Governance

Roselands Primary School is part of Danes Educational Trust. The Danes Educational Trust Board has responsibility for the operation of the Trust, but delegates some of the responsibilities to a local level. Therefore, schools within the Trust have a School Board, comprising local Governors. The School Board holds 4 meetings per year. In addition, each School Board has an Admissions Committee and a Senior Staff Pay and Remuneration Committee. Further information about the Danes Educational Trust governance structure is available on the following websites:

 Danes Educational Trust Governance Information

Danes Educational Trust Financial Information. 

To contact the Governors of Roselands Primary School, please email chair@roselands.herts.sch.uk

Rob McCarthy, Chair of Governors

Rob retired in 2017 after nearly 40 years of service with the UK Government’s Environment Agency as a civil engineering major projects programme manager. Projects included Channel Tunnel Rail Link, Heathrow Airport Terminal 5, Crossrail, 2012 Olympics, Thames Tideway Tunnel, along with many flood risk projects in Herts, Essex and North London, advising nationally on the management of major infrastructure projects (HS2, Nuclear Power, Northern Powerhouse). He was Area Duty Manager responsible for incident management in the region, dealing with flooding, waste fires, and radioactive incidents.

Rob was the London Regional lead for diversity and inclusion, formulating the strategy and policies, now implemented nationally. A qualified health and safety auditor, incident investigator, and investigating officer relating to disciplinary matters. A member of the Chartered Institute of Water and Environmental Management and the Chartered Management Institute.

Voluntary roles include being a governor at Cranbourne Primary School since 2001 (currently Chair of Local Governing Body) and became a Trustee of The Hoddesdon School Trust on its incorporation in September 2016. A scout leader in Hoddesdon, Independent Custody Visitor at Hertfordshire Police Authority, Ambassador for several children’s charities.

Rob was awarded the British Empire Medal in the Queen’s New Years Honours list 2018 for services to the Environment and the local community.

Jane Carson, Co- Headteacher

Jane joined Roselands as a teacher when the school was very new and had just two classes and a total of 44 children.  Previously she had worked in solicitors’ accounting, but was determined to re-train and follow her interest in education.  Jane taught all subjects across the whole primary age range and is fully committed to providing the richest learning experiences for children. She believes in preserving traditions and yet being open to innovation and change.  She aims to provide a stable, secure and exciting environment for children to maximise their potential and ensures all staff are valued within the team.  

(See above photograph of Primary Head of the Year Awards – Norwich)  She feels privileged to have been part of the growth and development of Roselands, having learned many new skills herself as the need arose and her role changed from teacher to deputy head and then headteacher.  She was fortunate to have been at the forefront of the development of computers in education as Roselands was one of the first four schools in the county to be connected to the internet and many projects followed.  Jane trained as a cycling instructor and a swimming coach, teaching regularly in the school’s then new pool.  She became a netball and rounders umpire, whilst organising sports, and is still secretary to the local schools sports group.  Training to teach music and learn piano she resumed her own playing of cello and now belongs to a local orchestra, string group and quartet.  She represents the primary heads on the Hertfordshire Music Service Hub.

Jane chaired the local consortium of Headteachers for many years, where the 19 settings span the pre-school, primary and secondary and special school range.  She represents the area on the County Primary Heads Forum and sits on the executive.  She received a distinction in the Primary Head of the Year awards in 2008, representing Hertfordshire in the East of England finals.

Jane enjoys family time with her two daughters, who were both pupils at Roselands.  Spending time with her grandchildren, she also likes to sail, cycle, garden and sew or knit during the holidays.

Jane works for three days each week, sharing the headship of Roselands with Sara Hill for the other two days.

Sara Hill,  Co-Headteacher / Deputy Head

Lead of Assessment,  Lower Key Stage Two, Staff governor

Having successfully completed the National Professional Qualification for Headship Sara has extended her three days as deputy head, becoming Co-headteacher for two days per week. 

Sara has been a staff governor of Roselands School for seven years. She has served on the Curriculum Committee.

Sara has been a teacher for over twenty years and taught at a local primary school before coming to Roselands originally as an Assistant Head Teacher.

Sara is married with two children. One is in his second year at university and the other is following in her footsteps and is a primary school teacher. 

She has a love for learning and believes that the journey of learning never ends. She recognises that all children have the right to feel safe and learn within school and works tirelessly alongside the teachers and teaching assistants to ensure that the children have great learning opportunities. 

She is very proud of Roselands and the journey the school is on and appreciates the hard work that the children and staff continue to demonstrate and the position that the school has in the local community. 

Alisdair Skinner,  Co-opted Governor

Curriculum, Pupil Progress, Pupil Premium 

Alisdair retired as a Hertfordshire primary school teacher in 2017.  Born and brought up in the county he has worked in education for over 40 years, including 25 years as a Head teacher.  During his service, he led two successful primary schools, was active in the Hertfordshire Primary Head’s forum and in supporting school improvement across the county.  He was involved in the establishment of Herts for Learning and in representing Hertfordshire Schools on the statutory funding body, Schools forum.  He continued with some part-time work as a consultant and is interested in how Academy structures will enable and support effective primary education.

Alisdair lives locally, is married with two step-daughters, one of whom is a former Roselands teacher.  He is enjoying watching his eight grandchildren develop.  He is a long serving committee member and current president of The Hertfordshire Schools’ Sailing and Canoeing Association.  He enjoys singing with Welwyn Garden City Male Voice Choir.

Roselands Primary 2023_24 Governor Meetings Attendance Record

Roselands Primary School Board November 2024

Roselands Primary School Declarations November 2024