Chairperson

(and Local Authority Governor)

Mrs Vicki Kavanagh

I was the head teacher of a thriving multi-cultural primary school in Sandwell, West Midlands for 11 years. The school was judged to be outstanding in September 2014, and during this time, developments in all aspects of school provision  allowed me to develop my own professionalism and to understand the key drivers in leading pupils to become outstanding learners.

More recently, I have been the Executive Head Teacher of a newly opened free school in Derby. Working for an academy, gave me invaluable experience of life outside a local authority, and being involved in developing a vision for a completely new school, allowed me to develop a new set of skills.

I am a Local Leader for Learning, ,and as a part of this role, I have successfully supported several schools requiring improvement or who have needed leadership  and curriculum support. I currently work for Lightwood’s Teaching Alliance in Sandwell to continue this role.

I have also recently worked as a School Improvement Adviser for the LA, allowing me to share and develop the best practice within my own school and in others I support. This has included representing the LA during Ofsted inspections.

I am also the Director of Smethwick Learning Community, which keeps me abreast of new educational developments and priorities.

My passion for developing creative and independent learners lies at the heart of my work, coupled with a relentless drive to allow staff and pupils to flourish and grow.

Areas of Expertise

• School strategic development.
• Using leadership and management tools effectively to drive up standards.
• School self- evaluation and school improvement planning.
• Data analysis and planning for future developments.
• Creative curriculum development
• Supporting independent and personalised learning.

Other relevant background information/experience

• I have held Literacy and Inclusion Leader posts.

• I have been a member of governing bodies for over 20 years.

• I was involved in a 3 year project known as Leaders for Learning ,which involved groups of school leaders from around the country being involved in specific school specific school improvement developments; my area of expertise was the thematic curriculum.

• Following the success of the project, I worked alongside LA officers to develop a thematic curriculum for Sandwell schools, delivering workshops for school clusters.

• As part of an LA network, I co- wrote a teaching and learning manual, which has been used successfully in my school and in other LA schools.

• I am part of the strategic management group for our local cluster of schools-soon to become its Learning Director.

• I am a head teacher mentor, and have been involved in all aspects of school provision as part of this role.

Vice Chair

(and Co-opted Governor)

Mrs C Green

I am thankful and feel privileged to have been elected as Parent Governor, becoming part of the school team at St Martin’s Primary School.  I live local and my two young boys attend the school.

By way of background, I have been working in the legal profession since 2005, qualifying as a solicitor in April 2009.  I worked within a high street practice, in the family department, advising on all aspects of family law.

To afford myself greater flexibility, balancing family time and work, I entered the insurance sector, providing in-house opinions on insurance policy documents and decisions.

I moved into the education sector in 2017, in order to present myself with a greater challenge and to offer a commitment to enhancing students’ practical knowledge and experience within the legal profession during their studies. I have developed an existing Programme enabling students to assist charities who have limited funds and resources.

As part of the Finance Committee, I aim to keep under review the financial stability of the school to ensure that important financial decisions are made in the best interests of all children.

My passion for establishing relationships to work together to help others, drives me to always look for opportunities to satisfy a child or adult’s commitment to learning.  I aim to bring my experience to assist in the development and continued commitment to promoting education in school and maintaining a safe, happy and thriving environment for all the children at St Martin’s.

 

Foundation Governors

Vacant position x 2

 Co-opted Governors

Mrs Pauline Allen

I am a teaching and learning adviser with a passion for engaging children and improving skills in all aspects of literacy.

In my roles as a lead literacy teacher, local authority school improvement consultant and with 14 years’ experience in the classroom, I have successfully supported schools in Sandwell, Birmingham and Shropshire to strengthen and develop their provision for English.

I currently work as an independent consultant and my remit includes audits, curriculum design, English leader and NQT support, planning effective learning journeys, in-class modelling and team-teaching, moderation and delivering practical CPD workshops to strengthen subject knowledge.

I am also a lead LA moderator for KS2 writing and have worked as a consultant for educational publishers in developing new materials and resources for schools.

I have known the leadership team and staff at St Martin’s for a number of years and I share the enthusiasm, positivity and high expectations that ensure that all pupils flourish and grow.  St Martin’s is a truly caring and inclusive school and I welcome the opportunity to support them in my role as Governor.

 

Mr Ieuan Cooksey

 

I am a Chartered Building Surveyor who works for a Birmingham-based design consultancy. I have several years’ experience of working within the education sector as a surveyor and delivering key capital development projects to enhance both school and academy provisions. This experience has helped me to understand some of the challenges within modern education settings and I hope that I can use this and further develop my experience as a governor at St Martin’s. 

 

Parent Governors

Mr J Alexander

Staff Governor

Mrs J Cooksey

 

 

 

 

 

 

Head Teacher Governor

Acting Head Teacher – Mrs K Lees

 

 

 

Additional Information regarding Structure and remit of the Governing Body

St Martins Board Structure

St Martin’s Register of Interests

Governing body attendance

Clerk to the Governors

Mrs N Lewis

Governor Services

SIPS Education