Meet the School Committee Members

 

Lesley Traves

I have worked in Education for over 30 years. I was formerly a deputy head teacher and a head teacher in St Helens. During my time as head at Rivington Primary I led the school to Beacon Status and an Outstanding Ofsted grade. From September 2005 Until August 2015 I held leadership roles for CfBT Education Trust, who were contracted to deliver all school, post 16 and ITT inspections in the North of England, spending the last 4 years as Head of Inspections. This entailed responsibility for by managing an 11.5m a year contract for Ofsted and delivering over 3,000 inspections a year. In 2015 Ofsted graded CfBT as an outstanding contractor. Education is my lifelong passion and I currently work as an Associate Consultant using my expertise in training and developing school leaders.

 

Sarah McNamara

I am married with two children (and a dog), our eldest child is currently at St Michael with St Thomas Church of England Primary School, he loves the school and is receiving an outstanding education, our daughter will start in September 2020.

I am a Registered Midwife and Senior University Lecturer at LJMU and I have a keen passion for health and science in primary education. Health education enhances a child's knowledge, skills, and positive attitudes about health (physical and mental) that stays with them throughout their life. In an ever increasingly technological world, a deep understanding of science, technology and mathematics is essential.

As a school committee member, I am keen to support the link of learning to the real world and in doing so increase a child's motivation to work hard and bring more relevance to their learning. I hope to support the School in challenging gender stereotyping about jobs and school subjects and broadening a child's aspirations towards learning.

 

Rev Linda Dawkin

Linda is the vicar at St Michael with St Thomas. She leads worship at the school on a weekly basis and is also a parent of the school.

 

Alice Chippendale

Alice is the staff elected governor and is also the Assistant Headteacher at the school with responsibility for KS2.


Michelle Slingsby

Michelle has been the Headteacher at St Michael with St Thomas CE Primary School since September 2018.

Miss S Dunne

I have worked in education for 14 years. I initially trained as a Secondary Design and Technology teacher. After my NQT year, I quickly decided I enjoyed working with children with SEN and took a number of additional qualifications including an MA to allow me to specialise in this area. For the past 10 years I have worked mainly in primary SEN roles as an SEN teacher and SENCO. I currently work as a Specialist Advisory Teacher for a local authority, advising schools on supporting children with SEN and delivering training to teachers on all areas of SEN. 

 I have worked in schools all over the world, in countries such as Egypt, Kenya and Russia. I recently moved to Widnes to from Blackpool to live closer to my work and family. I am keen to be involved with the local community, as well as volunteering on the committee I also work with a local Rainbows group.

Prior to teaching I worked in the clothing industry for companies such as Shop Direct, Mothercare and Matalan as a merchandiser where I was responsible for analysing sales and managing budgets. The skills I learned in these roles have been incredibly useful when I have worked in schools enabling me to analyse pupil attainment data and effectively manage department budgets. 

I am looking forward working with the school committee and using my knowledge and skills to support the continued growth of St Michael with  St Thomas.

 

Miss N Ellis

Having attended St Michael with St Thomas primary school many years ago, I was thrilled to be able to send my daughter here in 2019 to begin her education. The school has always been an integral part of the local community with many generations of pupils growing up and seeing their own children thrive here and as parents then become grandparents, the sense of togetherness has always shone through.

I have been a primary school teacher in nearby St Helens for over twenty-five years and have held many different teaching and management roles in my career so far. I am passionate about the value of education in children’s early years and believe that the ethos and values so easily identifiable at St Michael with St Thomas’ give our local children the most fantastic start to their educational journey and encourages aspirations that will be with them for a lifetime.

As a school committee member and a local resident, I am pleased to represent the parents and the children to help the school continue to grow and succeed. I feel that in our busy, modern lives, the school is a consistent and valuable presence for our children which we should support and encourage as it gives them the best opportunities, experiences and chances to become the future citizens of the global community.






 

 

 

 

 

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