Our Governors

Fiona Kerin (Chair)

  • Foundation Governor
  •  Committees:
    • R.E
    • Finance & Resources (Chair)
    • Curriculum and Achievement. (CO-Chair)
    • Admissions
    • Pay (Chair)
  • Date of Appointment: September 2024
  • Term of Office: 4 years 
  • Business and Financial Interests: None
  • Governance Roles in Other Schools: Our Lady of Lourdes Foundation Governor
  • Material Interests: None
  • Attendance Records: Please see attendance list in minutes

Fiona has been Chair of the Governing Body since 2021, A Chartered Accountant who runs her practice from home, Fiona’s two children attended school within Barnet where they had “the best start”. Her aim is that all children who leave the St Theresa’s feel the same.

Gerry Costello

  • Foundation Governor
  • Committees:
    • Wellbeing
    • Admissions (Chair)
    • R.E
  • Date of Appointment: February 2025
  • Term of Office: 4 years 
  • Business and Financial Interests: None
  • Governance Roles in Other Schools: None
  • Material Interests: None
  • Attendance Records: Please see attendance list in minutes

Gerry has vast knowledge about the school, having been Clerk to the Governors for 21 years before being elected Chair in 2012. Born in Ireland, Gerry grew up in Finchley, attending Our Lady of Lourdes and St Michaels. Gerry’s professional background is in Administration and HR Management. She is very active in the parish of St Philip’s and has been a volunteer with St John Ambulance since 1981.

Fr. John Dermody

  • Foundation Governor
  • Committees:
    • Finance
    • R.E
  • Date of Appointment: September 2022
  • Term of Office: 4 years
  • Business and Financial Interests: None
  • Governance Roles in Other Schools: None
  • Material Interests: None
  • Attendance Records: Please see attendance list in minutes

Father John Dermody is the Parish Priest of St Philip the Apostle, Finchley and the School Chaplain to St. Theresa’s. He was born of Irish parents and grew up in South-West London. After gaining a degree in French and Spanish, he worked in banking for nine years before responding to the call of the priesthood. He contributes greatly to the spiritual life of the School through his particular interest in the liturgy and in spiritual and pastoral development.

Barbara Costa

  • Executive Headteacher
  • Committees:
    • Pay and Performance Management
    • Finance and Resources
    • Admissions
    • R.E
    • Attendance Records: Please see attendance list in minutes

Barbara is the Executive Headteacher at St. Theresa’s and Our Lady of Lourdes School. She previously was a member of the Senior Leadership Team at Sacred Heart Primary School in Whetstone.

Wioleta Reimus                                                         

Committees:

  • Curriculum & Achievement
  • Wellbeing
  • Date of appointment: September 2024
  • Term of Office:  4 years
  • Business and Financial Interests: None
  • Governance Roles in Other Schools: None
  • Material Interests: None
  • Attendance Records: Please see attendance list in minutes

 

Wioleta is the EYFS and KS1 Leader at St. Theresa’s. She also currently leads English across the school. Previously, Wioleta was a member of the leadership team at St Bernadette Primary School in Saint Albans. During her teaching career Wioleta has taught in Early Years, Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2. Wioleta has experience mentoring Teach First students, ECTs and teacher students.

                                                 

 

James Troy

  • Head of School
  • Staff Governor
  • Committees:
    • Wellbeing
    • Curriculum and Achievement
  • Attendance Records: Please see attendance list in minutes

James is the Head of School and Key Stage 2 Leader at St. Theresa’s. He also currently leads Maths and P.E across the school. Previously, James was a member of the leadership team at Chatsworth Primary School in Hounslow. During his teaching career James has taught in the Early Years, Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2. James held the post of Year 6 teacher at St. Theresa’s for two years before becoming the Deputy Headteacher.

Jackie Light

  • Foundation Governor
  •  Committees:
    • Wellbeing
    • Curriculum and Achievement
  • Date of Appointment: March 2026
  • Term of Office: 4 years 
  • Business and Financial Interests: None
  • Governance Roles in Other Schools: None 
  • Material Interests: None
  • Attendance Records: Please see attendance list in minutes

Jackie is a Clinical Nurse Specialist with over 40 years experience in the NHS, spanning both clinical and managerial roles. She brings strong leadership skills and a deep commitment to well-being. Both of Jackie‘s children attended St Theresa’s, giving her a personal connection to the school community. As a Foundation Governor, she is keen to support curriculum development, pupil achievement and a caring, inclusive environment where every child can thrive.

Patricia Stockwell 

  • Foundation Governor
  • Committees:
    • Curriculum and Achievement 
    • Finance
  • Date of Appointment: November 2024
  • Term of Office: 4 years 
  • Business and Financial Interests: None
  • Governance Roles in Other Schools: None
  • Material Interests: None
  • Attendance Records: Please see attendance list in minutes

Patricia’s connection to St. Theresa’s dates back to 2008 when her daughter started in Reception, and she became an active supporter of the school, eventually becoming Chair of “The Friends”. Patricia works full-time as the Director of a recruitment consultancy she founded in 1997 and volunteers for charities such as Inspiring the Future and Future First, connecting business professionals with schools and colleges, using their experiences to support careers events.

Elizabeth Cormack

  • Committees:
    • Curriculum and Achievement (Co Chair)
    • Wellbeing (Chair)
  • Date of Appointment: February 2025
  • Term of Office: 4 years
  • Business and Financial Interests: None
  • Governance Roles in Other Schools: None
  • Material Interests: None
  • Attendance Records: Please see attendance list in minutes

Liz is 61, married and has lived in Finchley for 30+ years. She is a retired Deputy Head Teacher in a Barnet school which was consistently graded Good by Ofsted. Her (now adult) children all went to local schools. As a Governor Liz’s particular interests are in pupil well being; the curriculum,  pupil engagement and the development of life long learners.

Jane Goring

  • Foundation Governor
  • Child Protection and Safeguarding Lead Governor
  • Committees:
    • Wellbeing
  • Date of Appointment: September 2022
  • Term of Office: 4 years
  • Business and Financial Interests: KiSS Community Adventure – company director, Pilgrimage People – charity trustee
  • Governance Roles in Other Schools: Nicholas Breakspear School – foundation governor
  • Material Interests: None
  • Attendance Records: Please see attendance list in minutes

For much of her career, Jane was a school leader in Catholic secondary schools in our diocese. In 2015, she became the Chief Inspector of Schools, with responsibility for diocesan inspection of all the schools in Westminster and most recently has been working on the roll-out of the national inspection framework for Catholic schools for the Catholic Education Service. She has been a Foundation Governor for many years in several Catholic primary schools and has recently been appointed as a foundation governor at Nicholas Breakspear School – a Catholic secondary academy in St Albans.

She likes to spend much of her spare time travelling, which I most enjoy when accompanied by my family. I am also a trustee of a small charity which raises money to support Christians in the Holy Land by organising pilgrimages, so I am able to indulge my love of travelling by encouraging others to travel too.

 

Denise McDonagh CBE

 

  • Foundation Governor 
  •  Committees:
    • Finance 
    • Curriculum and Achievement
  • Date of Appointment: May 2026
  • Term of Office: 4 years 
  • Business and Financial Interests: None
  • Governance Roles in Other Schools: None 
  • Material Interests: None
  • Attendance Records: Please see attendance list in minutes
Denise is recently retired after a distinguished career as a transformation leader, delivering major digital change across Government and large‑scale commercial environments for more than three decades, including nationally significant programmes and FTSE 100 modernisation. She brings strategic insight, calm authority and the ability to energise organisations through complex change, always keeping people, purpose and performance at the centre.
Both of Denise’s children attended St Theresa’s and she is keen to use her experience to help where she can.
 

 

Jonathan Gillmore 

  • Parent Governor
  •  Committees:
    • Finance 
    • RE
  • Date of Appointment: October 2025
  • Term of Office: 4 years 
  • Business and Financial Interests: None
  • Governance Roles in Other Schools: None 
  • Material Interests: None
  • Attendance Records: Please see attendance list in minutes

Ihiri Haswani

  • Parent Governor
  •  Committees:
    • Wellbeing
    • Curriculum and Achievement
  • Date of Appointment: March 2026
  • Term of Office: 4 years 
  • Business and Financial Interests: None
  • Governance Roles in Other Schools: None 
  • Material Interests: None
  • Attendance Records: Please see attendance list in minutes

As a proud parent with children at St. Theresa’s school, I am deeply invested in ensuring that our school environment allows every single child to thrive. I am delighted to serve as a Parent Governor, bringing a mix of corporate project management rigour and a parent’s perspective to the board. Professionally, I am a Chartered Linguist, and my previous role as the PTA Chairperson gave me a wonderful opportunity to connect closely with our vibrant school community.
I am passionate about inclusivity and community engagement. As a member of the Curriculum and Achievement Committee, my specific focus is on working collaboratively to scrutinise school performance data, monitor pupil wellbeing, and ensure our curriculum remains ambitious, equitable, and supportive of all learning needs. My goal is to serve as a strong, collaborative link between our leadership team and school families, ensuring that the diverse voices of our community are meaningfully represented in decisions affecting our children’s learning and wellbeing.