Michelle Shenston 

Headteacher

Titi Akerele

Co-opted

Governor

Andrew Brown

Parent

Governor

I currently work for a Hertfordshire based education company that holds the value that every young person, through access to great education, should be able to realise their potential, regardless of where they live or their circumstances. I also personally uphold this value and I also have a passion for diversity and inclusion, and advocate for a fairer society.

I have one child a the start of her primary education in the school, and the other coming to an end as she embarks on her Year 6 education. This too gives me a unique insight and experience which I hope to share as a Governor. 

Gareth Lewis

Parent Governor

My son moved to Hillmead in 2018 going into year 2. He moved from a small rural school where I had already developed an interest in how the school was being run and how governance worked around the schooling system. In recent years I have developed an interest in how we educate the younger generations in a quickly changing world. This is especially driven from my work life where I work at the environment agency as a senior specialist in Flood Risk Management.

The changes in our Environment reflect the changes in our lives and how we develop in our own environment, be it physically or mentally, is especially interesting to me.

This drove me to wanting to be more involved in how the school moves forwards in this changing world and thinking about the next steps education must take.

In my personal time I enjoy taking walks with our dog, visiting places of interest and general family time, you’ll also catch me in the kitchen cooking or baking but I’m no Paul Hollywood!

Philip Middleton

Chair

I became a Governor at Hillmead in September 2016; the same month my eldest child started in Reception. I have lived in Bishops Stortford since 1993 (aside from a stint at University in Durham and a year in Chelmsford), studying for my GCSEs and A-Levels in the town. I am married and as well as the afore-mentioned son I have a daughter.

I am a senior leader at a large national housing association and my remit includes Customer Service & Customer Experience. I joined as a Governor as I want to help the school go from strength to strength and to support the staff in what they do. I am Chair of the People Committee.

Outside of work I am Secretary of the Hertfordshire Branch of the Fly Dressers Guild and can also be found on the side-lines at Bishops Stortford Rugby Club. 

I was born in London and educated at Bedford Park prep school, Chiswick Comprehensive, Watford College, then Hatfield Polytechnic (HND in Electrical and Electronic Engineering).  I am married to Sue and have two children, Hannah and Jessica, who have both attended Hillmead and are now at Herts and Essex.  I moved to Bishop's Stortford in 1988.  Most recently I was a project manager in the air traffic control business group at Raytheon in Harlow, until I resigned in October 2007 to become a househusband and spend more time with my family.  My interests include music, skiing, gardening and motorsports.

I have previously been Vice Chair and was Chair for a year until the end of my first four year term in March 2013.  I was re-elected for a second term of four years as a Parent Governor in May 2013.  I have sat on all committees and held the role of Chair of Personnel and Premises before my year as Chair of Governors. I have held or do hold various linked governor roles, including Health and Safety and Safeguarding and Computing (previously ICT).  I became a governor, after being approached by a previous governor, because I wished to give something back to my local community and believed I could help the school to strengthen its position as a primary school in Bishop's Stortford.  So far I have found the roles I have taken challenging but equally rewarding and I am proud to have played a part in the journey the school is on.

Laura McMillan

Staff Governor

Anne Winship

Associate Governor