Meet the Governors
My background as a School Business Manager gives me a deeper understanding of the wider issues in education and this has helped me to support the school in a variety of different areas. With changes around meeting the needs of all pupils it is particularly important to stay abreast of current legislation and guidance. This is an area that I feel I can contribute to because of the role I have and the training I undertook to become a School Business Manager over 3 years.
I particularly enjoy coming into school to speak to the children and learn about their lessons. They are always keen to let you know what they have done and show you their work in their books.
Orrets Meadow is a fantastic school and the children are happy and settled. This is testament to the wonderful team there and how they work diligently to improve self-esteem and confidence so that all children can progress and achieve their very best. I have adopted class 3.
I look forward to another exciting year and feel confident the school will move from strength to strength.
LA Governor – Christine McGowan
I am 37 years old young (!) and I have accomplished many things since leaving school. I left school and began my employment within Private Sector working full time where I trained in my spare time to become an CIMA qualified (Chartered Institute of Management Accountants). Part way through my qualification I decided to move house, get married to my lovely husband Pete and gave birth to my children Rebecca now in Year 8 and Charles who is in Year 6 – stressful at the time yes but I try and think of it as character building!
I love to socialise and enjoy nothing better than meeting up with friends and enjoying long walks at the weekend with the family. Our very cute little dog Lexi has quickly become our 3rd baby and has ‘embarrassingly’ shown us parts of the Wirral that we didn’t know existed, despite living here all our lives! I also enjoy running and have taken part in many organised runs raising money for charities over the years – the one I’m probably most proud of is completing the London Marathon and raising over £3000 for the RNIB, a charity very close to my heart. However, it is true that the majority of running that I do now is in the car ferrying the children as I think they have a better social life than me at times!
I have a great sense of my enthusiasm and commitment and I want Orrets Meadow to continue to thrive as it is an amazing school and I am keen to help make a positive contribution. I have strong financial skills and have the ability to challenge & question so I want to embrace the role and make a difference for each and every pupil.
Sue Mason is a Cognitive Behavioural Therapist and the creator of the Thumbs Up Education Programme based here in Wirral. Sue presents the programme to many primary schools throughout Wirral focussing on such aspects of child development as confidence building, increasing self-esteem, positive thinking and many more techniques based around Cognitive Behavioural Therapy. For more information about the programme, please see:- thumbsupprogramme.co.uk. Sue is delighted to have been invited to be a governor at Orrets Meadow. Sue has adopted class 6.
From our first visit to Orrets Meadow back in Spring 2018, my husband Gary and I were both absolutely blown away by the utter amazingness of Orrets Meadow – there’s just no other word for it! Our son, who was 6 years old at the time, was struggling dreadfully at mainstream school, and we instinctively felt that he would flourish at Orrets. This September (2018), he started Orrets in Class 2 and I am extremely excited and very honoured to have been asked to become a Parent Governor.
My working background is varied to say the least – with a background in fine art and art history, I worked as Curator of Collections for the Earl & Countess of Derby as part of the team looking after The Derby Collection of fine art and the contents of their houses. There I met my husband-to-be Gary and was introduced to the world of gundog training. In 2009 we bought an online company selling gundog training and shooting gear, outdoor clothing and footwear – after the birth of our daughter Milly, we thought it would be a nice undemanding job for me to do from home. Now we are one of the biggest gundog equipment suppliers in Europe and we are thrilled to be able to make a donation to Orrets Meadow for every order we receive. Gary is a Gundog Trainer, so he tests the products (and stays out of MY office) and I sell them! Our home is happy and noisy and busy with two children aged 7 and 9, a kennel full of keen working gundogs and an office full of retired snoring ones!
I hope that my background in the arts and public speaking, as well as online business development, marketing and advertising will enable me to make a valuable contribution to the management of this amazing school.
It’s really difficult to find the words that can do justice to explaining our feelings about Orrets Meadow, or to explain what Orrets Meadow has done for our son Michael – even though he’s only just joined the school. Michael doesn’t have to worry anymore about all the confusion that the school day used to bring. He is learning in a place in which he feels secure. We know that Orrets will ensure he reaches his potential, but most importantly of all he will have a happy, anxiety-free school life. I’m sure lots of parents must share those sentiments. I’m just so thrilled to have the opportunity to give something back to the school in my role as Parent Governor.
In a previous life I was a qualified nurse, I worked in a range of different specialities within the NHS and private sector both in UK and abroad. I was introduced to Special Education when I met my Husband in 2005 as my step son was in a specialist setting.
After having my 2 youngest children and them subsequently being diagnosed with ASD and with other learning issues I embarked on a journey of self-directed learning of all things SEN.
I am passionate about children having their needs identified and met appropriately and I strongly believe that the correct setting is key to the best outcome for our children.
I have helped other parents on their journeys along the way and believe that following the SEND reforms there is so much parents can offer both locally and nationally to help improve the outcomes of children with SEND.
I have visited many educational settings over the years and I was left (uncharacteristically) speechless on my first visit to Orrets Meadow. The school is outstanding, the hard work of the staff is evident, and I look forward to joining the journey and helping to ensure that the school continues to go from strength to strength.
My daughter started the school this September (2018) and has settled very well, she is responding amazingly to the new challenges she is being given and we are already seeing some really positive improvements.