Governance

I have had five children attend St Bede’s, who were all happy here and achieved their best. After working for over 40 years in Local Government Finance I am now retired. Previously I was Foundation Governor and a Local Authority Governor, before accepting the role of Chair of Governors. As well as being a Governor at St Bede’s I am Chair of Governor’s for a local Primary School that has recently be judged to be Good in all areas by OFSTED.

I have been a governor at St Bede’s for 6 years. I have a daughter who attends the school and my other daughter used to, but is now at College studying for her A -Levels. I am a Primary School teacher and my passion has always been the welfare of children and helping them to fulfill their potential, something I apply in my job and as a Governor at St Bede’s. I am a practicing Catholic and also the RE Lead at the Primary School where I work. In my free time I enjoy spending time with my family, going to the Theatre and reading.

I’ve been a governor at St Bede’s for five years and chair since 2019. I’ve got a son in the school and a daughter who is now at university. I work for a national healthcare regulator, leading change and improvement programmes, which gives me a particular interest in planning, finance and performance management. Outside of work I like watching sport, especially cricket and football, reading and cooking. In my role as chair, I try to make sure that governors focus on the key strategic issues facing the school and use their skills and experience to constructively challenge the school leadership team. I also act as a sounding board for the headteacher, providing advice and support where needed.

I’ve been a foundation governor at St Bede’s for over six years plus vice chair since 2019.  I also sit on various sub committees such as Resources.

I attend Pleasington Priory with my family and am an active member of the school community.  I attended the school myself as well as have a son at school and another son who attended school but is now a professional footballer.

I am a solicitor and partner in a local corporate law firm and so both live and work in Blackburn.  I work mainly in dispute resolution and regulatory which gives me an interest in school governance and procedures as well as structure and the more business side of how the school operates.  It is also useful for addressing and discussing legal points that arise from time to time.

In my personal time I am usually on a football pitch of some sort either locally or anywhere in the country but I must enjoy the sport as I am also a Blackburn Rovers Season Ticket holder for many years together with the rest of my family.  I also enjoy socialising and live music and walking either for miles or round the local farmland with the family dog.  I am a keen cook and bon viveur.

My role as a governor is to support the chair and give input to the governing board when we consider the issues affecting our school and the strategies to be adopted in conjunction with the headmaster and the senior leadership board to ensure the smooth running and continued development of our popular and successful school.

I started as a parent governor when my daughter, Kirsty, attended the school in 2015-2019. I then became a Foundation Governor and have continued in that role since she left. I am an active member of the Sacred Heart RC Parish in Darwen as a Eucharistic Minister and member of the CAFOD Committee. I work as a Chemist for Crown Paints in Darwen and have an HNC in Chemistry and a NEBOSH General Certificate in Health & Safety. My leisure interests include many sports and games in particular football, snooker, tennis, horse racing and chess. I am part of the School’s Resources Committee and participate in governor’s meetings by challenging, questioning and supporting the school leadership team when I think it is necessary.

I have been a parent governor at St Bede’s for just over a year and I have 2 children that attend St Bede’s.  I work for a local school as a School Business Manager overseeing the Finance, Catering, HR, Information Management and Reception Services.  As a parent governor I support the governing body by having a parental view ensuring this promotes and supports the interests of all pupils and the community.

With my experience from my own day to day role I can also bring a positive contribution to the Finance and Resources Committee and support the School and Governing Body with any key issues within these areas.

In my own time I like to walk my 2 dogs, watch my children play football and I have recently taken up Crown Green Bowling!

I have been a parent governor at St. Bede’s RC high for 2 years with a daughter attending the school. I am employed as a manager in a Building Services Design company based in Manchester, this employment and previous roles have furnished me with property and estates, construction, FM, Health & Safety, HR, finance, programming, and planning experience. I have previously been a governor at a primary school and Chair of governors at a complex needs school for 4 years which significantly helps me understand the challenges that schools face daily; of a similar scene, I have further experience in voluntarily supporting organisations having been on the Board of Trustees at a children’s Hospice for 3 years.  Outside of work and school, I have a keen interest in cycling, walking, cooking and competitive badminton (albeit not winning as much these days). As a governor in school, it is my aim and role to effectively support (with some polite challenge) the school in its needs with specific focus around the strategic school estate and Health and Safety, with a keen interest in the finance side.

I have only recently become a school governor for the first time, as I have a keen interest in education.

I have a son and Daughter both at St Bede’s.

I work for the NHS, in a large Cardiac Centre in the North of England, as the clinical lead for cardio imaging, and interventional cardiac imaging. Working in a teaching hospital, gives me the interest I have in training and education being involved in the training of junior medical staff, in both Adult and Children’s heart disease.

Outside of work, I spend my time relaxing with my family, and have a keen interest in motorsports.

I hope that as my role as a governor progresses, I manage to constructively aid, and also challenge the schools’ various policies, to enable the school to continue to be the best it can be.

I have recently started the role of staff governor, and I am looking forward to working with the rest of the governors in supporting St. Bede’s to future success. I am currently the Academic Leader of the History Department and a keen believer in the power and value of education. In my role as staff governor, I will aim to represent the school workforce in meetings.

In my spare time I enjoy playing golf, taking part in quizzes, walking my dog and reading.