Mrs Govender

Founder, CEO and Director



Mrs Govender has over 30 years of working in education and training. She started her career in South Africa, teaching classes of 40+ children. In 2002, Mrs Govender immigrated to England, finding herself in Watton, where she taught Food Technology at Wayland High School. She was promoted to Pastoral Lead (year 9)and Faculty Head over the next few years. She moved to Great Yarmouth in 2008 and took up the post of Assistant Headteacher at Lynn Grove High School, which was rated Outstanding by Ofsted in 2010. In 2012, Mrs Govender, as Deputy Head (Pastoral), was instrumental in setting up and running Beccles Free School in Suffolk. Her area of leadership was judged outstanding by Ofsted in 2014. She went on to lead the school as Head of School from January to April 2015.

 

During her years in mainstream education, Mrs Govender was passionate about promoting student leadership, coaching and mentoring and community cohesion. She set up Student Leadership Programmes including The Junior Chef Programme and Peer mentoring, Parent and Family Workshops such as ‘Saturday is Family Cook Day’, Parent and child events and community engagement such as community gardening and inter-generational activities with local residential and care homes. Some of the most valuable partnerships were with local education, social and health services and local businesses and organisations such as the Rotary Club, RAF and Norwich City Football Club.

 

In 2015, Mrs Govender decided to leave mainstream leadership and move into special education. She initially headed the engagement department,working to ensure that students who were permanently excluded, received quality provision and were prepared for life, before taking up the position of leadership mentoring and Accounting Officer for the Trust in 2017.  At the start of 2017, Mrs Govender took up the Headship of the Pinetree School in Thetford.  As an AP school, it catered for children who had been permanently excluded or managed moved due to their significant behaviour concerns. Within 7 months of leadership, she led the school out of an Inadequate Ofsted rating.

 

In 2019, Mrs Govender together with a group of passionate and dedicated individuals set up Athena Education Support CIC, a social enterprise company that works for the benefit of vulnerable children, adults and families.

 

Mrs Cox

Managing Director

In 1994, Mrs Cox started her career in education at The Charles Burrell School in Thetford, initially working part-time as a Learning Support Assistant and then promoting into the role of Assistant SENCO.  She has significant experience with leading statement/EHCP reviews, ex am dispensation support for children and line managing Support Assistants. 



In 2013, Mrs Cox, together with 3 colleagues, successfully applied and opened a Free School.  Julie was part of the Leadership Team and was responsible for all pastoral matters including pupil assessment and induction. She worked intensively with both children and their families helping to support and manage behaviour, make multi-agency referrals and secure sustainable partnerships for the benefit of every child.  Mrs Cox is also a trained Designated Safeguarding Lead and Attendance Officer and her role in these were instrumental in the school securing support for children on County Lines, CME and CLA.  All external inspections noted the effectiveness of the school’s safeguarding and attendance procedures.  



As exams officer, Mrs Cox was able to work with pupils and families on a personalised qualifications 'flightpath' that developed aspirations and inspired personal success.  Mrs Cox has produced valuable outcomes for the school such as 0% NEET for the past 3 years.



As Mrs Cox is passionate about minimising the negative impact of mental health difficulties on children’s lives and works tirelessly to secure better life chances for every beneficiary.  Together with Mrs Govender, she opened Athena Education Support CIC where all of the activities involve supporting vulnerable children at its core.  Her focus is on ensuring that the support for every child is available through partnerships with families and other professionals.

Mr Daniel Patterson

Director