Meet our Governors

Jackie McHanwell - Chair of Governors

I have retired from a career working with children, young people and families in various roles. As a social worker I have worked in several local authorities, and then in Barnardos I managed a number of services for vulnerable children and young people. I was regional manager for Children’s Fund and Connexions before moving to DfE. Here I worked on policies such as safeguarding in schools, home education and illegal schools, and was responsible for the regulation of independent schools.  I have been a school governor for many years in both primary and secondary schools and an academy. I am proud to be the current chair of governors at Fordley.

Brian Peutherer - Trust Governor

I work in Dudley as a health, safety and environment manager.  I am married, with two “grown-up” children; one studying for a master’s degree and the other studying percussion at conservatoire.  I enjoy nature and the outdoors.  When not working or helping to run a busy household, I try my hand at fly-fishing, gardening, reading and occasionally play golf.  I also keep bees, so can be busy managing my hives or collecting honey-bee swarms during the Summer months.  I firmly believe in giving all children a solid start in life, so that they can be the best that they can be.  A good education, balanced with other activities which challenge them and keep them motivated is essential.  That’s why I enjoy working with Fordley School so much – the school shares the same values as me.

Bert Coates - Parent Governor

I am a Security Engineering Manager with 20 years of experience in governance, risk management, and compliance across the Defence, Intelligence, Cyber Security, Automotive, Electronics, and Communications industries, and a passion for volunteering to STEM Education. I have two daughters at the school, and joined the School Governors Board as a Parent Governor to bring my experience to supporting the school to provide every opportunity for all students of Fordley School to excel and realise their fullest potential. I also hope to use my experience as a STEM Ambassador to support subject leads with experiences for students to enjoy more hands-on activities that show how STEM subjects are used in industry.

Information about our governing body

The structure and remit of the governing body: to hold strategic overview of the school and its' functions, as well as challenging the outcomes for pupils at all levels

Governors meet as a full governing body six times per year and each committee also meets six times per year.

Resources governors oversee the leadership and management of the physical building, healthy and safety, human resources (staffing) and finance.

Standards governors oversee the leadership and management of the curriculum provision and outcomes for pupils alongside, amongst many other areas, challenging the effective implementation of the pupil premium strategy, PE premium strategy and the school development plan.

Governors bring to Fordley Primary School a wide range of external experience such as  health and safety management, human resources, social work, education, leadership and much more.  The current governing body is a healthy mix of long standing governors and newer additions, all of whom have been fully trained on their role by the highly effective and skilled clerk to governors, Jacqui Sugden, and governors also regularly attend training delivered by the North Tyneside Learning Trust, Governor Services and Clennell Education Solutions covering key areas such as safeguarding, strategic leadership and management, asking challenging questions and much more.