Governing Body

Our Governing Body provides strategic direction to the school and both supports and challenges our senior leaders so that Tarleton Community is an effective school.  Our governors have a wealth of experience and are passionate about their work.

Donna Roberts (Chair Of Governors)

image

Donna is a proud parent of two daughters, both of whom have attended TCP.  She has been actively involved with the school for the past 13 years, serving as Vice Chair and Secretary of the Friends of TCP.

Donna brings a wealth of experience from her many years working in the NHS , where she developed expertise in performance management, data analysis, and service development. These skills enable her to confidently challenge, make informed decisions, and think creatively when developing solutions as a governor.

She firmly believes that a school that works closely with parents and the community  allows children to enjoy a rich education beyond the classroom and reach their full potential. 🌍✨

Andrea Burton

image

Andrea was appointed SEND Governor in September 2021 and brings extensive experience in SEND provision, having worked in a variety of roles in education, including as a specialist teacher for the local authority.

As a parent herself, Andrea is passionate about helping the school thrive in an inclusive and friendly way, ensuring every child has opportunities to shine.

Outside of school, she enjoys dog walks , family camping trips, and is a dedicated football and rugby  spectating mum! 🐕⛺🏉

Paul Cook

image

Paul is a Director at UKGlobal Risk Solutions Ltd, a specialist commercial insurance brokerage. He is an Associate of the Chartered Insurance Institute 📜 and a Chartered Insurance Broker. Originally from Newcastle, Paul has called the village home since 2013 and is a proud parent to one child attending TCP.

Passionate about education, Paul is committed to developing the school in the best interests of its pupils and building on the excellent foundations the school has established over recent years. Outside of work, he enjoys playing golf and spending quality time with his family. ⛳ 👨‍👩‍👧

Francesca Donaghy-Sims

image

Francesca comes from a legal background, having qualified as a solicitor in 2019. As a parent of a child currently attending TCP, she has seen first-hand the positive impact the school has on its pupils and is delighted to support its continued development as a governor. 

Francesca is passionate about helping the school community thrive and is committed to supporting the school in ensuring that all children are able to reach their full potential. She is proud to play a role in contributing to the future success of TCP and its pupils. 

In her spare time, Francesca enjoys spending quality time with her family and keeping active at the gym. 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦💪

Ben Thomas

image

Ben is a Lecturer in Primary Education at Edge Hill University and a fully qualified primary teacher with several years of classroom experience. Before moving into Higher Education, Ben spent ten years teaching at international and German schools in Cologne and Munich, as well as two years at a large infant school in Southport.

Originally from Liverpool, Ben is a proud dad to three children—a daughter and identical twin boys—who certainly keep him on his toes! 

Ben is passionate about improving the life chances of future generations and is committed to supporting the staff at TCP to ensure that every pupil has the opportunity to reach their full potential. His professional interests include Primary Languages, EAL, curriculum development and environmental education. Outside of work, he is a keen supporter of Liverpool FC and enjoys looking after his ever-growing collection of houseplants. ⚽🌱

Nicola Greig

image

Nikki is a mum to two boys, one of whom attends TCP. She is a peripatetic music teacher, musical director and professional musician. Throughout her teaching career, Nikki has travelled widely as a musician and has taught in a range of educational settings, from early years through to university-level students. She believes this breadth of experience brings valuable insight to the governing team and feels honoured to play a part in supporting the school’s continued success.

Nikki has a real passion for the arts and is a strong advocate for giving children as many creative opportunities as possible—encouraging them to express themselves, be confident in who they are, and develop a love of learning. She is excited to support and champion this already thriving school and is committed to serving both the school and the wonderful community it is part of.

Outside of music, Nikki loves spending time in nature, getting outdoors with her family whenever she can, and rescuing as many bunnies as possible. 🌿🎶🐰

 

Mel Barrow

image

Mel has been a valued member of Team TCP for the past five years. She is passionate about supporting children’s education and helping them succeed, something that shines through in her role as a Learning Teaching Assistant. Mel is also the proud mum of two girls who attend TCP. Outside of school, she enjoys spending time with her family, listening to music, and gardening. 🌱🎶

James Settle (Vice Chair of Governors)

image

James Settle is a qualified Landscape Architect with extensive experience designing and delivering projects across the UK and internationally. With a keen eye for detail and a passion for creating attractive, functional spaces, he has developed strong expertise in transforming landscapes and public environments. James is currently involved in large-scale public realm projects, including work on the latest school building programme with Lancashire County Council.

As a parent of a child attending TCP, James understands both the opportunities and challenges within the school system. He is committed to supporting his child’s education and wellbeing, while also contributing to the wider school community.

Through his professional experience and dedication to the community, James is keen to use his skills and insight to help enhance the learning environment and opportunities available to all pupils at the school. 🏗️📐

Dr. Eliza Morgan

image

Eliza has previously had a child at the school and served as a trustee for the Axia Learning Alliance, demonstrating her strong commitment to and passion for the continued success of our school community.

She brings over twenty years of experience in executive education within universities, where she has designed programmes to meet the skills needs of employees, employers, sectors and regions. As Head of Executive Education, Eliza led diverse teams and delivered complex, multi-partner projects.

More recently, Eliza has become a Director and Co-Founder of Honey & Morgan, a boutique professional development consultancy based in the North West. Through her extensive professional experience and strategic insight, she brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to our Governing Body. 🎓

 
 

Justine Anderson

image

Justine has been a resident of the village since 2020 and is a parent of a child at TCP. She values the opportunity to contribute to the school community and support the education of its children. Having already seen the positive impact TCP has had on her own child, Justine is passionate about helping the school continue to nurture pupils and support their future success. She looks forward to being part of the school’s continued journey and achievements. 🌟

Chris Upton O.B.E. (Headteacher)

image

Chris is an experienced Headteacher who is deeply passionate about education and committed to ensuring the very best for the children and community of TCP. He is the proud father of three boys, as well as Amelie, his daughter.

Chris strongly believes in the transformational impact that sport and music can have on young people, helping to build confidence and foster a lifelong love of the arts. He has worked closely with colleagues to establish the Axia Learning Alliance, Lancashire’s first Co-operative Foundation Trust, created to drive educational standards and promote the benefits of collaborative learning.

In recognition of his dedication to education, Chris was awarded an OBE in the King’s first New Year Honours List for services to education. 🎓

 
 

Janette Higson (Deputy Headteacher)

image

Janette has been a dedicated member of Team TCP for 23 years. In her role as Deputy Headteacher, she relishes the variety and challenge that each day in school life brings. As our SENDCo and Curriculum Leader, Janette is passionate about supporting children with additional needs and ensuring every pupil has the opportunity to reach their full potential.

She also works closely with the Governing Body, sharing ideas and providing a valuable link between governors and school staff. Janette has a keen interest in Health and Safety and is well known for bringing energy and enthusiasm to PE—especially when teaching the Haka!

Janette is the proud mum of two daughters who are both at university and thriving. In her spare time, she enjoys swimming, listening to rock music, and spending quality time with family and friends. 🏊‍♀️🎸

Governing Body Diversity Indicators

What do we do?

As a Governing Body, we are expected to have a strong focus on three core responsibilities:

  1. Ensuring clarity of vision
  2. Holding the Headteacher to account for the educational performance of the school and its pupils
  3. Overseeing the financial performance of the school and making sure its money is well spent

 

We are responsible for the conduct of the school and have to ensure that the education provided, and the way in which the children, staff and parents are treated, are in accordance with the law and with the various regulations laid down by the authorities.

 

We meet each half term as a whole governing body having recently changed our structure to focus on matters involving the curriculum, standards, behaviour and safeguarding in the first half term of each term and resources, financial matters, buildings and health and safety in the second half term of each term.  Should we need to, we set up working groups to carry out specific work and report back to the Governing Body.

 

Click on the links below to find out more about our Governing Body.

governor interests & attendance 2024-25

 

governor interests & attendance 2025-26

Statement of behavioural principles