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).

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

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 38 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

Naomi is the Headteacher at Middleton St Mary’s and has been a Governor at the school since September 2016 when she took up the post of Executive Head with the responsibility for three schools at the time. In September 2017, she was delighted to be appointed as Substantive Headteacher with the challenge of moving the school to good.

Naomi has been a governor for 15 years at two schools and has supported other governing boards within Calderdale. She brings experience in school leadership and management through her experience of being a Headteacher for 14 years. She has been employed in four other schools throughout her career, and before being the Head at St Mary’s,  supported many different schools within Calderdale. She was the Cluster Lead for 22 schools for three years, Deputy Head in a Calderdale School and Advanced Skills Teacher for the Early Years Foundation Stage, providing support and training for teachers and Headteachers.

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

Billy  joined the governing board as a co-opted member in 2020. He currently works as an Assistant Headteacher at St Bartholomew's C of E Primary School in Armley. He has 12 years experience working within education, and leads on: Phase leadership and development, Curriculum, Child Protection and is the designated teacher for looked after children 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 is one of the school's Deputy Headteachers. 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."

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”.

Neethu Jacob- Staff Governor

Miss Jacob joined Middleton St Mary’s Primary School last year and has enjoyed a successful first year within the school community. Eager to give back, she took on the role of staff governor in September 2024, aiming to further contribute to the school’s progress and support its vibrant community.

Originally from Kerala, India, Miss Jacob moved to Leeds at the age of five, where she lived until she was eighteen. She pursued her higher education at the University of Nottingham, earning a BA in Education, and continued her studies at the University of Birmingham for her teacher training. After two years of teaching in Solihull, she returned to Leeds, bringing with her a wealth of experience and enthusiasm. Miss Jacob has travelled to over 32 countries, embracing diverse cultures and experiences. 

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.

Jose Fernandez-Co-opted Governor

Jose became a Governor in February 2025 and is very excited about supporting children and teachers at Middleton St Mary's. Jose was born and brought up in North London and moved permanently up to Leeds 15 years ago. He is a son of immigrants and the first person in his family to attend University, so he understands how important education is in transforming lives. 

Jose has worked in various industries as a HR a professional at Director level, most recently the Civil Service, Education and the NHS. He enjoys running, especially in Middleton Park.

Reverend Olasupo Ogunyinka- Ex-Officio Governor

Olasupo joined St Mary’s C of E Primary School as one of the school governor in January 2025. He has been a priest in the Church of England since 2015, and over the past nine years he has served communities in Beeston, Bruntcliffe, and now Middleton, where he is the Parish Priest of St Mary’s and St Cross churches. Alongside his ministry, he am a qualified member of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants, which enables him to support the school in areas of finance and governance.

As a father of two grown-up children, Olasupo understands the importance of creating a safe, nurturing environment where every child can flourish. He is passionate about helping St Mary’s maintain its strong Christian foundation and supporting all members of the school community to grow in confidence, character, and faith.

Governor Interests and Attendance