Our Governors
The governors ensure the school is well run and provide children with the best possible education. They visit the school to see the day-to-day experience of the pupils and staff, often a visit will have a specific focus e.g. assessment and marking, student well-being, and behaviour.
Governors also attend school events such as secondary transfer evening, the four annual Cathedral services, school play performances, music concerts and parent/carer consultation evenings.
If you would like more information about the work governors do, or have any concerns or queries you would like to raise with the governors, please contact the Chair of Governors, by writing to her at the school address and marking your envelope as confidential for the attention of the Chair of Governors.
Who We Are
This section gives a broad outline of the role of the Governors, how we go about fulfilling our responsibilities and who we are.
Mrs Helen Quenet (Chair of Governors)
Foundation Governor – Appointed by the St Albans Diocese Board of Education
Current Term: 01.09.2022 – 31.08.2026 (previously an elected parent/carer governor from 2011 to 2014)
Member of: Policy and Urgency Committee, Personnel Committee, Finance and General Purposes, Curriculum and Standards Committee, Pupil Disciplinary Committee, Appeals Committee, Staff Discipline, Grievance, Complaints, Whistleblowing Committee and Admissions Committee.
Relevant business and pecuniary interests: worked for the NHS in Mental Health Services. Runs own business. Former Local Borough Councillor for Welwyn Hatfield. Had two children through the school.
Mr Peter Kestner (Vice Chair of Governors)
Foundation Governor (Appointed by the St Albans Deanery Synod), Chair of Curriculum and Standards Committee, Safeguarding and Child Protection Link Governor
Current Term: 01.09.2022 – 31.08.2026 (has served for many years previously as a Diocesan Appointed governor from 2001)
Member of: Curriculum and Standards Committee, Policy and Urgency Committee, Personnel Committee, Pupil Disciplinary Committee, Appeals Committee, Staff Discipline, Grievance, Complaints, Whistleblowing Committee and Admissions Committee
Relevant business and pecuniary interests: retired opera singer (English National Opera ENO), former Chair of St Albans Chamber Opera (SACO), singing teacher. Parent of two former Townsend students.
Mrs Helen Fellows (Vice Chair of Governors)
Foundation Governor, Chair of Finance and General Purposes Committee, Special Education Needs and Inclusion Link Governor
Current Term: 01.09.2020 – 31.05.2024 (first appointed in September 2009)
Member of: Finance and General Purposes Committee, Policy and Urgency Committee, Personnel Committee, Pupil Disciplinary Committee, Appeals Committee, Staff Discipline, Grievance, Complaints, Whistleblowing Committee, and Admissions Committee.
Relevant business and pecuniary interests: Associate of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (ACMA).
Mr Anthony Hale
Foundation Governor (Appointed by the St Albans Deanery Synod)
Current Term: 08.06.2022 – 07.06.2026 (has served for many years previous to current appointment)
Member of: Finance and General Purposes Committee, Pupil Disciplinary Committee, Appeals Committee, Staff Discipline, Grievance, Complaints, Whistleblowing Committee, and Admissions Committee.
Relevant business and pecuniary interests: retired architect.
Reverend Nigel Ward
Foundation Governor (Appointed by the St Albans Diocese Board of Education)
Current Term: 01.09.2022 – 31.08.2026 (first appointed in September 1997)
Member of: Curriculum and Standards Committee, Pupil Disciplinary Committee, Appeals Committee, Staff Discipline, Grievance, Complaints, Whistleblowing Committee, and Admissions Committee
Relevant business and pecuniary interests: retired Database specialist and Associate Minister, Diocese of St. Albans. Parent of three former Townsend students.
Jane Mainwaring
Foundation Governor
Current Term: 01.04.2023 – 31.03.2027
Member of:
Relevant business and pecuniary interests:
Mr I Downs
Local Authority Governor (Appointed by Hertfordshire County Council)
has served for many years previously since 2000
Member of: Finance and General Purposes Committee, Pupil Disciplinary Committee, Appeals Committee, Staff Discipline, Grievance, Complaints, Whistleblowing Committee and Admissions Committee
Relevant business and pecuniary interests: Business management role in small to medium-sized business.
Miss Rachel Keen
Parent Governor
Current Term: 25.11.2020 – 26.11.2024
Member of: Finance and General Purposes Committee, Pupil Disciplinary Committee, Appeals Committee, Staff Discipline, Grievance, Complaints, Whistleblowing Committee and Admissions Committee
Relevant business and pecuniary interests: Education Primary School Teacher, I became a parent governor in 2015 to give support to a school I feel passionately about. As a primary school teacher, I bring my experience of the education system to the role of governor.
Miss Anna Philpott
Staff Governor, Sixth Form Link Governor
Current Term: 01.01.2022 – 31.12.2025
Member of: Curriculum and Standards Committee
Relevant business and pecuniary interests: Vice Chair of Governors, St Albans School
Professional background in Education, Law and Finance, SENCO and Teacher of Business at Townsend
Mr Anthony Flack
Headteacher and Ex Officio Foundation Governor (nominated by Trust Deed is the Dean of St Albans Cathedral)
Current Term: ongoing while employed as Headteacher
Member of: Policy and Urgency Committee, Personnel Committee, Finance and General Purposes, Curriculum and Standards Committee, Pupil Disciplinary Committee when appropriate, Appeals Committee when appropriate, Staff Discipline, Grievance, Complaints, Whistleblowing Committee when appropriate, and Admissions Committee.
Relevant business and pecuniary interests: employed as the Headteacher of Townsend VA CE School, member of St Albans Diocesan Board of Education, Member of St Albans Diocesan Multi-Academy Trust, member of St Albans Diocese Academy Education Trust, member of Hertfordshire Schools Music Service Forum and Safeguarding Committee, Director of not for profit St Albans and Harpenden Schools Umbrella Trust, volunteer Chair of Scouting Committees.
How to contact us
The Clerk to the Governors, Mrs Laetitia Thompson (LThompson336@townsend.herts.sch.uk), attends all formal meetings of the governor body.
If you would like more information about the work governors do, or have any concerns or queries you would like to raise with the governors, please contact the Chair of Governors, by emailing Chair@townsend.herts.sch.uk or by writing to the school address and marking your envelope as confidential for the attention of the Chair of Governors.
If you would like information on how to become a Governor in a Hertfordshire School please follow the link to ‘Becoming a school governor’.
