Stratford College is under the Patronage of Dublin Talmud Torah and governed by a Board of Management.

Mr John Rafter, Chairperson

John Rafter has been appointed by the Trustees as Chairman of the Board of Management.

A native of Ballinasloe, County Galway John went on to study Natural Sciences at Trinity College Dublin. Having completed the Higher Diploma in Education he was employed at his alma mater, King's Hospital as a science and mathematics teacher.

He was appointed as Deputy Principal in 2011 and two years later as Principal and Headmaster of The King's Hospital School, which he held until his retirement in 2019.

Ms. Naomi Taylor - Trustee Nominee

Naomi is from Dublin and a member of the Dublin Jewish Community. Both of her children attend Stratford College and she has worked in Stratford National School for the last four years. She was previously the chairperson of the Board of Management of Portlaoise Educate Together National School.

Mr Daniel Miller - Trustee Nominee

Daniel is from Dublin and is a member of the Dublin Jewish Community. His three children have attended and are currently attending Stratford College. He has been involved with Stratford National School as Chairperson of their Board of Management for the past 10 years.

Ms. Nuala Carr - Parents Nominee

Mr Darren McQuillan - Parents Nominee

Ms. Catherine Conlon - Teacher Nominee

Ms Delia Donohoe - Teacher Nominee

Ms. Patricia Gordon, Secretary to the Board

Patricia Gordon was born in Dublin and attended St. Joseph of Cluny Secondary School, Killiney, and University College Dublin (UCD) where she studied English, History and Philosophy. Following qualification as a teacher, she went on to teach English and History in Colaiste Eanna, Cabra, St. Joseph of Cluny and Stratford College. Her post-graduate studies included Catechetics Education (UCD) and Guidance and Counselling in University College Cork (UCC). She was awarded her Masters in Education from UCD in 2001. She was Transition Year Co-ordinator and Guidance Counsellor before her appointment as Principal in 1999.

Patricia Gordon is a member of the Association of Managers of Catholic Secondary Schools (AMCSS), the Irish School Heads’ Association (ISA); the Institute of Guidance Counsellors (IGC), the National Association of Principals and Deputy Principals (NAPD), Chair of the National Curriculum Advisory Group of the Joint Managerial Board (JMB) and Associate on the Leadership Team of Junior Cycle for Teachers (JCT).

Patricia was re- appointed to the incoming National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) for a four year period from April 2022. She is currently the Chair of the Management Committee of Blackrock Education Centre.

Board of Management Reports

Trustees

Dublin Talmud Torah is the Patron Body of Stratford Schools (Stratford National School and Stratford College Secondary School).

Middle Leadership Roles and Responsibilities

Along with the Principal and Deputy Principal, Ms Siobhan Reynolds, there are six additional Assistant Principals with the following roles and responsibilities.

To promote, support and collaborate with students on their roles and responsibilities to their environment as part of our school community.

Overall responsibility for a year group while maintaining an orderly, secure and healthy learning environment in a manner that demonstrates equality, fairness and justice

Lead the school’s engagement in a continuous process of self-evaluation; develop and promote a system of professional responsibility and accountability; foster professional development that enriches teachers’ and students’ learning

Promote and facilitate the development of student voice, student participation, and student leadership.

Overall responsibility for the implementation of the relevant programmes ie Transition Year and Leaving Certificate Vocational Programme; manage the planning and implementation of the curriculum

Manage the school’s ICT resources to create and maintain a learning organisation

Responsible for co-ordinating activities and events (including themed cross curricular, extra curricular sporting etc) throughout the year which promote a healthy and sustainable environment and culture of wellbeing for staff and students.

Promote and facilitate student participation, student leadership, inclusion, equality of opportunity and the holistic development of each student