Hove school governor wins national acclaim

A former Mayor of Brighton and Hove who chairs the board of governors at two local schools has won national recognition.

Jenny Barnard-Langston has been appointed a national leader for governance. She is the first in Brighton and Hove and one of just 130 across the country.

The Department for Education describes national leaders for governance as “highly effective chairs of governors, who use their skills and experience to support chairs of governors in other schools and academies”. The role includes mentoring and giving advice.

Mrs Barnard-Langston chairs the board of governors at Blatchington Mill School in Hove, where she has been a governor since 2002, and Benfield Primary School in Portslade.

Jenny Barnard-Langston

As a councillor, she chaired the East Sussex County Council Education Committee. During her 20 years as a councillor, she also served on Hove Borough Council and Brighton and Hove City Council.

She previously chaired the governors at Patcham High School, in Brighton, Somerhill Junior School, in Hove, and Cuckmere House School in Seaford.

She has also served as a governor at Davigdor Infant School and Hove Park School, in Hove, and she chaired the corporation board of Lewes Tertiary College, now Sussex Downs College.

She said: “I am delighted to take up this role as national leader of governance.”