Welcome to the Governance Area

Hazel Belchamber

Prior to my retirement at the end of March 2022, I had worked for Cambridgeshire County Council for over 34 years, most recently as an Assistant Director in the Education Directorate with strategic management of services employing around 100 people in total.  My responsibilities in that role also extended to cover Peterborough City Council and included planning and review of educational provision across the 0-19 age range, admission of children to school, home to school transport, attendance and capital investment, for example in the creation of new schools.  Over the years, I have worked in partnership with many schools on projects of varying sizes and complexity, including infant and junior school amalgamations, brokering collaborations and federations and expansions to create additional places.  I have also led and facilitated Team Around the School meetings with a focus on supporting schools facing particular challenges.  

Tina Hubbard

Since 2019, Tina has been employed as the LA's Area Lead Governance Adviser for East Cambridgeshire and Huntingdon supporting governing bodies and clerks within these areas.  She has worked for the Local Authority for the Governance Team within supporting roles and governance for a number of years.  These roles have undertaken Governance Reviews, developing and leading training and promoting compliant procedures and websites, aligned with Department for Education Standards.  Tina's background of governance systems, processes and compliance will be a welcome addition to the Interim Executive Board, both in providing compliance from the onset and securing the best possible systems and processes for handover to future governance arrangements.

Anthea Kenna - Chair of IEB

Having retired, following a career in Primary School Headship spanning 25 years, I value the opportunity to serve on a number of Boards and Trusts focused on supporting and improving Teaching and Learning. I worked in Cambridgeshire and Essex as Headteacher, Associate Adviser and School Improvement Partner and served on the Chelmsford Diocesan Board of Education and presently the Ely Diocesan Board of Education. Currently, I am a Cambridgeshire Leader of Governance, supporting the work of several Governing Bodies, serving as Chair in four primary schools.

James Kilsby

I have worked in education for over 20 years, both in the secondary and primary sectors, and have been Headteacher for the past 11 years at Cottenham Primary School. The curriculum work that has taken place at the school over the last five years has generated a considerable amount of interest and the school continues to host large numbers of visitors. I have presented at a number of education conferences, both in the UK and in the US, and I have been the co-author of two articles published in the magazine of the Chartered College of Teaching. In addition, I am on the Standing Committee of the Inspiration Teaching School Alliance in Norfolk.

Sarah Merritt

I am currently working as the Headteacher of King’s Hedges Educational Federation. I am a passionate, positive and enthusiastic teacher and leader, who is always striving for the children to be the best that they can be. 

In September 2016 to April 2017, I was appointed as Interim Headteacher at another local school and I have been lucky to work with both governing bodies and an interim executive board. More recently I have been on secondment, working 2 days a week as a School Improvement Advisor for another Local Authority. This has been a valuable experience and has allowed me to experience many different school environments.

I am deeply committed to improving the life chances for all children and believe that they should be at the heart of every decision made in a school. Children are a joy and it is a great honour that I am lucky enough to be working on behalf of them every day.