Buller Avenue, Preston, Lancashire PR1 9QQ

01772 742351

St Mary Magdalen's Catholic Primary School

Nurturing hearts and minds

School Governors

Mrs Emma Doherty, Chair of Governors -   Parent Governor

I was appointed as a parent governor in 2014, the year my eldest child started Reception. My youngest two children (twins) have now joined the school community. It was clear from the start what a great school my son was privileged enough to become part of and I am proud to be a governor and help the great team of staff and children improve our school year on year.
 
I have a maths degree from the University of Manchester and then trained as a secondary maths teacher, hence my particular interest in the maths curriculum at the school. (I am the Maths Governor). I then spent 11 years working for Virgin Media, latterly as an Ops Manager in the Business finance sector.  This challenging fast paced environment included managing teams, IT upgrades, recruitment, bidding for customers and many other skills I hope can be of practical use in my role as governor.  I am an active member of the school PTFA.
 

 Mr Gerald Collins        Vice Chair of Governors

I have lived in the parish for almost 40 years. My 3 children went to St. Mary Magdalen’s. I have been a Foundation Governor, appointed by the Archdiocese, for a little over 20 years.

I am a retired University Lecturer and currently help in High Schools, particularly All Hallows, with pupils taking GCSE Electronics.  

Currently I am Governor representative on the Lancashire Schools’ Forum. The Forum advises the council on matters relating to school funding and has certain decision making powers


 

 
 

Mr Dan Hogarth       Parent Governor

I am now in my second term of office as parent governor after deciding I wanted to contribute more to the children of St Mary Magdalen's. I have a son currently in attendance at the school and my daughter is now at All Hallows'. 

I am employed by Lancashire County Council in ICT as a Business Relationship Manager. In this role I work with County Service leads to ensure that the technological support and development the County requires to run these services is effectively delivered. I support the school in E safety and the structure and purchase of hardware.

I have lived in Preston all my life and as a Proud Prestonian, I am happy to support both the school and its youngest citizens.  I enjoy personal IT projects in my spare time as well as playing and recording music I also enjoy cycling with my family.


Mr Tim Roberts  Foundation Governor

I was appointed a Foundation Governor at the school in December 2016 by the Archdiocese of Liverpool. I also serve as a Eucharistic Minister in the parish. I have worked in science education in Lancashire secondary schools for over 20 years, mostly within the Catholic sector, and my current role is physics subject leader at Hutton Grammar School. In my spare time I enjoy cycling, fell-walking and supporting Preston North End. Mt daughter still attends the school, my son is now at All Hallows.

I enjoy supporting Mrs Gallagher and her staff as they seek to strengthen further the academic and extra-curricular provision at our school, and I will continue to be an enthusiastic advocate for the flourishing spiritual life the pupils of St Mary Magdalen’s are fortunate to enjoy.

I also have responsibility of ensuring that governors are trained appropriately in my position as Link Governor


Mr Martin Gaughan - Foundation Governor

Martin Gaughan attended St Mary Magdalen's as a pupil and returned here as Year 6 teacher for several years before leaving us in 2019 to take up his post as deputy headteacher at St Joseph's in Preston.  Mr Gaughan was keen to keep his strong links to the school in his home parish.

Mrs Adrienne Delaney - Foundation Governor

I was a pupil at St Mary Magdalen’s School many years ago and know many local families as I have lived here in Penwortham for much of my life.

I am married with five grown up children and four grandchildren. I have a grandchild at the school and one who left to go on to All Hallows last year. 

My interests have long been in education. I was a headteacher at St Ignatius Primary School in Preston up until last year, where I served the very diverse community very happily for 25 years. I still work for the Lancaster Diocese as a Religious Education Inspector. I

It is a great privilege to go into schools and meet children, staff and parents.  As a mum, grandma and ex-teacher I believe that we all share the same aim and that is to see that our children receive a happy and excellent education in a Catholic School.

I love to read, to travel and to enjoy my grandchildren at last! I feel that I am just as busy as ever I was!

I will endeavour to support the school and help ensure that it continues the journey towards the fulfilment of the Mission Statement, which is to “Let the light of Jesus shine through in all we think and say and do’


Mrs Debra Skeoch     LEA Governor

 

I was appointed LEA Governor at the school in November 2020.

I've lived in Penwortham for the majority of my life, attending St. Teresa's primary school and now live in the Parish of St. Mary Magdalene's. My 2 granddaughter's both attend the school .

I also work voluntarily in Reception Class one day per week.

My career as a teacher was spent in both Mainstream and Special schools in Preston, Leyland and Chorley for 28 years. I currently work for Hawthorn Education services on a part time basis working with vulnerable pupils throughout Lancashire. I've worked with vulnerable and challenging children from Primary to Secondary and gained valuable insight into ensuring all children get every opportunity available for them to be educated.

My interests include, football, cricket, gardening and spending valuable time with my family, going on holiday and making precious memories. 

It is a great privilege to be appointed a governor and to meet staff, pupils and parents. I believe that it is a great opportunity to support the school and its close community ensuring that our aim is to ensure that all children receive a safe, happy and beneficial education.

Dominic Roberts - Foundation Governor

Dominic Roberts is an architect and director at Francis Roberts Architects in Preston. He was born in Preston in 1962 and lived in the Middleforth area. He worked with his father on the design for the new church of St Mary Magdalen and designed the new school classrooms facing onto the playground.  He is an Architect Accredited in Building Conservation, a Brother of the Art Workers’ Guild, a member of the Prince’s Foundation for Building Community, and consulting architect to the Duchy of Cornwall. He is a member of the Victorian Society Northern Buildings Committee and the Liverpool Archdiocesan Liturgy Commission Department of Art and Architecture. Current projects include: new churches; care homes; extra-care housing; a new school; planning of settlements; social housing in sensitive rural landscapes; historic building adaptation, conservation and repair. He became a Foundation Governor when his daughter was at the school and continues to serve on the Buildings, Health and Safety Committee with a special interest in helping the school management team with policy in relation to the development of the school buildings and health and safety.

Mr Daniel Hughes -Staff Governor
I have been a teacher at St Mary Magdalen's since September 2019. I have responsibility for teaching Year 5 and I am also the subject leader for Computing. 
I am a karate teacher in the evenings and passionate about fitness and wellbeing.

 

 Mrs A Duckworth and Mrs E Montgomery        Clerks to committees

Mr C Delaney                                                Clerk to governors

Business Interests

None of our governors have any business interests in school. 

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Attendance at Meetings