Our governors (ID 1137)

• Deepak Agnihotri
  Co-opted Governor and Chair of Governors.
  Deepak Agnihotri

  My name is Deepak Agnihotri. I am a Training Program Director for Health Education England. I am passionate about quality improvement and the clinical leadership provided by advanced clinical practitioners to provide innovative and person-centered care to people, meeting the needs of all our communities. In my work I use prescribing skills and knowledge to help people with Dementia and Learning disabilities.

• Laura Goodwin
  Co-opted Governor
  Laura Goodwin

  After being a staff member at St James' for 12 years, I successfully secured a promotion as deputy headteacher at a Tameside school just up the road. I have much expertise to offer and a strong connection with the St James' community which I want to continue.

• Tina Howarth
  Foundation Governor
  Tina Howarth

  I am proud to be a church warden at St James Church, just next door to school and keen to nurture and encourage the links we have with the school and the local comunity. I have worked in local schools and have led the Scout groups that meet regularly at the church.

• Natalie Jayson
  Co-opted Governor
  Natalie Jayson

  My name is Natalie Jayson. My current role is as Professional Tutor and Maths tutor for the Primary PGCE at the University of Manchester. St James' is one of the schools in my cluster and so I already work closely with your school and staff in the training and support of our students. My role involves both the leading of a core curriculum subject within the course and work with our partnership schools. Prior to starting my current role, in September 2021, I worked within primary schools for over twenty-five years, most recently as a deputy head teacher. Outside of my role at UoM I work with an NCETM Maths Hub as a Local Leader of Maths Education. In this role I lead training, and work with schools to develop mathematical pedagogy and staff subject knowledge. I also work to deliver ECT training and support on NPQ specialist courses.

  In addition, I have worked closely with governing bodies in previous roles, both through strategic planning as a senior leader and also as a staff governor. I therefore understand the importance of commitment to this role.

• Julie Lowe
  Staff Governor
  Julie Lowe

  My name is Julie Lowe and I have been a teaching assistant as St James' for 25 years. I started working at St James' because both of my daughters attended this fantastic school.

  I work in Year 6. I think this is the best job in the world. I have been a member of the governing body for many years and I feel strongly about the ethos and education which the school offers. I am passionate about St James' and I have seen it grow from strength to strength over the years. I like to throw myself into lots of activities around school: fairs, trips, reorganising, fundraising, celebrations and shows as I am a firm believer in developing the whole child. I truly believe that our children never leave St James' - they are always a member of our family, just more grown up.

• Reverend Dr Paul Monk
  Vicar of Ashton and Team Rector of the Parish of the Good Shepherd
  Reverend Dr Paul Monk

• Mrs Bernadette Reid
  Co-opted Governor
  Mrs Bernadette Reid

  My name is Bernadette Reid. I am a retired nurse. I believe that the two most important things in life are health and education. Having spent 27 years working as a health care professional, I enjoy serving my community as a school governor. Having raised two children of my own, who both went through the local authority education system I know what a difference an excellent governing body, head teacher and school can make in a child's life. I also know that, after their parents, the most important influence in a child's life is their teacher. I have agreed to take a special interest in languages, craft and design and safeguarding and health and safety. These are not random choices: because I am an enthusiastic crafter and my daughter speaks five languages. Though I have little aptitude for languages myself, I realise the importance of languages in a diverse community. The first duty of any school is safety and I relish involvement in this area using the knowledge I gained as a health visitor.

• Andrew Rhodes
  Co-opted Governor
  Andrew Rhodes

  Andrew has worked in education for 18 years since gaining his 1st Class Honors Degree in Primary Education. For the last 16 years he has been within leadership roles, holding a range of TLR's and Senior Leadership posts; most recently a Headteacher. Through his roles as a Specialist Leader of Education (SLE), Basic Skills Quality Mark Assessor, Guest Lecturer at Leeds Beckett University and trained facilitator for a range of National organisations such as Tribal, OLEVI and Best Practice Network, he has provided an extensive range of School-to-School support. In addition, Andrew has delivered NPQ training sessions, designed a range of bespoke training courses/programs within his own school that have been shared externally and worked with a diverse range of teachers/leaders within primary, secondary and specialist educational settings. Currently Andrew works part time as a Professional Tutor on a University Primary PGCE Program and in September 2022 launched his own educational entity "Redefining Education Ltd" which aims to support schools, trusts, teachers and leaders to Reflect, Rethink and Transform. In October 2022 he was made a Fellow of the Chartered College of teaching in recognition of his significant and sustained contribution to the teaching profession, and he has been commissioned as an Online Leadership Performance Coach for leaders undertaking their NPQH. (www.redefiningeducationltd.co.uk)

• James Rolt
  Headteacher
  James Rolt

  My name is James Rolt and I have been the headteacher of this wonderful school since September 2021.