Governors

Parent Governors

Jacqui Fowler

James Upton

Vasileios Papachristos

Sarah Platts

- VACANCY -

Local Authority

Louise Upton

Head

Nicola Caley

Staff Governors

Jan Woolley

Partnership Governors

Joe Sim
Brian Stephenson

Co-Opted Governors

Paul Davies
Mark Fowler
Jo Pickering
Fiona Pierce- Williams
- VACANCY - 

The Eight ‘Link Governor’ Roles

Governor Attendance 2019/2020

Governor Attendance 2018/2019

Governor Attendance 2017/2018

Governor Attendance 2016/2017

Key: (Re) = Resigned (de) = Deceased

Governors Terms of Office

Resigned Governors

Register of Interests

Governors Code of Conduct

Please use this link to view: Governors Code of Conduct

Introducing The Governors

I am now a Co-opted Governor, although for five years I was a Parent Governor whilst my daughter was a student at Murray Park. I am a former Headteacher of two secondary schools. I left headship to become Head of Secondary School Improvement at Derby City Council before retiring from full-time work. For the next five years I was an educational consultant working with schools across Derby before ceasing that work in order to become Chair of Governors at Murray Park.

Paul Davies

Chair of Governors

I have spent the last 22 years looking after my 3 children who have all attended Murray Park School. The youngest is currently in year 11 working towards her GCSEs. I have a strong interest in SEN and pupil welfare and I am the Link Governor for Inclusion. I have been on a number of training courses to further my knowledge in this area. I have just become Vice Chair of the Governing Board.

Fiona Williams

Vice-Chair of Governors

I am a retired Director of Works Southern Derbyshire District Health Authority and Director of Works and Facilities Manager (Full Board Member) for the Derby City Hospital Trust / Royal Derby Hospital. I was Chair of the Governor Body of Murray Park School for 6 years until September 2017.

Joe Sim

Partnership Governor

I am a professional engineer and worked at Rolls-Royce for over 30 years. During my career I carried out a number of roles including leading large teams of engineers and programme managers in delivering capital projects around the world. Both of my children have attended Murray Park School, the youngest finishing in year 11 in 2013.

Brian Stephenson

Partnership Governor

My first job was in research with the Institute of Occupational Medicine (National Coal Board), but I realised that teaching was something I just had to do. I trained for Secondary, Biology/ Maths, moved into Further Education, (to work part time when my children were small) and then Higher Education. I taught Biology, Psychology, PE (theory), Health and Social Care (A level to undergraduate) then Teacher Training, postgraduate and Education Leadership. I was briefly an Ofsted inspector, and led Middle Leadership for the National College for School Leadership. I have spent 37 years teaching, learning, leading, studying and enjoyed it all, time to give something back.

Jo Pickering

Co-opted Governor

I was educated in Yorkshire before attending Teacher Training College at Dartford in Kent where I qualified as a PE Teacher. I worked in several schools before being appointed to the staff of Murray Park School when the city was reorganised in 1989.

Whilst working at the school I have had a variety of teaching positions including 2nd in PE and acting HOD before becoming a Head of Year in 2001. With the subsequent re-organisation of the Pastoral structure I became Assistant Community Director for Kestrel and then Communities and Enrichment Co-ordinator after a further restructure. I am now a member of the World Studies department teaching all subjects across KS3 and KS4 PSHE. I was also the staff representative on the PTA for 18 years and was responsible for numerous fundraising events.

Out of school, I have been Chair of the Derbyshire Schools Netball Committee since Easter 1989 where I have been involved in coaching, team managing and tournament organisation.

Jan Woolley

Staff Governor

I am a psychology student at the University of Derby with a son at Murray Park. I have spent 20 years within IT, first as a programmer with Rolls-Royce and later with HP and am now studying at the University of Derby where I am building a speciality in health psychology. I currently volunteer with the guided reading programme at the school and help the university deliver its digital learning experience.

Jacqui Fowler

Parent Governor

I am a IT portfolio manager for DXC, previously EDS and then HP, with over 20 years experience across industry sectors. I have led a number of technical programmes globally and, as a subject matter expert in delivering large business transformations, I work well at all levels of an organisation with a governance focus. My son currently attends Murray Park School, due to finish year 11 in 2020.

Mark Fowler

Co-opted Governor

I am an Engineer working at Bombardier. My role is in product performance and safety. I like investigating possible root causes of failures or near misses and this is also my approach in life. As a parent my role is to fully support my daughter and son who is now in Y1. My motto in life is to always be proactive. Knowledge is endless and I like to be a life-long learner. Education should be the number one priority of all societies as this is the only way to build a better future.

Vasileios Papachristos

I am interested in being a school governor to support the school and the students, my daughter included, to achieve successful outcomes.

I have worked in Higher Education in organisational leadership for 25 years at both the University of Nottingham and the University of Derby. I have worked in various roles, which have covered the end-to-end student journey: admissions, enrolment, assessment, student support as well as graduation. I have amassed many skills in this time – coaching, diplomacy, organisation and leadership to name but a few, which have enabled me to support staff as well as students in achieving their potential and enhancing their skills. I have managed small and large teams of staff across multiple sites.

My current role at the University of Derby is that of a Senior Strategic Advisor for the College of Arts, Humanities and Education. This role entails supporting the PVC Dean within the College in achieving their strategic aims and long term business planning as well as monitoring performance against KPIs. Working with the disciplines of primary and secondary education keeps me informed of what is happening both locally and nationally in schools and with teacher training which is useful to the role of governor.

Sarah Platts

James is a qualified Social Worker. He worked in the drugs and alcohol field for 10 years focusing on adult treatment, children in care, young offenders and young people in treatment. Until 2016 he was working as a practicing Social Worker in Derby and Safeguarding Children’s trainer in Derbyshire. James is now a Freelance Safeguarding trainer and consultant working for a range of organisations including the NSPCC and Alcohol Change UK. He regularly provides safeguarding training to schools and other organisations. James is a keen marathon runner (10 to date) and walker.

James Upton

I was originally a teacher in a primary school and then moved in the Local Education Authority as a Consultant. My responsibility was lead for Healthy Schools across Derby City and I worked closely with Murray Park to gain their Healthy Schools status many years ago! I worked within the PSHE team so have experience in PSHE, Relationship & Sex Education, Drug Education, Mental Health, Healthy Eating and Physical Activity.

I then moved into the Public Health team as a commissioner for children and young people, this gave me experience in children’s health more broadly including healthy weight and working in partnership with colleagues from Primary Care and the Clinical Commissioning Group.

My existing role is Head of the Local Learning and Improvement Hub for Sport England, we are a national organisation who are responsible for increasing levels of physical activity and reducing inactivity on a national scale. This entails me supporting local authorities across the country to work on system change in order to increase the chances of improving physical activity for their local communities.

My son has just started at Murray Park in Y7, so far so good! He is loving it and I would like the opportunity to become part of the Governing Body.

Louise Upton