Management Commitee
The Management Committee is DESC’s governing body.
The Management Committee has a membership of 12 governors, each serving a two-year term of office. The Committee meets on a regular basis, acting as a single committee with governors being appointed to specific areas of responsibility.
The Committee is formed of primary and secondary headteachers, stakeholders, county councillors, local authority officers and community members. This is an excellent combination for ensuring that DESC meets local needs in the context of education. The Committee also oversees how we operate and the way we spend our budget of public monies.
|
Name |
Role/Links |
|---|---|
|
Dave Fisher |
Role: Acting Chair | Community Representative, Secondary School Headteacher |
|
Patricia Walker |
Role: Local Authority Representative Responsibilities: Inclusion and Premium Premium Term of Office: February 2025-27 |
| Katharine Ellwood |
Role: Community Representative Responsibilities: Achievement Term of Office: January 2026-28 |
| Ross Whitaker |
Role: Community Representative Responsibilities: Attendance and Behaviour Term of Office: January 2026-28 |
| Ruth Mason |
Role: Community Representative Responsibilities: Personal Development and Wellbeing Term of Office: January 2026-28 |
| Hannah Lloyd |
Role: Community Representative Responsibilities: Safeguarding Term of Office: January 2026-28 |
| Lorna Elkes |
Role: Community Representative Responsibilities: Curriculum and Teaching & Learning Term of Office: |
| Karen Haswell |
Role: Community Representative Responsibilities: Term of Office: |
| Naomi Walker |
Role: Staff Representative, Co-Headteacher |
| Clare Winter | Role: Staff Representative, Co-Headteacher |
|
Amanda Bright |
Role: Staff Representative Term of Office: February 2025-27 |
| Karen Rackley |
Role: Staff Representative Term of Office: October 2025-27 |
Email: chair@desc.herts.sch.uk
Appointments and Resignations
Amanda Bright - Joined 07/02/23
Patricia Walker - Joined 07/02/23
Ron Tindall - Resigned 27/04/23
Mel Stanley - Joined 01/09/23
Kane Beere - Resigned 19/09/23
Karen Rackley - Joined 19/10/23
Anna McCarthy - Resigned 29/02/24
Sally Ambrose - Resigned 01/10/24
Dave Fisher - Joined 08/10/24
Jonathan Kemp - Joined 21/01/25
Gary Lewis - Resigned 31/07/25
Sara Johnson - Resigned 03/10/25
Mel Stanley - Resigned 02/11/25
Brett Daddow - Resigned 23/11/25
Rob Weightman - Resigned 23/11/25
Jonathan kemp - Resigned 13/07/26
Management Committee Meeting Attendance
| Name | Type | 26.11.24 | 21.01.25 | 13.03.25 | 24.04.25 | 17.06.25 | 07.10.25 | 25.11.25 | 20.01.26 |
| Jonathan Kemp | Chair Community Representative |
N/A | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Sara Lalis | Staff Representative Headteacher |
Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | N/A |
| Patricia Walker | Community Representative | Y | Y | N | Y | Y | Y | N | Y |
| Rob Weightman | Community Representative | Y | Y | N | N | N | N | N/A | N/A |
| Dave Fisher | Community Representative | Y | Y | N | N | Y | Y | Y | N |
| Brett Daddow | Community Representative | Y | N | Y | N | N | N | N/A | N/A |
| Amanda Bright | Staff Representative | Y | Y | N | N | N | Y | Y | Y |
| Mel Stanley | Community Representative | Y | N | Y | Y | Y | N | N/A | N/A |
| Karen Rackley | Staff Representative | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | N |
| Sara Johnson | Previously Co-Chair Community Representative | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Gary Lewis | Community Representative | N | N | N | Y | Y | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Hannah Lloyd | Community Representative | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | Y |
| Ross Whitaker | Community Representative | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | Y |
| Katharine Ellwood | Community Representative | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | Y |
Meet the Members of the Management Committee
Patricia Walker
Appointed by the Management Committee. Patricia is the Integrated Services for Learning Area Manager and Professional Lead for the SEND Specialist Advice & Support Service in St Albans and Dacorum at HCC.
First Appointed: September 2020 and Re-joined February 2023
Register of Interests: None declared
Amanda Bright
Amanda is a DESC Outreach Caseworker and part of the Therapeutic Team as an Advanced Drawing and Talking Practitioner.
First Appointed: February 2023
Register of Interests: Interest declared - A relative's company Ultimate Finish Ovens has been engaged for oven cleaning services by DESC at times.
Karen Rackley
Karen is the Family and Adolescent Practitioner at DESC and is also a Designated Deputy Safeguarding Lead.
First Appointed: October 2023
Dave Fisher
Nominated, from being a member of DASSH (Dacorum Association of Secondary School Headteachers) and appointed by the Management Committee. Dave is the Headteacher at Kings Langley School.
First Appointed: October 2024
Register of Interests: None declared
Lorna Elkes
Appointed by the Management Committee. Lorna is a retired Headteacher of Little Gaddesden Church of England School and was a member of the local DSPL board. She is now a governor of Dundale School.
First Appointed:
Register of Interests: None declared
Karen Haswell
Appointed by the Management Committee. Karen is a services manager for Hertfordshire Services For Young People covering the St Albans, Dacorum and Stevenage areas.
First Appointed:
Register of Interests: None declared
Katharine Ellwood
Appointed by the Management Committee. Katharine is Headteacher of Greenway Primary & Nursery School in Berkhamsted.
First Appointed: January 2026
Register of Interests: None declared
Hannah Lloyd
Appointed by the Management Committee. Hannah is Deputy Headteacher at the Astley Cooper School in Hemel Hempstead.
First Appointed: January 2026
Register of Interests: None declared
Ruth Mason
Appointed by the Management Committee. Ruth is DSPL Manager at Kings Langley School.
First Appointed: January 2026
Register of Interests: None declared
Ross Whittaker
Appointed by the Management Committee. Ross is the Headteacher of Batchwood School in St Albans.
First Appointed: January 2026
Register of Interests: None declared