Sally Perkins - Chair of Governors

Information to follow.

Sarah Whittaker – Assistant Headteacher

I joined Haydon Abbey school as an ECT in July of 2011. Since joining, I have taught in all Key Stages throughout the school and have taught many pupils throughout my time here. In 2021, I became an assistant headteacher and have had many roles and responsibilities within this position over the years including teaching and learning, pupil premium and assessment and attainment. I more recently joined the governing body in order to support the development of the school and to ensure that every child receives the best possible education by working closely with fellow governors and leadership of the school to support continuous improvement in pupil wellbeing, curriculum development and pupil wellbeing.   

Kate Newton – Vice Chair Safeguarding

I joined Haydon Abbey’s governing board in December 2021. I currently have one child attending the school. I have over 20 years’ experience working in finance and more recently in in the social care sector. I believe that I will be able to use these skills to benefit the wider school community. I am very pleased to be part of Haydon Abbey and I am excited to see how the school progresses.

Tom Elliott

I joined Haydon Abbey as a School Governor in 2021, I have two children currently enrolled at Haydon Abbey and two more still to join, so I have a long-invested interest in this school’s performance and development. I currently work at Heathrow Airport as a project manager for the Employment, Education and Skills team, my work involves me creating educational and curriculum-based activities and work experience placements for schools and colleges. I also assist with the recruitment for the many companies that work at Heathrow. During my time as a School Governor, I will undertake training and use my work-based knowledge to help the development and success of Haydon Abbey School.

Ghanashyam Dahal

I joined Haydon Abbey’s governing board in December 2024. As a parent governor, I have two children currently enrolled at Haydon Abbey, so I have a long-invested interest in the school’s performance and development.  Currently, I am working as an accounts and audit manager in one of the accounting practices in London. I believe my experience working in the sector for the past 20 years would contribute adding value in achieving the school’s strategic and financial objectives. I’ve always wanted to give back to society therefore, this would be a pleasure to help the development and success of this school.    

Patricia Hague

I joined the governing body at the beginning of 2025 and am deeply committed to the school’s future as a parent of HA. My background is in project management and service development, where I primarily oversee the mobilisation and delivery of programs, grants, and tenders aimed at fostering community engagement and addressing loneliness and isolation. In my role, I also lead my organisation’s communication team and play a vital part in the safeguarding team.

What I enjoy most about my job is enhancing practices and processes, identifying opportunities for growth and collaboration, and empowering my teams to demonstrate tangible change and impact in our clients’ lives through outcome tracking and storytelling. Prior to becoming a parent, I worked as a creative director and therefore have a passion for photography and curation, I also enjoy watching documentaries, reading, and attending concerts. Although I am new to the governor role, I am looking forward to collaborating with, and learning from, the rest of the governing body to support the school’s growth and development. 

Laura Taylor

I joined Haydon Abbey’s governing board in December 2021 as a Parent Governor. I believe my experience working in the finance environment for the past fourteen years (including nine years in Local Government Finance) has provided me with the knowledge and skills to understand, support and challenge finance and other processes within the school. As a parent, I am keen to contribute towards the school’s strategic objectives and understand how they support pupil progression, engagement, and the overall school environment. I look forward to learning from the existing governors and developing myself in the position to be able to support the growth of this brilliant school. 

Deborah Morrison - Safeguarding and Local Authority Governor

I was appointed as the local authority governor by the school’s governing board during the academic year 2024-2025, having been nominated by the local authority to contribute my experience, skills and perspective to the school’s strategic leadership.  I am an ex-primary headteacher currently working as a consultant school improvement advisor, supporting leaders in other schools to improve and enhance educational quality. I have extensive experience in school leadership, strategic planning, and educational development. My role as a volunteer, Local Authority Governor is driven by a genuine desire to make a positive difference to a school in the same local area that I was raised and educated. I am, therefore, keen to share my professional experience for the benefit of the pupils, staff, and families at Haydon Abbey School. I have a steadfast commitment to championing high standards and fostering an inclusive, supportive learning environment and feel privileged to work alongside a dedicated team at Haydon Abbey whose goal is to help every child achieve their full potential.

Lee Elliott

Information to follow