Our Governors

Please see Governor Roles for more information about our governors.

Please click here for Governor Attendance at Meetings 2023-2024

Sarah White – Co-Chair of Governing Body; Governor for Safeguarding, Behaviour & Attendance  

I have lived in St Albans since 2007 and have worked as a teacher and assistant headteacher at a local secondary school. I have one child who currently attends Skyswood and a son who was previously a pupil. This combined experience of the local education community and Skyswood, led me to volunteer my time as a governor and to give something back to the school community.  

My role enables me to work closely with other governors and the senior leadership team at the school. I also attend joint safeguarding meetings and training across the AET.  I can be contacted at whites@skyswood.governor.aetrust.uk

Jo Easter – Co-Chair of Governing Body; Governor for SEND, Pupil Premium & disadvantaged groups

With a degree in English from Durham, I started my working life in book publishing. After having children, I went back to University to retrain as a teacher. 

I have had a varied career in education, including being a primary Class Teacher and SENDCo, Special Needs & Early Maths Adviser, and primary headteacher.  I have a further degree in Early Maths Intervention.  I feel that this experience gives me particular insight in the governor role.

I have lived in St Albans for most of my adult life, with my husband and family. Our children, who are now adults, attended Sandringham School and we live within walking distance of Skyswood. I have two primary age grandchildren. I currently work part time as a trainer in the charity sector, and also volunteer at St Albans Cathedral, helping with school visits.  I can be contacted at easterj@skyswood.governor.aetrust.uk

Lisa Shipley – Sports Premium Governor

I have lived in St Albans for the last eight years and have two children. My eldest child has recently moved on to secondary school and my youngest child is a current pupil at Skyswood. I have been a co-opted governor since 2021 and volunteered because I wanted to support the dedicated Skyswood senior leadership team and teaching staff responsible for creating a fantastic learning environment. In my professional life I am an ICAEW Chartered Accountant and a Chartered Tax Adviser. I have twenty years’ experience working for a leading professional services firm and specialise in international tax policy.

Claire Wallis – Responsibility for Governor Training ( Associate Member)

I joined the Skyswood governing body as a parent governor back in 2020 and have two daughters very much enjoying their adventures at the school in year 2 and year 4. I decided to join the school as I wanted to help support and build an environment that allows every child at Skyswood to benefit from nurtured growth and development. I am a strong believer in every child having the school journey they deserve and I have a passion to develop a diverse and inclusive culture of learning. In my professional life, I have over 25 years’ experience in the retail sector and currently working for a management consulting business delivering commercially effective strategies and solutions to clients. I hope my professional skills and knowledge will be beneficial to my fellow governors, the staff and leadership team at Skyswood School.

My term of office as a parent governor came to an end in November 2024. I am now an Associate Member of the LGB for a three month period.

Lakshmanan Ganesan – Health & Safety Governor

I am a Parent Governor and joined the governing board in 2020.

I have a daughter in the school currently, while my son completed his primary education in the same school a few years back. I have worked with the staff and the lovely community that has shaped the school going from strength to strength.

I have a master’s degree in Electrical Engineering from India with over 20 years of experience working in IT industry in various roles across the globe, the most recent being Cyber Security Consultant.

Being a governor brings opportunities to get involved, support the school and the wider community by contributing to life-long learning from personal experiences from work in related field.

My term of office as a parent governor came to an end in November 2024. I am now an Associate Member of the LGB for a three month period.

Michelle McColl – Early Years Governor

I joined the Skyswood governing body in 2024 as a Parent Governor with a son in Year 1 and a daughter who will start in September 2025.

I feel privileged to use my skills to support this wonderful school, staffing body and community to continue to flourish.  I have over 20 years experience in finance and for the past 8 years I have held senior leadership positions in the education sector. I am a qualified accountant and have an MBA.  I am currently Chief Operating Officer for a local Multi-Academy Trust.

Staff Governors

Our staff governors are:

Heidi Lewis and Lisa Foster

Governor Policies

Governors Health & Safety Action Plan

Governors Visits Policy