Murray Park Governors
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Schedule for Governor Meetings 2024-2025
Parent Governors
Vasileios Papachristos
Alice Rose
Rachel Yemm
Amanda Baxendale
Louise Shaw
Local Authority
Vacancy
Headteacher
Nicola Caley
Staff Governors
Jan Woolley
Partnership Governors
Elizabeth Bateman
Jamie McGaffin
Co-Opted Governors
Paul Davies
Mark Fowler
George Makasis
Jonathan Hithersay
Jacqui Fowler (Vice Chair)
Governors’ period of office is 4 years. Chair and Vice Chair in Office for 2 years
Full Governors 2024/25
Key Role of the Governing Board
- Ensure clarity of vision, Ethos and strategic direction in supporting the delivery of the schools vision
- Contribute support and monitor the school’s Development Plan
- Contribute support and monitor the school’s self-evaluation and understand its strengths and weaknesses
- Provide challenge and hold the head teacher and other senior leaders to account for improving the quality of teaching, pupils’ achievement and pupils’ behaviour and safety.
- Use performance management systems, including the performance management of the head teacher to improve teaching, leadership and management
- Ensure solvency and probity and that the financial resource made available to the school are managed effectively and provide value for money
- Operate in such a way that all statutory duties are met and priorities approved
- Use the pupil premium and other resources to overcome barriers to learning, including reading, writing and mathematics
- Engage with key stake holders including developing working relationships with local industries, hospitals, other educational establishments and other businesses to authenticate and contextualise the pupil experience in such a way as to inspire learning
Members
P. Davies (Chair) J. Fowler (Vice Chair) N. Caley M. Fowler V. Papachristos J. Woolley G. Makasis A. Rose R. Yemm A. Baxendale L. Shaw J. McGaffin E. Bateman
Teaching and Learning Committee 2024/25
Members
P. Davies N. Caley J. Fowler (Chair) V. Papachristos J. Woolley R. Yemm A. Baxendale
Key Role of the Committee
• Quality of Teaching
• Assessment policy and practice and the impact on Teaching and Learning.
• Feedback to students and impact on progress.
• Performance Management
Personal Development, Behaviour and Welfare 2024/25
Members
M. Fowler (Chair) P. Davies N. Caley J. Fowler V. Papachristos J. Woolley R. Yemm A. Baxendale
Key Role of the Committee
• Personal development curriculum monitoring
• Behaviour and Attendance
• Pupil Premium including progress
• Inclusion and Learner Support including progress
• Pastoral Care including bullying, racist incidents and other types of harassment
• Safeguarding
• Student wellbeing including keeping healthy
• Student Voice
• Parent/Carer Voice
Finance, Personnel and General Purposes Committee 2024/25
Members
V. Papachristos (Chair) P. Davies N. Caley M. Fowler J.Fowler J. Woolley R. Yemm A. Baxendale
Key Role of the Committee
• Management of Finance and Resources
• Personnel
• Health and Safety
• Building and Maintenance
Quality of Education Committee 2024/25
Members
P. Davies (Chair) N. Caley J. Fowler (Vice Chair) V. Papachristos J. Woolley R. Yemm A. Baxendale
Key Role of the Committee
• Curriculum
• Student outcomes (including disadvantaged and most able)
• Student progress (including disadvantaged and most able)
• Assessment
The Six ‘Link Governor’ Roles
Governor Attendance 2024/2025
Governor Attendance 2023/2024
Governor Attendance 2022/2023
Key: (Re) = Resigned (de) = Deceased
Governors’ Terms of Office
Governors’ period of office is 4 years. Chair and Vice Chair in Office for 2 years
Register of Interests
Governors’ Code of Conduct
Please use this link to view: Governors Code of Conduct Policy
Introducing The Governors
I am now a Co-opted Governor, although for five years I was a Parent Governor whilst my daughter was a student at Murray Park. I am a former Headteacher of two secondary schools. I left headship to become Head of Secondary School Improvement at Derby City Council before retiring from full-time work. For the next five years I was an educational consultant working with schools across Derby before ceasing that work in order to become Chair of Governors at Murray Park.
Paul Davies – Chair of Governors
I am a civil servant with the Health & Safety Executive, with a daughter currently at Murray Park and a son who has recently left for higher education having spent his GCSE years at Murray Park. I specialise in business and people change, having spent more than 20 years working first within technology and more recently in business psychology. I also volunteer with the Derby Music Centre and am passionate about inclusivity across all areas of the curriculum.
Jacqui Fowler – Vice-Chair of Governors
I was educated in Yorkshire before attending Teacher Training College at Dartford in Kent where I qualified as a PE Teacher. I worked in several schools before being appointed to the staff of Murray Park School when the city was reorganised in 1989.
Whilst working at the school I have had a variety of teaching positions including 2nd in PE and acting HOD before becoming a Head of Year in 2001. With the subsequent re-organisation of the Pastoral structure I became Assistant Community Director for Kestrel and then Communities and Enrichment Co-ordinator after a further restructure. I am now a member of the World Studies department teaching all subjects across KS3 and KS4 PSHE. I was also the staff representative on the PTA for 18 years and was responsible for numerous fundraising events.
Out of school, I have been Chair of the Derbyshire Schools Netball Committee since Easter 1989 where I have been involved in coaching, team managing and tournament organisation.
Jan Woolley – Staff Governor
I am an IT portfolio manager for DXC, previously EDS and then HP, with over 20 years experience across industry sectors. I have led a number of technical programmes globally and, as a subject matter expert in delivering large business transformations, I work well at all levels of an organisation with a governance focus. My son attended Murray Park School and left in 2020.
Mark Fowler – Co-opted Governor
I am an Engineer working at Bombardier. My role is in product performance and safety. I like investigating possible root causes of failures or near misses and this is also my approach in life. As a parent my role is to fully support my daughter and son who is now in Y1. My motto in life is to always be proactive. Knowledge is endless and I like to be a life-long learner. Education should be the number one priority of all societies as this is the only way to build a better future.
Vasileios Papachristos – Parent Governor
I am a co-opted Governor at Murray Park School with a daughter in year 8. My background is finance related and I currently work as an accounts payable assistant. I have a BA Hons in accounting and economics which I studied at Derby University. I enjoy helping out within the local community and spending time with my family and children. I want to contribute to the continued improvement and development of the school which I consider is improving year on year, to ensure student’s school experience is as inclusive, diverse, and developmentally challenging as it can be. It is exciting to be able to support education, Murray Park and all its pupils.
George Makasis – Co-opted Governor
My youngest son joined year 7 at Murray Park in 2023, and since I am already Chair of Governors for 2 small village schools, I decided to become a Parent Governor. I bring with me 5 years of knowledge and experience. During this time, I have been involved in 3 Ofsted visits and have been through the process of joining an academy trust. This has given me a vast understanding of the expectations and requirements for school improvements. I am passionate about children not only receiving the best education, but the skills they need to prepare them for the outside world. When I am not volunteering as a Governor, I own a business, working as a Senior Event Manager on large global events, my core skills being operations, logistics and budget control. I am looking forward to supporting Murray Park in becoming an outstanding school.
Rachel Yemm – Parent Governor
I am a Co-Opted Governor who works as a Senior Technician for L.E.A.D. IT Services who do the IT support for the school. I started working in corporate IT when I left school then moved into Education IT support when I joined Murray Park’s IT Support team in 2008, then in 2017 the school outsourced the IT support of the school to L.E.A.D. IT Services who took me on at the same time.
John Hithersay – Co-opted Governor
I live in Mickleover and two of my three children now attend Murray Park, my youngest is still at Mickleover Primary. I have a real interest in helping to support both my community and my children in anyway I can. I hope to help to continue Murray Park’s success in ensuring all students have the best possible learning experience whilst attending. My background is in the financial / banking sector although my BA Hons degree is in English Literature. I currently work for Liverpool Victoria as a Business Development Manager in their protection, pensions and investments business.
Alice Rose – Parent Governor
My son joined year 7 at Murray Park this year (2024). After attending an open evening at the end of the previous school year, I decided to become a Parent Governor. I work as a pensions specialist for Rolls-Royce and have done for nearly 20 years. I’m keen to help the school continue to provide a high-quality environment for every pupil to learn, thrive and enjoy.
Jamie McGaffin – Partnership Governor
I am a parent to four children with additional needs and disabilities, one of whom attends Murray Park. My background is as a Consultant in Emergency Medicine, and I had the privilege of serving as an NHS doctor for nearly 20 years. During this time, I held a number of leadership and governance roles and particularly enjoyed championing Diversity and Inclusion. I recently left work as a doctor to spend more time supporting our family and to take up a number of voluntary roles including Chaplain, Street Pastor, and School Governor. I’m looking forward to serving alongside the Murray Park team as we work together to support young people in fulfilling their potential.
Dr Elizabeth Batemen – Partnership Governor
