Local Academy Board (Governors)
Welcome to Wimboldsley Community Primary School - Local Academy Board
The Local Academy Board at Wimboldsley Community School have the responsibility for education of the children in our schools. The Local Academy Board, whose membership includes the school's head teachers, provides strategic leadership to the school and takes key decisions in areas such as finance, staffing structure and appointments and premises as well as monitoring educational performance.
Our members are drawn from parents, staff and the local community so that we bring a wide range of experiences and views to our debates. Although we are all volunteers, we take our duties very seriously and consequently have a genuine impact upon the school and the education provided to Wimboldsley's children. We welcome enquiries from all sections of the community about membership. We always embrace people who are committed to the ethos of the school and who are willing to work with us to improve the quality of the leadership that we provide. Enthusiasm, commitment and a willingness to learn and contribute are the most important qualities.
Positive feedback is always welcome (so we can repeat successful things more often) but we also want to learn about things we can improve.
We can readily be contacted through the school office [email protected]
If you are interested in becoming a representative of our Local Academy Board, please visit: Concordia Multi Academy Trust: Join a Local Academy Board (concordiamat.co.uk)
Our Governance Professional can be contacted via email - [email protected]
Meet our Local Academy Board Members
Mark Allen
Acting Headteacher
Headteacher at William Stockton Primary and Nursery School
Acting Headteacher whilst Sam Jones is on maternity leave
Phil Bettley - Co-opted
I look forward to developing a great affinity with Wimboldsley. Most of my life has been spent surrounded by those working in Education, including my Wife, who is an Assistant Head and SENCo and my Sister who is a former Headteacher. Having a teenager on the autistic spectrum, I have significant experience of the challenges faced by parents of children with additional needs and have a particular interest in this subject. Whilst my career has mostly been spent in finance, a significant proportion of this has been supporting Local Authorities and Education Institutions and the surrounding macroeconomic environment.
Jody Darlington - Parent
Chair of the Local Academy Board
I am a hard working individual and have been a dedicated volunteer and PTA member at Wimboldsley since my eldest child first started in 2016; she has now left and gone to secondary school. My youngest daughter Caydee is currently in Year 5 at Wimboldsley and feels like the school is a home from here with the lovely atmosphere.
I have proudly held the PTA Chair role for the past 5 years now. I am passionately committed to contributing to the school in any way possible. I have a firm understanding how crucial the quality of leadership and the importance of inclusion are in the ethos of the school, and its aspiration of achieving excellence. I am a fully trained Teaching Assistant and am currently working towards the HLTA qualification. I have worked in a pre-school and a primary school many years ago which I loved, mainly working alongside children with SEN, this has fuelled my passion for volunteering for the last 20 years in local schools.
Recently I also was voted in as a Secondary school governor locally. I also hold a governor role on the Cheshire West and Chester Scrutiny Committee for Educational Matters. I hope all of this demonstrates my passion for all children’s care and education throughout their young lives.
James Bancroft - Parent
I’m married to Lisa and our son attends the school and loves it. Our daughter left a few years ago and absolutely thrived at Wimboldsley. We are very lucky that our children have been able to attend such a lovely school. After 22 years in education, including seven years as a headteacher, I have made a career change. I now work in local government, managing admissions and school places across an authority. I have experience as a governor in other schools. I feel lucky to have the chance to share my experience and educational understanding as a LAB member at Wimboldsley.
Catherine Cocken
Awaiting Content
Sam Jones - Headteacher
I am Headteacher at Wimboldsley Primary School. Having started my teaching journey as a newly qualified teacher at William Stockton Primary School over 12 years ago I have subsequently worked within and across the previous Wimboldsley and William Stockton Federation for many years. Over time and with growing knowledge and experience, my role progressed to Assistant Head at William Stockton and in 2019 I made the transition to Wimboldsley as Deputy Head, Head of School and eventually and with much delight, Headteacher. My intention is to continue to build on the prior successes of the school, working closely and in collaboration with the senior leadership team, staff and local academy board (LAB) to provide a curriculum and environment that provides the opportunity for all pupils to achieve excellence.
Adam Lawrence
Co-opted
Awaiting content
Vicky Whiston - Staff
I thoroughly enjoy my roles as SENCo and EYFS Lead at Wimboldsley, having been employed at the school for the past 5 years.
Wimboldsley will always hold a very special place in my heart as it was my own primary school as a child, in fact it was my Dad’s primary school too!
I have volunteered my time as a parent governor at my own children’s primary school for the past seven years, so I have a solid grasp of how governing bodies operate. I enjoy the strategic aspect of the role.
I hold the National SENCo Award and am currently concluding my NPQ in Early Years Leadership. Having worked in a variety of settings, I bring a wealth of skills and expertise related to SEND and EYs to the LAB table. I am full of ideas and experience, I believe that relationships and communication are key to successful teaching, learning and leadership.
I have a strong personal connection to this position because my Grandad served on the governing board for Wimboldsley in the 1960s, I am very proud to follow in his footsteps.
