The Local Academy Board (LAB) members are responsible for the school on behalf of the Members of the Academy Trust.
The Abbey School's LAB are people from the school’s community who wish to make a positive contribution to children’s education. We are volunteers who attend meetings and work together to further The Abbey School’s development. Together with the Principal, we set the future direction for The Abbey School. The LAB makes decisions collectively on matters such as setting strategic direction, school policies, ensuring accountability, the school’s development plan, and monitoring and evaluating school performance.
If you wish to contact the Local Academy Board, this should be by letter addressed to the Chair of Governors and sent via the school office.
Governance Information
The Local Academy Board of The Abbey School:
- Dr Rowland Speller (Principal)
- Dr Frances Rehal (Trust Appointed)
- Gladys Enti (Trust Appointed - Chair of Governors)
- Andrew Massoura (Parent)
- Edd Withers (Trust Appointed - Vice-Chair of Governors)
- Jane Laker (Trust Appointed)
- Ben Oyewole (Staff)
For details of the Members and Directors of The Howard Academy Trust please click here.
Terms of Reference for our Local Academy Board can be found here.
Meets
| Name | Relevant Business & Pecuniary Interests (including governance roles in other education institutions) |
Attendance record at meetings for the academic year ('25-'26) |
|---|---|---|
| Dr Rowland Speller (Principal) Appointed: Ongoing |
Fellow of Chartered College of Teaching and Fellow of Royal Society of Arts | 4 of 4 |
| Dr Frances Rehal (Trust Appointed) Appointed: 01/04/23 |
Self Employed |
2 of 4 |
| Gladys Enti (Trust Appointed) Appointed: 16/11/23 |
Sole proprietor & Director - Bright Future Education Ltd |
4 of 4 |
| Edd Withers (Trust Appointed) Appointed: 21/02/25 |
Foster Carer |
3 of 4 |
|
Jane Laker (Trust Appointed) |
Retired | 2 of 4 |
| Andrew Massoura (Parent) Appointed: 24/03/24 |
Employed - Anglia Ruskin University Director - Anglia Ruskin Enterprise Ltd Member of the Association of Research Managers and Administrators |
4 of 4 |
|
Ben Oyewole (Staff) |
None Declared | 1 of 4 |
Past Governors who have served in the last 12 months |
||
|
Sarah Priest (Staff) |
None Declared | N/A |
|
Helene Keating (Staff) |
Part-time Teaching Assistant - The Abbey School Faversham President of The Whitstable Oyster Women's Institute |
0/2 |
Last Updated: 13th August 2026
Contact details:
Post: Chair of Governors, The Abbey School, London Road, Faversham, Kent ME13 8RZ
Telephone: The School Office on 01795 532633