Governing Board

“Our school is committed to having an active board that is diverse and inclusive and reflective of the community we serve. More information is available upon request from the school office."

The Governing Body of St Ursula’s Catholic Primary School will endeavour to operate at a strategic level, leaving the school’s senior leadership responsible and accountable for the operational day-to-day running of the school. The Governing Body’s overarching duty is the preservation and development of the Catholic character of the school. Its core strategic functions, as a Governing board, are in the following:

Ensuring clarity of Catholic vision, ethos and strategic direction.
Holding the appropriate senior leadership to account for the educational performance and Catholic character of the school and its pupils; and for the internal organisation, management and control of the school, including performance management of staff.
Overseeing the financial performance of the school and making sure its money is well spent.

Read what our Governor's have to say:

Mr D Abioye - Chair of Governors

I am a pharmacist with long standing experience working in various communities including Harold Hill. I have experience in working with young people in mentorship programmes and I am passionate about ensuring the wellbeing of all pupils at St. Ursula’s. I strongly appreciate the importance of a high quality and well rounded education, as having a strong foundation is vital for the future success of all our children. I have a strong faith in God and I was educated in a Catholic school. My children also attend St. Ursula’s. I believe it is important for St. Ursula’s to maintain its great values to help our children prosper. As a Foundation Governor, I contribute to the safeguarding and success of all pupils through my roles of Safeguarding Link Governor and a member of the Curriculum committee.

Ms K Smith - Vice Chair

My name is Katie Smith and I am delighted to be supporting St Ursula’s Catholic Primary School as a Foundation Governor. I am a primary‑trained teacher and have spent the majority of my career working in Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), supporting children and young people with complex learning needs and disabilities within specialist school settings. I currently work for Barking and Dagenham Council as a SEND Advisory Teacher. I am an active member of the parish community at The Most Holy Redeemer Church, where I have supported First Holy Communion classes, and I have had the pleasure of getting to know many pupils and families through this role. As a parent of two daughters who have thrived at St Ursula’s, I am keen to give back to the school and wider community. I hope my experience in SEND will support the school in sharing best practice and strengthening inclusive provision.

Mr K Ashburn - Headteacher

I was appointed the Headteacher of St Ursula’s Catholic Primary School in September 2020. It is a privilege to have been chosen by the school Governors and entrusted with the job of leading such a fantastic school. I have worked at St Ursula’s for ten years but what you may not know is that I also grew up in Harold Hill and attended St Ursula’s as a pupil – this school holds a special place in my heart. Therefore, I am determined that the school builds on its legacy and continues to flourish and maintain its position at the heart of our community. It is important now, more than ever, that we live out our Mission Statement: “With God at the heart of our St Ursula’s family, we welcome all as we learn and grow together.” From my experience of being a part of the St Ursula’s family, I know that the successes of the school have depended on all pupils, parents, Staff, Governors and the Diocese working closely together.

Mrs S Ominiyi - Foundation Governor

I have been a Foundation governor at St Ursula’s since 2014, having been first appointed in the Infant School. I am a member of the Resources Committee. I am honoured to continue serving the school and to contribute to its continued success. I qualified as a Chartered Accountant (ACA) with Grant Thornton and spent 9 years in the audit practice. I have 7 years public sector experience in senior finance roles having previously worked as Financial Controller for a multi-academy trust and Head of Financial Accounting for an NHS Trust. I am experienced with budgeting, financial reporting and auditing. I am married with 3 children, all currently attending St Ursula’s

Dr L Ifeanacho - Foundation Governor

My name is Dr Laura Ifeanacho (nee Selema) and I am a Senior Clinical Psychologist. I have spent over 15 years working with children and young people in various settings (support worker, clinical and mental health and learning disability services) across London. I have a strong commitment and passion to support the overall wellbeing of students. I hope to contribute to a supportive, strengthens based learning environment, where all pupils are able to flourish and reach their full potential. Having a disability myself, I am privileged to have been offered the role of Foundation Governor. I hope to draw on my strong passion for inclusivity, equality and neurodiversity. I am keen to work with staff to advocate and tailor interventions to support children’s individual learning potentials. This can be done by ensuring we create a more inclusive and supportive learning environment for all – children and their families. Having attended a Christian primary and secondary school, I have valued that at the heart of catholic education is a strong emphasis on values which has been interwoven into all subjects and teaching. I strongly believe that the lessons learned throughout children’s school years lay an excellent foundation that goes beyond academic success – they help shape students into thoughtful, considerate, compassionate and moral individuals. My daughter attends the school and she loves it! She has grown closer to God and developed as a person – mind, body and spirit. She has also developed into a confident, caring, gentle child, through a strong sense of belonging as a result of the schools close-knit, supportive community.

Mrs M Akomea - Foundation Governor

P Murray – Foundation Governor

Mrs J Ezugwu - Foundation Governor

Mrs J Noonan - Local Authority Governor

I am delighted to have been appointed as a Governor at St Ursula’s Catholic Primary School. Prior to joining St Ursula’s, I served as a Governor at St Mary’s Catholic Primary School, where I held the position of Chair of the Resources Committee. This was a role I fully embraced and loved. I am extremely excited to transfer this knowledge into this new appointment. As a parent of two children who have both attended Catholic schools within Havering, I have a strong, first-hand appreciation of the importance and impact of a faith-based education. This personal perspective reinforces my commitment to ensuring that every child at St Ursula’s is given the opportunity to flourish in a nurturing, valuesdriven environment. I have worked in Financial Services in senior administration roles for over 37 years, which again has given me vast transferable skills I hope to use for the benefits of the children at St Ursala’s. I look forward to working closely with the leadership team, staff, fellow governors, and the wider school community to help ensure that St Ursula’s continues to be a place where children feel safe, inspired, and empowered to reach their full potential.

Mrs S Reynolds - Teacher Governor

I was appointed as a Staff Governor at St Ursula's School in 2024. I have worked at St Ursula's school as a Year 2 teacher and the Maths Lead for Early Years and Key Stage 1 for two years, but have 13 years worth of teaching experience. I have strong links with St Ursula's school as both historically and currently, family members have attended the school; including my own child. I also live within the local area and attend the local Church, so understand the importance of maintaining good, strong relationships between our families, our school and our local parish. I am committed to ensuring that St Ursula's remains the strong and welcoming 'family' that it is, maintaining our high expectations of all within it, supporting the wellbeing of all and that both staff and our children can reach their full potential.

Mrs C Perrier - Parent Governor

I was appointed as a parent governor at St Ursula’s School in November 2024. Becoming a governor has been a goal of mine for years, driven by my passion for contributing to the local community and shaping our children's future through education. I’m excited to help guide the school towards success and support an environment where every child can thrive. I’m also eager to develop new skills and gain a deeper understanding of school governance, working alongside other governors, staff, and leadership to make decisions that have a lasting, positive impact. As a parent, I bring a personal connection to this role, committed to ensuring that St Ursula’s remains a nurturing, high-achieving school where every student can reach their full potential.