Governors Gallery

Christine Blewett

Chair of Governing Body, Co-opted Governor

Member of the Attainment and Progress Committee, the Personnel Committee and the Finance and Premises Committee. Chair of the Pay Committee and Link Governor for Safeguarding.

I have been a Governor since 2011. I am the Link Governor for Safeguarding. I have worked in health and social services across the tri-borough area for over 30 years both as a clinician and a Social Worker. Currently I work as a specialist nurse in contraception and sexual health for Brook Advisory, and I am a specialist advisor to the Care Quality Commission. I am a Trustee on the Board of Age UK, Kensington and Chelsea and I served as a Governor at the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital for nine years. I am committed to the School's vision to inspire and create children who are successful in their education and in their lives beyond.

Warren Boutcher

Co-opted Governor

Chair of the Attainment and Progress Committee, Member of the Personnel Committee.

Warren Boutcher is Professor of Renaissance Studies at Queen Mary University of London. Between 2010 and 2013 he served as Dean for Taught Programmes for the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences in the same university, with overall responsibility for student experience and teaching and learning across nine Schools from English and History to Law and Economics, and from 2017 to 2021 he served as Head of the School of English and Drama. He has been a governor at Oxford Gardens since May 2012.

Tara Swan

Co-opted Governor

SEN and Attendance Link Governor

I have been working at OGPS, in Foundation Stage for 12 years. I hold a BA Honours Degree in Teaching and Education and also have a Foundation Degree in Leadership and Management for Early Years. I have personal experience of Special Educational Needs and am very interested and knowledgeable in this area. I am the Link SEND and attendance Governor. I have been a governor at the school since June 2014, initially in the Staff Governor category and latterly in the Co-Opted Governor category.

Samantha Dossetter

Governance Professional

Clerk to the Governing Body

I am the Governance Professional to the Governing Body and have worked with the school since 2013. I work as an independent clerk across the Boroughs of Kensington and Chelsea; Southwark and Bromley.

Cllr Walaa Idris

LA Governor

Member of the Finance and Premises Committee

I was elected councillor for the beautiful Brompton and Hans Town ward in 2018, and became the LEA governor for Oxford Gardens Primary School in 2020. Between 2006 and 2012 I was the LEA governor for Chelsea Open Air Nursery School, during the same time I was a trustee for the Chelsea Youth Programme. A resident of RBKC since 1991, I lived in the north, the south, the west and now live in the east of the borough since 2005. With a degree in Psychology and Sociology, professionally I am a Property Consultant and split my time between council duties and my consultancy. Rooted in the community where I served as a neighbourhood watch panelist, resuscitated a failing youth program and co-founded a Residents Association. I also, set up a mentoring program for a financial think-tank, to help students from disadvantaged backgrounds get mentoring from top FTSE companies. Helped in reforming the Legal Aid programme and was a trustee for Mankind Initiative, a charity for male victims of domestic violence. My professional training coupled with my diverse experiences allows me to work well with others and gives me the ability to understand and positively tackle a variety of issues and challenges. With a degree in Psychology and Sociology, professionally I am a Property Consultant and split my time between council duties and my consultancy. Rooted in the community where I served as a neighbourhood watch panelist, resuscitated a failing youth program and co-founded a Residents Association. I also, set up a mentoring program for a financial think-tank, to help students from disadvantaged backgrounds get mentoring from top FTSE companies. Helped in reforming the Legal Aid programme and was a trustee for Mankind Initiative, a charity for male victims of domestic violence. My professional training coupled with my diverse experiences allows me to work well with others and gives me the ability to understand and positively tackle a variety of issues and challenges.

Lauren Charsley

Co-opted Governor.

Vice-Chair of Governors; Chair of the Personnel Committee

I joined OGPS as a co-opted governor in November 2020 looking to further integrate with my local community. Having previously worked in White City as a media planner where I also ran the agency’s EDI and charity workstreams, I am now Head of Marketing for CoppaFeel! a breast cancer awareness charity for young people. I seek to apply my professional experience to my governorship as Chair of the Personnel Committee.

Altaf Kassam

Co-opted Governor

Co-opted Governor. Member of the Finance and Premises Committee

I have been a Governor since 2023, and I am a member of the Finance and Premises Committee. I am committed to the school's vision, underpinned by high standards and expectations for all, as well as the commitment to lifelong learning as a key to personal fulfilment. I live in Northwest London with my wife and two children. I am proud father to a 18-year old son and 15-year old daughter. My son is profoundly deaf and wears bilateral cochlear implants.

Nikoletta Papanikolaou

Parent Governor

I am a Parent Governor appointed in February 2023 and I have two children, one of them attends Oxford Gardens Primary School. I have been an Early Years teacher since 2016, teaching in nursery as well as Year 1. From a teacher’s perspective I find OGPS a nurturing and positive environment for my son. I am proud to be part of the Governing Body.

Ahmed Gamal Eldin

Parent Governor

I am a Social-economist with over 20 years of teaching and research experience in higher education institutions in Sudan, Germany and the UK. Besides academia, I have also worked with, and consulted for national and international development and humanitarian organisations and UN agencies for 12 years. Since 2021, I have been working as a freelance Researcher and Consultant. I am also now a Trustee and Chair of a local charity and have previously served as a Trustee of a UK-based international non-governmental organisation (NGO).

I am a firm believer in education as a fundamental right for all and I am committed to lifelong learning.

Laura Lutkoski

Co-opted Governor

Co-opted Governor. Chair of the Finance and Premises Committee

I was happy to join the Oxford Gardens community as a governor in summer 2023. I have worked as a civil servant since graduating university in 2005, specialising in government finance in HM Treasury and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. I have lived in the local area for over 12 years and feel a strong connection to this vibrant and diverse part of London. I live with my husband and daughter.

Imogen Farmer

Parent Governor

Parent Governor. Member of the Attainment and Progress Committee

Fahima Saeed

Staff Governor

I have been teaching at Oxford Gardens since September 2019 and have experience teaching in Years 3, 4 and 5. I completed my undergraduate in Education and Special Educational Needs and specialised in Literacy during my PGCE which led to a deep passion for inclusion and writing. I have been the subject lead for Music since 2021 where I implemented an updated scheme of work for all classes to follow. I work closely with our music partners to bring unique, cultural opportunities to pupils. I am currently an ECT mentor and find much fulfilment in this role. I was appointed Staff Governor in March 2024 and look forward to serving the school and wider community more effectively.