Meet the Governors

Who are School Governors?

The Governing Body at Unsworth Primary School is made up of members of the local and school community. The thirteen members work closely with Mrs Reynolds the Headteacher, who is responsible for the day to day management of the school.

All of the governors listed below act on a voluntary basis. Some are appointed by the Local Education Authority (LA), some elected by parents, some by teachers/staff and some are co-opted from the local community.

• Chair of Governors: Cllr Sam Cohen LA (Local Authority)
• Vice Chair: Beryl McGuire Community
• Lily Novak Fraser Parent
• Mandy Naughton Parent
• Mark Owen Parent
• Nicola Robinson Parent
• Glenn Smith Parent
• Paul Stewart Community
• Peter Hilton Community
• Joan Grimshaw LA
• Stella Smith LA
• Sarah Channon Staff
• Louise Woodman Teacher

What do they do?

The Governing Body has many duties, including:

• Promoting high standards of educational achievement
• Setting targets for pupil achievement
• Taking general responsibility for the conduct of the school
• Setting and managing the school's budget, including numbers of staff and their pay
• Reporting on pupils' achievement in National Curriculum assessments and examination results.
• Helping with staff appointments and regulating staff conduct and discipline
• Planning the way forward and drawing up an action plan after inspections by the Office for Standards in Education (Ofsted)
• Ensuring the National Curriculum requirements are fully covered throughout the school
• Meeting regularly to discuss the running of the school

All of out Governors are members of sub-committees to deal with specific issues relating to Personnel, the Curriculum, Premises and Finance, which meet regularly and feed back to the full governing body.

The non-teaching governors often visit the school and all governors undertake to support certain subject areas as link-governors and liaise with the member of staff who co-ordinate that area.

Governor Profiles:

Sam Cohen

Date joined Governing Body: September 1983
Position: Chairman, which I have been from September 1984
Sub-Committee: Being Chairman, I am a member of all the sub-committees

Areas of Special Interest: Helping to ensure, that Unsworth Primary School, gives the best possible education to our pupils and that Parents are happy to entrust their children to us.

Why did you volunteer to become a School Governor? In 1983, Bury MBC Councillors were expected to serve on Five Governing bodies. One of the five schools I was appointed to, was Unsworth and although down the years, I have dropped the other schools, except for Hollins/Grundy, I have never wanted to leave Unsworth, as I feel a great affinity to the school.

What do you do when not attending Governor Meetings? Being a Local Authority member, I do attend a lot of meetings, either Council or Voluntary Organisations, I am a member at Lancashire County Cricket Club and do go to Old Trafford as much as my committments allow.

Lily Novak Frazer

Position: Parent Governor
Sub-Committee: Premises and Finance Committee

Areas of Special Interest: I am the Link Governor for ICT so I am interested in all aspects of how computers affect teaching and training at Unsworth Primary. I am interested in how science education can be conveyed to children, even at an early age. I have also been on the Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) for 4 years.

Why did you volunteer to become a School Governor? I wanted to get involved in the education of my children and learn more about schooling in this country (I’m originally from Canada and it’s been a long time since I went to school!). I thought the best way was to take a hands-on approach by being voted onto the Governing Body earlier this year. I knew that Unsworth Primary had a good reputation and hope to do my best to help the teachers and other governors to improve on the school’s already good standing.

What do you do when not attending Governor Meetings? I am a full-time scientist at the University of Manchester and my work involves yeast molecular biology: I study the mechanisms of how yeast genes (DNA) are processed correctly into RNA, and eventually, protein. When not at work or at school, I am involved in my children’s extra-curricular activities (swimming, beavers/cubs and football) and when I get time to myself, I enjoy arts & crafts, badminton, biking and going to the cinema.

Mandy Naughton

Date joined Governing Body: September 1998
Position: Parent Governor, Link-Governor for Design & Technology
Sub-Committee: Curriculum & Personnel

Areas of Special Interest: School Website & Walking Bus at the moment!

Why did you volunteer to become a School Governor? I wanted to play an active part not only in the education of my children, but also in the development of the school, and felt I had something to contribute. As a Governor you are not only involved in identifying and dealing with school issues, but also those which affect and reflect on parents, the local community, and wider environment. This very much appealed to me as a person and a parent.

What do you do when not attending Governor Meetings? I work 3 days a week as a Buying Assistant for a large wholesalers. I am also a member of the PTA, the After School Club Committee and school Walking Bus team. I recently qualified as a Level 1 football coach.

Mark Owen

Date joined Governing Body: 9 years ago
Position: Parent Governor
Sub-Committee: Buildings and Finance (Chair)

Areas of Special Interest: Health and Safety, Geography

Why did you volunteer to become a School Governor? A letter came asking for parent governors and I wanted to be involved with the school so I thought I would put myself forward. I was selected and the rest, as they say, is history!

What do you do when not attending Governor Meetings? Project Manager for maritime software company I am on the Schools Forum.