Governors
The Governing Body has a number of duties and responsibilities towards all its stakeholders – pupils, staff, parents, the local authority and the wider community.
The role includes:
Educational Standards
- Ensuring the school fulfils the legal requirements of the education system
- Setting challenging but achievable educational targets
- Ensuring the school is adequately resourced and that its resources are utilised properly and creatively
- Ensuring all pupils receive an excellent, well-rounded education academically, morally and socially so that they can move forward into the world, fully equipped for the next stage of their learning
Leadership
- Developing a vision for the school and setting its strategic aims
- Establishing the values that the school is expected to meet and maintain
- Acting as critical friends – monitoring and evaluating performance and progress towards the school’s priorities and targets, supporting staff and challenging their expectations
- Relationship with Stakeholders
Relationship with Stakeholders
- Accountability – ensuring that the school is accountable to the children and parents it serves, to its local community, to those who fund and maintain it, as well as the staff it employs
- Maintaining a close relationship with parents and the local community
- Caring for the welfare and well-being of staff and pupils
The Governing Body seeks to fully represent the local community and is drawn from four groups:
- Local Authority Governor (1): local people appointed by the local authority (Stockport Council)
- Parent Governors (4): elected by the parents of the pupils at the school. A Parent Governor usually has a pupil attending the school.
- Staff Governor (1): representing staff at the school and elected by their colleagues.
- Headteacher (1) Head Teacher is on our Governing Body
- Coopted Governors (6): co-opted by the Governing Body, these governors either have close links with the local community or bring with them specific skills or expertise that the Governing Body feels are required. Sometimes a Community Governor satisfies both criteria.
- Associate Members (4) – these members of the Governing Body have been appointed for their specific expertise. They do not have voting rights.
The Governing Body at Alexandra Park aims to be a cohesive and professional team who use their skills and experience to work in partnership with the staff and parents and share the commitment that Alexandra Park Primary School should provide the best possible education for its pupils. The Governing Body consists of a Teaching and Learning Committee, a Resources Committee and a Steering Group. The minutes and proceedings of the Governing Body are available for reference at the school. Members of the Governing Body are always willing to discuss school matters. They can be contacted via the School Office.
Governing Body
Mrs Emma Harris
Co-chair of Governors
Term of office
13th January 2026 - 12th January 2030
Emma is a parent at the school and a Senior Partnership Manager with the charity ‘Governors for Schools’. She is also a governor at another local school. Emma is keen to support this fantastic school by working collaboratively with the rest of the governing board. She has a particular interest in inclusion and careers provision.
I feel that governors can have a real impact on improving children’s experience of education and want to be part of delivering that at Alexandra Park Primary. I’m passionate about children receiving a well-rounded experience, raising their aspirations, and equipping them to become global citizens. I think every child at Alex Park can make a positive contribution to the world and their time at our school will give them the skills and drive to do that.
Mr Ryan Walker
Co-chair of Governors
Term of Office
13th January 2026 - 12th January 2030
I am very keen to play an active role in the continued success of the school. I have a son who started in Reception in September 2021, and I have been very impressed with the development he has made along with how well he has settled in. This has been aided by the high level of commitment and support provided by all staff members. As such, I am excited to be part of, and contribute to, the wider success of the school in the coming months and years ahead.
I have worked within Investment Banking roles for the last 10 years and currently work in a client outcome and strategy role focused on delivering positive outcomes for clients. My role is also very much ‘purpose’ driven with the aim of helping business’, families and communities thrive. As such, my primary focus has been to build strong and effective partnerships and drive innovation to achieve this. I want to bring these tools into my role as Parent Governor by both helping and challenging the school to help in its continued success.
Mr Phil Brooke
Headteacher of Alexandra Park Primary School
Mrs Charlotte Millward
Staff Governor
Term of office
13th January 2026 - 30th October 2026
I am the SENDCO (Special Needs and Disabilities Co-ordinator); and Designated Safeguarding Lead at Alexandra Park Primary School. I am passionate about inclusion and ensuring that our school provides the very best levels of care and opportunities for all our children. Our school values of Care, Aspire, and Achieve are at the heart of everything we do as a school, including the work of the governing board.
I have been a teacher for 12 years and have taught in two different Stockport Schools. I have mainly taught in KS2 and prior to joining the team at Alexandra Park, I was the Lower Key Stage 2 Phase Leader. Since joining this school I have achieved the NASENCO award. My role at school is interesting and varied. I lead a Pastoral team and coordinate a wide range of support for children with varied and sometimes complex needs. Our Pastoral Team offer a wide range of interventions out of our Nurture Room including Drawing and Talking Therapy, Lego Based Therapy and Social Skills groups. I coordinate provision across the school for children with an EHCP (Education, Health and Care Plan) and help teachers to ensure that our children on the SEND register receive tailored support.
My role as Designated Safeguarding Lead is absolutely key to ensuring that our children are safe. Key to this role is working well with other professionals and information sharing as well as working with our families to offer timely support. I feel very lucky to be in a position where I can help support the children, our staff and our families.
Mrs Leanne Ashton-Smith
Parent Governor
Term of Office
13th January 2026 - 16th February 2028
Mrs Catherine Yearley
Co-opted Governor
Term of Office
13th January 2026 - 12th January 2030
Mrs Julia Hewer
Co-opted Governor
Term of Office
13th January 2026 - 12th January 2030