Meet the Governors

 

Kath Carruthers (Headteacher)

I have been the Headteacher and a member of the Governing Body at Upton Westlea Primary School since September 2015. I take an active role in Governor meetings and am accountable to all the others members of the Governing Body.

I believe that every child should have the opportunity to develop his/her potential in a happy and safe environment which equips them for all future needs and instils a want for life-long learning through imaginative, creative, enjoyable and practical opportunities. High quality learning and teaching experiences are the right of every child. All children are entitled to a broad, balanced, stimulating and enriched curriculum with a mixture of teaching and learning styles. All of which as Headteacher and a member of the Governing Body I endeavour to provide at Upton Westlea.

 Laura Dalton (Staff Governor)

My name is Laura Dalton and I have been the year 1 and now the year 2 class teacher at Upton Westlea since 2015.  I am the Phonics and Early Reading and Art subject leads and from 2017-2019 I have been working on achieving the Artsmark Award for our school, which we eventually achieved in 2020. I lead the school choir and my passion is anything creative, colourful and potentially a little bit messy!

I am originally a Bolton lass, moving to Chester for university and once completed my teaching degree, I remained in Chester. Outside of school, I am engaged to Gareth and live in Saltney with our fur-baby (cat) Charlie. We love to watch motor racing either at the tracks or on TV and I also enjoy being girly with my friends.

I became the staff governor in July 2019 and am very much looking forward to seeing what I can do!

Vicky Field (Associate Governor)

I have been a member of staff at Upton Westlea since 2009, I have worked as a 1:1 Teaching Assistant before becoming the Nursery Teacher and going on to teach Year 6 and my current Year group Year 4. I am now the Deputy Headteacher and have enjoyed supporting the school in gaining our latest Ofsted.
 
As a teacher I believe that all children deserve the opportunity to a full and engaging learning experience, with a range of new and exciting opportunities and experiences. I feel all children deserve the right to reach their full potential in a stimulating, safe and caring environment which I feel Westlea offers all of our children. I am currently the Maths Subject Leader and Assessment Coordinator for the school.
 
Outside of school, I am married to Jason and a mother to a gorgeous little girl, Grace and a step mother to Jenny and Chris. I enjoy spending time with my family. I also enjoy football and musicals.

Ella Bytheway-Jackson (Co-opted Governor / Chairperson)

I am extremely excited to be taking on this role as a governor at Upton Westlea. I am from Chester and know what a lovely place it is to grow up and go to school in, so I am passionate about ensuring that future generations get to enjoy it as much as I did! 

I am currently conducting research at the University of Liverpool where I am a Geographer. My research looks at Victorian Workhouses across the Wirral and West Cheshire and I also help with teaching and assessment on the Undergraduate Geography program. I have previously worked at the University of Chester in Legal and Compliance, where I gained insight into governance. I am also a Postgraduate Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society.

I am a big believer in the powerful role of education and plan on being an active member of the school community. Working with the other governors to encourage the school in its success and endeavour towards its strategic priorites is a privilege. I have a cat called Ginger and in my spare time I enjoy roller skating, reading and growing my own fruit and vegetables in my garden.

Marjorie Sargent (Co-opted Governor)

I am passionate about the benefits of education and look forward to playing an active role as a governor at Upton Westlea. 

Originally from Yorkshire, after university I moved to Chester and have lived in Upton for more than forty years. My two grown up children have benefitted from being educated at Upton schools. I took early retirement after a long career with BT. I held various roles, mostly finance and strategy related, including managing budgets.

I am a volunteer with Passion for Learning and am currently providing one to one support for two children at Upton Westlea. I enjoy walking, cycling, gardening and I am a memeber of Upton W. I. and a local book club.

Helen Burrell (Co-opted Governor)

I have a background in fashion PR. After raising my three children I began volunteering for Passion for Learning (7 years ago) and support children at Westlea and Upton High in a mentoring role. I enjoy playing games, cooking, arts and crafts, gardening, anything which will ignite a passion and interest in the children. I recently re-trained as a counsellorand completed my training with Healthbox. I was a governor at Acton Primary, Nantwich 20 years ago. 

I enjoy gardening, flower arranging and cooking in my spare time.

Derek Underwood (Co-opted Governor)

Hi, I feel honoured and thrilled to have the opportunity to volunteer at Westlea. I am involved with supporting the young learners through the enrichment club, provided by the local Passion for Learning charity.

I very much look forward to working with the Headteacher and other governors to maximaise the young learner's potential and enjoyment through their school journey.

I have lived in Upton for 21 years with my wife and two daughters who were/are educated in Upton. Maximising the potential at this young age is crucial to future learning and their lives beyond. I have an electronics aviation background, employed by the civil service, having several roles, moving into commercial and most recently project, programme and portfolio management.

I enjoy participating in and watching sports. Currently multi-sport training and completing triathlons is my main passion whilst also managing to squeeze in a game of golf or two.

Adam Hunter (Associate Governor)

I spent my early years in West Bromwich and the surrounding areas of the 'Black Country' falling in canals and playing football until dark. On finishing Sixth Form College and deciding against travelling to a distant University I somehow found myself in Ballykinler, Northern Ireland at the start of my Military career in 1995. Several tours followed including time in Hong Kong, Iraq, Afghanistan, Kenya, Canada and Cyprus. I also found instructional postings at the Infantry Training Centre  (ITC) at Catterick, Senior Division at Brecon, Fort Magsaysay in the Philippines and the Bahrain Defence Force some of the most rewarding time in uniform, dealing with adult learners, vulnerable young people, language and cultural barriers which presented some challenging problems and interesting solutions.

At home my time is consumed by watching my three boys play football and cricket or drive them around the country following West Bromwich Albion. Our new addition to the family, a beautiful Sprocker 'Mabel' has allowed me the opportunity to really explore Cannock Chase and spend hours listening to podcasts on history, particularly military history.

Louise Thompson (Parent Governor)

I'm so pleasedto have the opportunity to be on the Governing Body at Upton Westlea. I currently have two children within the school with my third child due to begin in September 2023.

I am a secondary school Drama and English teacher and am deeply passionate about wellbeing and the dofferentiation of learning to ensure that all students can achieve their full potential.

Having recently moved back to Chester, it was vital for us that our children would begin in a diverse and community minded school with lots of extra curricular opportunities and we could not be more happy with Upton Westlea.

At home we have a crazy labrador and all enjoy cycling, swimming and discovering new walks together. When I'm not taking the children to various clubs you can find me with a cup of tea and a good book or at the theatre.

I really look forward to working closely with the fantastic membersof staff at the school, focusing on Phonics, Early Years and Year 2.

Thomas David (Parent Governor)

I am delighted to be a member of the Governing Body at Upton Westlea and look forward to being able to contribute towards the school that has done so much for my two boys who currently attend Westlea. I strongly believe that education and particularly early years education is vital in giving children strong foundations to be able to thrive and develop to their full potential.

We are very pleased with Westlea as a school and the positive and diverse social and learning environment it has provided our two boys who are thriving in their educational and social development.

I am a Chartered Surveyor specialising in rural property, particularly farms and estates and work throughout the North West and Wales. In my personal life we have an energetic cocker spaniel, chickens, fish and 30 sheep shared with my parents. When we are not playing farming we spend time taking the dog out for a walk, having family film nights or pottering in the garden.

I look forward to working closely with the school staff, governors and the wider Upton Westlea community.

Nathaniel Keelan (Co-opted Governor)

I am pleased to have joined Upton Westlea Primary School as a Co-Opted Governor in November 2023.

I am delighted to be given the opportunity to work with the Governing Body to enhance the children's learning and development as well as supporting the school in giving children the best start in their educational journey.

I have 15 years experience in childcare across a variety of roles including Teaching Assistant, Middday Assistant and Playworker. This has enabled me to gain valuable knowledge and experience that I can apply to this Governor position.

I passionaltely believe that all children should have the opportunity to develop and learn fundemental skils in a safe and caring environment to help them throughout their lives.

Mat Oakley (Co-opted Governor)

I have been a Co-opted Governor at Upton Westlea Primary School since October 2023, I am excited to be working with the Governing Body to maintain and enhance the work carried out for the young people in our local community. This is a fabulous opportunity to work closely with one of Upton-By-Chester High School's main feeder schools and further develop the strong relationships and enhance transition between Primary school to High School for all children.

My career began in 2005 and I have worked in several different educational settings across a number of Local Authorities. My current role at Upton-By-Chester High School is Assistant Headteacher (Director of Key Stage 3) and I have been in post since September 2021. Previously I have been in various roles including Associate Assitant Headteacher, Head of Learning, Head of Department and for the bulk of my career in pastoral care as Head of Year.

My passion lies in supporting all children to fulfil potential by working collaboratively with children and families. This links directly with my current role as Assitant Headteacher as I am focused on the academic progress and pastoral care of all Key Stage 3 children. I strive to ensure education is accessible for all and school is safe, welcoming and an exciting place to grow, improve and learn.

Clerk to Governors - Nicola Stewart

School Business Manager - Kate Cochrane 

 

Current vacancies - 1 x LA

 

 

 

 

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