North Walney Nursery and Primary School
"The Place to be – where children are at our heart"
Email: office@northwalney.cumbria.sch.uk Phone: 01229 471781
School governors form the largest volunteer group in the country. They are people from all walks of life, who care about children’s education and are prepared to work as a team to support their school and local community.
More than 9,000 people volunteer to be governors in Cumbria, bringing to their role experience of everyday life and a wish to help children and schools. They support schools in raising standards, by determining the conduct and direction of the school.
Effective governors do not need educational expertise but do need to be committed to their school, willing to ask questions and act as a critical friend. They also need to be able to work as an enthusiastic member of the governing body team. The headteacher works closely with the governing body as its principal professional adviser. Governing body policy decisions will then be implemented by the headteacher in the day-to-day running of the school.
They will be supported by other governors on the governing body as well as by Cumbria County Council, through the Governor Services Team. In Cumbria we have always valued the contribution of governors and we have sought to support governing bodies by providing a wide range of services including clerking, training and information. Seminars on a variety of topics are provided throughout Cumbria.
There are different categories of governor, and the procedures for appointment or election depend on the category and the date when the governing body was constituted.
Some people cannot become governors. The general restrictions are listed in the document Disqualification from Holding a Governorship. All terms of office are for four years unless a reason is given for shortening the length of office.
As well as the termly Full Governing Body meeting where all governors attend, we also have sub-committees including the Curriculum and Standards Committee and the Finance and Resources Committee.
To find out more about becoming a Governor of a school, please click here.
North Walney Instrument of Governance
Curriculum and Standards Committee Terms of Reference
Finance and Resources Committee Terms of Reference
Governors have consented to their images and names being used as per GDPR regulations.
All staff have been checked and verified by the Disclosure Barring Service and have been appointed following interview and satisfactory references. All governors, volunteers and visitors to the school are asked to provide their DBS certificate for verification before entering the school premises.
Chair of Governors since September 2016
Co-opted Member
Appointed: 01/09/2015
Term of office: 4 years
Member of Finance and Resources Committee, Curriculum and Standards Committee
Area and Curriculum Foci: Safeguarding, History, Maths, English
Meetings attended 2018/19: FGB – 4/4; F&R – 2/3; C&S – 2/3
Business/Pecuniary Interests Declared: Teacher at Vickerstown Primary School
Personal Statement:
Staff Governor
Appointed: 01/09/2018
Term of office: 4 years
Member of Curriculum and Standards Committee, Finance and Resources Committee
Area and Curriculum Foci: Equality
Meetings attended 2018/19: FGB – 3/4; C&S – 3/3
Business/Pecuniary Interests Declared: HLTA at NWPS
Personal Statement:
My connection with North Walney began when I started school in Reception, continued through my Primary education (spread between the two buildings as the Infant school was built and the original Primary school was split), and then again when I volunteered from sixth form weekly on a Wednesday afternoon. I visited again in preparation for a Post Graduate Certificate in Education, and returned as a volunteer (and Community Governor) prior to gaining a National Vocational Qualification. This led to work as a Lunchtime Supervisor and Teaching Assistant, and again was honoured to serve as a Staff Governor, in which post I have continued as I progressed to qualify as a Higher Level Teaching Assistant. I’ve been deliberately vague as to the date when I started school etc., but I can confirm that honestly, truly, the last of the dinosaurs was extinct at that point. Just.
Co-opted Governor
Appointed: 01/09/2017
Term of office: 4 years
Member of Finance and Resources Committee, Curriculum and Standards Committee
Meetings attended 2018/19: FGB – 4/4; F&R – 3/3
Business/Pecuniary Interests Declared: Employed by Dolce who provide school meals – Cook-in-charge at NWPS; children attend school
Personal Statement:
Parent Governor
Appointed: 3/12/2018
Term of office: 4 years
Member of Curriculum and Standards Committee
Area and Curriculum Foci: Art, Computing
Meetings attended 2018/19: FGB –
Business/Pecuniary Interests: None declared
Personal Statement:
Headteacher
Meetings attended 2018/19: FGB – 4/4; F&R – 3/3; C&S – 3/3
Business/Pecuniary Interests Declared: Teacher at NWPS
Personal Statement:
I am very proud to have been a teacher at North Walney for over 20 years. Each year has brought new experiences as I have had a range of roles and taught various year groups. I feel privileged now that I am Headteacher and to be part of such a hard working, dedicated team of staff and Governors all working towards the same aim of providing the highest quality education and learning experiences for our children.
Joint-Vice Chair, Co-opted Governor, Chair of Finance and Resources Committee
Appointed: Autumn 2016
Term of office: 4 years
Member of Finance and Resources Committee, Performance and Pay Review Committee, Staff Disciplinary Appeals Committee
Area and Curriculum Foci: SEND, GDPR, DT, PE/Sports
Meetings attended 2018/19: FGB – 4/4; F&R – 2/3
Business/Pecuniary Interests Declared: Administrator at St Columba’s Primary School
Personal Statement:
I had the privilege of working as school administrator at at North Walney Primary School for 5 years until 2016. Most of my working life had been spent in Banking, however, I had always wanted to work with children & families. I left banking to work at The Bluebirds Study Centre at Barrow AFC’s football ground, where I trained as a Teaching Assistant. While working there I learnt the importance of raising children’s self esteem & confidence to help them do better in school. I also saw how children could be engaged in learning through an interest in sport. Sport has always been very important to me & my family; I tried to encourage children to participate in sport whilst working at North Walney. I have experienced first hand the dedication and hard work that North Walney school staff put into providing a good quality education for children attending the school. During my time working at the school, I was always made to feel part of the local community and have enjoyed watching the children develop and grow in confidence.
I am delighted that by becoming a Governor I can continue to be involved in the school and help the school community to continue to grow stronger, improve outcomes for children and plan for a secure future.
Joint Vice-Chair, Local Authority Governor, Chair of Curriculum and Standards Committee
Appointed: Spring 2017
Term of office: 4 years
Member of Finance and Resources Committee, Staff Disciplinary Committee
Area and Curriculum Foci: Link, GTD, Geography
Meetings attended 2018/19: FGB – 3/4; C&S – 3/3
Business/Pecuniary Interests Declared: None declared
Personal Statement:
I was appointed as a Local Authority Governor in 2017. I have a background in education and training which ranges from Early Years to Adult Learners. At present I work for Cumbria County Council as a Participation Officer working with young people aged 8 years to 19 years. My main focus is capturing ‘youth voice’ and social action. I have been fortunate enough to be able to work with pupils at school to discuss democracy and how we can influence change both locally and nationally. Working with pupils to deliver social action projects for Mitzvah Day in 2019 and the school achieving an award for being one of the top 5 projects to be recognised for their good work has been a great honour. My hope is to continue to work alongside staff and pupils on enrichment opportunities.
Parent Governor
Appointed:
Term of Office: 4 years
Member of ?
Area and Curriculum Foci:
Meetings attended 2018/19: Was not appointed during this period
Business/Pecuniary Interests Declared: None declared
Personal Statement:
Co-opted Governor
Appointed: Spring 2017
Term of office: 4 years
Member of Finance and Resources Committee
Area and Curriculum Foci: RE, Science
Meetings attended 2018/19: FGB – 3/4; F&R – 3/3
Business/Pecuniary Interests Declared: None declared
Personal Statement:
A “scouser” by birth, I have lived in Barrow since moving here in 1972, age 12. Following a 26 year career in banking, I took the opportunity of redundancy, to retrain to work in secondary education. Over 13 years I have worked as a Teaching Assistant, Mentor and latterly as a Child Protection Officer. During my 13 years in education I served as a staff Governor at both Alfred Barrow School and Furness Academy. Following a recent restructure I have had another career change and now work as a part time administrator.
I am married with three grown up boys (two still at home).
Clerk to the Governing Body
Business/Pecuniary Interests Declared: Clerk at other local primary schools
All attendance figures are up to end of academic year 2017/18 and will be updated regularly.
Other committees:
Committees Performance and Pay Review – AB and EM Performance and Pay Review Appeals – CS and RH
Staff Disciplinary – AB and LM
Staff Disciplinary Appeals – EM and RH
Complaints Appeals – AB and LM
Pupil Disciplinary – EM and CS
Pupil Disciplinary Appeal – AB and CM