King's Hedges Educational Federation

'The governing body provides expertise in different areas of the school’s work. Governors consider detailed reports, including from the headteacher and the local authority, and use these to hold leaders to account for the quality of teaching and pupils’ achievement. They monitor and evaluate the school’s finances carefully, including the use of pupil premium and primary PE and sport funding to improve pupils’ achievement.' OFSTED 2019

Meet the Governors

Roger Salmon, Chair of Governors

I have degrees from Cambridge (maths) and Stanford (business). I worked for 19 years as a merchant banker, mainly on complex oil and mineral financing and on regulatory aspects of privatisations. I was then the first Railway Franchising Director, responsible for setting up the contractual system for the franchised passenger railway and selling the first round of franchises. Later I was bursar of King's College. In between I have worked as a consultant, expert witness and commercial mediator. Since retiring, I work occasionally as a humanist funeral and wedding celebrant. I was Chair of Governors at King's Hedges 2006-14 and was re-appointed a governor and chair in December 2016 and led the selection of the new Head. I have lived in Chesterton since 1999.

Justina Cornwell, Staff Governor

I have worked at King's Hedges School for 20 years and have seen two children through the school, with two currently attending.

I have been a governor for 5 years and joined because I am passionate about King's Hedges Educational Federation and believe 100 % in the ethos of the school.

Catherine Shimmin

Following a childhood growing up in South America, and a passion for learning about different cultures, I studied Social Anthropology at the University of Cambridge. I am also a qualified Primary school teacher and have an MSc in Public Health Nutrition, specialising in Nutrition Programme planning, from LSHTM.

I have worked as a classroom teacher in the UK and as a humanitarian aid worker with Medair, responding to emergencies, mainly based in Madagascar. My experience as a teacher was invaluable when designing health and hygiene promotion programmes and training fieldworkers. I am currently Impact Manager at Camfed (Campaign for Female Education), an international non-profit organization tackling poverty and inequality by supporting marginalised girls to go to school and succeed, and empowering young women to step up as leaders of change.

I’ve lived in Kings Hedges since 2013 with my husband and now three daughters, the eldest of which has just started Reception. I believe passionately in the importance of education for all, and of investing in the young people in our community.

Julia Hasler

Julia is a scientist with teaching, research, programme management and administration experience gained while working at the University of Zimbabwe for 22 years and for UNESCO in Paris for 8 years. She became a Governor because of her interest in voluntary work in the community and her enthusiasm for King's Hedge's school.

Elisa Meschini

Elisa was born in Milan and has lived in the UK since 2006 and in Cambridge since 2011. She has been a governor at KH School since 2017. Her main interests are in languages and science subjects. She is also the incumbent County Councillor for King’s Hedges division, and as such is a champion for the role that the school plays in the local community.

Charlotte Argue

I started out working at King's Hedges as a teaching assistant. I enjoyed working at the school and decided that I wanted to become a primary school teacher. I completed my training at King's Hedges and have since taught in Year 2 and Year 6. I am very passionate about the school and look forward to working alongside the other governors.

Francesca Lofts

I came to Cambridge to study Law at Cambridge University in 2005, and have remained in the city since then! I am an in-house solicitor, currently working for the educational publisher, Cambridge University Press. In a former role I worked for the Department for Education, I am passionate about ensuring access to education and training for all. In my spare time I enjoy running, baking and gardening.

Rosanna Evans

I have lived in Cambridge all my life, apart from a brief break to study English and History in Leeds. I now coordinate the schools programme at the Fitzwilliam Museum in town and am working towards a PhD understanding how practical work in the science classroom affects our learning and attitudes to science. In my spare time, I help to lead a Brownie unit in Abbey and support an academic society with the distribution of funding for outreach and engagement projects. I have previously worked at two of the other University museums in town, always to support the education of all children and young people, particularly in schools.

Samantha Taylor

I am a mother of two young children, my eldest of whom attends Nursery at King’s Hedges. I have lived in Cambridge all my life, and in King’s Hedges itself for the past 11 years. I have a History and Education Studies degree from Cambridge University and a decade of teaching experience, specialising in the Early Years. I taught Reception aged children at a different, local school, leading a team of other teachers and TAs for the majority of that time. I also have experience of mentoring trainee teachers and moderating schools across Cambridgeshire. As both a mother and a qualified teacher, I believe strongly in the importance of building strong, positive relationships between home and school, so that we can all work together to ensure that our children are happy at school, making friends and learning lots of interesting new things. I am passionate about promoting a lifelong love of learning. In my spare time I enjoy reading, swimming and visiting new places.

Helen Hynd

I grew up in Brighton and on the Isle of Wight before moving to Cambridge 6 years ago. I have been a teacher of Religious Studies and Philosophy for over 20 years working in various secondary schools. I am currently the Director of Pastoral Care at the Leys School . It is clear that education is more than a lesson in the classroom but is rather all that happens throughout a school day. It is clear that Kings Hedges absolutely lives out that value and that is why I am so pleased to be able to support the school by being part of the governing body.

Sarah Merritt, Headteacher

Sarah Merritt, Headteacher

I have worked at King’s Hedges School for 13 years now, in a number of different roles. I was lucky enough to be invited to go on Secondment as Headteacher of another Cambridge school for 2 terms from September 2016 – April 2017. This was a great experience which led me to being appointed Headteacher back at King’s Hedges from September 2017.
King’s Hedges School has evolved during my time working in the school and over a number of years we have bravely taken on new ideas and initiatives. Some of which I have been involved in have included becoming a Nursery and Primary school, federated together under one Governing Body, setting up the So to Speak Project and taking on 2 year olds in the Me 2 Club.
The school has gone from strength to strength over the years and I am proud to lead the school in the future. The schools vision ‘Excellence achieved through care, creativity and challenge’ says it all about what we offer and this is firmly embedded in our ethos and belief that all children deserve the best that we can offer.
We are lucky to have a dedicated staff team, who work hard to maintain the excellent standards throughout the school. It is a pleasure to call myself Headteacher of King’s Hedges Educational Federation and I look forward to working with the children, families and community in the future.