Governors are the formal strategic body who meet once each term to set priorities for the school and agree on the long term plans including the school budget. Our Governors are volunteers from the local school community who work together to ensure that the school is well managed.  The Headteacher and representatives from the school work force are also members of the Governing Body.

Role of Chair of Governors

I am the elected elected Chair of Governors at Mersey Park, following on in the role from the superb work undertaken by Val Maher who continues to serve on the Board.

I have worked in the education and training sector for over 25 years, most recently as Director of MGL, a schools-based IT company working across the North West who have worked in partnership with Mersey Park over a number of years.  The Governing Body is made up of parents, staff, representatives of the community and the Local Authority.  The governors have a range of duties we are legally bound to carry out.  Using the members’ skills, knowledge and experience to support the head teacher and senior leaders, we all work together for school improvement.

The governors have the following responsibilities:-

  • to help set the strategic direction using the School Development Plan
  • to review and monitor the children’s progress and achievement
  • to act as a critical friend to the head teacher and staff, offering support and constructive advice and also challenging and asking probing questions when necessary
  • to make decisions around safeguarding, health and safety, staffing and premises
  • to set a legal budget in line with the school’s priorities.

Governors see the well being of all stakeholders as crucial to ensuring a happy, forward looking school community.

The role of governor is a voluntary one. We all give freely of our time to read paperwork, attend meetings, visit classrooms, attend special events and enrol on courses and training.

I have always been impressed by the strong leadership provided by Mrs Thomas and her team at Mersey Park, ensuring that each child has access to a safe, happy and diverse learning environment.  The school will always seek to maximise the potential of your child, and work in partnership with you as parents or carers to ensure that each child realises their full potential in these crucial years of their development.  I understand that academic success is important, but the Governors understand that school life involves far more than that, and we will always support activities that enrich the learning and life experiences of your child.  The school recently attained an ‘Outstanding’ outcome in our Ofsted Inspection.  This reflects the excellent work undertaken in school, that can only continue to thrive with the full involvement of parents and carers in all aspects of decision-making.

I am proud to be a member of the Governing Body at Mersey Park Primary School.  I would like to thank all Governors and staff for their commitment and loyalty to the school in ensuring that we are part of a shared vision of continuous improvement.

If you would like to contact me, please do so through the school office.

Mark Gilbertson
Chair of Governors.

Meet MPPS Governors

Mark Gilbertson

Category of Governor Community Governor
Appointed by School
Term of office 21.01.2023 – 20.01.2027
Committees/ subject links Curriculum, Resource & Management
Responsibility Chair of Governors, ICT, Anti Bullying, E-Safety
Other information Mark Gilbertson is Chair of Governors at  Mersey Park Primary School.  Mark has a 15 year career in the Local government in Liverpool and Knowsley, and has spent the last 10 years as director of MGL, a Liverpool based schools IT company that has worked in partnership with Mersey Park for many years.

Jan Lambeth

Category of Governor Community Governor
Appointed by School
Term of office 16.09.22 –  15.09.26
Committees Curriculum, Resource & Management
Responsibility Vice-Chair, Safeguarding, Attendance, Maths, Rights Respecting Schools
Other information I am a recently retired headteacher of another local primary school and I am enjoying being  part of Mersey Park Primary School Governors Team. My interests include improving outcomes for vulnerable pupils and families. I have one son who is a young Captain in the Army.

 

Maria MacDonough

Category of Governor Staff Governor
Appointed by Staff
Term of office 05.10.2020 – 04.10.2024
Committees  Curriculum
Responsibility
Other information I have been a full time class teacher at Mersey Park for 11 years, working across all key stages. During this time I have gained vast knowledge of school life and experiences of our children. I feel I have built fantastic working relationships with all members of staff across the school and with my cheery and helpful personality I feel I can represent them all as a staff governor.

Currently I teach Foundation 2 and I believe that early years provides a good foundation for children’s education. As governor I feel I can give these children a voice, discussing their needs for the when they start school and celebrating how far they have come by the end of Foundation stage, discussing their many achievements and the exciting things they learn about and do in the classroom.

I would bring an honest and hard-working approach to the role and I look forward to working along-side Mrs Thomas and other Governors in making our school an even bigger success.


Andrew Colwell

Category of Governor Community Governor
Appointed by School
Term of office 28.09.2022 – 27.09.2026
Committees Curriculum, Resource & Management
Responsibilty Parental Engagement
Other information I have over 25 years’ experience of either holding senior positions within UK/International businesses or running my own business.  Although I am a new governor. I am already impressed with the work that the children do and the teaching staff deliver.  I love the values of the school and over the comin years I hope to be able to add some additional value as my role as governor.

Originally from Liverpool I have lived on the Wirral for over 20 years and I am married with two children.


Martyn Foster

Category of Governor Community Governor
Appointed by School
Term of office 01.03.2022 – 28.02.2026
Committees Curriculum
Responsibility Health & Safety
Other information
Ex Chief Petty Officer Royal Navy. Married for 44 years to Linda with 2 grown up girls and 6 grandchildren.
Fully qualified Mechanical and Electrical engineer with many years of Operational Management relating to Facilities Maintenance within various Hospitals, Health Centres, Schools and Public buildings.
Past Chairman of the School PTA and Chairman of the Board of Governors at Stanton Road School including a successful OFSTED Inspection.
Retired at present and kept busy doing DIY and Furniture repairs.


Beth Jones

Category of Governor Staff Governor
Appointed by School
Term of office 27.09.2023  –  26.09.2027
Committees
Responsibility
Other information Since starting at Mersey Park Primary School as an NQT, I have enjoyed 4 fabulous years teaching at this school, with many more to come! My first year at Mersey Park was a unique experience as the country was experiencing a global pandemic. Working during lockdown gave me opportunities to connect with families, children and colleagues as we all worked together to adapt the curriculum to suit the needs of our children. As a KS1 teacher, I am able to see the importance of the early years of school and the impact these have as children travel on their learning journey. Mersey Park places high value on the vital skills of early reading, writing, mathematics and of course the all-important social and emotional skills. I also have experience of leading DT and ensuring this is implemented successfully from Foundation 1 all the way to Year 6. As a staff governor I am excited to help represent the lovely staff of our school, give our children a voice and to provide them with the best possible outcomes.

Philip Crossley

Category of Governor Community Governor
Appointed by School
Term of office 28.09.2022 – 27.09.2026
Committees Curriculum, Resource & Management
Responsibility Literacy, Pupil Premium, SEN
Other information I have worked within education for nearly 30 years including within primary settings, behaviour units and an all-age specialist residential SEN setting. Through these roles I have held a range of co-ordinator and leadership positions, including headship at a Wirral Primary School. More recently I provided headship support to two Wirral Primary Schools and currently I am enjoying a slightly gentler pace of life working part time for Wirral’s Elective Home Education Service. Away from work I am married and have two teenage children.

Richard Cook

Category of Governor Parent Governor
Appointed by Parents
Term of Office 22.11.2023 – 21.11.2027
Committees
Responsibilities
Other Information  

 

 

 


 

 

 

Rev. James Terry

Category of Governor Community Governor
Appointed by School
Term of office 28.09.2022 – 27.09.2026
Committees Curriculum
Responsibility R.E., Humanities
Other information I am the vicar at St Catherine’s, Tranmere and have been at this church for almost 10 years.  For all 20 years of my ministry I have been involved in leading an after school club for primary school children, with Bible stories, games and craft.  I value the close links between the school and St Catherine’s, so I was delighted to be asked to be a Community Governor.  I am married to Jane and we have three children aged 18, 16 and 13 , so I’ve plenty of experience as a parent of primary age children.  My outside interests include playing and watching football and reading.

 

 


Councillor Yvonne Nolan

Category of Governor Community Governor
Appointed by School
Term of Office 25.09.23 – 24.09.27
Committees Curriculum
Responsibility Safeguarding, LAC, Exclusions, SEN
Other Information “I am a Councillor for Rock Ferry so I have a major interest in supporting the school that serves so many children from this area. My professional background is in social work, where I have worked in various roles over almost fifty years. I have a particular interest in safeguarding and protecting children, but am very committed to working to ensure that all children have access to an education that prepares them to be resilient, curious and considerate adults. I was delighted to be asked to be a Governor and take an active interest in all aspects of school life.”

 

Rachel Markey

Category of Governor Parent Governor
Appointed by Parents
Term of office 29.11.21 – 28.11.25
Committees Curriculum
Responsibility P.E. , Pupil& Staff Well Being
Other information I have three children that attend Mersey Park and having been a pupil here myself I was so pleased to have been asked to become a Parent Governor .  I am currently a youth  worker at The Hive, Wirral Youth Zone but I also volunteer within the school and I am a member of the school’s Parent Partnership Group.

My children are really excelling in all aspects of school life and I look forward to representing the views of other parents and supporting all the staff at Mersey Park Primary.

 

 

 

Click on the documents below to read comments made by Governors following visits to school:

Governor visit – 26th January 2022
Governors visit -17th February 2022- Phonics
Governors visit – February 2022 – Maths

 

Click on the documents below to see an Overview of our Governors and their responsibilities:

Annual Governance Statement

Governors Attendance – Record Main Governors 2023- 2024

 

 

Floor Reports for Governors

Foundation Stage

Foundation Stage report for Governors Autumn 2023

 

Key Stage 1

Key Stage 1 report for Governors Autumn 2023

 

Lower Key Stage 2

Year 3 and 4 Report for Governors Autumn 2023

 

Upper Key Stage 2

Upper Floor Governor Report – Autumn 2023

 

If you would like to contact any of our Governors please send a letter for their attention via the school office:

Mersey Park Primary
Elm Road
Tranmere
Birkenhead
Wirral
CH42 0PH

Parents are asked to put their requests or complaints in writing to the Governing Body as the Governors are not based in school and only meet formally once a term.  If you have any questions about our Board of Governors, please do not hesitate to contact Mrs Francis (Clerk for Governors).