MEET THE SAB
CHRIS JONES (CHAIR)
Christine joined the Maiden Erlegh Trust Board as SEND Trustee in October 2022 and became Chair of Hamilton School SAB in 2023 working alongside the Headteacher and Trust Leadership Team. She has an extensive range of experience in both education and local authorities and brings with her detailed knowledge, experience and understanding of Special Educational Needs and Disabilities, and the extensive legislative framework and guidance around it.
Christine has now retired but prior to this, she was the Special Educational Needs Service Manager for Hampshire County Council following on from the role as Assistant Director Children's Services at Wokingham Borough Council. Before this she held a number of teaching roles and was Headteacher of a local primary school 2000-2005.
Sarah concannon (Headteacher)
Sarah has been Headteacher of Hamilton School for three and a half years, bringing with her more than two decades of teaching experience and twelve years of specialist work with students with Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) needs. Previously, she served as Assistant Headteacher and Maths Lead at Chiltern Way Academy in Wokingham, a dedicated provision for children with ASC and SEMH needs.
In 2015, Sarah helped launch Aspire@Wokingham, an ambitious initiative created by Wokingham Borough Council to re-engage young people aged 14–16 with SEMH needs who were no longer in full-time education. Under her leadership as Centre Manager, the programme achieved remarkable success, enabling 90% of students to progress into positive next steps, including apprenticeships and college pathways. Although Aspire@Wokingham closed after two years due to funding challenges, its outcomes demonstrated the power of targeted, nurturing support.
Today, Sarah draws on this wealth of experience to lead Hamilton School with passion, high expectations, and a strong commitment to inclusive practice. She is proud to work in partnership with students, families, staff, and the Maiden Erlegh Trust as the school continues to grow and thrive.
Emma bliss (vice-chair)
Emma is proud to be a SAB member of Hamilton School, she is Headteacher of a Secondary School in South Oxfordshire and so understands the broader pressures and challenges of working in the world of education including the nuances of safeguarding and curriculum development work. She is inspired by the work that Mrs Concannon and the team at Hamilton have done over the last few years and enjoys working alongside the other Hamilton SAB members to both recognise and celebrate the successes but also to offer guidance and challenge to keep pushing the school forward.
mike bellamy
Mike taught in a co-ed grammar school after university then worked in the NHS as a manager then CEO. He was involved in education within the NHS and then served as a non ex. on two University Boards. He joined the local MAT in Bourne End then the Maiden Erlegh Trust and has been Chair of a SAB (Oak Tree School). He is on the Hamilton SAB, as well as being on the Education and Culture Committee of the Trust. He is married with three children and 9 grandchildren.
jill corfield
Jill became a school governor at Hamilton School in 2021 when she joined the school as a specialist teacher and Deputy Head teacher, having previously served on Pupil Referral Unit, mainstream and special governing boards. She says that she has been privileged to be a part of the Hamilton School’s road to success. As a SENDCo since 2001, she feels to have been fortunate to be able to follow her passion of supporting children’s education and driving school improvement and supporting the whole community to thrive.
She believes that every child deserves the opportunity to reach their full potential, and is committed to working with staff, parents/carers and fellow board members to ensure Hamilton School provides a safe, inclusive, and inspiring environment for learning, feeling that the key to this is open and honest communications with all stakeholders.
In her free time, she enjoys reading, walking, rowing and running, all of which help her stay connected to the community and bring fresh perspectives to her work with the school.
June Lau
June brings over two decades of senior‑level experience from the technology industry delivering strategic leadership and driving digital transformation. With a background spanning public sector, education, healthcare, and commercial organisations, she specialises in helping teams deliver meaningful outcomes through collaboration, clear strategy, and effective governance to enhance efficiency, empower people, and drive long‑term value.
June is passionate about community and inclusion and has volunteered for many years as a girls’ rugby coach, providing positive role modelling and encouraging young people to build confidence through sport. She is committed to supporting schools in creating environments where every child can thrive, feel supported, and reach their full potential.
hazel Bingham (parent sab member)
Hazel joined the SAB in the hope she can support the school to thrive and help other parents pass ideas on.
She has one child at Hamilton in Year 9 and one who’s currently in Year 3 (primary) planning her future there! She feels that her son has grown so much since he joined Hamilton and is so happy there, she wanted to give back something.
She works as a facilities manager in a community centre but comes from a background of education, mainly with young people (14-23) with SEND. She hopes her skills can be used to support the school.
She supported Hamilton with the organisation of the 2025 Christmas event and looks forward to more events like this.
Scott versace (staff sab member)
Scott has taken on the role of Staff Governor to represent the staff body but to also share first-hand knowledge of the school with the School Advisory Board. He is honoured to represent Hamilton’s staff team and looks forward to working with the other members of the board to continue the improvement journey of Hamilton.
After 20 years in the SEMH setting, he has taken on another new role this year as the school’s SENCO, a role that he’s proud to take on and lend his years of experience to. This new role sees him collaborating more with both internal and external partners, students, parents/carers, local authorities, alternative provisions and more, so that Hamilton’s young people get the best possible experience during their time there.
Personally, he has a blended family where he and his wife have four children between them, ranging from 15yrs old and completing her GCSEs, to 25yrs and living independently. They have a mixture of neurodiversity within their family, and this enriches their lives and has helped drive Scott’s passion for the work that he does at Hamilton. In his spare time, he loves to exercise, eat well, and tries to get into nature as often as possible, whether with their two dogs on a walk in the park, or spending time on their allotment.
SANSKRUTI JAIN
Sans grew up in India and has called the UK home for the past eight years. She lives in Reading and works in audit at KPMG. When she’s not working, you’ll probably find her swimming or dancing - she’s always up for both! She’s excited to be getting married next year, with celebrations in both India and the UK.
She joined the School Advisory Board after being inspired by her partner, who teaches, and she wanted to help make decisions that benefit all of Hamilton’s students. She has loved visiting the school and chatting with the children already, and she is looking forward to building warm connections with families and staff.
To contact the School Advisory Board, please email: b.poole@maidenerleghtrust.org