Governance

Welcome to our Governance section.

Our governors play a vital role in setting the strategic direction of the school, ensuring accountability, and overseeing the school’s financial performance. We are committed to openness and transparency.

This page provides all statutory governance information required by the Department for Education.

Message from the Chair of Governors

On behalf of the Board of Governors, I welcome this opportunity to briefly introduce you to the work the Governing Body undertakes to ensure that your child(ren) will receive a sound primary school education.

The Governing Body has a range of powers and duties laid down by various Education Acts. In the main, these responsibilities relate to:

Setting targets and promoting high standards of educational achievement
Setting the strategic framework within which the school operates
Management of the school’s delegated budget
Ensuring that the curriculum for the school is balanced and broadly based

Governors discharge the above responsibilities, together with many others, through a Governing Body meeting each term. These formal meetings are supplemented by a series of informal sub committee-meetings dealing with more specific issues.

Governors adopt, review and monitor a range of policies that govern the operation of the school including Health and Safety, Behaviour, Curriculum and Performance Management.

Staff, pupils, parents and governors work together to ensure that all our pupils have the opportunity to develop to their full potential.

The Governing Body is, therefore, rightly proud of the achievements of the school, not only in terms of high academic results, but also in the solid foundations it provides in preparing all our pupils for the remainder of their formative education.

Contacting the Governing Board

If you wish to contact the Chair of Governors, please email the school office marked FAO: Chair of Governors.

Our Governing Body

What is it?

All schools in England have a Governing Body which is responsible for overseeing many of the strategic decisions of the school. A key role is to act as a ‘critical friend’: to support, to challenge, to ask questions, ultimately to represent the school community.

The Governing Body works in close partnership with the Headteacher, staff and the Local Authority. Whilst the Headteacher is, of course, responsible for the day to day running of the school, the governors are involved with such things as staffing, curriculum, school buildings and finance. It ensures the school functions well and maintains the proper range of academic and social objectives.

Membership of the Governing Body includes parents, teaching staff and representatives from the local community and the Local Authority. The Governing Body meets at least once each term; additionally, there are sub-committees which meet more frequently.

Current Governors & Those Who Have Served in the Last 12 Months

Name	Category	Appointing Body	Term of Office	Responsibilities / Roles
Kevin Ellard	Co-opted	School	July 2026 - July 2030	Chair, Curriculum Committee, SEC, Appraisal, Achievement
Joanne Parker	Co-opted	School	July 2025 - July 2029	Vice Chair, Curriculum Committee Inclusion (SEND & DAP)
John Hrycak	Local Authority	LA	Nov 2022 - Nov 2026	Vice Chair, Chair of Resources Committee
Jo Margerison	Staff	School	Dec 2025 - Dev 2029	Curriculum Committee, PE & School Sports
Gemma Roberts-Jones	Parent	School	Sept 2022 - Sept 2026	Resources committee, Pay committee, Safeguarding, SFVS
Alison Kulbaki	Co-opted	School	March 2025 - March 2029	Curriculum committee, SEC, Appraisal, English
Emma Thompson	Parent	School	Sept 2024 - Sept 2028	Curriculum committee, Personal Development & Wellbeing
Julie Lowes	Community	School	Nov 2024 - Nov 2028	Resources committee, SEC, Appraisal, SFVS, Inclusion (SEND & DAP)
Elizabeth Hodgkinson	Co-opted	School	Feb 2016 - Nov 2026	Chair
Fran Foss	Staff	School	Dec 2017 - March 2026	Curriculum & Standards Committee
Rebecca Clarke	Co-opted	School	March 2025 - June 2026	Curriculum & Standards Committee, Pay Committee

3. Register of Interests (Pecuniary & Personal Interests)

Governor	Business / Pecuniary Interests	Governance in Other Schools	Relationships with Staff
Joanne Parker	None declared	No	No
John Hrycak	None declared	No	No
Jo Margerison	None declared	No	Staff member
Gemma Roberts-Jones	None declared	No	No
Alison Kulbaki	None declared	No	No
Emma Thompson	None declared	No	No
Julie Lowes	None declared	No	No
Kevin Ellard	None declared	Yes - Grange Primary School	No

4. Governance Attendance (2025-26)

Governor	Full Governing Board Attendance	Committee Attendance
Elizabeth Hodgkinson	2/3	3/3
Joanne Parker	3/3	3/3
John Hrycak	3/3	3/3
Jo Margerison	3/3	3/3
Francesca Foss	3/3	1/3
Gemma Roberts-Jones	1/3	2/3
Rebecca Clarke	1/2*	2/2
Alison Kulbaki	2/2*	2/2
Emma Thompson	3/3	3/3
Julie Lowes	3/3	3/3

Meet our Governors

Mr K Ellard - Chair of Governors

Information to follow

Miss J Parker - Vice Chair

I am a Co-opted Governor and have been a member of the PTA for 6 years. I was previously a parent Governor while my son attended Fulwood & Cadley.

I currently work in Higher Education in an administrative role. I enjoy walking my dogs and spending time with my family. I have recently taken up crochet and seem to have become a little obsessed with it so have a project on the go most of the time – I’ve even managed to make something that I can actually wear! Being part of the school community is something I find very rewarding, and it is lovely to see that there is a happy and committed atmosphere within school which I believe is fundamental to children’s learning and wellbeing.

Mr. J Hrycak - Vice Chair

I am a Local Authority Governor. I spent eight years in child protection social work and five years teaching in primary schools both in the UK and abroad. I currently work at the University of Central Lancashire where I teach and look after students in a pastoral capacity. Originally from Bury near Manchester, I have lived here in Preston for over 30 years. I believe that we should always be looking to learn and be the best we can be. With that in mind, my hope is that I can bring my knowledge of what is best for our young children to school and learn something from the experience in return. I am looking forward to working with all governors and staff for the benefit of the children and the school.

Mrs. J Margerison

I am the Staff Governor on the Governing Board. I have been associated with school for the past 25 years, firstly as a parent, then as a parent helper and in 2000 I became a member of staff. I am currently a HLTA (Higher Level Teaching Assistant) covering classes for teachers PPA sessions, illness and courses.

I look forward to working with the Governing Body and being involved in a side of the school that I have not had experience of.

Mrs. G Roberts-Jones

Mrs. A Kulbaki

I am a co-opted Governor. I am also a former pupil and my Mum, Jean Saul, was a teaching assistant at the school for over 30 years. I taught French for many years at Fulwood Academy and at Cardinal Newman College. I have recently retired and am keen to have a voluntary role which is still rooted in education. I am hoping that my experience as a classroom practitioner and as a teacher-trainer will be of benefit to the school. I am looking forward to working with the Governing body.

Miss E Thompson

I am a parent governor; I currently have 3 children that attend the school.

I work within Business Intelligence for the NHS. Aside from analysing data I have a strong interest in the mental health of not just children but the whole school family.

I am a trained Mental Health First Aider and am proud that my son is a Wellbeing Warrior within school. In my spare time I love to be creative, something which I find supports my own mental health.

Mrs. J Lowes

I am a Co-opted Governor. I have lived in Fulwood for over 30 years and I currently work as a Project Manger in Logistics.

I enjoy walking, baking, watching Preston North End, spending time with my family and I am a keen knitter.

I am looking forward to working with the staff and governors at the schoolwork the benefit of the children, school and local community