Governors (ID 1387)

• Debbie McNally
  Chair of Governors and Parent Governor
  Debbie McNally

  Growing up in the North East, I have now lived in London for thirty years and been part of Grafton’s parent community for nearly ten years. As Chair, I focus on strategic governance and supporting leadership to help create an environment where children can thrive academically and socially. With a background in book publishing, I am particularly passionate about literacy and reading for pleasure. Research shows that if you love to read it has a significant impact on children’s outcomes and they’ll feel the benefits for the rest of their lives.

• Julian Gregory
  Vice Chair and Co-opted Governor
  Julian Gregory

  Born and raised in Sheffield, I work as a barrister in London, primarily on group and claimant litigation. I previously stood as a Lib Dem candidate in local and national elections. My interests include public advocacy and community engagement and I bring legal, analytical and governance skills to support school leadership and strategic decision‑making. I live locally with my wife, young daughter and two cats and am an Arsenal season‑ticket holder.

• Andrew Turnock
  Headteacher
  Andrew Turnock

  I trained as a teacher at 19 and have worked in primary and secondary settings across Leicester, Buckinghamshire and London, inspired by my mother who was a supply teacher. I bring long‑standing senior leadership experience, having been part of the SLT at Grafton for over 25 years, and I was appointed Head Teacher in 2023. I am a father of two children at Grafton, a keen cyclist, and a lifelong supporter of Wigan Athletic Football Club

• Gulcin Ozdemir
  Local Authority Governor
  Gulcin Ozdemir

  I attended Grafton, as did my daughter, and I now serve as the Local Authority Governor. I am a local councillor and Chair of the Children & Young People Scrutiny Committee, and I lead work on attendance, wellbeing and educational outcomes. Alongside my council role, I’m a social work student committed to giving children the best start in life and building a safer, fairer and more inclusive borough.

• Lauryn Cabey
  Staff Governor
  Lauryn Cabey

  My connection to Grafton spans 31 years as a former pupil, parent and proud member of staff. I’ve also served as Vice Chair of the PTA. I am actively involved in charity events, creative projects, performances and interventions. Extensive training in special educational needs and mental health has strengthened my commitment to inclusion and ensuring every child feels supported and valued. One project I’m especially proud of is the revival of our “Playground Friends” initiative. Grafton has shaped a huge part of who I am, and as Staff Governor I bring insight, dedication and a strong sense of community.

• Alex Barros-Curtis
  Co-opted Governor
  Alex Barros-Curtis

  I am pleased to have been part of the governing board at Grafton for over ten years and served as Chair for a significant portion of that time. As an MP and the son of a schoolteacher, I value a strong academic start for every child and am proud to support school strategy here at Grafton. My experience in leadership, safeguarding and working to strengthen bonds with local communities informs my contribution.

• Claire Hegarty
  Co-opted Governor
  Claire Hegarty

  I was invited to join the governing body in 2020, bringing my professional background as an architect. My three now‑adult children attended Grafton and I previously served as a Parent Governor. I am vice chair of the Finance & Premises Sub‑Committee and prioritise improving the school’s buildings and learning environments. Over the years I’ve seen Grafton evolve and flourish; as a governor I want to support its creative, diverse and inclusive character and nurture strong community relations.

• Graham Jimpson
  Co-opted Governor
  Graham Jimpson

  I have been part of the Grafton community for 20 years, first as a parent and then as a governor, and I’ve volunteered in literacy support since 2011. My career was in youth and children’s services, with senior manager and assistant director roles across several London boroughs and contributions to national and international youth projects. Now retired, I volunteer as a mentor and trustee for local charities. I bring long experience in youth work, safeguarding and community partnership to the board. My interests include art, fell‑walking and supporting Arsenal.

• Fahiimo Sharif
  Parent Governor
  Fahiimo Sharif

  I am a parent of two children currently at Grafton and became a Parent Governor to represent families and strengthen communication between parents and staff. I bring a home perspective on daily school life and am committed to ensuring every child can thrive academically, socially and emotionally. I value collaboration, transparency and constructive challenge, and I work to help the governing body maintain a welcoming, ambitious and inclusive school environment.

• Joanne Fowler
  Co-opted Governor
  Joanne Fowler

  I am a parent of two children at Grafton and previously served as a governor at a primary school in Hackney. I have over 15 years’ experience in the education and qualifications sector and currently work as Director of Qualifications at City & Guilds, where I lead teams responsible for developing, assessing and quality‑assuring qualifications and apprenticeships. I am committed to supporting the school’s leadership through effective governance and ensuring an inclusive, high‑quality learning environment where every child feels safe.

• Deb Hermer
  Co-opted Governor
  Deb Hermer

  I am an Islington parent who now has time to become more involved in the local community, having stepped down from full‑time work. I have a background in communications and project management and have supported community groups across the borough, including food banks, reading initiatives and play schemes. I joined Grafton as a governor in 2024 and am dedicated to supporting the school, beginning with the new playground project.

• Ellie Prasad
  Co-opted Governor
  Ellie Prasad

  I have a background in commercial project management within the British luxury fashion industry and now work freelance in creative content, communications and social media for arts and cultural organisations. As a local parent and Islington Parent Champion for Bright Start / Bright Futures, I am committed to supporting families and promoting positive early learning experiences. I bring strategic, organisational and communication skills to governance and a passion for inclusive, engaging approaches that build children’s confidence and curiosity.

• Kevin Jordan
  Co-opted Governor
  Kevin Jordan

  I have two children at Grafton and have lived near the school for 20 years. I am a solicitor, a local landlord and run an e‑learning community site for infrastructure finance and development. I’ve also worked as a partner in international law firms. I hope to share my business and legal experience for the benefit of the school and to contribute to the continued success of our children’s education and school experience.

• Simon Chase
  Parent Governor
  Simon Chase

  I worked for 15 years in the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office as a diplomat, with postings in Africa and the Middle East and London roles on Afghanistan and regional peace and security. Before that I worked in the third sector on human rights in Southern Africa. I am now a director at a global strategic advisory firm. I studied modern languages and have a passion for language learning and international education. I am the parent of three children at Grafton and support global and multilingual perspectives in school life.

• Michael Tofi
  Associate Member
  Michael Tofi

  I have a long connection with Grafton, having worked at the school as a teaching assistant and been placed there during my teacher training over ten years ago. I was pleased to be appointed as an Associate Member so I could give back to the local school that helped me decide to become a teacher. I currently work for an academy trust and have held leadership roles in London and Suffolk, most recently as Assistant Headteacher, Deputy Headteacher and Associate School Lead

• Jet Lim
  Associate Member
  Jet Lim

  I work as an auditor at KPMG and was inspired by my firm’s partnership with Governors for Schools to join the board at Grafton. I took on the role to better understand the challenges of running a school and to offer my support. I provide financial and analytical assistance and practical spreadsheet skills to help the school make informed decisions. I enjoy specialty coffee, ice hockey and the gym, and I hope to bring the same dedication to this role.