Meet the Governors

Theo Turner

Chair Foundation Governor (SDBE appointed)

I have been a governor at Christ Church school since 2015 and have enjoyed seeing the school grow and being a part of that process. I have for a few years now been the Chair of the Health, Safety & Premises Committee, and this year I have taken on the role of Vice Chair at Purley Partnership Federation.

I am a practising Christian attending Purley Baptist Church with my wife. We live and work in the local area. As an experienced teacher myself in the private sector, I bring relevant knowledge and an outside perspective to support and challenge Christ Church School and Purley Nursery School. As a foundation governor, I feel that the Christian ethos of Christ Church School is important to maintain and develop.

Arahn Sathananthan

LA Governor 

'My name is Arahn, and I’m proud to have recently joined as a Governor. With a strong background in finance and public service, I bring both analytical and people-focused skills to the role. Working in Finance for one of the Big 4, I’ve gained valuable experience in strategic decision-making, financial management, and accountability. These skills all of which I believe are essential in helping schools operate efficiently and effectively.

I’m deeply passionate about creating positive outcomes for young people and ensuring that every student has access to the opportunities and support they need to thrive. I firmly believe that education should be a gateway to confidence, creativity, and lifelong success.

Through my role as a governor, I aim to contribute to building a safe, inclusive, and high-achieving learning environment where both staff and pupils feel valued, supported, and empowered to reach their full potential. I look forward to working collaboratively with the school community to make a meaningful and lasting difference'. 

Alan Bates

Parent Governor

My name is Alan and I am a recently elected parent governor of the Federation. My daughter is in Year 1 at the primary school and previously attended the nursery. I also have a boy in Year 6 living with me, and a 7-month-old daughter who will hopefully be attending the nursery and then primary school in a few years’ time.

I have been a governor of another London primary school for nearly 20 years, through which I have learnt a lot about how good schools can become even better, and how governors can work in partnership with the headteacher, staff and families to do that. I hope my ‘apprenticeship’ at another school helps me to better serve the Federation’s children in my new role. I work as a barrister and part-time judge and have found that my legal background is sometimes useful in helping a school’s governing board navigate legal issues. Occasionally, boards have to resolve formal disputes between the school and individual families or staff members, and it is very important to me that governors deal with such matters in a way that is impartial, diligent and fair.

I am part of the Christ Church community across the road and my Christian faith is central to my life, but I also believe that the two schools should value equally all the families who entrust us with their children, regardless of their religious background (or none). Part of education is helping children grow up to think for themselves. I am of mixed-race heritage and it matters a lot to me that the schools love every child and welcome families of all shapes and size, and work in close partnership with them regardless of race, sex or sexual orientation. So, I am glad that I have been asked me to make ‘inclusion’ a specific focus of my work as a governor. Please feel free to speak to me any time about that topic or anything else: as a parent governor, I want to help the governing board listen to families’ views about how we can make the schools even better.

Graham Duncan

Foundation Governor (PCC Appointed) 

I was born and partially raised in Pakistan until I was 18.  That experience of living in more than one country means that I enjoy living in a community with people from different backgrounds and experiences of life.  I am now retired, but I spent 40 years in the civil service in central London working on issues like housing, adult social care, children’s services, housing, regeneration and the environment.  I hope the skills and experience I acquired there help me to make a contribution to the life and success of Christ Church School and Purley Nursery School.

I have been a member of Christ Church Purley for over 20 years, and I really value the links between the church and the school.  I am currently responsible for overseeing the worship bands at Christ Church.  My daughters both benefitted from education at Christ Church School.  I have happy memories as a school parent, including the memory of my younger daughter excitedly skipping down Montpelier Road on her way to her first day at school.  I will do what I can to make the time that children spend at Purley Nursery School and Christ Church School a similarly happy and fulfilling experience.

Tejal-Roma Williams

Associate Governor

I am delighted to serve as an Associate Governor with the Purley Partnership Federation.

I currently work at City, University of London as the founder and Co-Director of the City Law School Innocence Project, The City Law School IPP Appeals Service and Supervising Solicitor at the City Community Legal Advice Centre. These initiatives provide free legal assistance to the local community while helping students gain valuable practical experience and develop a passion for justice and ethical practice I also act as the safeguarding co-lead at the centre, where I have drafted safeguarding policies and reporting procedures.

Recently, I was appointed Head of Ethics by the Directors at the UK Breathwork Association, where I help shape professional standards and ethical guidance for practitioners. I'm also a trained breathwork facilitator, with a particular interest in how nervous system regulation and wellbeing practices can support learning, focus and emotional safety. I believe that children's wellbeing, emotional as well as physical, is the foundation for effective education and personal growth, and I hope to bring this understanding into my work as a governor.

Prior to my current role, I spent over a decade working in criminal law including as a Senior Crown Prosecutor with the Serious Economic Organised Crime and International Division of the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) earlier in my career I was a youth specialist advocate and duty solicitor, representing young defendants and working closely with schools, Youth Offending Teams and mental health professionals to promote diversion and rehabilitation. My experience in safeguarding and working with vulnerable young people has deepened my commitment to ensuring that all children are safe, supported and able to thrive in education.

Beyond my professional background, I have long been involved in equality, diversity and inclusion work, including as a Training and Development Officer for the National Black Crown Prosecution Association and as founding Vice-Chair of the Race Equality Committee of Women in Criminal Law.

As a governor, I hope to bring my safeguarding knowledge, legal expertise and holistic understanding of wellbeing to support the Federation's mission of providing a nurturing and inclusive environment for every child.

Ben Winstanley

Foundation Governor (PCC appointed)

I am a Foundation Governor, appointed in December 2023, and a member of the Personnel & Finance Committee.
I grew up in Oxted, went to school in Croydon, and studied modern languages at university (including a year in south-west France). I spent 15 years as an investment banker before joining a FTSE 100 tech company in 2024 as Director of Investor Relations.  This has given me financial literacy, board-level experience, and an international perspective.  I have enjoyed adding to this skillset by learning about the education sector through supporting Purley Partnership Federation.
I am a practicing Christian, and worship in central London at the church where I met my wife and where our son was baptised. 

Rosemary Hafeez

Foundation Governor (PCC appointed)

I am recently retired (Jan 2025) from my role of Associate Director for School Standards and Performance for Achieving for Children, who provide Children's Services for Kingston and Richmond Local Authorities. Within my responsibilities were 112 state nursery, primary, secondary and special schools. All which had good or outstanding Ofsted judgements by the time I retired. Within the team that I managed were all the school improvement partners, subject and aspect advisers, early years team (nurseries and childminders) and governor services. I have a strong track record of improving schools in partnership with governing boards and school leadership teams.

My particular curriculum interests are mathematics and science. Before becoming a school leader, I taught all age ranges (Nursery to Sixth Form), the age range where I have the most experience is KS2. My teaching experience was in Newham, Lewisham and Lambeth. My school leadership experience, prior to my advisory work, was in a Lambeth Primary school. I have worked in Croydon, Kingston and Richmond in a school improvement role. I have also worked for central government on mathematics test development for KS1, 2 and 3, and a number of smaller projects.

I am a grandmother and enjoy spending time with the growing family. I love to read, travel and knit. I have recently taken up carpentry.