We are a very active governing body, meeting formally twice each term, but maintaining a high profile within the school at various school and fundraising events. Our current members are:

Hannah Jones

Awaiting biography

Lara Gardiner

Lara has been a governor at Ivy Chimneys since 2014.  She is an experienced teacher, currently teaching in another local primary school where she is also Staff Governor, and a qualified SENCO. Her involvement with Ivy Chimneys goes back to 2007 when she undertook a placement here as a trainee teacher. Lara has children who attended Epping Upland Primary (another school which is part of our multi-academy trust). She is also involved in the Epping Anglican Church Team as warden at All Saints, Epping Upland. 

Andy Jones

Andy is the deputy head teacher at Ivy Chimneys. His association with the school started when his oldest child began attending in 2006; joining a well-established school with a rich history of tradition and a caring ethos. When his younger child began school Andy started teaching at Ivy Chimneys part-time, moving to full-time teaching (year 3/4) the following year.  Since then Andy has taught every year group in the school, albeit only occasionally in EYFS, and has seen many changes in that time. His passion for PE and interest in science helps with his subject responsibilities and, although his children now both attend Epping St John's Secondary School, he continues to play an active role in all areas of Ivy Chimneys.  Andy is our teacher governor and helps our governing body to gain an insight into how the school is progressing and how future plans could lead to further development. He is both proud and pleased to be able to say that Ivy Chimneys would still be his first choice of local school, upholding the welcoming atmosphere, traditions and character that make it a special place for staff and children alike.

Cherry McCredie

Cherry is most easily recognised as an Epping Town & District Councillor, covering the Ivy Chimneys area. She is currently the Epping Town Mayor. She brings a wealth of experience to our Board from her various other roles, including as Chair of the Epping Forest & Brentwood Independent Advisory Group (a support group for the police) and as member of the pan Essex Strategic Independent Advisory Group at Police H.Q. She is a prominent member of the community as: a member of CountryCare (conservation for local Nature Reserves), a committee member of Friends of Swaines Green, a volunteer in the Market Garden, and a tree warden. Now retired, her former career and interests lie in horse training and the teaching of horse riding, including to children.

Lorraine Richards

Lorraine has recently joined the Board of Governors at Ivy Chimneys after having been a Trustee of an Assisted Housing charity for the past 17 years. She is a School Secretary at a small Independent School in Redbridge and has a passion for ensuring children are given every opportunity in life to enjoy it. Lorraine loves watching Musical Theatre and spending time with friends. She lives locally and is forever grateful that she can enjoy all that nature and the local area has to offer. 

Jayne Barrie

Awaiting biography

Kayleigh Trainor

Kayleigh is a Trust Governor at Ivy Chimneys. As an experienced Assistant Head, with Geography specialism she monitors the achievement and outcomes of pupils at KS4; having led the improvement in GCSE results over the past 5years in her secondary school. She is a qualified SENCO, exam access arrangement assessor and careers advisor. Her passion is to ensure that barriers pupils face are removed and education is a tool for further opportunity.

Siobhan Garrett

Siobhan is a parent governor, with two children attending Ivy Chimneys Primary. She volunteered to be a school governor as an opportunity to give back to the community, with the aim of enabling every child access to a high quality education. Siobhan was chair of the Epping Playground Association, that developed Lower Swaines Playground.

Siobhan has twenty years experience as a teacher, headteacher and education consultant, in primary and special education and in educational psychotherapy. Siobhan has recently worked on projects with the London and Kent Violence Reduction Units to support schools to be an anchor in the life of vulnerable children, and to help every school become one in which there is an emphasis on wellbeing and relationships and on positive social and emotional behaviour. Professionally, Siobhan works with schools in the UK and beyond to embed relationally responsive practices in schools to improve the mental health and emotional wellbeing of both adults and children. Her background and expertise is aligned with our school's aim to be trauma-informed and to focus on the development of the whole child. Siobhan believes passionately in community; that parents, educators and other stakeholders need to work together from a place of unity and collaboration to help our children grow into happy, healthy children.

Anna Spivak

Anna is a parent governor at Ivy Chimneys. She has twelve years experience as a Play and Youth worker in London, during which time she she managed a local grants fund for children's activities and gained a Masters qualification in Youth Participation - helping children and young people get involved in decisions that affect them. 

Anna currently works as a data analyst for the Nursing and Midwifery Council, compiling data reports that support the work of a range of organisations: Parliament, Universities, the BBC and other media.