Ed Holloway - Chair of Governors & Community Governor

I’m Ed Holloway and I’ve recently been appointed as Chair of Governors at Mandeville.

I live in the local area and have two children at the school, so you can often see me doing the morning drop-off.

As a governor, my role is to work alongside the school’s leadership team to help set a strategy for the school, and to provide support and challenge to the leadership team. However, it’s important to remember that we don’t get involved in the day-to-day management – that’s the job of the headteacher and other staff.

I feel so fortunate that we have such a wonderful school in our local committee, and am proud to be able to play a small role in helping it to continue to provide a fantastic education for every pupil.

In my day job I work in the charity sector, currently as CEO of a benevolent organisation in London. Please don’t hesitate to say ‘hi’ when you see me around school.

Cathy Longhurst - Head Teacher

Governor attendance for 2021 - 2022 school year

LSC meetings  5/6

I came to Mandeville in 2001 after teaching in London in the early part of my career and have lived in St Albans since then with my family. I was appointed as the leader of the Foundation Stage and Key Stage 1 and then became Deputy Head Teacher in 2005. As the school is a designated ‘National Support School’ I was asked to support a local school in challenging circumstances in February 2012 and enjoyed four terms as acting head teacher there before coming back to Mandeville as the substantive head teacher in September 2013. 

I am so proud of being part of Mandeville’s journey to success. The school has almost quadrupled in size since I started teaching here and is unrecognisable from the school it was then. We have achieved so many great things in that time, including the slightly disruptive but very worthwhile £5.5 million building project and an outstanding Ofsted.

I love the diversity that the children and families bring to Mandeville and the importance that we place on developing the whole child whilst not taking our focus away from continually striving to raise standards. Mandeville is such a happy environment for everyone who learns and works here, both children and adults, and every day presents a new and exciting challenge. That’s why I have stayed so long!

Laura Williams - Associate Governor (Deputy Head)

Appointed Staff Governor 30 Sep 2018 to 30 Sep 2021

Governor attendance for 2021 - 2022 school year

LSC meetings 5/6

I became a governor in September 2015 after joining Mandeville in September 2013 as the Year 6 class teacher and Assistant Headteacher with a responsibility for Key Stage 2. The following year I moved to teach in Nursery and took the role of  Early Years and Foundation Stage leader. It was a big change that I welcomed and an excellent opportunity to learn! I have become passionate about early education and using children's interests to achieve their next steps. I am extremely proud of the EYFS unit and team and believe we provide outstanding provision for our children. I love that every day is different and totally led by the children and I really value the opportunity to have a role in setting children up on their educational journey. 

I undertook my teacher training in Essex after completing a Psychology degree at Nottingham University. Prior to moving to Mandeville, I spent 5 years teaching at St Peter's just half a mile away. I predominantly taught in Key Stage 2 and was on the senior leadership team with a responsibility for teaching and learning across the school. During this time, I also did a Masters in Education. 

In September 2015, I became the acting Deputy Headteacher and SENCo which became my substantive role in June 2016. It has been a fantastic opportunity and I have thoroughly enjoyed increasing my knowledge and understanding of inclusion and SEND within education.

In my spare time, I enjoy spending time with my family and being active.

Katie Ellingham - Staff Governor

Appointed Staff Governor - September 2023 to September 2027

Governor attendance for 2021 - 2022 school year

LSC meetings  6/6

I joined Mandeville in 2004 after moving to England from Australia where I had been a teacher for four years.  After gaining my degree in psychology and history at Monash University, I then went on to secure a post-graduate diploma in education. 

My main teaching experience is in KS2 and I am now the phase leader for Year 3 and 4.  I am very passionate about giving children a rounded experience in  primary school by building academic confidence as well as developing lifelong resilience skills.  I am qualified to teach the Penn Resilience Programme and the mindfulness programme known as. Breathe.  Throughout my time at Mandeville I have lead many curriculum subjects and am currently in change of English across the school.  During the last three years, I have taken on extra duties as a senior teacher and am often asked to demonstrate teaching and learning to less experienced teachers

I have always enjoyed working with children and love the way that every day is different.  Mandeville is by far the best school I have ever worked at, and I passionately believe in the principles which drive everyone to do their best for every child who walks through the door.

Mandy Abley -Vice-Chair & Co-opted Governor 

Appointed Community Governor - 6th October 2021 to 6th October 2024

Governor attendance for 2021-2022 school year

6/6

I have worked in education for over 30 years, the last 11 of them as head teacher of Aboyne Lodge primary in St Albans. I have a degree in English literature from UCL, studied for my PGCE at the Institute of Education in London and returned there to complete a Masters in Educational Leadership and Management., and my NPQH.

In 2017 I was invited to join the first cohort of the Herts for Learning Executive Head Teacher training programme and in September 2018 took over as headteacher at Templewood Primary in Welwyn Garden City, alongside my headship at Aboyne Lodge. I remained head at both schools until August 2021.

I was appointed a local leader of education in 2013 and supported many schools across Hertfordshire, until I became a Hertfordshire Improvement Partner in 2017. While I have now retired from Headship, I continue to work as a HIP, offering support and challenge to school leaders across the County.

Martin Reed - Parent Governor

I was born in the UK and have always had a passion for the arts. I have a BA in Graphic Design and a Post Graduate Diploma in creative writing. I lived in London for 10 years with my wife before moving to St. Albans in 2012. I have over 20 years experience in the world of advertising and marketing, with a mixture of self-employed and full-time experience. 

In terms of schooling background my mother was a primary school teacher for 40 years and I often helped in her classroom as a learning assistant. Mandeville continues to impress me with its inclusive attitude to child development and I cherish the opportunity to uphold that commitment to the school and local community. 

I have a son in reception and a daughter in Year 5, giving me daily exposure to both ends of Mandeville’s learning journey. I work in the creative industry, and would love to contribute in any way I can and to particularly help children learn to expressive themselves creatively. 

Rev Becky Leach - Community Governor

I am so pleased to be re re-joining Mandeville School as a Community Governor. I was previously a school governor in 2019 and 2020 but had to leave when I was suffering from Long Covid.

I have lived close to the school for the past seven years since becoming the Vicar of St Stephen's and St Julian's Churches in 2016. As Mandeville is in the parish it has been great to pop into the school from time to time and to welcome classes to our churches on occasions. I've always been impressed by the warm and caring atmosphere in the school.

It's lovely now to have the opportunity to build even stronger connections with the school as a governor and to offer my support to the whole community - staff, pupils and parents.

I have been a Church of England vicar for fifteen years, but before that I was a secondary school teacher for 18 years, teaching geography in three schools in Rutland, north London and Ware. I am married and have three grown up daughters. I love the outdoors and still in my head think of myself as sporty, but rarely do much to keep me fit these days!

Kelly Drew - Community Governor

I have lived in St Albans since 2004 and have three children, my eldest left Mandeville in 2023 and is now at secondary school, my younger two are in year 5 and year 3.

I was the PTA Treasurer from 2016 to 2019 which links to my background in Finance & Accounting.

I am a Chartered Accountant and have worked in the NHS for over 20 years and have always had a passion for helping people, part of the reason I decided to say yes to the Finance Governor role.

I'm really looking forward to joining the amazing team at Mandeville.  

Barry Maraj - Parent Governor

I was born in Trinidad, West-Indies and qualified at Glasgow Medical School in 1987. I gained extensive experience in several surgical specialities in the west of Scotland. After completing training, I left for Leeds to engage in a research fellowship leading to the award of a PhD degree in the molecular biology of cancer. I returned to London and was appointed consultant urological surgeon and honorary senior lecturer.

I recently retired and have wide experience in teaching and mentoring at levels from medical students to consultant colleagues and continue to travel internationally in this regards.

I have two young children at this school.

With my background in teaching in the medical profession I now wish to and am looking forward to extending this to general education and supporting Mandeville in this regard. 

Patsy Harding - Associate Governor

Appointed Associate Governor 01 Sep 2022 to 01 Sep 2025

Governor attendence for 2021-2022 school year 

5/6

Having moved to St Albans in 2007 I became a parent at Mandeville in 2010 when my daughter started in Reception during the rebuilding project.

I had previously worked as a buyer for a London Department store so have a background in managing budgets and financial accountability. I am now the School Business Manager responsible for the school's finances, HR, recruitment  and contracts.