Governor pen portraits

Mrs Gill Fletcher	I am a retired teacher and have lived in Darrington since 1988 and am a foundation governor representing Darrington church and a member of the church choir. Along with music I also enjoy a variety of sporting activities. My son attended Darrington School and I have served on the governing body previously as a parent governor. In my role as foundation governor, I run Darrington Collective Worship Committee, which is made up of pupils from all years .We work to promote Christian values within the school and the local community and to foster links between church and the school. We also take a lead in promoting activities related to our link with Buhemba primary school in the Diocese of Mara in Tanzania . As a member of the Standards and Pupils committee, I aim to work tirelessly to assist staff, parents and governors in ensuring that all pupils of Darrington School receive a world class education and move on to secondary school as happy, confident, resilient people with a lifelong love of learning.
Mrs Michelle Wraith	I am currently in my sixth year as a co-opted governor having previously served a four year term as a parent governor. I am a part time supply and catch up interventions teacher at Darrington school working in all year groups but mainly Team Eagles. Prior to this I was an Education Consultant working with both Education Bradford and Andrell Education. For most of my teaching career I have also been a member of the Senior Leadership team including a short time as Acting Deputy. I have lived in Darrington for fifteen years;both my sons attended this school and have many happy memories of their primary years. Some of you may know me from my time running the local ‘mums and tots’ group a number of years ago now or for my volunteer work with the Feast & Fayre committee. As a member of the Governing Board I am chair of the Pupils and Standards Committee and have responsibility for matters related to the ‘Governor Development Plan’, curriculum coverage and assessment data. For the past nine years in my role as governor, I have also led the school council which I have thoroughly enjoyed and we have raised lots of money for charities through various fundraising activities. I am currently the link governor for the exciting new OPAL project which aims to enhance playtime experiences for all pupils
Mr Ian Brown	Hello I am a co-opted Governor to Darrington C of E Primary School. I am a proud Yorkshire man who lives in Pontefract with my wife and have a strong link to Darrington through my family. Both of my grandchildren have attended the school and I have a grandchild who is not at school yet. I am retired from full time work but do lots of things that help the local and wider community. For example, I was a magistrate until I reached the mandatory retirement age serving in Pontefract, Wakefield and Leeds. Before I retired, I had a long career at Yorkshire Imperial Metals, Leeds City Council and Yorkshire Water. I am a qualified accountant by training. I have been a school governor since my own two children were at school. My first Governor role was at Halfpenny Lane School in Pontefract as a parent governor. When my children left junior school I was elected as a parent Governor and then at Kings High School. I left both these roles in 1991. In 2002 as part of a Government initiative I took a Governor role at a school in Doncaster that had just gone into Special Measures. After some difficult decisions and hard work by the staff and Governors the school was rated good three years later, and in 2010 outstanding and again in 2015. It has now converted to an Academy along with two other schools. I am still very much involved in that school. In my spare time I am a keen gardener, like making our home habitable, enjoy Nordic walking, getting afloat and most of all family life.
Mrs Lynne Davies	Hello I am a retired teacher. It seems a long time ago that, as a 16 year old teenager, I decided that my life’s work was to be a teacher of Religious Studies. It is a decision that I will never regret as it has been a joy and a privilege to explore the thoughts, ideas and questions that young people have about the fundamental questions of life. It was through this work that I met and worked with both Gill Fletcher and Lyndsay Ranby. A part of my Department’s role was to also teach Personal, Social, Health and Relationships Education, which will become a part of the curriculum for all Key Stages this year. I have two granddaughter who attend Darrington School, so when an opportunity arose that allowed me to contribute to the Governing Body I was delighted to accept. This is my first year as a governor and I am a member of the Standards and Pupils Committee. I am also a member of St Giles Church in Pontefract where I also lead Junior Church. So, I look forward to working alongside the Darrington Collective Worship Committee. I have previously been a Parent Governor at Carleton High School and a Teacher Governor at Outwood Grange Academy. As a parent, grandparent and a teacher, the education of children has always been of paramount importance. I am really looking forward to working with such a dedicated team of Governors, to ensure that our children receive a first class education in a loving and caring environment so that they can shine in the world.
Mrs Sophie Morgan	Joining the school governing board in 2022 as a Governor, my ambition is to have a positive contribution towards continuous development for the children, their individual growth, their learning, and for the school to realise their objectives; not only to achieve them but excel and surpass expectations. I attended Darrington CE School as a pupil many years ago. My own personal experiences have brought me strength through real adversity, and a high level of perspective, motivation and understanding over a wide variety of matters that can impact on everyday life, and as a parent of a child at Darrington School, I would hope these experiences can assist a true equal and diverse approach. Professionally, I have over 15 years comprehensive experience in the fields of construction; social housing, project management and technical estimating, mostly as a Quantity Surveyor, leading financial management, monitoring, and analysis of large projects. Recently moving into the field of Category Management, of Property Services procurement, I utilise my contracting experience, and have previously undertaken audits and hold experience in Environmental Management and ISO accreditation. As the Chair of Darrington School PTFA, and as a parent, ultimately my objective is to enhance the school journey for each and every child, to make as many happy memories as possible throughout the pupil experience which will last a life time. I hope to achieve this through the Governors role within strategic approach.
Mrs Becky Fieldhouse	Hello, I’m currently a parent of children at Darrington school and I’m very keen to support and contribute in the schools progress. My background was in Hospitality for 5 years and currently in education as a secondary school teacher. My specialism is in Design Technology mostly teaching Food Technology at KS3 and KS4. More recently in addition to my teaching I’m employed at my current school as a cover supervisor seeing all areas of the curriculum. I’m delighted to be part the governing body at Darrington as a parent governed and I’m looking forward to working with staff in the continued enrichment of our children’s lives.
Miss Rebecca Goodall	Hello. As a proud parent of a child attending this school, I am keen to support and contribute to the school’s strategic future. With a background in business, marketing and more recently in education (as an experienced primary school teacher), I’m particularly interested in curriculum development (with a speciality in maths and MFL) and ways to optimise progress for all children. I am excited to join the governing body and am looking forward to working together to help the school shine as brightly as it can for the benefit of each and every pupil.
Mr Andy Tagger	My wife and I moved to Darrington in 1983. Since then, I’ve thoroughly enjoyed the very many opportunities to participate in Village life. I’ve been on Darrington Parish Council for many years and – amongst many projects – I’m particularly pleased to have helped lead the installation of the replacement ‘character’ street lighting. I have run the Darrington Garden Club (every 2^nd Wednesday of the month – 6pm at The Kyte’, All Welcome!) since 2006 along with the Darrington Garden Competition and, latterly, Darrington Open Garden Week. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed being the ‘MC’ for almost 25 years at the Annual Darrington Feast and Fair and most recently led the Darrington Air Crash 75^th Commemoration Project. Although now VERY happily retired, I did start my long teaching career at Pontefract Boys Secondary – later, Carleton High School -where my now wife and I wrote and directed many of the school musicals.

Mrs Gill Fletcher

I am a retired teacher and have lived in Darrington since 1988 and am a foundation governor representing Darrington church and a member of the church choir. Along with music I also enjoy a variety of sporting activities.

My son attended Darrington School and I have served on the governing body previously as a parent governor.

In my role as foundation governor, I run Darrington Collective Worship Committee, which is made up of pupils from all years .We work to promote Christian values within the school and the local community and to foster links between church and the school.

We also take a lead in promoting activities related to our link with Buhemba primary school in the Diocese of Mara in Tanzania .

As a member of the Standards and Pupils committee, I aim to work tirelessly to assist staff, parents and governors in ensuring that all pupils of Darrington School receive a world class education and move on to secondary school as happy, confident, resilient people with a lifelong love of learning.

Mrs Michelle Wraith

I am currently in my sixth year as a co-opted governor having previously served a four year term as a parent governor.

I am a part time supply and catch up interventions teacher at Darrington school working in all year groups but mainly Team Eagles. Prior to this I was an Education Consultant working with both Education Bradford and Andrell Education. For most of my teaching career I have also been a member of the Senior Leadership team including a short time as Acting Deputy. I have lived in Darrington for fifteen years;both my sons attended this school and have many happy memories of their primary years. Some of you may know me from my time running the local ‘mums and tots’ group a number of years ago now or for my volunteer work with the Feast & Fayre committee.

As a member of the Governing Board I am chair of the Pupils and Standards Committee and have responsibility for matters related to the ‘Governor Development Plan’, curriculum coverage and assessment data. For the past nine years in my role as governor, I have also led the school council which I have thoroughly enjoyed and we have raised lots of money for charities through various fundraising activities. I am currently the link governor for the exciting new OPAL project which aims to enhance playtime experiences for all pupils

Mr Ian Brown

Hello I am a co-opted Governor to Darrington C of E Primary School.

I am a proud Yorkshire man who lives in Pontefract with my wife and have a strong link to Darrington through my family. Both of my grandchildren have attended the school and I have a grandchild who is not at school yet.

I am retired from full time work but do lots of things that help the local and wider community. For example, I was a magistrate until I reached the mandatory retirement age serving in Pontefract, Wakefield and Leeds.

Before I retired, I had a long career at Yorkshire Imperial Metals, Leeds City Council and Yorkshire Water. I am a qualified accountant by training.

I have been a school governor since my own two children were at school. My first Governor role was at Halfpenny Lane School in Pontefract as a parent governor. When my children left junior school I was elected as a parent Governor and then at Kings High School. I left both these roles in 1991.

In 2002 as part of a Government initiative I took a Governor role at a school in Doncaster that had just gone into Special Measures. After some difficult decisions and hard work by the staff and Governors the school was rated good three years later, and in 2010 outstanding and again in 2015. It has now converted to an Academy along with two other schools. I am still very much involved in that school.

In my spare time I am a keen gardener, like making our home habitable, enjoy Nordic walking, getting afloat and most of all family life.

Mrs Lynne Davies

Hello I am a retired teacher.

It seems a long time ago that, as a 16 year old teenager, I decided that my life’s work was to be a teacher of Religious Studies. It is a decision that I will never regret as it has been a joy and a privilege to explore the thoughts, ideas and questions that young people have about the fundamental questions of life. It was through this work that I met and worked with both Gill Fletcher and Lyndsay Ranby. A part of my Department’s role was to also teach Personal, Social, Health and Relationships Education, which will become a part of the curriculum for all Key Stages this year.

I have two granddaughter who attend Darrington School, so when an opportunity arose that allowed me to contribute to the Governing Body I was delighted to accept. This is my first year as a governor and I am a member of the Standards and Pupils Committee.

I am also a member of St Giles Church in Pontefract where I also lead Junior Church. So, I look forward to working alongside the Darrington Collective Worship Committee.

I have previously been a Parent Governor at Carleton High School and a Teacher Governor at Outwood Grange Academy.

As a parent, grandparent and a teacher, the education of children has always been of paramount importance. I am really looking forward to working with such a dedicated team of Governors, to ensure that our children receive a first class education in a loving and caring environment so that they can shine in the world.

Mrs Sophie Morgan

Joining the school governing board in 2022 as a Governor, my ambition is to have a positive contribution towards continuous development for the children, their individual growth, their learning, and for the school to realise their objectives; not only to achieve them but excel and surpass expectations. I attended Darrington CE School as a pupil many years ago.

My own personal experiences have brought me strength through real adversity, and a high level of perspective, motivation and understanding over a wide variety of matters that can impact on everyday life, and as a parent of a child at Darrington School, I would hope these experiences can assist a true equal and diverse approach.

Professionally, I have over 15 years comprehensive experience in the fields of construction; social housing, project management and technical estimating, mostly as a Quantity Surveyor, leading financial management, monitoring, and analysis of large projects. Recently moving into the field of Category Management, of Property Services procurement, I utilise my contracting experience, and have previously undertaken audits and hold experience in Environmental Management and ISO accreditation.

As the Chair of Darrington School PTFA, and as a parent, ultimately my objective is to enhance the school journey for each and every child, to make as many happy memories as possible throughout the pupil experience which will last a life time. I hope to achieve this through the Governors role within strategic approach.

Mrs Becky Fieldhouse

Hello, I’m currently a parent of children at Darrington school and I’m very keen to support and contribute in the schools progress.
My background was in Hospitality for 5 years and currently in education as a secondary school teacher. My specialism is in Design Technology mostly teaching Food Technology at KS3 and KS4.
More recently in addition to my teaching I’m employed at my current school as a cover supervisor seeing all areas of the curriculum.
I’m delighted to be part the governing body at Darrington as a parent governed and I’m looking forward to working with staff in the continued enrichment of our children’s lives.

Miss Rebecca

Goodall

Hello. As a proud parent of a child attending this school, I am keen to support and contribute to the school’s strategic future.
With a background in business, marketing and more recently in education (as an experienced primary school teacher), I’m particularly interested in curriculum development (with a speciality in maths and MFL) and ways to optimise progress for all children. I am excited to join the governing body and am looking forward to working together to help the school shine as brightly as it can for the benefit of each and every pupil.

Mr Andy Tagger

My wife and I moved to Darrington in 1983. Since then, I’ve thoroughly enjoyed the very many opportunities to participate in Village life.

I’ve been on Darrington Parish Council for many years and – amongst many projects – I’m particularly pleased to have helped lead the installation of the replacement ‘character’ street lighting. I have run the Darrington Garden Club (every 2^nd Wednesday of the month – 6pm at The Kyte’, All Welcome!) since 2006 along with the Darrington Garden Competition and, latterly, Darrington Open Garden Week. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed being the ‘MC’ for almost 25 years at the Annual Darrington Feast and Fair and most recently led the Darrington Air Crash 75^th Commemoration Project. Although now VERY happily retired, I did start my long teaching career at Pontefract Boys Secondary – later, Carleton High School -where my now wife and I wrote and directed many of the school musicals.

Mr Nick Davison

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