Our School
Care, Honesty, Determination, Respect, Responsibility and AppreciationGovernors

School governors are ordinary people from the local community who wish to make a positive contribution to children’s education. They are the largest volunteer force in the country and have an important part to play in raising school standards. Governors are not involved in the day-to-day management of the school.
Almost anyone can become a school governor and you can find out more information here. All new governors receive training and support from Ivy Learning Trust and their fellow governors. If you are interested in assisting the School in this way, please contact governance@ivylearningtrust.
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

Samuel Bawden
14/03/2023 – 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 converter 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 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.
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
Governors can be contacted through the school office – email office@lavender.enfield.sch.uk
Copies of the minutes of Governing Body meetings can be obtained through the school office.
Name | Title | Date of Appointment | Term of Office | Appointed by: | Declaration of Interest: | Date Interest Declared: |
Sam Buckley | Chair of Governors | Reappointed 07/02/2021
| 4 Years | Ivy Learning Trust | Wife employed by Lavender Primary School | 15/11/18 |
Rod Bennett | Vice Chair | Reappointed 09/10/2019
| 4 Years | Ivy Learning Trust (Formerly Elected Parent) | Employed by London Borough of Enfield | 19/09/19 |
Laura Murray | Parent Governor | 06/12/2021 | 4 Years | Elected Parent | None | NA |
Vacancy | Parent Governor | |||||
Jodie Corbett | Headteacher | 01/01/2018 | Ex-officio | Ex-officio | None | NA |
Dan Higgins | Staff Governor | 16/03/2021 | 4 Years | Elected Staff | Wife employed by Lavender Primary School. Sibling employed by Lavender Primary School | 09/04/2021 |
Ginika Achokwu | Trust Appointed Governor | 26/01/2023 | 4 Years | Ivy Learning Trust | None | NA |
Samuel Bawden | Trust Appointed Governor | 17/03/2023 | 4 Years | Ivy Learning Trust | None | NA |
All governors are voting members of the Local Governing Board. Panels and working groups are established as needed, but there are no ongoing committees.
Declarations of Interests for Ivy Learning Trust Members and Trustees
Please see the following link Declarations of Interests for Ivy Learning Trust Members and Trustees
Attendance Record
Scheme of Delegation
Please click here.
Local Governors who have stepped down in the last 12 months.
Name | Title | Date of Appointment | Date Stepped Down | Appointed by: | Declaration of Interest | Date Declared |
Laura Martins | Parent Governor | 14/11/2019 | 31/08/2023 | Elected Parent | Employed by London Borough of Enfield | 08/01/20 |
Natalie Lorkins | Trust Appointed Governor | Reappointed 19/03/2019 19/03/2015 | 18/03/2023 | Ivy Learning Trust |
Governance documents which need to be available for public inspection can be requested by emailing the governance professional at governance@ivylearningtrust.org