Trust appointed governors

Sam Buckley (Chair)

Reappointed 07/02/2021, 07/02/2025 – 4 year term
07/02/2017

I have been Chair of Governors at Lavender since 2017 and I thoroughly enjoy it – it’s great to be part of such a wonderful school that supports and enables the local community in which it is situated.

The aim is to be a critical friend to the school, offering support and direction and helping to hold the senior leadership team to account.

I live and work locally and am involved professionally in data and insight function which comes in handy when scrutinising and looking over the school’s data.

My three children all went to Lavender and although they have moved on to secondary school, they all miss the great culture and environment that the school offers.

We are fortunate to have such a highly committed group of staff, parents and governors who all endeavour their absolute best to achieve great things for all pupils at Lavender

Samuel Bawden

17/03/2023 – 4 year term

Sam is delighted to be part of the team of governors at Lavender Primary School. Resident in Enfield with two children who attend the school, Sam is a passionate member of the local community with a background in Arts Education, school leadership and governance. 

As a member of the senior leadership team at a co-educational secondary school in Haringey, Sam brings with him a wealth of experience of the education sector as well as governance, having previously held the post of staff governor for five years at his own school.

A background in the Arts and a passionate believer in the transformative power of education, Sam brings a wealth of knowledge to the already well established governing committee at Lavender. A keen cyclist, singer and recently converted runner, Sam is delighted to be able to bring his skills and passion to the community at Lavender.

Ginika Achokwu

26/01/2023 – 4 year term

As a registered paediatric nurse with over 12 years experience, that has worked predominantly in safeguarding across various sectors of the health economy, I hope to bring a wealth of transferable skills and diversity to the role of local governor.

I was drawn to the ethos and values of Lavender, including the passion it has for educating all children and contributing to the best possible start in the lives of the children, as lifelong learners.

I am really looking forward to serving as a committed local governor, and engaging myself in everything the role requires and has to offer. I consider this opportunity a real honour and look forward to helping Lavender be the best it can be as a critical friend.

Sabrina Bailey

08/01/2024 – 4 year term

I am the Managing Partner of a family law firm and specialise in children work.  I have over 20 years’ experience of child protection and safeguarding. 

I was previously the chair of a pre-school for 4 years and have also previously been a Trustee for Homestart, supporting vulnerable families in the community. I am also in the fortunate position to mentor young people interested in careers in law.

My passion in schools is inclusion and SEN, having navigated the education system with a type 1 diabetic son, so I understand the challenges faced by children, their families and schools when extra support is required.

I am a parent of three children, one of whom is in year 4 at Lavender School.  I have lived in Enfield for nearly 10 years and am committed to working hard for our school community

Elected parent governors

Laura Murray

06/12/2021 – 4 year term

My career background is in teaching, where I have also held positions of leadership within a large primary school in Barking and Dagenham. I have worked at various schools across the Enfield borough and am currently working at a local school as a KS1 Phonics Intervention teacher. 

I consider it a real privilege to be a Parent Governor at Lavender Primary School, where my son is currently attending. As a prospective parent, Lavender really stood out to me as being the best school for our son. I love the nurturing ethos and embedded values of the school. 

I passionately believe that all children have the right to have the best education possible and flourish to become confident, lifelong learners. I would like to help Lavender be the best school it can be, providing a rich education and experience for all children, whilst also supporting the local community. 

As a parent governor, I hope to be able to support the school in sharing my experience and ideas, whilst also being able to share views from parents accurately and fairly.

Paul Hussein

30/11/2023 – 4 year term

I am a proud parent to two children who have both thrived at Lavender and I am excited about this opportunity to use my experience in education to contribute to the successful governance of the school. I have lived in the borough of Enfield for most of my life but never worked here so I am excited by this opportunity to give something back to the community as I got into teaching to make a difference to the lives of young people. 

I am an Assistant Headteacher responsible for monitoring and improving the quality of teaching and learning for 140 teachers and 2500 students in a secondary school in Barking and Dagenham. A key part of my role is using evidence informed research to improve teaching practice and I’d be keen to share some ideas with the wonderful teachers at Lavender. The highlight of my working week remains teaching English, especially Shakespeare to my amazing A Level classes. 

The real highlight of my week is spending time with my family (unless Spurs are at home!) and especially sitting down to dinner to talk about our days or playing sport and board games. 

Staff governor

Dan Higgins

Reappointed 16/03/2025 – 4 year term

16/03/2021

Having worked at Lavender Primary School alongside my wife for 8 years, I have a true love for the school, staff and community that surround it. I began working at Lavender Primary School in 2014 as a Teaching Assistant and trained as a teacher two years later. It was the best decision I could have made.

In my role as PE, History and Geography curriculum coordinator I have the ability to help shape the teaching within the school and as a staff-governor I hope to be able to communicate the feelings and thoughts of the staff body to the governing body of the school. 

Head Teacher

Jodie Corbett (Head Teacher)

01/01/2018

I was drawn to Lavender from the very first time I stepped through the door and felt the ‘Lavender Love’ and now, 10 years later, I am proud to be Headteacher of this wonderful school. I joined the school in September 2012 as an Assistant Head, following a career break to raise my children, and have over the course of my 25-year career in education held a number of different roles from class teacher to curriculum leader, SENco, Reading Recovery teacher and also Deputy Head.

Our school is a special place with a wonderfully diverse and inclusive community and an exceptional team of dedicated staff.  I am committed to ensuring that our children leave Lavender with the knowledge, skills and mindset to be successful, independent and lifelong learners.

Other governing body information