It has been my pleasure to have been the Headteacher of Hitherfield Primary School since 2006. I am originally from Wales, but have spent my whole teaching career in London, mainly in Lambeth, where I continue to reside.

I was first elected as parent governor 12 years ago and continue to support and challenge this exceptional community school as a co-opted governor. 

Dr Tessa Crilly has been a governor since 2002 (originally a Local Authority appointment) and was previously chair of the Learning and Personal Development Committee and is now vice chair of the governing body.  She was born in Liverpool and moved away to study at the London School of Economics.  Her father, Frank, was a builder's joiner who left school at 14, but claimed - to general mirth - that "I steered my kids round the minefield of education".  The serious point was that education was valued.  Tessa's focus is to ensure that children get the best chances possible and develop all their potential through their time at Hitherfield.

Phyllis Dunipace OBE

Co-Opted Governor

Appointed by the Governing Body, Phyllis has been a governor since 2010.  Until she retired she was Director of Children's Services and previously Director of Education in Lambeth.  She was awarded an OBE in 2011 for services to children and families.

Michael Elliott

Co-Opted Governor

Appointed by the Governing Body

Simon Hooberman

Local Authority Governor

Simon Hooberman was first appointed as a Governor of Hitherfield by the Local Authority in 1982. After two spells as Vice-Chair of Governors, he was elected Chair in September 1999 and has held the post ever since. Simon lives in Leigham Court Road and works from home as a self-employed Admin Consultant (although he hates that phrase!) providing administration, fundraising and other support as required to a number of local charities and voluntary organisations. He also serves as Clerk to the Governing Bodies of a number of other schools in both Lambeth and Croydon. He regularly attends events involving Governors across the borough and serves as a member of Lambeth’s Independent Appeal and Review Panels. He is also involved with a number of other organisations on a voluntary basis and served as an elected Councillor in Lambeth for 12 years in the 1980’s and 1990’s.

Graham Lee

Co-Opted Governor

Graham  has lived locally since the 1970s.  He had a career in local government and since his retirement, has since been engaged mainly in historical research.  He became a Local Authority nominated governor of the school in 1994 until 1998 and again from 2002 to 2015.  Since then he has been a co-opted governor and was previously Chair of the Resources Committee.

Clare Christie

Associate Member

Appointed by the Governing Body, Chair of the Learning and Personal Development Committee. 

Mike joined the Governing Board in 2016.  He has two daughters 1 at Hitherfield.  Mike works for a major trade union where he is deputy head of Local Government, focusing on policy issues, public service improvement and workforce matters.  In the past he has worked in policy roles covering higher education, the community and the voluntary sector. He is the Chair of the Resources Committee.

Co-Opted Governor

Nici was a pupil at Hitherfield in the 1960s and became a governor when her son (now in his 30's) was at the school.  She has seen a lot of changes at Hitherfield over the years; amalgamating the Junior and Infants into a single school, opening the Children's Centre, expanding to 3 form entry and the extentions to the junior building.  Now she has retired from her career as a teacher she loves the learning that is involved in being a governor.

Luke Parker

Associate Member

Acting Head of School

Associate Member Appointed by the Governing Body

Arlette Wells

Associate Member

School Business Manager

Appointed by the Governing Body

Karen was elected by parents and carers at the school in May 2021 and was recently appointed Vice Chair of the Resources Committee.

Jade Koch

Emily Andrews is a journalist and Hitherfield parent, and was recently appointed Vice Chair of the Learning and Personal Development Committee. 

Dr Anna Hutchinson

'Anna Hutchinson is a parent governor with two children at Hitherfield. She was elected to the governing board in December 2022 by parents and carers at the school.’