Trust appointed governors

Sam Buckley (Chair)

Reappointed 07/02/2021 – 4 year term

07/02/2017

I have been chair of governor at Lavender for the last 3 years and I thoroughly enjoy it, its 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 schools data

My 3 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

Natalie Lorkins

Reappointed 19/03/2019 – 4 year term

19/03/2015

I am currently Acting Head teacher at Churchfield Primary School and previously worked at Lavender. I have been a member of the governing body here for 10 years, first as a parent governor, then a staff governor, and now as a trust appointed governor. I am passionate about the quality of education that this school delivers and the warm, inclusive ethos which has always been such a strength.

I qualified as a teacher in 1993 and worked as an English teacher in secondary schools across London before becoming a Head of Department. I retrained as a Reading Recovery teacher in 2010 and began my journey in primary education.  My English teaching training helped me to develop literacy teaching and a love of reading across the school. I have now been happily working as a deputy head in a different part of Enfield but remain very committed to Lavender and the children here.

Ginika Achokwu

26/01/2023 – 4 year term

As a registered paediatric nurse with over 12 years experience, that has worked predominately in safeguarding, across various sectors of the health economy. I hope to bring a wealth of transeferable 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 eduacting 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 best it can be as a critical friend.

Rod Bennett (Vice Chair)

Trust Appointed 09/10/2019 – 4 year term

Parent Elected 09/10/2015 – 08/10/2019

I consider it a privilege to be a governor here at Lavender, which my youngest child still attends.  I was originally appointed as a parent governor in 2015 and have recently become a trust appointed governor.  My aim has always been to help Lavender be the best school it possibly can be; and one that provides a wonderful education and experience for all the children, whilst supporting the local community.

I live and work locally and have worked in a number of roles around the community safety and more recently social care sector, particularly focusing on performance and improvement.  On top of this, I have undertaken a variety of governor training programmes, all of which have further developed my skills and abilities in this role.  I am currently one of the link governors focusing on the curriculum.

Elected parent governors

Laura Murray

Appointed 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.

Laura Martins

Appointed 14/11/2019 – 4 year term

I have a real passion for the London Borough of Enfield after living and working here for the past 11 years. I am a Transformation Manager for Enfield Council where I have most recently been focused on delivering Covid-19 related programmes. Previously, for the last 3 years, I was also Chair of the Council’s ‘Women into Leadership’ programme which I was awarded the Executive Management team innovation award for outstanding ways of innovative working.

I have held roles in children’s services, safeguarding, strategy and partnership working and this has given me an excellent understanding of people, change and performance as well as the skills that, I believe, are needed to be successful and make a difference as a parent governor.

I have two boys, both of whom thoroughly enjoy attending Lavender (Year 6 and Year 4). It is because of their positive experience that I was keen to become a parent governor, to help ensure that Lavender continues to provide the best possible experience for all children. It is essential every child positively thrives in whichever way suits them best.

My aim as parent governor is to represent your views as accurately and fairly as I can. I am delighted to take on this role for the benefit of all children at Lavender.

Staff governors

Dan Higgins

Appointed 16/03/2021 – 4 year term

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 at 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)

Appointed 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