Governance - Local School Committee (LSC)
The Local School Committee (LSC) provides strategic oversight, support and challenge to the school’s senior leadership team to ensure high standards of education and the best possible outcomes for pupils. It works within the vision, ethos and policies of the Trust and ensures that statutory responsibilities are met, including those set out in Keeping Children Safe in Education and Working Together to Safeguard Children.
The LSC is made up of the Headteacher (and Head of School where applicable), elected staff and parent members and co-opted community members who are appointed for their skills and experience and meets 4 times a year alongside a programme of LSC member visits to the school.
The LSC has delegated responsibility to work with senior leaders on the following:
- Standards
- Stakeholder engagement
- Safeguarding
- Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND)
The LSC is a committee of the Spiral Partnership Trust which is legally responsible for overseeing the operations of the Trust’s schools. Our decisions are monitored by, and may be influenced by, the Board of Directors who are ultimately responsible for all the actions of the Trust’s schools.
The LSC supports the work of the Trust and Board of Directors, acts as a questioning friend to the school, monitoring decision making and its impact on pupil progress, achievement and attainment and ensures that the Trust’s vision, ethos and strategy is adopted and applied by school leaders.
If you would like to contact the Local School Committee or find out more about how it works, please contact the school office by telephone or email at admin@mountpleasant.herts.sch.uk or the clerk of the LSC on lscclerk@spiral.herts.sch.uk.
LSC members do not deal with individual pupil matters or specific complaints and parents and carers should first raise concerns with their child’s class teacher and then with the Headteacher or Head of School where necessary.
Chair of Local School Committee
Mr David Newsome
Clerk to the Local School Committee
Mr Patrick Aikman
The Local School Committee (LSC) meets at least once a term. The dates for the academic year 2026-2027 are:
Signed minutes and agenda of future LSC Meetings are available from the school office upon request.
Current members and their main roles
Dave Newsome - Co-opted LSC Member- Chair
Current term of governance 26.09.24 - 25.09.2028
Pecuniary Interest - None
Link Responsibilities: Attendance, Safeguarding, H&S
I joined the Local School Committee for MPL in 2023. I served as a Police Officer for 30 years and retired as a Detective Chief Inspector and Head of Safeguarding teams in 2018. I have extensive investigative experience, and served as a Firearms Commander and Senior Investigating Officer. I managed all Child Protection Teams in Hertfordshire between 2015 and 2017 and worked with Local Authority partners to safeguard children. More recently I have worked in both the Local Authority as a Community Safety Manager and in a secondary school as a Behaviour Lead. I have been trained and deployed as a Designated Safeguarding Lead. I have since retrained and has qualified as a workplace investigator, supporting a number of organisations to investigate internal allegations of bullying, harassment, discrimination and victimisation. I am married and lives in Bricket Wood. The last of my children is completing university and I hopes he can bring his family and professional experience to the fore and to support the fantastic team at MPL.
Melanie Nevill - Parent LSC Member
Current term of governance 15.11.22 - 14.11.26
Pecuniary Interest - None
Link Responsibilities: SEN/D, Vulnerable/Disadvantaged children, Clubs
My background is in marketing and psychology before becoming a writer. I write about all sorts of subjects including fashion, lifestyle, health and travel. Currently I write web content and articles about family life, and in particular parenting and caring for children with disabilities and neurodiverse conditions such as Autism, ADHD, FASD (foetal alcohol spectrum disorder), Trauma & attachment and processing spectrum difficulties.
I am a parent to two children aged 7 and 23 and have been a foster carer for over 10 years. We have an autism service dog called Paxton who is an Italian Spinone/Pointer cross with boundless energy and a love of muddy puddles! Over the years of being a foster carer I have had many children placed at Mount Pleasant Lane Primary School before moving on to adoption or other schools.
Lisa Franks - Co-opted LSC - Community LSC Member
Current term of governance 25.09.2025 - 24.09.2029
Pecuniary Interest - None
Link Responsibilities: Vulnerable/Disadvantaged children
Vikki Tyler
Staff Local School Committee Member
Jen Bradshaw
Head of School
Alex Lindley
Executive Headteacher
Patrick Aikman
Clerk
LSC members who have held office in the past 12 months:
Adam Deane
Shreya Desai
How do I become a Local School Committee member?
Vacancies for LSC members do arise from time to time so if you would like to be considered, please contact the School Business Manager via email on sbm@mountpleasant.herts.sch.uk
LSC Code of Conduct
Spiral Partnership Trust - Members and Directors
Spiral Partnership Trust - Members and Directors
Register of Interests
Governor Attendance 2025/2026
Attendance at the LSC in the last year - 93%
Jen Bradshaw 3/3Lisa Franks 3/3
Mellie Nevill 2/3
Dave Newsome 3/3
Vikki Tyler 3/3