Welcome from the Wellgate Primary Governors

The aim of this page is to share some basic facts about our Governing Body and how governance works at Wellgate.  We hope it will provide some insight into the important role played by governors in decision making and in striving to ensure that the school is working effectively to create the very best possible conditions in which every pupil has the opportunity to flourish.

Chair of Governors - Mrs C Stringer 
Governing Body Members - Mrs S James (Vice Chair)

Carol Stringer, Chair of Governors
Sandra James, Vice-Chair of Governors
Aidan Begley
Sharon Burn
Karen Buttery
Jason Eaton
Joanne Eaton
Emily Lawrence
Jenny Mason
Parisa Nowshirvani
Katie Richardson
Liza Walker-Hay

Governor Documents
Statutory Details on the EduBase website can be viewed here - Governance Handbook and Competency Framework

Wellgate Primary School Governors: 
What we are looking for?
Who wants to be a School Governor? 
Guidelines for time commitment 



GOVERNOR DOCUMENTS
LGB Membership Details 2024/25​
Articles of Association and Memorandum
Annual Report 2021-2022
Attendance record 2020-2024

Mrs L Johnstone - Headteacher 

Hello my name is Mrs Johnstone and I am proud to be the Headteacher of Wellgate Primary School. This year I have started my first year as part of Team Wellgate and I am looking forward to welcoming and getting to know our new families this year. 

Mrs C Stringer - Chair of Governors 

Hello, my name is Carol Stringer and I am a Co-opted Governor.
My job was as a Business Support Manager for Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council and my teams of staff supported the work of Children’s Social Care and prior to that the School Improvement Team.
I took early retirement from BMBC in November 2016 and decided to become a school governor to continue my interests in school improvement and play a part in ensuring that all children have the best opportunities to fulfil their potential, whatever their ability.
My current role in school is Chair of the Governing Body (since March 2020), having previously been Vice Chair, which has been a huge learning experience for me and I am really appreciative of the help and support provided to me by the Wellgate Team.
I have specific responsibilities for Pupil Premium, SEND and Looked After Children, Sports Premium, Mental Health and Safeguarding.
My role is to work with staff members in a monitoring capacity to ensure that we all work together to deliver on the priorities of the School Improvement Plan. An important aspect is to ensure that all children receive the teaching and learning that they deserve, whatever their capacity to achieve.
​
I am a member of the following Committees:

• Quality of Education and Performance Committee 
• Finance Committee
• Pay Committee
• Governors’ Strategic Plan Group
• Headteacher Performance Panel

I enjoy working at Wellgate because everyone I come into contact with is friendly, helpful and all have an overwhelming passion for the best possible outcomes for all of the children. Wellgate is a happy place and this shines through the children who work hard, play hard and strive to succeed, guided by staff who really care.
I work hard to ensure that I have all the information I need to be able to carry out my governor role efficiently and effectively, and I feel able to provide respectful challenge where needed. Wellgate is a school that welcomes questions and staff are always willing to provide as much detail and patient explanation as required.
The best part of my job is being a part of a great team of people who all work collectively to nurture, support and develop our children into confident, knowledgeable, happy citizens with all the skills that they need to succeed in an adult world.

Mrs K Buttery  

Hi! I’m Karen Buttery. I am a Co-opted Governor and Chair of the Finance Committee.  
I currently work for Barnsley Council as a Project Manager in the Culture and Visitor Economy service which I find really exciting and interesting. I am passionate about local history and enjoy creative hobbies. My background is in data, business improvement and performance and risk management.  
I believe in the importance of providing excellent education for all children. I am proud to be part of Team Wellgate. 

Mrs S James - Vice Chair of Governors 

Hello! My name is Sandra James and I am a Co-opted Governor.
As part of my role in school, I contribute to the work of the Full Governing Board and I am a member of a number of Committees. These include:
•            Quality of Education and Performance Committee 
•            Pay Committee
•            Governors’ Strategic Plan Group
•            Head teacher Performance Panel
I am also a Link Governor, working alongside staff, with responsibility for:
•            Reading
•            Writing
•            Key Stage 2
•            Curriculum
•            Safeguarding
I oversee the Induction of new governors to help them settle into their role.

When circumstances allow, I work as a volunteer in the classroom, most recently in Year 5.  As a retired life-long teacher, I especially enjoy this opportunity to share in the children’s learning.

I enjoy working at Wellgate because I love learning and I am passionate about how education, if done well, can transform lives. I find it highly rewarding to work with a school which shares my vision of lifelong learning, and it is a privilege to see children flourish in a rich environment which places all children and their needs at its heart.  Senior Leaders ensure that Wellgate is a school with an outstanding Team ethic, where everyone works tirelessly to make it a safe and happy place for all children to have the best possible learning experience, one which will give them a rich store of knowledge, skills and personal qualities to take forward into their future.  Governors at Wellgate are welcomed and acknowledged as part of the ‘Team’ and we feel that we achieve a good balance of ‘support’ and ‘constructive challenge’ in our governance roles.

I work hard to know the school well and to make sure that as governors we keep track of new developments in the constantly changing world of education through regular training.

The best part of my job is the opportunity to work with a team of talented and dedicated people, striving to provide high quality Teaching and Learning for our pupils; to see children feeling safe and happy in school, engaged in their learning, experiencing success, and to see them grow into thoughtful, confident young people as they move through the school.

Miss P Nowshirvani - Staff Governor 

Hello! My name is Parisa Nowshirvani and I am a Staff Governor. My roles in school also include being a member of the Senior Leadership Team as Key stage One Phase Leader. I currently teach Year One and I lead PSHEE across school.
I work as part of a team within the Governing Body to support the improvement of the school as well as celebrating the successes it has. I hope to contribute to the work of the Governing Body further in future by becoming a Link Governor where I will have specific responsibility for an area of school life.

I enjoy working at Wellgate because every day I am given the opportunity to teach children new concepts that will help them throughout their life. I work with many colleagues who are caring, dedicated and always willing to support me. I am able to support the wider school community by being a part of the Governing Body.

I work hard to plan and teach a range of lessons that meet the needs of all of the children in my class. I ensure that all children in school are kept safe and enjoy their learning journey.
​
In my role as a Governor, I work hard to contribute to the work that the Governing Body does by contributing to meetings and asking the necessary questions. I am also a part of the Stakeholder Group within the governing body. As this is a new role for me, I also work hard to keep up to date with any training and developments that I need to be a part of to be a successful. I am looking forward to my term of office as it is a new role and I am always looking for ways to further develop myself professionally. Being a Staff Governor will give me the opportunity to support the strategic direction of the school in a different capacity.

Mother E. Lawrence 

Hello, my name is Mother Emily Lawrence and I am in my second year of Curacy as Assistant Curate of the United Benefice of Darton with Staincross and Mapplewell. It is an enormous privilege to work with the governors in ensuring that pupils who attend Wellgate grow to be the best they can be in a safe and caring environment. 
Before I was Ordained, I worked as a Senior Healthcare Assistant in the South of England. I have fallen in love with Yorkshire and don't want to leave now!
I will be working with Miss Nowshirvani to ensure that pupils have good Personal and Social Education, not only learning to be mindful of their physical health and wellbeing, but learning about other faiths, their own faith and beliefs and also feelings and mental wellbeing which is extremely important in today's busy society. I am extremely proud of the pupils at this school.
In my spare time, I enjoy going to see shows and the Cinema, swimming and catching up with friends.

Mrs J Eaton

Hello, my name is Joanne Eaton and I am a Co-opted Governor at Wellgate. I am also a Teaching Assistant in Year 4 and the Chair of Friends of Wellgate.
​
My role in school is to contribute to the work of the Governing Body. I am a member of the Finance Committee and Stakeholder Group. I am also the Link Governor for Art. 

I enjoy working at Wellgate because I am part of an amazing team who make the most challenging days special. I find my role as a T.A extremely rewarding. I love being able to spend time with children and observe them becoming successful, independent learners. I work hard to help all children succeed and encourage them to always try their best. 
 
In my role as a Governor, I work hard to contribute to the work of the Governing Body and keep up to date with training and development which will lead me to be successful in this role. I am looking forward to being a Governor at Wellgate because it will be interesting to see school from the perspective of the Governing Body rather than as a T.A.

Mr A Begley

Hi, my name is Aidan Begley and I am a co-opted Governor and I am part of the Finance Committee at Wellgate. I currently work at Sheffield Hallam University as a Business Analyst, where I am part of a team which implements projects across all levels of the university for the benefit of staff and students alike.
 
I joined Team Wellgate in 2018 and have really enjoyed being able to develop my knowledge of governance within an educational environment over these past four years.
 
Being a co-opted Governor has also allowed me to be able to bring a number of different skills from my background within the public and private sector to help support the school.
 
This has been as part of team a of Governors who have had to deal with the challenges of both an Ofsted inspection and the unforeseen complexities and challenges the school has had to face during and after the Covid pandemic.
 
I look forward to being able to expand and develop these skills even further for the benefit of Wellgate over the next four years as part of term of office.

Ms. Sharon Burn

Mrs L Hay

Hello. My name is Liza Hay.

I am a Parent Governor at Wellgate Primary School. My background is in Personal Finance. I work in the Financial Services Industry. My focus is to build relationships with clients and ensure that they have a complete picture of their own financial health and understand what they need to do financially to achieve their aspirations.

My two children have now left Wellgate. However, I strongly believe that the team at Wellgate have been instrumental in ensuring that they have the tools and knowledge to progress and achieve anything they wish. This has been done in a safe & caring environment. As a Governor, I want all children at Wellgate to achieve their true potential no matter their circumstances so all can move on into the future as happy, secure and confident individuals.

Mr J Eaton 

Ms. J Mason

Hello!
My name is Jenny Mason and I am a Co-opted Governor...
…A very newly appointed one! I joined Wellgate Primary School in June 2022 and I am excited to begin my first role as a School Governor. I am lucky enough to join an established and committed Governing Board, who have a true passion and enthusiasm for the children and staff of Wellgate. As a new Governor, my focus initially is to meet the Wellgate Community, and then to ensure I have a full understanding of the school’s requirements, strengths and any areas of improvement they may have. From there, my aim will be to review how I can support these ambitions and/or barriers to excellence through strategic support to the school, their staff team and ultimately their students.
My working background is in education and training, where I spent several years working with young people via Apprenticeship programs and employment based learning. Within the last eight years, my career has shifted to more Commercially based roles. I worked in sales for a global logistics organisation for three years, but now work as a Commercial Manager within the food industry.
I enjoy working at Wellgate because I genuinely believe that it lives and breathes it’s ethos of cultivating successful learners and empowering children to become confident young people. I see a great deal of passion and investment from staff into the students, and equally I am impressed following any interactions I have with their students. Being so new to the role, I am not in a position to comment on what areas of the role I enjoy most at this stage, so for now I will enjoy the relative pace of the induction process until I am fully embedded!