The Local Governing Committee consists of a combination of people who are nominated, appointed, elected or co-opted.

Governors help the Headteacher and staff to achieve the school aims. Governors work as a whole group or as part of a committee to assist with:

  • Finance and Facilities
  • Learning and Standards
  • Performance Management
  • Pay
  • Appeals
“The ability to read, write, and analyze; the confidence to stand up and demand justice and equality; the qualifications and connections to get your foot in the door and take your seat at the table – all of that starts with education.”

Michelle Obama

I love this quote – it really places a sharp focus on the power and potential of education. It highlights the huge responsibility which we hold as a school community – staff, governors, parents and carers – to give each child the opportunity to achieve the best they can. Hempland is a thriving and relatively
large primary school – 420 pupils – which values each child as an individual.

The governing body has a strategic role, focusing on the school’s medium and long-term priorities. We don’t manage the day-to-day running of the school – that’s the role of the Headteacher – but we provide oversight, support, and challenge to help the school continue to evolve. As an LGC we meet formally five times a year to review key areas such as policies, budgets, the school development plan, peer reviews, pupil progress and risk registers. Governors also make regular visits to focus on specific areas including SEND, safeguarding, health and safety, Early Years, and office procedures.

The LGC is a strong working group committed to the continuous improvement of the school and to the wellbeing of both staff and pupils. Hempland is proud to be part of the Pathfinder Multi Academy Trust, and the full roles and responsibilities of the LGC are set out in the Trust’s Scheme of Delegation.

Susanna Dale-Simmonds, LGC Chair

Local Governing Committee Members

I have been chair of governors at Hempland since 2021. I was a parent governor for four years and am now a co-opted governor. I have a background in management consultancy focussing on customer experience and people change in financial services and the public sector. In this capacity, I have worked for the Department for Education, Ofsted and The Skills Funding Agency.  I now work in higher education. Many years ago, I was a pupil at Hempland. I now have three children here and another in pre-school.

I am a co-opted Governor who joined the Hempland LGC in 2022. I hold a PhD from Durham University and have research expertise in Psychology and Education. I have a passion for evidence-based research in education and was a core member of the research team that developed the EEF-Teaching and Learning Toolkit. Over the years I have worked in various primary school settings with children both in research and in a support role.  I am currently a link governor for Early Years and a co-vice chair of the LGC.

I am an early years teacher at another school in York. I taught in London as a reception teacher and forest school leader before moving to Heworth in 2016. Both my daughters were pupils at Hempland and I became a parent governor here in 2021. I am now a co-opted governor and the link governor for SEND and Safeguarding and co-vice chair of the LGC.

I am a Solicitor and a partner at a Law Firm. I have always been drawn towards community social work and for many years I have mentored children and young adults from economically and socially disadvantaged communities. I founded Access to Justice, my firm’s pro bono legal aid programme, in 2006. Every year, the programme helps countless victims escape violence and move toward safety and stability. I believe that the wellbeing of a country is determined by how well it treats its children and youth. The need to ensure that they are given the right opportunities and are empowered to lead the conversation has never been greater.

I am a Parish Councillor and also serve as the Vice Chair for Heworth Without Parish Council and also a Parent Governor at Archbishop Holgate School. I joined the LGC in 2022 as a co-opted governor and I am the link governor for Health and Safety.

I am a Medical Research Council-funded Senior Lecturer (Associate Professor) in the York Biomedical Research Institute (YBRI) at the University of York and a global research leader in gene regulation and infectious disease. A strong advocate for Equality, Diversion and Inclusion, I am Athena Swan lead for the Department of Biology at York, England’s 1st Gold Award recipient. I officially mentor a full range of career researchers, from undergraduates to junior academics.

I joined the LGC as a parent governor in 2025.

With over 16 years of experience in operations management across retail and manufacturing sectors, I have developed expertise in commercial operations, health and safety, and continuous process improvement. I’m committed to using my skills to support the school’s strategic goals, enhance its operations, and ensure a safe, thriving environment for all students.

I joined the LGC as a parent governor in 2025.

Olivia is an experienced primary school teacher and a member of the senior leadership team at Hempland school. Until recently, she has been head of mathematics and upper Key Stage 2. She has been a staff governor since 2022 and is currently on maternity leave.

Governor Information

For further governor information, please access our page on the Get Information About Schools website here.

LGC Register of Business Interests

LGC Attendance Register 2025-26

LGC Updates

LGC update December 2025

LGC October Update 2025

LGC End of year message Summer 2025

LGC Update March 2025

LGC Update December 2024

LGC Update April 2024

LGC Update October 2023

LGC February 2023 update