Meet our Governors

Mrs Fiona Boulton
(Chair)
Foundation Governor
As a local resident for many years with my own children and grandchildren I passionately believe in the right of every child to have access to an outstanding education.

I have worked within education myself for 26 years with experience within mainstream and special education across all key stages. I have had the privilege of undertaking educational research nationally and internationally and working with a local Teaching School.

With practical experience as a classroom teacher; a specialist teacher providing outreach; and various leadership roles including headship, I hope that my role as governor will enable me to use my prior experiences and knowledge to support Baldwins Gate Primary School as it endeavours to provide all our children with an outstanding education, tailored to their individual needs, which develops them spiritually, morally and intellectually.

Mr Philip Harrison
Co-opted Governor
I am proud to be a co-opted governor at BGPS and I look forward to contributing towards the success of the school.

I have worked for a multi-academy trust since 2016. I joined the organisation from Ofsted where I was one of Her Majesty’s Inspectors. I had a lead responsibility for special educational needs and disability and safeguarding. I also worked as part of a small team of inspectors who acted upon intelligence to uncover and prosecute unregistered schools.

Prior to working for Ofsted, I gained extensive senior management experience as a headteacher and executive headteacher of day schools, residential schools and colleges. I have worked as a local authority school improvement partner and as a leadership trainer for the National College.

I was a National Leader of Education and I led and managed a National Support School and Teaching School. I have a postgraduate qualification in special and inclusive education, and I have worked internationally to support school improvement.

I have significant experience in governance having been a school governor in primary, secondary and specials schools, including roles as Chairperson and safeguarding lead. I regularly support local authorities and clinical commissioning groups (now ICBs) to improve their offer for children and young people with special educational needs and I have held the position of independent chairperson for a rapidly improved local area in the East Midlands.

I am a trustee of the national charity Equals (which is committed to improving the lives of children and young people with learning difficulties and disabilities through supporting high quality education), a member for a medium sized multi-academy trust, a trustee for a small specialist multi-academy trust and a member of a pupil referral unit management committee.

I also have experience as a company secretary and Chief Operating Officer.

Outside of work I enjoy time with my family, and I have played volleyball for 30+ years in the National Volleyball League.

Mr Paul Stern
Parent Governor
Our eldest daughter started in Reception at Baldwins Gate in September 2016 and we have already been very impressed with both the ethos of the school and quality of teaching, demonstrated by our daughter’s progress so far. It is for this reason that I wished to become an active part of the school as a Parent Governor. I have some experience of working in a primary school. I was a Teaching Assistant at a school for children with severe and complex learning difficulties in London before studying at university. In particular, I had the pleasure of working with children with autism spectrum conditions. I am confident that this experience will enable me to contribute to many aspects of school policy including that of Special Educational Needs and Disability.

My professional background is in Physiotherapy and Clinical Exercise Physiology, although I now work as a member of the senior management team within the Heat Centre at the University Hospitals of North Midlands. As a Clinician I have a particular interest in physical activity and public health. Now as a parent I am passionate about ensuring that children are given appropriate opportunities and encouragement to take part in physical activity, both of a recreational and competitive nature. I am keen to be involved with this area of school strategy and policy, as well as the area of health promotion in general.

As a manager in the National Health Service, I like to believe that I not only share the same values encouraged by the school but that I also understand how important these values are to the development and future success of our children. I am also able to offer to the school my experience of managing budgets, strategic planning, performance monitoring and recruitment of staff. In addition, I have developed confidence and experience in presenting to individuals and groups both within and outside of my organisation.

My other great interest is music and I have both studied and performed since I was at primary school myself. This is another area in which I am very passionate about ensuring that opportunities are provided for children to learn and participate.

Mrs Viki Hulme
Co-opted Governor

Mr Jamie Smith
Staff Governor

Mrs Dawn Frost
Co-opted Governor

Mrs Leanne Lowndes
Headteacher
I am proud to be the Headteacher at Baldwins Gate Primary School. I began working at the school in 2010 as a newly qualified teacher and never left; this shows my commitment, passion and dedication to the school – it is truly a wonderful place to be part of. I am very excited to take the school forward and build on its current successes.

I grew up in Chapel Chorlton and attended Baldwins Gate Primary School as a child, before moving on to Madeley High School and then Newcastle College. Always knowing from a young age that I wanted to be a teacher, I went on to study Primary education at Manchester Metropolitan University. I believe that you never stop learning and since qualifying as a teacher I have gone on to complete my Maths Specialist Teacher qualification and I am currently studying for my National Award for Special Educational Needs Co-ordination qualification. This love of learning, I hope to embed in all our learners.

I believe that schools and education have the power to shape futures and change lives, therefore the needs of all the children will always be paramount in the life and decision making within the school. I strongly believe in providing the children with exciting, creative and meaningful learning experiences, which build their enthusiasm for learning and help them to grow and develop positively, not just as learners but as well rounded, spiritual and compassionate individuals. My commitment to inclusion will ensure that all pupils are nurtured and their uniqueness celebrated and valued, as they are supported and challenged to achieve the very best outcomes.

Peter Farr
Parent Governor

I am a secondary school teacher and have a firm grasp on educational policies. I have been a school based union representative and at a previous school I also looked at Health & Safety. I have two children at the school. I know, understand and support the school philosophy and ethos. I have carried out science roadshows at the school and enjoyed the interaction between the pupils, myself and the staff.

I have implemented new policies in some of my previous roles, including rewriting the performance management process so I understand accountability and holding people to account and I am not afraid to do so.

As a Head of Year, I interacted with parents and a range of outside agencies, developing a real sense of all the issues that can affect a child’s education experience and, more importantly, the support needed by a child to achieve the best they can whilst at school.

Mrs Lynn Cowling
LA Governor
I worked for the NHS for 15 years during which time I had some involvement with schools whilst managing school nurses. When I worked as a health visitor I worked with social services and other agencies, particularly in relation to safeguarding. I have knowledge and experience in this area and understand the importance of keeping children safe whilst engaging with parents/carers and other people/agencies involved.

I have owned a care home since 2005 and feel my skills of engaging with and managing people will transfer to the role of governor. I understand the importance of balancing the different needs of all the people involved in an organisation and with that I am able to listen and question to understand a situation from different perspectives to ensure the best decisions are made.

I am no longer involved in the day to day running of the home and now have time to use my skills in a different area and welcome the opportunity to join the governing body of Baldwins Gate CE Primary School. I look forward to interacting with the school, supporting the staff, pupils and governors and learning more about the education sector.

Parent Governor
Vacancy

Vacancy
Foundation Governor