Meet the Governors

The Governing Body of Holy Family School meet once per term as a full group, but have committees running every month. These meetings are where we set the strategic framework of the school and monitor its implementation. We act as a 'critical friend' by holding the head teacher to account for the educational performance of the school and the well being of the children.  The governing body also oversees the finances of the school; making sure money is spent in the best way to support the ideals and needs of the school : 

Mr Peter Mitchell  - Foundation Governor (Vice Chair of Governors)

Responsibilities : Finance & Building Committee (Chair)

Pecuniary Interests : None              

I am a recent addition to the team having joined the team in September 2015. I am involved in the Finance and Building committee, and I am also the lead on the schools website, helping it develop and be hopefully more informative. I hope to use the website to improve our communication with parents, students and the wider community. My wife Catherine is an active member of the Friends of Holy Family, and I have two boys at the school. My work is in ICT and I spend most of my time working with schools helping them implement large IT projects. I am really looking forward to working with the school and other governors in keeping the momentum going in the exciting changes and fabulous new feeling that is permeating the school.

Father Stephen Woolley  - Foundation Governor

Responsibilities : Finance & Building Committee, Admissions and Headteacher Appraisal

Pecuniary Interests : None            

Mrs Angela Bower  - Foundation Governor

Responsibilities : Personnel Committee and Admissions Committee

Pecuniary Interests : None           

I am a Foundation Governor and was a Founder teacher at Holy Family when it first opened. My career has always been in education, teaching, management and support for Languages and Science in many Trafford schools.  My own family came to Holy Family, and my Grandchildren also come. I have always had a deep affiliation to the school and the church. I am also a volunteer in school helping with reading. I attend the Sacramental preparation services, masses, Lenten services, Christmas shows and productions. I support events by the Friend of Holy Family as I value our school as being part of a larger family of the Parish of Holy Family Sale Moor. Until recently for many years I served as a Eucharistic Minister and helped numerous ways within the parish.

Mr Nicholas McHugh - Foundation Governor

Responsibilities : Children and Learning Committee

Pecuniary Interests : None            

I have previously worked in the education and training sector for over 5 years and now work for a Manchester based engineering business. I bring to the role a strong background in performance management and complex data analysis. I am married and have 2 young children both of whom attend Holy Family. I am an active participant in the wider school and church community and relish the opportunity to play a part in the growth and development of the school.

Dr Serena Carr  - Foundation Governor (Chair of Governors)

Responsibilities : Children and Learning (Chair) and Headteacher Appraisal

Pecuniary Interests : None           

I had heard about the enormous enthusiasm to grow and improve at Holy Family and I was delighted to become part of the governor team in November 2015. As a practising Catholic, I wanted to help ensure that we can provide excellent Catholic schooling to local children, in a nurturing environment.

I live in Sale and I have two young children (aged 1 and 3). I work as a hospital Consultant in Intensive Care Medicine. 

I am used to working in teams in my work role and I try to add the same enthusiasm, energy, integrity and supportive feedback into my role as governor.

Mrs Jane Simister - Foundation Governor

Responsibilities : Personnel (Chair) and Headteacher Appraisal

Pecuniary Interests : None             

I have lived in Sale Moor for 39 years and both my children attended Holy Family school. I am an active member of the Holy Family Church community which includes helping to run a popular Toddler Group.

I have always been interested in the education of young people of all ages. I worked in the Manchester Metropolitan University Library for many years.

I hope my life experience will be of benefit to the school.

Mrs Cath Timney - Foundation Governor

Responsibilities: Children and Learning, Personnel and Admissions

Pecuniary Interests: None

I am a member of Holy Family Parish.  I taught at Holy Family for nearly 34 years before taking early retirement in 2010. I taught mainly in Key Stage 1 with some time in year 3. My three children all attended Holy Family School.  When I am able I volunteer in school , listening to reading and doing phonic support work. It’s fantastic to see strong, positive values continuing to thrive throughout the school.

Mr Jon Corden - Parent Governor

Responsibilities: Premises and Finance (Chair) 

Pecuniary Interests: None

I have been an associate Governor at the school since 2017 but more recently a Parent Governor since 2019. I am Chair of the Finance and Premises Committee using my construction and project management experience to keep the school safe, grow and fulfill its potential.  

Mr Dominic Crawford - Parent Governor

Responsibilities: Premises and Finance

Pecuniary Interests: None

I have lived in Sale for the last 30 years and I have two young children (aged 4 and 2), the eldest of which attends Holy Family. I qualified as a chartered accountant 15 years ago and now work as a Finance Director for an IT company of which I part own. Whilst I am new to being a governor, it is my hope that I can use my knowledge in these two areas to help have a positive impact on the school community.

Miss Fianna Hornby - Local Authority 

Responsibilities: Finance and Premises

Pecuniary Interests: None 

I live in Sale with my partner and my Whippet.

I grew up between Blackburn and Preston, went to study at University of the Arts London and later moved to Manchester after getting a job at Salford University, where I achieved an MSc. I am now settled in Trafford and work doing Communications in Manchester Town Centre.

Mrs Natalie Holland - Staff Governor

Responsibilities: Children and Learning

Pecuniary Interests: None

I joined the team at Holy Family in 2017, having previously taught in Stockport. I have the pleasure of teaching our Year 3 children, guiding and helping them to grow as both individuals and learners.

As part of my role, I take the lead on pupil voice within school. Our aim in this is to provide our children with a rich and varied range of opportunities to experience and enjoy. This is a responsibility which has grown over the past few years and enriched the experiences of our children. I am particularly proud of the work which we have done on democracy and was delighted to be accepted onto the Parliament Teacher Ambassador Programme in July 2019, receiving a gold standard award for our portfolio of work. 

In my new role as Staff Governor, I look forward to working alongside the governing body in continuing to support the ongoing growth and development of our Values - based school.  

Mrs Linda Davison  - Head Teacher - Statutory Right

Responsibilities : Attendance at all Committees

Pecuniary Interests : None        

I have been at Holy Family since January 2006; I started as the Deputy Headteacher and became the Headteacher in September 2008. Previously I worked at St Vincent’s Catholic Primary in Altrincham for 12 years. Being the Headteacher of a Catholic school is so important to me, knowing I am supporting and guiding the children on their faith journey.

My role is not just to lead the school, but to work closely with the governors and staff to make improvements to Holy Family where necessary. I am proud to lead the first accredited Values-based school in our Authority and Diocese. Our values are at the heart of everything we do at Holy Family.

I am proud of all the hard work all stakeholders including our parents and pupils have put into making the school what it is today. As Headteacher I am automatically a Governor of the school.

I currently hold curriculum responsibilities for Assessment,  PHSE and MFL.

I was delighted with the outcome of our last Section 48 Religious Inspection where the inspector started the report with ‘This is an exciting time to be a pupil at Holy Family.’ Nothing makes me prouder than seeing the achievement in our children both academically and socially.

Attendance at Governors Meetings for the academic year

September 2020 to July 2021

The full governing body met 3 times between September 2020 and July 2021. 

Attendance is shown against the possible number of meetings that an individual governor could have been present. Governors with  a lower total of possible meetings joined the governing body through the year.