Brookdale Primary SchoolMEET OUR GOVERNORS
Headteacher - Kate Ball
Chair of Governors (& Parent Governor) - Rachel Hudson
As a parent Governor of Brookdale, I am firmly committed to the success and progress of the staff and children at the school. I fully support the vision of the Head and believe in the power of education to transform lives for future generations. I am a current Headteacher of a secondary school in Chester, and also formerly a Governor and Chair of Governors at a Pupil Referral Unit in Ellesmere Port. I am committed to working closely with the Headteacher and the Governors to drive the strategic development of the school, raise standards of achievement and set the vision for the school. I see the role of Chair as a privilege and feel that my experience and understanding of the current educational context are helpful in supporting the school as we strategically plan for its continued success in the next stage of the school’s journey.
Vice Chair of Governors (&Co-opted Governor) - Sue Elliott
I am retired, having worked in education for my entire career of 39 years as a Secondary teacher of Design & Technology, in addition to secondments to the Local Authority to manage various programmes. I retired as an Assistant Headteacher/Principal in 2015 where my responsibilities included Curriculum and Standards, Quality Assurance and Teaching and Learning including assessment and reporting.
It has been a privilege to be involved in education in my working life. I am passionate about children’s learning in a supportive environment which enables each individual to exceed their potential. I believe that every child deserves a personalised learning experience, which develops unique giftings and which prepares them as active citizens, both today and in the future. I believe that governance is a supportive role, offering a critical friend to ensure continuing improvements within the school. I am proud to be involved at Brookdale, not least because I was one of the first pupil cohort in 1962!
In my spare time, I enjoy walking, meeting up with friends and family and local theatre. I am also chair of Forum Housing Association, which aims to provide supported housing for the homeless; a Trustee of Forum Creative Enterprise (a subsidiary of Forum) and an Ambassador for The Floral Pavilion in New Brighton.
Staff Governor - Gareth Jones
I joined Brookdale Primary School in March 2017. I have taught in several year groups across Key Stage 2 and I am currently teaching in Year 6. I am passionate about providing children with a wide and varied education that facilitates opportunities for them to reach their full potential. I believe a positive, respectful and reciprocal relationship between teacher and pupil is vital for success and gives children the self-confidence to be the best version of themselves.
I am thoroughly enjoying teaching here, being part of the Brookdale team and being the staff governor. This role provides me with opportunities to further embed the family and
community ethos of the school as well as ensuring that the children in our school receive the high-quality and enriching curriculum they deserve.
Local Authority Governor - Helen Mault
I joined Brookdale Governors in 2023. I started my career leading play sessions across the Northwest for young people with SEND. This eventually led me to being part of a senior leadership team that developed a new Post 19 college designed for young people with SEND. Currently, I am a SEN Advisory Officer for Cheshire West and Chester focusing on Post 16 and preparing for Adulthood. From September 2023 I am also embarking on a Doctorate in Education and I hope that the learning I undertake informs my thinking and practices.
I hope my skill sets and my passion for supporting young people in their aspirations become an asset to the school.
Co-opted Governors:
Christopher Andrews
I have been a Governor at Brookdale since December 2019 and have been witness to the amazing school and community spirit that has brought the school and Brookdale's children through some incredibly challenging times. Away from school, I manage a project team for a Global Investment Bank handling multi-billion pound client migrations. I have previously worked both delivering and assessing NVQs in a dedicated SEN school and as a cover teacher in multiple secondary schools. I am passionate about being able to support the long-term sustainability and growth of the school, to allow us to provide the best possible educational and social foundation for our children in a nurturing and enjoyable environment. Outside of work I am married with a little girl and boy and am a keen fitness and music enthusiast.
Joanne Rose
I began as Governor at Brookdale in September 2021. I have a history of supporting children in the care system and in counselling for ChildLine. I have a passion for safeguarding and the emotional well-being of young people.
I’ve observed that Brookdale really does strive to meet the educational, physical, emotional, social, and nutritional needs of young people. I particularly like the holistic approach that Brookdale offers to young people and that it emphasises promotion to help young people to believe in their own abilities, skills, and knowledge. I enjoy supporting Brookdale in this and watching the young people thrive.
Ashlea Murphy
I am thrilled at the opportunity to be a Governor at Brookdale. I was a student at Brookdale around 16 years ago and it is the reason I went into teaching myself. Brookdale feels like home to me and I am so pleased to see that the school has continued to put the children at the heart of all they do.
Currently, I am a year 2 teacher and PSHE subject lead. During my time at my current school I have developed my skills around SEND and supporting children within a mainstream classroom, as this is a great passion of mine. I believe all children deserve quality first teaching in a safe, nurturing environment. As PSHE lead, I am currently working alongside our senior mental health lead to raise awareness about the dangers of growing up with social media and the additional pressures it brings. Outside of school I am passionate about animals and have my own Romanian rescue called Nora.
I look forward to being part of the Brookdale team and supporting the school’s vision.