Governor Profiles
Rose Starkey - Chair of Governors
I am Rose Starkey and was elected as a Local Authority Governor in November 2020. I live in Lancaster and worked for 32 years in a large, multi-cultural, city centre school in Lancaster; the last 10 of them as headteacher. I am passionate about the education of young children and took on the role of chair of the governing body at St Michael’s in November. I look forward to working closely with Mrs Carroll and the wider governing body to see the school continue to flourish as an excellent primary school at the centre of its village community.
I am mum to 3 grown up children and Nana to a young grandson. I enjoy the outdoors, going for walks with my dog in our lovely countryside as well as gardening and being an active member of my church.
Simon Mitchell - Foundation Governor
My family and I moved to St. Michael's on Wyre in the summer of 2009, having searched for over a year, to find an idyllic village to raise our children. We were so pleased to have found such a delightful village and felt especially fortunate to have such an amazing school on our doorstep. All four of our children attended St. Michael’s on Wyre Primary School and in 2014 I was asked to become a foundation governor. Since then, I have held several positions within the governing body including chair of governors between September 2020 and November 2022.
Having worked in the manufacturing and service sectors for over 40 years, I am now a project manager at an IT Digital Services company. I’m currently assigned to the Home Office and working on a Police and Public Protection technology project. Previously I managed a remote team of project managers who were responsible for setting up and maintaining the company’s computer based testing centres, situated around the world. I was also responsible for capacity planning and warehousing & logistics, across Europe, the Middle East and Africa. During my career, I have had the opportunity to travel the globe and meet many amazing people from different cultures, religions and lifestyles.
I look forward to using my skills and experience to support the school and ensure that it continues to provide our children with the best possible foundation for life.
Diane Carroll - Headteacher
I was appointed headteacher of St.Michael’s on Wyre CE Primary School in April 2016, having previously been deputy headteacher of Bolton-le-Sands CE Primary School, near Carnforth. I have been a teacher throughout my professional career, of almost 30 years, teaching classes from Reception to Year 6. I believe in working closely with my governors, staff, parents and, most importantly, the children. Within my current role I continue to teach the children, which, I feel, is a significant part of my position. The work of the governing body is crucial to the management and organisation of the school. I am fortunate to have a team of committed governors, representing the church, diocese, local authority, parents and staff. This team is determined to promote the best possible educational provision for the children, both curricular and extra-curricular, working closely with the staff and having the support of parents. In any school, but particularly a village school, it is vital that the local community is an active part of its life and development, and the governing body at St. Michael's on Wyre fulfills this role successfully.
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The Reverend Wilkinson - Ex-officio I am vicar of St. Michael's on Wyre and I am proud to serve in a parish with a church school of the reputation of St. Michael's - we are fortunate in so many ways. I am particularly interested in the combination of academic excellence with wonderful pastoral care, that an outstanding school like ours is able to fuse together. It puts a smile on my face whenever I come into school to lead worship, meet with other governors, or just have a cup of tea in the staffroom. Please feel free to stop me and have a natter in the car park. |
Christine Fleet - Foundation Governor
I was appointed Foundation Governor by Blackburn Diocese in 2007. I was a primary school teacher for 31 years, 30 of which were spent in the same Church of England school, where my areas of speciality were Art and Display and Religious Education, and where I served as a teacher/governor on the staffing interviewing panel. I am very proud to be associated with St. Michael's on Wyre School, as my husband and I both attended the school, as did both my parents, and my mother-in-law, who later became a teacher there. The long family connection is very important to me, and I have witnessed the school going from strength to strength. I am happy to support the school in any way I can, attending not only governors' meetings but also plays, concerts, social occasions and community lunches. The school is at the heart of village life. I serve on the Standards and Effectiveness and Vision and Values sub-committees and hope that my own professional experience can, in some way, be of use to the school. |
Anne Marie Fletcher - Foundation Governor
I was appointed Foundation Governor in October 2022. My family have been in St. Michael’s for 25 years, I have lived in the village since 2019 and my youngest daughter attends the school. I am the co-founder of the extra-curricular school choir, I love to roll my sleeves up to help with the school garden club and I am a regular member of the church congregation. After training in music & theatre, I have had a varied career in both the private and public sector. I worked in the fast-paced environment of retail management at Laura Ashley, followed by a career change to work in Local Government, with the responsibility for sheltered housing and supported living for elderly and vulnerable people. Moving to an NHS Primary Care Trust, I was part of an award-winning Children's Accident Prevention Team working with young families and at-risk groups. I currently help to run a campsite in the village and look after rare-breed sheep. I will bring my experience and enthusiasm to my role of Governor.
Catherine Towers- Foundation Governor
I became a part of the School's Governing Body having after being co-opted in 2020.
My family and I have a long association with St Michael's on Wyre. My formative years have been spent living in the village and I attended the school. My father and siblings having attended the school before me and my three children attended subsequently. I'm honoured to become the third generation in my family to be on the Governing Body of St Michael's on Wyre's Church of England Primary School and Nursery. I understand the responsibility that the position holds to ensure the excellent standard of the holistic education of our children is maintained.
I'm also Chair of the annual Village Gala.
I worked in the NHS for over thirty years in child, adolescent and adult specialties as well as management roles.
Combining my personal and professional knowledge and skills, I work closely with fellow governors, staff and parents to continue to provide an excellent quality education for our children.
Louise Viney - Parent Governor
I currently have three children across various ages and stages at St Michael's on Wyre CE School and I also attended the school myself, with many happy memories of my time as a pupil. As a parent governor, it is a privilege to be able to support the continued success of the school, as it plays such an important role in our community.
My professional background as a behavioural therapist has involved me working with children on the autism spectrum or with challenging behaviours across multiple settings, both here in the UK and Australia. Throughout my career, I've collaborated with a range of health and educational professionals and appreciate that children do best when those around them work together. I'm therefore thrilled to be working with the dedicated team here at St Michael's on Wyre.
Jenny Burrow - Parent Governor
I am extremely keen to give something back to the school who have given so much to my child already, hence my application to be a parent governor. I believe that all children should benefit from an outstanding day to day experience at school, be in a safe and secure environment, which gives them the best opportunity to achieve their full academic potential. I am a qualified Chartered Accountant with over 25 years’ experience and currently I am a Corporate Partner in a large independent North West firm. Whilst I specialise in corporate clients, I still work with a number of charities, not-for-profit organisations and education clients, supporting them with numerus aspects. This I believe ideally places me to support the school’s governing body, interpreting the latest educational issues and best practice in Governance. In addition, I would offer commitment, enthusiasm and determination to work with the staff and as a link for communication between governors and parents.
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James Cornthwaite - Foundation Governor
I became a Foundation Governor in early 2023. I was brought up on the family dairy farm in nearby Out Rawcliffe and moved to Larbreck, just outside Great Eccleston, in 2018. I live there with my wife and 3 young children who all attend St Michael’s On Wyre School and Nursery. By day I am a Chartered Accountant and Chartered Tax Advisor specialising in Agriculture and Rural Business.
I have seen, first hand, the benefits that St Michael’s On Wyre School brings to our 3 children and I am very keen to support the School and its continued future development within the rural community of St Michael’s.