Bickley, I am a father of two grown up girls. I am really looking for to contributing to the further development of Bullers Wood school for Boys.

Steph Carr, Link Governor for Health and Safety

I have been staff governor since December 2023.

I am one of the Cover Supervisors here at Bullers Wood School for boys with over eight years’ experience of working in education, having worked in a private nursery in Bromley and a primary school in Lewisham.

I have previously trained as a Teaching Assistant and as a Higher-Level Teaching Assistant before I went on to study Education Studies with The Open University – achieving a first-class bachelor’s degree.

I have one son who will begin secondary school next year.

In my spare time I enjoy travelling, gardening, football, DIY and fishing.

Jayne Burman, Link Governor for Safeguarding and Children Looked After

Jasmine Choudhury , Link Governor for Personal Development an Wellbeing

Cherylene Mclean, Link Governor for Equalities, Diversity and Inclusion