Middleton St Mary's CE (VC) Primary School

Governing Board Information

Middleton St Mary's Governing Board 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.

In January, the Governing Board took the decision to establish a Joint Review Group (JRG). A JRG is a Leeds Local Authority initiative to strengthen the effectiveness of leadership and management including governance of maintained schools, so that outcomes for pupils are improved.

The Joint Review Group

The JRG consists of six members: 

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. 

 National Governance Association

Pen Portraits

Liz Singleton - Associate Governor and Chair of the JRG

Liz joins us, as an associate governor and Chair of the Joint Review Group, with significant experience in education over the last 35 years. Having been a teacher, school improvement professional, OFSTED inspector and governor she is well placed to support our school as we journey to becoming a great school within our local community.

Recently retired, Liz volunteers as a Leeds Local Leader of Governance to support and develop the skills of school governors.

Naomi Wood - Headteacher

Graham Hilton - Co-opted Governor and Diocesan Representative

Graham joins us, as a co-opted governor and is the Deputy Head at St Peter's CE (VA) Junior, Infant and Nursery School, Birstall where he has served as a governor since 2014. There, he is  member of the resources committee and also leads the standards and effectiveness committee. As Deputy Headteacher and also a governor plays an important role in strategic planning and decision making in school. 

Andrea Render - Foundation Representative

Andrea's connections to the school go back over 30 years when her own sons started school at Middleton St Mary's, to the present day as her grandchildren now attend.

For many years Andrea worked within the banking sector, so  brings financial and team working expertise to the Governing Board. She 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. She have been involved in visiting school on a day to day basis, at school events and visits, and really enjoys making personal connections with the staff and pupils

Andrea attends St Mary’s church, and is Churchwarden, has close ties to the community and works with the school to forge stronger links between school and church.

Brian Beal - Associate Member

Brian has joined the JRG because of his deep commitment to ensuring that all pupils attending St Mary’s benefit from the first class education that they deserve in order to fulfill their potentials. Brian brings significant school improvement experience, including as an associate adviser in Leeds, and also working with other local authorities and multi-academy trusts across the region. As a former Ofsted inspector, head of governor services, chair of governors and interim executive board, Brian brings these perspectives to the school and is keen to ensure that the school’s next inspection secures the positive outcome that both pupils and the broader community deserve.

The Full Governing Board Members

Rev Andy Myers - Foundation Governor

Father Andy 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."

Paul Truswell - Local Authority Governor

"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 twenties, 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 fulfill its responsibilities to our young people, their families and the wider community."

Suzanne Aston - Associate Governor 

Suzanne has been the Assistant Head for Inclusion  at Middleton St Mary’s since September 2016, she has been recently appointed joint Deputy Head (May 2020). She has previously taught across the primary age range and in specialist provision. Suzanne is a mum and grandma and feels that this gives  a different insight into school life as 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."

Sandra Askin - Co- opted Governor

Sandra joined the governing board in December 2019. She has lived in Middleton since the age of 11 and was married at St Mary's Church in 1975. Sandra is a member of the congregation. Before retiring, Sandra was foster carer, registered childminder and worked at Middleton St Mary's. Sandra still volunteers her help. She is a committee member at the Parochial Hall and can often be seen standing on the snooker table doing the spotlight for one of the school's shows! Sandra now also volunteers at the school listening to children read. 

Wayne Dixon - Co-opted Governor

Wayne joined the governing board in 2018. He has lived in Middleton all his life and was married at St Mary's Church in 2010 and both his children were also christened at St Mary's. Wayne works full time as a Employment and Engagement Worker for a local housing charity. Wayne volunteers in the community including being the founder and Secretary of Middleton Park Football Club. He is a committee member at Middleton Elderly Aid, Middleton Community Group and he is often seen standing in the local elections.

Claire Wood - Staff Governor

Claire is our newest governing board member, joining March 2020. She joined the school in September 2018 as one of our Year 6 teachers having previously had experience of teaching Upper and Lower Key Stage 2 children in Manchester schools including 6 years at a Church of England school in Oldham.

In September 2019, Claire was successfully appointed as Phase Leader for Year 5/6 with a responsibility for leading English across the school. With a degree in English Language, she has a passion for reading and writing and is dedicated to improving standards at Middleton St Mary’s. Claire brings a strong understanding of the demands of the primary curriculum and teaching and learning at St Mary’s.

Rob Horne - Parent Governor   

Vicky Smith Co-opted Governor

Annual Statement

Governor Interests and Attendance