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.

The school has worked hard over the last six years to ensure that Middleton St Mary's becomes a good school. A School Improvement Group (SIG) with the Local Authority was put in place to support this journey.. Middleton St Mary's is now Good in all areas! (May 2022). The school no longer has a SIG but still works closely with the Senior School Improvement Advisor, Sam Golia. 

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 headteacher 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 board. Decisions are the joint responsibility of the governing board.

The role of the governing board 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 board.

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

The Full Governing Board Members

Pen Portraits

Liz Singleton - Chair of the Governing Board and the Teaching & Learning Committee. Local Authority Governor

Liz joins us, as a co-opted governor and Chair of the Governing Board, with significant experience in education over the last 35 years. Having been a teacher, school improvement professional, OFSTED inspector and governor at several schools 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

Billy Waters - Co-opted Member, Vice Chair and Chair of the Teaching & Learning Committee  

Billy has joined the JRG as a co-opted member. He currently works as an Assistant Headteacher at St Bartholomew's C of E Primary School in Armley. He has 9 years experience working within education, and leads on: Phase leadership and development, Curriculum and Child Protection in his current role. As a part of the school's senior leadership team, he is responsible for a lot of the shared decision making and daily running of a large inner city primary school. 

Suzanne Aston - Associate Governor 

Suzanne has been the Assistant Head for Inclusion  at Middleton St Mary’s since September 2016 and 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."

Jack Bland - Staff Governor

Jack joined the governing board in February 2024, having joined the school in September 2020 as a class teacher. He has experience teaching in Key Stage 2 and is responsible for leading Science across school which he is very passionate about. Also, Jack mentors Early Career and Trainee Teachers in school. He is currently working towards a Master’s degree in Education and is using research from this to support his teaching. Jack looks forward to continuing to support the school and improving standards at Middleton St Mary’s.

Tracy Clephan - Co-opted Governor

Tracy joined the governing board in summer 2021. She has retired after 40 years of working as a Dietitian in the NHS and Head of Dietetics for Leeds Teaching Hospitals where she had responsibility for budgetary management, service delivery, quality assurance and professional standards. For 10 years, she also worked part time for Open University as an Associate Lecturer, providing management courses up to Masters degree level. Tracy is a Lead Assessor for Health and Care Professions Council and is a volunteer patient transport driver for Yorkshire Ambulance Service.

Tracy was the first in her family to attend university and one of the first NHS workers to gain a Masters Degree in Business Administration. She is committed to public service and personally understands the impact that a good start in education can make to individuals. She says, “I am really looking forward to using my experience and skills to support everyone in Middleton St Mary’s to be the best that they can be”.

Martine Manikeu - Parent Governor 

Martine is the latest addition to our governing board. She attended her first governor’s board meeting in March 2023 and is really looking forward to supporting the school on it's journey.  Martine is an accountant at NHS England and sets budgets for future healthcare professionals.  Martine enjoys her job and feels although she is not a frontline NHS worker, she is still making her contribution. Martine is hoping for her knowledge and skills in finance to be an add on when reviewing the school’s budget. Martine has a son in year 5 at the school. 

Lizzie Leather - Co-opted Governor

Lizzie became a governor in December 2023, and is highly motivated to support Middleton St Mary’s in its aim to create a safe place where children and staff are Believed in, Belong, and Achieve well. Lizzie is a musician, specialising in music education, and works as a Choral Director for one of the largest choral programmes in the country.

As a governor, Lizzie is interested in a wide range of educational areas, with particular interests in learning, the arts, and equality of opportunity.

Annual Statement

Governor Interests and Attendance