School governors (known as Local Governing Body members in our Trust) are people who want to make a positive contribution to children’s education. Governors are one of the largest volunteer forces in the country and have an important part to play in raising school standards.  The role of the governing body is crucial to the effectiveness of a school. (National Governors Association)

The Governors at Sandcross Primary School are a highly effective, committed group of people who offer support and challenge as part of the effective leadership of the school.  Their role is to oversee the way that the school is run, ensuring that the children get the best education possible and that it fulfils all statutory responsibilities.  

More information on the role of the Local Governing Body and Governance of the Everychild
Partnership Trust can be found here - https://www.everychildpartnership.org.uk/governance/

Membership and Roles of the Local Governing Body

Selwyn Pye

Co Chair

 

Helen Humphries

Co Chair

Helen is a coopted governor and joined the Board in September 2025. She brings experience of working in the education sector for over twenty years and is currently Director of Wider Learning in a sixth form college in Surrey. She has wide experience of governance, having been Chair of Governors for St Martin’s C of E School in Dorking for ten years and was also co-opted to a second school as governor during that time. She was also involved in working alongside other school governors in theMole Valley area in the local schools’ governor forum.

Adam Hedges 

Co-opted LGBM

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

With 10 years of teaching experience in the independent sector, I have held various leadership positions in nationally top performing schools.  As a resident of the Reigate community, I am deeply invested in the quality of local education, whilst I am also interested in innovative classroom practices and the use of technology in education.  I am committed to ensuring that every child at Sandcross School has access to the best educational experiences in a supportive and happy setting.

Holly Thompson

Co-opted LGBM

I have been a Parent Governor at Sandcross since summer 2026 and am the link governor for Safeguarding. As a parent, I have a real personal investment in the school. My eldest child has just started her journey at Sandcross in Reception, and my two younger children will hopefully follow in her footsteps in the future. I wanted to contribute some of my time to the school and help ensure it continues to be a safe and supportive place for all children.

Professionally, I am a Child Clinical Psychologist and work for a local authority with children, families, and wider professional networks in relation to safeguarding. Alongside this, I work in private practice, providing therapy and neurodiversity assessments for children and families. Supporting the wellbeing and development of children is at the heart of both my professional and personal life.

Through my experience, I hope to bring knowledge and understanding around safeguarding, wellbeing, SEND, inclusion, and children’s development, as well as experience working collaboratively with families, schools and other professionals. I also bring experience in research and audit, which I hope will help me contribute thoughtfully to discussions and decision-making.

During my time as a governor, I hope to contribute to the emotional, social and academic development of all children. Most importantly, I want to help ensure that every child at Sandcross feels valued and can reach their full potential, while supporting the school in continuing to provide a positive experience for its children and families.

Best regards,
Holly Thompson

Alison Colville-Foley

Parent Governor

Hello, my name is Alison, and I am honoured to have recently been appointed as a Parent Governor at Sandcross School.

I wanted to take on this role as a way of giving back to the school my children attend and to support its continued success. Before becoming a parent, I worked in the finance industry for over 15 years in roles such as Change Coordinator, Project Coordinator, and Continuous Improvement Specialist. These experiences gave me strong skills in planning, attention to detail, process improvement, and stakeholder communication – all of which I believe will help me contribute effectively to the governing body.

Alongside my professional background, I have volunteered for more than 18 years as a committee member for a registered charity that provides camping holidays for disabled people. This role has given me valuable experience in shaping facilities, reviewing safeguarding and health and safety policies, and working collaboratively to create positive outcomes for others.

I also enjoy volunteering at school, whether it’s through Friends of Sandcross events or accompanying class trips. I’m excited to use my experience and time to support Sandcross School and help ensure the very best for our children.

 

James Holah

Parent Governor

James is a co-opted governor at Sandcross School, having joined the governing board in March 2026. He brings experience from his role as a senior leader in the life sciences industry, where he leads an extended international team across multiple countries. Through this work, James has developed strong experience in strategy, governance, operational delivery, people leadership, and working collaboratively with a wide range of stakeholders. James is keen to use this experience to support the school’s continued development and to help ensure that all pupils have the opportunity to thrive. He is particularly interested in supporting effective leadership, clear decision-making, and a positive, inclusive school environment. Closer to home, James is actively involved in the local community. He is a head coach within the minis section at Old Reigatian Rugby Football Club and is also a Run Director at Reigate Priory junior parkrun, an event he helped to establish in Reigate. These roles reflect his commitment to helping young people build confidence, develop new skills, and enjoy being part of supportive community activities.

 

Beth Westall

Staff LGBM

 

Register of Interests & Attendance 

Please see the attached document below:

Sandcross Governors Register of Interests & Attendance November 2026

We have also provided a Register of Local Committee Members and an Annual Statement of Issues for your information.

If you have any questions about the Local Committee or would like to get involved please contact the school office.

Link Governors - roles and responsibilities for the Governing Body 

• SEND / Safeguarding - Alison
• Leadership, Management and Quality of Education – Selwyn/Debra 
• Pupil Premium / Underserved / Early Years - Alison
• Pupil Performance - Millie