Middleton St Mary's CE (VC) Primary School

Governing Board Information

Dear Parent/Carers

On behalf of the governing board I am very pleased to welcome you to Middleton St Mary's Church of England Primary School. As the governing board we are committed to working closely with parent/carers, all children and staff to ensure that your child has the opportunity to succeed. As a school we strive to offer a secure and stimulating environment that meets the needs of all our pupils. We acknowledge the importance of strong parent/carer and community links and recognise parent/carers as vital partners in their child’s education.

As governors we visit the school on a regular basis, attend meetings and take part in school events throughout the school year. Part of our task is to ensure that the school achieves the highest standards in all aspects of school life, academic, non-academic, extra curricular and pastoral.

Adele Barron (Chair of Governors)

What do Governors do?

School governors provide strategic leadership and accountability in schools. Governors appoint the head teacher and deputy head teacher. In some schools the site is owned by the governing body. It is governors who hold the main responsibility for finance in schools, and it is governors who work with the head teacher to make the tough decisions about balancing resources.

Each individual governor is a member of a governing body, which is established in law as a corporate body. Individual governors may not act independently of the rest of the governing body. Decisions are the joint responsibility of the governing body.

The role of the governing body is a strategic one, its key functions are to:

• set the aims and objectives for the school
• set the policies for achieving those aims and objectives
• set the targets for achieving those aims and objectives
• monitor and evaluate the progress the school is making towards achievement of its aims and objectives
• be a source of challenge and support to the head teacher (a critical friend)

The headteacher is responsible for the internal organisation, management and control of the school and the implementation of the strategic framework established by the governing body.

The Full Governing Board (FGB) currently meet 8 times per year. A Joint Review Group (JRG) including members of the Governing Board, the Local Authority and Diocese meet 6 times per year to provide further support and challenge school leaders with a particular focus on attainment and progress data. 

Pen portraits:

Naomi Wood 

Headteacher

Rev Andy Myers

Foundation Governor

I regard it is a fantastic privilege to serve on the governing board of St Mary’s Church of England Primary School. Our school and church have always been intimately linked, as right from the start education as a right for all the young people of our community has been fundamental to the ethos of the Anglican church.

I myself attended Church schools both at primary and secondary level. As a working class lad from East Leeds I soon discovered the way life can be enriched by education with a faith basis with the values of Christianity at the heart of everything we do.

As part of my first degree in Religious Studies and Theology I also gained a deep appreciation of, and respect for, the role other faiths can play in the enrichment of the lives of young people. This together with a personal commitment to the link which can be made between socialist values and the values of Jesus Christ has made me keen to support our school in its essential role of helping our young people to live lives where they truly flourish as human beings.

Our school recognises the potential of every child and seeks to empower them through education to both individually flourish and enable the communities in which they will grow to flourish. The great vision Jesus had for the building of the Kingdom of God - the perfect community order if you like - was that this belonged to children. My role as governor, Vicar of Middleton and parish priest is to be part of this remarkable process, part of a team consisting of students, teachers, governors and parents, where the potential to equip our young people with all the resources they need to achieve all they need to become for their own happiness, flourishing and for that of their communities is an ever evolving outcome.

Andrea Render

Foundation Governor

Though I have only recently joined the Governing board, my connections to the school go back over 30 years when my own sons started here, to the present day when my grandchildren now attend.

For many years I worked within the banking sector, and hope to bring my financial and team working expertise to the Governors. I was a governor, and vice-chair of governors for several years at a previous middle school, so I understand the level of commitment required for anyone taking on this role. I have been involved in day to day classes, school events and visits, and really enjoy making personal connections with the staff and pupils

I attend St Mary’s church, where I am Churchwarden, and have close ties to the community and will work with the school to forge stronger links between school and church.

Paul Truswell

I am a Local Councillor for Middleton Park Ward and have been a Local Authority nominated Governor since September 2012.

I have a passionate belief in the value and importance of education. I see my role as working as part of the Governing Body team to ensure the school uses its human and physical resources to provide the best possible educational experience for the young people who come through its doors. As someone from a working-class background, I know my own primary school played an absolutely vital role in providing a foundation that served me for the rest of my life. My two sons, though now in their 20s, have both been through the Leeds education system, and I understand as a parent the expectations we place on schools. In the past I have worked in the private sector, as well as in the NHS and Social Services. As a local "Health Champion" I want to help to ensure our school does its utmost to address inequalities and to promote the physical, mental and social well-being of our young people.

I have served as a school governor for several periods since 1982. I hope that this - and my local knowledge and experience as a Councillor - has equipped me with the skills to provide a useful contribution in helping our school to fulfil its responsibilities to our young people, their families and the wider community.

Adele Barron - Chair of Governors

I am delighted to have recently rejoined the Governing board of Middleton St Mary's CE Primary School. My Connection with the school began 12 years ago with my own daughters attending. Both girls enjoyed coming to this school and learned what was needed for the next steps of their education.

I currently work for our local community charity Middleton Elderly Aid as the Charity Shop Manager. I would like to form strong links with the school through my work with Middleton Elderly Aid to our over 60s living in Middleton.

I am committed to the school to fulfill the schools vision and commitment to its pupils and parents alike.

Daniel Hemming

My name is Daniel Hemming and I have recently been appointed as an Associate Governor (having previously held the role of staff governor). I am immensely proud to be Deputy Head Teacher of St Mary's- a role I have held since 2014. I thoroughly enjoy my additional responsibilities as the school Assessment Coordinator and Pupil Premium Coordinator. I have experience of teaching in Key Stage One and Key Stage Two and I believe the experience I bring helps me to contribute the the work of the Governing Board.  

Suzanne Aston

I have been the Assistant Head for Inclusion  at Middleton St Mary’s since September 2016 and am also an Associate Governor. I have previously taught across the primary age range and in specialist provision. I am also a mum and feel that this gives me a different insight into school life, we all want the very best for our children. Middleton St Mary’s school community has a great big heart and I absolutely adore being part of it. I am passionate about the inclusion and well being of all our families and it is a huge privilege to be part of a governing board and staff team who share this commitment.

Ted Kirk

My name is Ted Kirk and I was recently appointed as a staff governor at Middleton St Mary’s. I have worked at the school for just over a year and I am very privileged to be working alongside such a wonderful staff team and being given the opportunity to work with the governing board. I am currently working in Year 1 and I am very passionate about Middleton St Mary’s and its pupils and I hope I can contribute to its continued success.