Meet the Governors

Introduction

The Governing Body has responsibility to oversee the effective performance of the school, to give strategic guidance, to allocate resources and, above all, to support the school in its work. We keep a close eye on pupils’ achievement and targets; we monitor the curriculum; we visit the school throughout the year to meet staff and observe lessons. We manage the school’s finances in conjunction with the Head Teacher. We also help to appoint teaching staff and are involved in the staff performance and pay system. For further information, please see the Department for Education (DfE) website:

http://www.education.gov.uk/schools/leadership/governance

Our committees include:

Curriculum
Finance
Personnel and General Purposes
Premises

For details of the structure and remits of our committees, please see the attachments below.

Governors also undertake Link Governor roles. This means that they take a special interest in a key area such as SEND / inclusion, Pupil Premium, Safeguarding, Mental Health and Wellbeing, Language (English and EAL), STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Maths), EYFS and Diversity, Race & Inclusion. These Governors visit the school regularly to liaise with staff members involved and report back to the Board of Governors.

If you wish to contact the Governing Body, you can do so via the school office or by emailing our Chair at chair@spprimary.org.uk

Our Governors

Governor	Information	Governor profile
	Mrs Emily DeAbaitua Chair of Governors Co-opted Governor (Appointed by the Governing Board) 18 Nov 2019 - 17 Nov 2027 Member of the Finance Committee and the Link Governor for Race, Diversity and Inclusion.	I work full time, have two children and enjoy playing netball and swimming. I have been a governor for just over 2 years and love the community of our school. I hope to see more inclusion, more opportunities and a growth in confidence for all our children.

	Dr Maria Ratnarajah Vice Chair of Governors. Co-opted Governor (Appointed by the Governing Board) 18 Nov 2019 - 17 Nov 2027 Chair of the Finance Committee, member of the Curriculum Committee and the Link Governor for Safeguarding	I have three children at Stamford Park Primary School (SPPS) and my eldest child, who is now in high school, was at SPPS from Reception through to Year 6. It is important to me that all children have the best educational experience possible in order to create well rounded, confident and happy children.

	Mrs Sarah Price Headteacher (Ex-officio) Appointed 1 Sept 2022 Member of all committees	I have taught at the school for many years and am delighted to have been appointed as the Headteacher here. Working alongside such a supportive Governing Body means that we can really focus on what's important for the children here.

	Mrs Laura Garcia-Alfaya Parent Governor (Appointed by Parents) 9 Nov 2021 - 8 Nov 2025 Chair of the Curriculum Committee, a member of the Premises Committee and the Link Governor for ICT/Online Safety.	I'm the mother of a young child at the school and Consul General of Spain for the region. I strongly believe that a respectfully managed diversity of views, backgrounds and skills is always a good asset at the board of any institution. I am delighted to give my time for this matter and feel very honoured to have been chosen by the parents to do so

	Mrs Sinead Hesp Co-opted Governor (Appointed by the Governing Board) 10 May 2021 - 9 May 2025 Member of the Finance Committee and the Link Governor for Pupil Premium and Mental Health and Wellbeing	I have lived in Altrincham since 2010 and have 3 daughters, all of whom attended Stamford Park and who are now all doing other things. I have been on the Governing Body since 2012 and have been privileged to support our wonderful staff in seeking to ensure that every pupil can learn and develop in a supportive and enriching environment.

	Mrs Emma Jackson Parent Governor (Appointed by Parents) 18 Nov 2023 - 17 Nov 2027

	Mr Nigel Lea Parent Governor (Appointed by Parents) 9 Nov 2021 - 8 Nov 2025 Member of the Premises Committee and the Link Governor for English.	I live locally with two children at the school and went to school in Altrincham at Altrincham Preparatory School and Altrincham Grammar School for Boys. I think being a parent governor gives me the chance to really help SPPS become as good as it can be for the benefit of all the children who attend now and in the future.

	Mr Richard Odell Co-opted Governor (Appointed by the Governing Board) 18 June 2022 - 17 June 2026 Member of the Premises Committee	I am a co-opted governor here at Stamford Park Primary School. I have taught here since 2009 and enjoy providing a direct link between all staff and governors in our shared goal to make our school the best it can be.

	Mr James Phillips Parent Governor (Appointed by Parents) 18 Nov 2023 - 17 Nov 2027

	Mrs Nuala Powell Co-opted Governor (Appointed by the Governing Board) 4 Feb 2023 - 3 Feb 2027 Chair of the Pay and Premises Committees and the Link Governor for Special Educational Needs and Disabilities.	My two sons, now in their mid 20s, attended Stamford Park Schools and enjoyed a wonderful education and a very happy time there. By becoming a Governor, I hoped to assist in some small way, in maintaining the great educational experience the school continues to provide for all children.

	Ms Pippa Ravenscroft Co-opted Governor (Appointed by the Governing Board) 8 Oct 2022 - 7 Oct 2026 Chair of the Personnel & General Purposes Committee and a member of the Curriculum and Pay committees. The Link Governor for Early Years Education and EAL.	I have been a governor at Stamford Park Juniors and now at the Primary school for almost 16 years. I am one of the co-opted governors and am a member of the Personnel and Curriculum committees. Personally, I am a teacher of EAL (English as an additional language) with two grown up children who both attended the school and in my free time I enjoy walking and playing badminton badly, but enthusiastically!

	Mr Martin Wharton Staff Governor (Appointed by staff) 10 Oct 2022 - 9 Oct 2026 Member of the Curriculum Committee	I have taught within the Infant Department for the past 5 years, and have recently been elected as staff governor. I am delighted to be sharing the views of the staff within the governing body, striving for excellent standards within our school.

	Mrs Jane Whittaker Co-opted Governor Retired 16 April 2023
	Mr John Lamb Local Authority Governor Retired 6 October 2023

Committee Remits 2023-24

For details of the committee remits, please click on the links below:

Curriculum Committee Remit

Finance Committee Remit

Personnel and General Purposes Committee Remit

Premises Committee Remit

Attendance at Meetings

Governor	Governor Type	2021/22	2022/23	2023/24
Mrs Emily DeAbaitua	Parent	3/3	5/5	2/3
Mrs Laura Garcia-Alfaya	Parent	1/1	5/5	2/3
Mrs Sinead Hesp	Co-opted	3/3	5/5	1/3
Mrs Emma Jackson	Parent	N/A	N/A	2/2
Mr John Lamb	LA. Retired 6/10/2023	3/3	2/5	N/A
Mr Nigel Lea	Parent	0/1	3/5	3/3
Mr Richard Odell	Co-opted	3/3	4/4	3/3
Mr James Phillips	Parent	N/A	N/A	2/2
Mrs Nuala Powell	Co-opted	3/3	5/5	2/3
Mrs Sarah Price	Headteacher	3/3	5/5	3/3
Dr Maria Ratnarajah	Parent	3/3	5/5	3/3
Ms Pippa Ravenscroft	Co-opted	3/3	5/5	2/3
Mr Martin Wharton	Staff	N/A	4/4	3/3
Mrs Jane Whittaker	Co-opted. Retired 16/4/2023	3/3	2/3	N/A

Declaration of Interests (last updated October 2023)

Name of Governor	Role	Name of Business/ Associated Interest	Nature of Business	Nature of Interest	Date Interest Commenced
Mrs Emily DeAbaitua	Parent Governor	Nothing to Declare	N/A	N/A	N/A
Mrs Laura Garcia-Alfaya	Parent Governor	Nothing to Declare	N/A	N/A	N/A
Mrs Sinead Hesp	Co-opted Governor	University of Manchester	University	Employee	2010
Mrs Sinead Hesp	Co-opted Governor	Campaign for Science and Engineeing	Independent advocate for Science & Engineering	Director/Trustee	2019
Mrs Emma Jackson	Parent Governor	Nothing to Declare	N/A	N/A	N/A
Mr John Lamb	Local Authority Governor. Retired 6 Oct 2023	Raising Performance	Management Consultancy	Managing Director	2005
		New Leadership Foundation	Public Sector Leadership Organisation	Director	2010
		West Trafford Learning Partnership	Governing Board for Ashton on Mersey & Broadoak Schools	Chairman	2015
Mr Nigel Lea	Parent Governor	Citation	HR, Health & Safety & Employment Law Services	Employee	2022
Mr Richard Odell	Co-opted Governor	Stamford Park Primary School	School	Employee, Assistant Headteacher	2008
Mr James Phillips	Parent Governor	Mrs Ruth Phillips	Wife is an employee	Wife is employed at Stamford Park Primary School as support staff for Breakfast Club duties.	2023
Mrs Anne Nuala Powell	Co-opted Governor	Nothing to Declare	N/A	N/A	N/A
Mrs Sarah Price	Headteacher	Stamford Park Primary School	School	Employee	2015
		Standards & Testing Agency	Education	Assessment Advisor	2014
		Clicked by Kate	School Photography Service	Personal Friend	2022
Dr Maria Ratnarajah	Parent Governor	Ratnarajah Medical Services Ltd	Provider of GP Services	Director	2014
Dr Maria Ratnarajah	Parent Governor	Extracellular	Private GP & Lifestyle Medicine Co	Director	2018
Ms Pippa Ravenscroft	Co-opted Governor	Nothing to Declare	N/A	N/A	N/A
Mr Martin Wharton	Staff Governor	Mr David Wharton	Father is an employee	Father is an employee	2022
Mrs Jane Whittaker	Co-opted Governor Retired 16 April 2023	Nothing to Declare	N/A	N/A	N/A

How to contact the Governors

You can contact the governors via the school office. If you wish to contact the Chair of the Governing Body please e-mail chair@spprimary.org.uk or leave your details with the school office, and she will get in touch.

Clerk to the Governors

Trust GS, 28-32 Greenwood Street, Altrincham, WA14 1RZ. Contact: Julie Lawson, 0161 348 7188