Governors
Welcome to our Governors’ section.
Please find below details of how our Governing body is structured, including the names, categories, responsibilities and terms of appointment for each Governor.
Please also use the link below to GIAS - Get Information About Schools, which gives you further information about Lowercroft Primary School and the Governors
Meet the Governors
| Name | Status | Term start | Term End | Relevant Business Interests | Links to other Educational Establishments | Personal relationships with school staff or other governors | Date interest declared | |
| Richard Ainsworth | Chair of Governors | 04/12/2018 | 22/03/2026 | Bury Governors Association | Holcombe Brook Primary School | None | Jul-22 | |
| Vitto Ferraro | Vice Chair of Governors | 24/03/2021 | 23/03/2025 | None | None | None | Aug-22 | |
| Janine McGadie | Headteacher | 06/09/2023 | 31/08/2027 | None | None | None | Sep-23 | |
| Samantha Kay | Associate Governor (temporary) | 01/04/2024 | 31/03/2028 | None | None | None | Jul-22 | |
| Cllr Charlotte Morris | LA Governor | 06/10/2020 | 05/10/2024 | None | None | None | Dec-22 | |
| Nicole Regan | Staff Governor | 02/10/2024 | 01/10/2028 | None | None | None | Oct-24 | |
| Julie Thompson | Co-opted Governor | Safeguarding and LAC governor | 03/07/2024 | 02/07/2028 | None | None | None | Nov-22 |
| Viv Barlow | Co-opted Governor | 12/11/2018 | 22/03/2026 | None | None | None | Jul-22 | |
| Sarah Faulkner | Co-opted Governor | 20/11/2024 | 19/11/2028 | None | None | None | Nov-24 | |
| Simon Smith | Parent Governor | 04/07/2023 | 03/07/2027 | None | None | None | Jul-23 | |
| Darren Waldron | Parent Governor | 04/07/2023 | 03/07/2027 | None | None | None | Jul-23 | |
| Kate Timson | Clerk to Governors |
The governors of Lowercroft Primary believe it is important that the governing body reflects the diversity of the school community. A diverse governing body promotes inclusive school environments and provides diverse role models for staff and pupils.
The governors do not currently collect information on the diversity of the governing body, but it is on the agenda to discuss. Due to the relatively small governing body, Governors will not be publishing any diversity data online as individual governors could be identified and we have a legal obligation to protect their personal data.
Any data collected in the future will be used to inform the recruitment and training needs to ensure there is always a diverse range of perspectives around the table to support robust decision making.
Richard Ainsworth (Chair of Governors) - if you have any questions for Richard please contact him c/o Lowercroft Primary School, Ashington Drive, Bury. BL8 2TS.
Pen Portraits
Richard Ainsworth : Chair of Governors
I'm a father of three, educated locally, then at the University of Liverpool. I returned to the area in the early 1990s where I’ve been ever since. With a background in engineering, I’ve worked from shop floor to senior management, even as the manager of a large pub. I’m a technical manager for a small, long-established machinery business, dealing with all aspects of the company which keeps the job hugely enjoyable. I love classic cars and motorsport, play golf (badly) and do a bit of DIY. I became a parent-governor in 2008 to offer something back to the local community - school, pupils and parents alike. Co-opted to Lowercroft in 2018, I’m also current chair of the Bury Governor Association, so involved with the wider family of Bury governance.
Vitto Ferraro : Vice Chair of Governors
I am a married father of a young child and a serving Police Sergeant, I live in Bury and I have the belief that children's education plays a key part in them developing to be the future of our society. I wanted to do my part in ensuring local education prepares our children to be the best they can be and exploring their full potential. I joined the Governing body as I felt this was a great way to dedicate my spare time and help the local community, I have a lot of experience that I believe would be transferrable in helping the school succeed at every aspect.
Julie Thompson : Co-opted Governor
I became the staff governor in 2013 and became a co-opted governor in 2020, but I have worked at Lowercroft primary school for the past 14 years as a teaching assistant. I feel very proud to be a part of this amazing school that provides our children with an outstanding education.
I have experience of running my own design business, along with a career as a design manager in an international leisure company. The skills I have gained throughout my professional career will help me make a difference to the school.
My aim as a governor is to support and ensure that Lowercroft primary school provides all our children and staff with a safe and happy learning environment where we can inspire and encourage our children to achieve their full potential.
Cllr Charlotte Morris : LA Governor
I was appointed as the local authority governor for Lowercroft in September 2020. Having been born and raised in Bury, I am proud to be a local councillor for the area of Elton having been elected in 2019. I went to school in Bury – Emmanuel Holcombe, Woodhey and Holy Cross. Outside of politics, I work for the University of Salford. Politically, professionally and personally, education is an issue that is hugely important to me, so I am delighted to be able to play a small part in helping ensure that children in Bury benefit from the best education possible in my role of a governor at Lowercroft.
Samantha Kay : Associate Governor
I have been Staff Governor since 2020 but have worked at our wonderful school since 2011 when I arrived as an NQT. Since then I have taught in several classes across the school and became Key Stage 1 Lead and a member of the Senior Leadership Team in 2016. I am passionate about teaching children and believe wholeheartedly in educating the whole child by developing not only their academic abilities, but also by encouraging them to become independent, creative and resilient problem solvers who are ready to take on the challenging and rapidly changing world around them.
Prior to teaching I worked for many years in business finance for a city bank which has provided me with many valuable and transferable skills useful in my senior leadership position. I feel privileged to hold the role of Associate Governor and to be able to play a part in driving our school forward to be the very best it can be for our amazing children.
Darren Waldron: Parent Governor
I’ve been a parent governor since 2023, with my daughter currently in Year 2 and loving life at Lowercroft. I’m a HR Professional with experience in Employee Relations, Operations and Projects – currently working full-time in HR at M&S and studying part-time for an MSc in Applied Human Resource Management. I’ve never worked in education, but my wife is a teacher so feel like I’ve been in education for my whole life! I joined the governing body to share my skills in a different environment, represent the parent viewpoint and support our school to be its best.
Janine McGadie: Headteacher
Viv Barlow - Co-opted Governor
Nicole Regan - Staff Governor
Simon Smith: Parent Governor
Sarah Faulkner - Co-opted Governor
Attendance 2023-2024
| FPP | T&L | FGB | FPP | T&L | FGB | FPP | T&L | FGB | ||
| 01.11.23 | 11.10.23 | 13.12.23 | 23.01.24 |
31.01.24 |
28.02.24 | 22.05.24 | 12.06.24 | 03.07.24 | ||
| Richard Ainsworth | Co-Chair | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Rebecca Hart | Co-Chair | N | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Marcus Headley | Vice Chair | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Tessa Farr | Co-Headteacher | Y | Y | N | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Sam Kay | Staff Governor | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | |||
| Charlotte Morris | LA Governor | N | NS | Y | Y | N | Y | |||
| Julie Thompson | Co-opted | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | |||
| Viv Barlow | Co-opted | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | |||
| Vitto Ferraro | Co-opted | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | |||
| Janine McGadie | Co-Headteacher | Y | Y | Y | N | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Simon Smith | Parent Governor | Y | NS | Y | Y | Y | Y | |||
| Darren Waldron | Parent Governor | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
NS = No apologies sent
Attendance 2022-2023
| T&L | FPP | Pay | FGB | FPP | T&L | FGB | FPP | T&L | FGB | ||
|
12.10.22 |
02.11.22 | 02.11.22 | 07.12.22 | 24.01.23 | 01.02.23 | 08.03.23 | 24.05.23 | 07.06.23 | 04.07.23 | ||
| Richard Ainsworth | Co-Chair |
Y |
Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Rebecca Hart | Co-Chair | N | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | N | Y |
| Marcus Headley | Vice Chair | N | N | Y | Y | Y | Y | N | N | ||
| Tessa Farr | Headteacher | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | N | Y | Y |
| Sam Kay | Staff Governor | N | N | Y | Y | Y | N | ||||
| Charlotte Morris | LA Governor | N | Y | NS | Y | N | N | Y | |||
| Steve Ollis | Co-opted | Y | Y | ||||||||
| Will Tallentire | Co-opted | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | N | ||||
| Julie Thompson | Co-opted | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | ||||
| Viv Barlow | Co-opted | N | N | Y | Y | Y | Y | ||||
| Vitto Ferraro | Co-opted | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | ||||
| Janine McGadie | Associate Headteacher | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | |
| Simon Smith | Parent Governor | Y | N | Y | |||||||
| Darren Waldron | Parent Governor | Y | Y | Y |
NS = No apologies sent
Attendance 2021 - 2022
| T&L | FPP | Pay | FGB | FPP | T&L | FGB | FPP | T&L | FGB | ||
| 21/10/21 | 3/11/21 | 3/11/21 | 8/12/21 | 25/1/22 | 2/2/22 | 23/3/22 | 24/5/22 | 8/6/22 | 6/7/22 | ||
| Richard Ainsworth | Co-Chair | Y | Y | Y | Y | N | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Rebecca Hart | Co-Chair | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Marcus Headley | Vice Chair | n/a | Y | Y | Y | Y | n/a | N | Y | n/a | N |
| Tessa Farr | Headteacher | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | N | N | N | N |
| Sam Kay | Staff Governor | n/a | N | n/a | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | n/a | Y |
| Charlotte Morris | LA Governor | n/a | N | n/a | Y | N | n/a | Y | Y | n/a | N |
| Steve Ollis | Co-opted | Y | n/a | n/a | Y | n/a | Y | Y | n/a | Y | Y |
| Will Tallentire | Co-opted | n/a | n/a | n/a | Y | n/a | Y | Y | n/a | N | Y |
| Julie Thompson | Co-opted | NS | n/a | n/a | N | n/a | N | Y | n/a | N | Y |
| Viv Barlow | Co-opted | Y | n/a | n/a | Y | n/a | N | Y | n/a | Y | Y |
| Vitto Ferraro | Co-opted | n/a | n/a | n/a | Y | n/a | Y | Y | n/a | Y | N |
| Damian Lansdale | Associate Governor | Y | n/a | n/a | Y | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a |
NS = No apologies sent
Attendance 2020-2021
| FGB 09.09.21 | FPP 06.10.20 | T&L 15.10.20 | FGB 09(14).12.20 | FPP 12.01.21 | T&L 04.02.21 | FGB 24.03.21 | FPP 27.04.21 | T&L 10.06.21 | FGB 07.07.21 | ||
| Richard Ainsworth | Joint Chair (Parent Gov) | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Steve Duce | Parent Gov | Y | Y | n/a | Y | Y | n/a | N | Y | n/a | n/a |
| Rebecca Hart | Joint Chair (Parent Gov) | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Marcus Headley | Vice-Chair (Parent Gov) | Y | Y | n/a | N | Y | n/a | Y | Y | n/a | Y |
| Tessa Farr | Head | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Sam Kay | Staff Gov | Y | Y | n/a | Y | Y | n/a | Y | Y | n/a | Y |
| Charlotte Morris | LA Gov | N | Y | n/a | Y | Y | n/a | Y | Y | n/a | N |
| Steve Ollis | Co-opted Gov | Y | n/a | Y | N | n/a | Y | Y | n/a | Y | Y |
| Will Tallentire | Parent Gov | Y | n/a | Y | Y | n/a | Y | Y | n/a | Y | Y |
| Julie Thompson | Staff Gov | Y | Y | n/a | Y | n/a | N | N | n/a | N | N |
| Viv Barlow | Co-opted Gov | Y | n/a | Y | Y | n/a | Y | Y | n/a | Y | Y |
| Vittorio Ferraro | Co-opted Gov | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | Y | n/a | Y | Y |
NS = No apologies sent
Attendance 2019-2020
| T&L 16/10/19 | FPP 30/10/19 | FGB 7/11/19 | T&L 5/2/20 | FPP 13/2/20 | FGB 10/3/20 | Vision FGB 6/5/20 | FPP 11/5/20 - cancelled | FPP (EO FGB) 20/5/20 | EO FGB 3/6/20 | EO FGB 8/6/20 | EO FGB 11/6/20 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Richard Ainsworth | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | ||
| Rebecca Hart | n/a | Y | Y | n/a | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | ||
| Tessa Farr | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | ||
| Damian Lansdale | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | - | - | - | - | - | ||
| Julie Thompson | Y | n/a | Y | Y | n/a | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | ||
| Marcus Headley | n/a | Apologies | Y | n/a | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | ||
| Steve Duce | - | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | - | Y | Y | Y | ||
| Sam Kay | Y | n/a | Y | Y | Y | Y | n/a | Y | Y | Y | ||
| Steve Ollis | Y | n/a | Y | Y | n/a | Y | n/a | Y | Apologies | Apologies | ||
| Viv Barlow | Y | n/a | Y | Y | n/a | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | ||
| Will Tallentire | - | n/a | Y | n/a | n/a | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
NS = No apologies sent