Governing Body

Lee Townson

Chair of Governors

Term of office start date: 10.11.21
Term of office end date: 9.11.25

Meeting Attendance for 22-23 - 100%

"I am a Governor with over 5 years experience at Eccleston Lane Ends Primary School and want to bring my experience and knowledge into Rainhill High.

I have completed the Governor Development Programme and other training inputs around Children’s Social Care, Safeguarding, Looked After Children and Child Criminal and Sexual Exploitation.

I am a retired Police Officer of 26 years service having worked in intelligence and investigations for the bulk of my career. My key skill areas are in communication, leadership, relationship development/management, planning and organising, process improvement and training and mentoring.

I’m excited and positive about the Schools future, look forward to the challenges ahead and being a part of an already successful School team in its pursuit of excellence."

Alison Finney

Community Governor

Term of Office Start Date: 27.3.23
Term of Office End Date: 27.3.27

Governor Role: Community Governor

Meeting Attendance for 22-23 - 100%

Work Title/Company: Self Employed - Education & healthcare

"Many years ago I was a pupil at Rainhill High School. I benefitted from an excellent education and so many opportunities to get involved in sports, the arts, politics and school trips which set me up well for life. In the coming years I’ll be the parent of a Rainhill High pupil and I hope she’ll have those opportunities too. I believe if you want excellent public services you have a duty to use your skills to help support and develop them, hence my joining the governing board. I’m a law graduate with 20 years’ experience in managerial roles in a FTSE 100 company, spanning sales, marketing, employee communication and engagement. I’ve had 7 years’ experience as a trustee of the national charity Diabetes UK, and have been a governor at Eccleston Lane Ends primary school for the past 3 years."

Jack Ogden

Community Governor

Term of Office Start Date: 25.04.23
Term of Office End Date: 24.04.27

Governor Role: Community Governor

Meeting Attendance for 22-23 - 100%

Work Title/Company: Border Force Officer at UK Border Force

"I am an experienced Border Force Officer at Manchester Airport experienced in immigration and customs legislation. I have experience in mentoring and developing new staff in order to develop their skills to make them effective in securing the UK border and delivering sound and ethical decision making.

Having left postgraduate education in 2018 and having been called to the bar of England & Wales, I decided not to practise law but to enter public service. I am Vice Chair on the Governing Board at a primary school. I enjoy being involved in governance so I can give back to the education system and try and serve my community as best I can."

Sophie Sudworth

Community Governor & Trustee

Term of office start date: 1.1.21
Term of office end date: 31.12.24

Governor Role:
Community Governor - Citizenship Link.

Meeting Attendance for 22-23 - 66%

Work Title/Company: Design Engineer, SP Energy Networks.

"As a recent engineering graduate progressing through my early career, I am keen to support the school in preparing pupils for a bright future. It is great for me to have an involvement in the local community where I live and work".

Anthony Bennett

Staff Governor

Term of office start date: 1.9.19
Term of office end date: 31.8.23

Meeting Attendance for 22-23 - 66%

Governor Role: Staff Governor

Work Title/Company: Head of ADT Faculty, Rainhill High School

"As staff governor I see myself as a dedicated, passionate and committed stakeholder within Rainhill High School. Over the past 9 years I have shown a considerable interest in the wellbeing of all staff, parents and most importantly the pupils within the school. I have been a keen advocate to ensuring links within the local community remain strong and bonded to the schools community values. I see myself as a longstanding, highly valued, member of the Rainhill High School family, who has shown a level of integrity and dedication that is second to none over my teaching career at Rainhill High. I whole hearted believe in the raising of standards for all stakeholders and will always strive for what is best for all concerned within Rainhill High School. I would consider my relationship with all pupils, parents, staff, SLT and wider stakeholders to be exemplary, forging countless positive relationships over the years. I see my role as a vital one, ensuring staff have a considered and valued voice that is heard, allowing for the correct ethos, culture and educational vision to thrive within the school. I represent the staffing body of the school and believe that my journey at the school has ensured I can see the viewpoints of every member of staff at every level."

Aarron Kehoe

Community Governor

Term of office start date: 27.10.23
Term of office end date: 27.10.27

Meeting Attendance for 22-23 - 83%

Governor Role: Community Governor

Work Title/Company: Financial Advisor

"My links to Rainhill High School started over 20 years ago and I’ve been able to witness from afar the massive strides the school has taken in those years.

I live in the community and my eldest son has recently started Year 7.

As a parent of a pupil, I understand the importance of the values, ethos and direction of the school for present and future students, staff and parents/guardians.

I am a qualified financial services professional, working in financial services since I left school, with particular expertise in financial advice and project management. I have a vast amount of experience in implementing stringent policy, procedures and compliance as well as financial planning, budgeting and financial performance management.

More recently, I have helped manage small to medium scale transformation projects for some of the biggest brands in the UK. This has enabled me to gain experience in profit and loss management, interpreting and compiling complex data, staffing structures and performance management as well as implementing and rolling out strategic company programmes and initiatives. A major part of this role was to challenge key stakeholders within the business and hold senior stakeholders to account for various performance related elements of the project."

David Boyer

Community Governor

Term of office start date: 13.10.21
Term of office end date: 12.10.22
Interest declared

Governor Role: Community Governor

Meeting Attendance for 22-23 - 100%

Work Title/Company: Assistant Director for Transport, Environmental and Operational Services Warrington Borough Council.

"I attended Rainhill High School from 1976 to 1983 and received an excellent education. I became a Governor to put something back into the school I received so much from. I passionately believe in comprehensive education and the right of every child to have access to a good / outstanding school. My two children attend the school".

Kate Finch

Community Governor

Term of office start date: 10.11.21
Term of office end date: 9.11.25

Meeting Attendance for 22-23 - 66%

Governor Role: Community Governor – Curriculum Link

Work Title/Company: Tutor

"I applied for the post of school Governor at Rainhill High as I have a background in secondary school education and wanted to use my expertise to support the local community.

I am a Professional Tutor on the PGCE secondary science course at a local University. Prior to this role I taught in secondary schools for over 20 years. My experience of working in a school both as a classroom teacher and middle manager has given me knowledge and skills that I hope to use to help support the children and families at Rainhill High. I have a Masters in Education which gave me a keen interest in the latest educational research, particularly around teaching and learning and curriculum. I firmly believe that students achieve the best outcomes, both academically and socially, from quality first teaching. I look forward to working with the staff, students and parents at Rainhill High School."

Phil Cass

Community Governor

Term of office start date: 10.11.21
Term of office end date: 9.11.25

Meeting Attendance for 22-23 - 83%

Governor Role: Community Governor

Work Title/Company: Senior Account Manager

"Born and raised in Rainhill, as well as a former pupil of Rainhill High School from 1986 to 1993, I benefitted from the support of the local community throughout my childhood, and young adult years ,which helped shape the person that I have become, as well as the opportunities that I have benefited from. I want to ensure that future generations have the same opportunities that I had and this all starts with a quality, diverse education.

Professionally I am a Senior Account Manager for a private training provider of UK payroll legislation working closely with Payroll Bureaus, and the UK`s largest accountancy practises, across the country to ensure that all their payroll professional staff receive the training that is essential for their role. Prior to this position I have worked in seniors roles for various Apprenticeship training providers across the UK and am extremely passionate about the opportunities that Apprenticeships create.

I am a Co-opted governor for Eccleston Lane Ends Primary school, a Parish Councillor for Eccleston and Chair of the Eccleston Old Lane Allotment society, as well as a passionate horticulturalist and historian."

Catherine Jackson

Parent Governor

Term of office start date: 27.10.23
Term of office end date: 27.10.27

Meeting Attendance for 22-23 - N/A

Work Title/Company: Research Manager - University of Liverpool

"I am passionate about education and ensuring every child has an equal and positive experience within their school journey.

Being a mum of a pupil at the school means I have a great insight into the pupil and parent journey. I have experience as a primary school parent governor, and have previously worked as a clerk to governors for Knowsley Council. Within my current roles at the University of Liverpool and Imperial College London, I manage research which involves me supporting staff and students, managing budgets, setting up interview panels and organising events.

As a parent, I know the importance of making school an engaging, safe and supportive environment. I am particularly keen to ensure that all children are safeguarded and well included to fulfil their full potential whatever their background, special educational needs or disabilities.

In my spare time I enjoy keeping fit by running, I also volunteer at local Parkrun events. I believe in lifelong learning and demonstrated my own ‘pursuit to excellence’ by completing a master’s degree in Public Health in 2020."

Kate Cain

Parent Governor

Term of office start date: 27.10.23
Term of office end date: 27.10.27

Meeting Attendance for 22-23 - N/A

Work Title/Company: British Sign Language Interpreter

"I am a Registered, Qualified, British Sign Language Interpreter, who has a wide range of experience in many domains, such as education, police, legal, medical, social services, local authority, mental health, advocacy, youth/play work, fostering, sports, television/production and more.

Prior to qualifying as an Interpreter, I was a youth/play worker for approximately 8 years at Merseyside Society for Deaf people, and I am passionate about empowering children and young people to ensure their best outcomes, or where necessary, advocating, specifically those who may not always feel they have their own voice.

I also offer my time as a registered, voluntary chaperone for my daughter’s dance school at events and competitions and ensure the safety of those who are in my care.

I am passionate about ensuring that needs of children are met appropriately and accordingly to their individual needs, and with my background, knowledge and experience, I believe I could also contribute to ensure that the needs of any Deaf pupils are being supported whilst accessing the same, broad curriculum as their peers.

In 2025, BSL (British Sign Language) will be offered as an optional GCSE, and I am dedicated to ensuring that this is delivered correctly to support inclusivity for Deaf individuals who face barriers in communication every day of their lives. As a school with Deaf students, I strongly believe this would be a fantastic opportunity as a step to remove the barriers and I believe I would be able to offer my knowledge and guidance with this area, to ensure that this is a viable option for the pupils of Rainhill High School and part of the long term plans.

I am also committed to working with a team, and supporting the decisions made by the governors to promote the best outcomes for the school as a whole, and as a registered professional, I am required to update my Continuous Professional Development frequently, so would be more than happy to attend any training that is required for this role, alongside the training I already have acquired."

Victoria Topping

Parent Governor

Resigned: 02.10.23

Term of office start date: 31.01.22

Term of office end date: 31.01.26

Meeting Attendance for 22-23 - 66%

Teaching has always been my passion and I have worked as a secondary school teacher for the past 19 years, teaching pupils with a wide range of abilities and with different educational needs.

I firmly believe that a first class education is essential to give a child the best possible start in life and a fundamental right, which is why I applied for the position of parent governor. By taking on this role I will be able to work with the school in ensuring that all pupils at Rainhill High have access to a broad and balanced curriculum, which includes teachers at the school having access to resources to deliver the best education and opportunities to our pupils. As a parent governor I will ensure that a parental viewpoint is considered as their viewpoint is based through their children’s experience and will give a fairly accurate reflection on how polices that are being implemented are affecting the pupils.

I have lived in Rainhill for over 17 years and Rainhill High School was my first choice in high school for my daughter. I believe that Rainhill is a very good school and I am looking forward to strategically helping the school move forward and working with other governors, staff, parents and pupils.