Governors

DAVID BURGESS

Interim Chair of the Local Governing Board

David is a partner at Prosperant LLP, a legal consultancy that's designed to reinvent the business of law. He was named one of the world's "Global leaders and influencers in legal business", and is the former Chief Client Officer for The Legal 500, the world's leading law firm referral service.  He has travelled extensively across the Americas, Asia Pacific and Europe speaking at conferences, and provides bespoke strategic advice to law firms and general counsel.  David previously served as a governor at a Lambeth special needs primary school for five years and as Vice Chair on the board for Goldfinch Primary School.  David joined the board as interim Chair in Autumn 2025 to cover for a period of absence of the Chair.  David is committed to helping provide the best school experience for the students at the Elmgreen School and across the Dunraven Educational Trust.

Term of office: Nov 2025 - Nov 2029

WILLIAM THURSFIELD

Chair of Local Governing Board (on temporary leave of absence from Autumn 2025)

William became Chair of the Local Governing Board at the start of the 2024-25 academic year. William joins the school as an experienced chair of governors, most recently at the nearby Livity School (a special school, part of the Elm Court Livity Foundation).  He believes that schools should have high expectations for all pupils and provide them with the opportunities and support to succeed.   Professional, he brings over 15 years experience as a central government servant working in education, youth offending and adult social casre. He has a particular interest and experience in school standards.

Term of office: Sept 2024 - Sept 2028

ROSEMOND ANSAH

Parent Governor and Careers Link

Term of office: Dec 23 - Dec 27

archie foster

SEND Link Governor

Archie is a new governor who joined the Local Governing Board at the start of the 2025-26 academic year.  He's a former teacher - four years teaching Maths and English at a secondary comprehensive and a Pupil Referral Unit (PRU), both in West London.  He's also volunteered as a youth leader for about 10 years until ecently - joining the Elmgreen School's LGB is his way of staying in touch with the amazing work that education can do for young people.  Archie now works in the civil service on health policy.

Term of office: Nov 2025 - Nov 2029

LUCIE HOLLOWAY

Lucie joined the Local Governing Board in September 2025. 

Term of office: Sept 25 - Sept 29

JOSEPH HYLTON

Joseph is a civil servant with over 10 years experience in both the Recruitment and D&I sectors. Joseph has also worked as a Community Liaison Officer, successfully helping to bridge the gap between under-represented communities and local authorities.  In joining The Elmgreen School's local board, Joseph hopes to give back to the community, and be a critical friend, in the aim to make young people's experiences in the education system more positive and rewarding. 

Term of office: Oct 23 - Oct 27

LIBERTY MAJUMDAR

Safeguarding Link Governor

Libby joined the Local Governing Board in January 2025.

Term of office: Jan 25 - Jan 29

MICHAEL MARGERISON

Staff Governor

Michael has worked at The Elmgreen School since 2009.  It has been quite a journey from a tiny school on Gipsy Lane, to the thriving and bustling school we have today.  Michael's decision to join the school in the first place, and why he has stayed so long, is because he passionatly believes in the school's mission.  It was established on principles of equality, opportunity, community and social justice and has held firmly to those beliefs for all these years. This is the kind of place where we can make a real difference to the lives of young people, and as a working class boy himself, the kind of place where Michael feels he is put to best use. 

Michael, as the librarian, is passionate about young people and their reading.  Not only becuase it is a lifelong skill which will inevitably enrich their lives, but because it is an essential skill to success in school and in life.  Michael works relentlessly to promote, encourage and coerce our students to read more, because "kids who read, succeed". 

Term of office: Dec 22 - Nov 26

SALLY-ANN OPOKU-DONKOR

Sally joined the Local Governing Board in September 2025.

Term of office: Sept 25 - Sept 29

DAVID TIMMS

Health & Safety Link

Dave has had a long career in environmental and global justice advocacy, and is currently the Head of Campaigns for a major conservation charity.  Dave brings communications, sustainability, management and scrutiny skills to the governing board.  Dave was formerly a parent governor on the Local Governing Board before being appointed by the Trustees for a new term of office in Autumn 2023.  Dave's two children both previously attended the school.  He believes that Elmgreen's ethos enables students to achieve both their academic potential and to become engaged, questioning citizens able to play a positive role in the community and wider society.  Dave is the LGB's link governor for Health & Safety.

Term of office: Dec 23 - Dec 27*

GEORGINA WORRALL OBE

Parent Governor

Georgina joined the board of governors in November 2023 as a Parent Governor.  She has a SEND child at The Elmgreen School, so inclusiveness is an important issue for her.  Georgina is Head of POWERful Women, a professional initiative working towards better female representation within the UK energy sector and in recognition of services to diversity and inclusion in this sector she was awarded an OBE in the 2025 New Year's honours list.

Term of office: Nov 23 - Nov 27

*denotes second term of office

Governors who have left in the last 12 months

Adam Callaghan - April 2025

Leo Franco - April 2025

Nick Woodward - December 2024

Marsha-Marie Richards - December 2024