Meet our Governors

Mr Roger Farley – Chair of Governors

Mrs Anna Turner – Vice Chair of Governors

I joined the school governors in 2019 as a parent governor and I am currently vice-chair of the governing board.

Having worked in early years and education for over 20 years in a variety of education settings and currently I work at Blackpool and the Fylde College, I believe I have the knowledge and skills in education supports the school in my role as a governor.

I have two children who attend St Hilda’s and we are active members of Bispham All Hallows’ Church where we embrace the Christian Values of the school.

Mrs Jean Campbell – Governor

I have been involved in education for most of my life. I only ever wanted to teach and have spent years as a primary school teacher and recently worked as a Teaching Assistant before taking retirement.

I regularly attend St Hilda’s church and have been involved with running Sunday School and organising Messy Church. I have been a volunteer in school to help children with their reading and have assisted with school trips. I believe that all children should have a varied curriculum and be encouraged to reach their full potential.

Mrs Kate Chandler – Governor

I joined the governing body as a foundation governor in 2014.  Having been a parent linked to the school for my eldest child’s primary journey and now my second child, I have strong links and an invested interest in Carleton St Hilda’s Primary School.

I have worked across two local secondary schools since leaving University and specialise in behaviour, inclusion, safeguarding and SEND.  I currently lead within an alternative provision at a local secondary academy and have responsibility for safeguarding within my current role.  I have worked within education since leaving University and have very strong links to the area.  I have a passion for improving outcomes for young people and making a difference at such a crucial developmental stage in children’s lives.  They only get one chance at their ‘school journey’ and it is imperative that we make it the best experience that it can be.

Mrs Jane Curl – Headteacher

I have worked in education for over 25 years, teaching in Preston, Lancaster and more recently as the Deputy Headteacher in a large Lytham School. As a member of the local community and church I now have the honour of leading St Hilda’s C of E Primary school as Headteacher. I also continue to work for Lancashire Assessment Team as a Key Stage 1 moderator and play an active role in BBL, which offers Initial Teacher Training on the Fylde Coast.

Mr Gareth Edwards – Governor

I am proud to be part of the Carleton St Hilda’s school family for the second term as a parent governor.  My son has attended the school since reception, and we look forward to him graduating in 2023.  I am honoured to support the school as a governor, not just because I am a parent but also because I am a past pupil as well.

I have worked in higher education for the best part of 25 years, providing IT services for a university in the North West.  Recently, my responsibilities are now managerial, overseeing IT service levels, migration of services from on-premises to the cloud, IT capability and transformation, and cyber security.  My experience of balancing competing priorities such as business, risk, financial and technical gives me a unique perspective to help the school meet its challenges in providing the best experiences for our children.

Mr Jon Gammage – Governor

Our family first came into Carleton St Hilda’s looking for a school for our eldest son to attend from September 2017. We felt immediately that it was the right school for our son. Sadly, Harry died in October 2020 in his first term in Year 3, just after our younger son joined reception class. We will be forever grateful for the support the school and the church has given to our younger son and ourselves.

Having worked in the energy industry for 45 years before retiring in 2021, I gained a breadth of experience from front line operations, through project design and delivery, culminating in 10 years in a corporate health and safety directorate, providing guidance and advice to the board and senior leaders on process/engineering safety.

I consider it a great honour to be appointed a foundation governor at St Hilda’s and I hope that my experience in industry will help me support and challenge the school and staff to provide the best education possible for all the children that attend it.  

Mr Adam Harper – Governor

Bio pending…

Canon Martin Keighley – Foundation Governor

I am automatically a Foundation Governor of this, and three other local schools, because I am Vicar of St Chad’s Poulton and St Hilda’s Carleton.

As such I have served for over 22 years and have acquired a good deal of experience of education, though those years have also brought constant change.

As a regular visitor to the School to lead worship, I have an inbuilt reminder of the need to put children at the heart of all that we do as a Governing Board.

Mrs Ellie McManus – Governor

I am a Foundation Governor on behalf of St Hilda’s Church and Vice-Chair of the Resources Committee. I have one child at St Hilda’s, with another joining in September. I am a practising Christian and my faith underpins my thoughts and decision-making in my role here.

I am a Registered Nurse with a background in Critical Care. I am currently Head of Education at a NHS Trust in Greater Manchester. I also hold a number of advisory positions relating to nursing leadership and healthcare education locally and nationally.

I am committed to ensuring the children of Carleton St Hilda’s receive the best opportunities to enable them to thrive in their presents and futures.

Mrs Gail Neale – Governor

I have been a governor at St. Hilda’s for 15 years.  I joined the Governing Body as the staff governor in May 2007 and served on the board continually since then.  In 2015 I became a co-opted governor.  When I first became a governor, I was the School Business Manager.  I retired from my school post in August 2020 after 20 years of service.

I am currently Chair of the Resources and Staffing committee. I hope that my skills, knowledge of the school and experience gained during my 20 years as School Business Manager bring additional expertise to the Governing Body.

I am also a grandparent of children who attend the school.

I will continue to support and challenge the school in order that Carleton St. Hilda’s continues to strive to achieve the very best in every area for the whole school family and to uphold the ethos and values of the school.

Mr Peter Smith – Governor

I first became a school governor way back in the late 80’s. The role of school governor has changed over the years and has certainly become more demanding and challenging in that time. I am currently on the Resources and Admissions Committees. 

Miss Chelsea Thompson – Staff Governor

I have been teaching for nine years and the majority of my career has been at St Hilda’s. My degree specialised in Early Years. I have worked in Key Stage 1 and currently work in Upper Key Stage 2. I am currently mentoring our Early Careers Teacher, which requires weekly mentor meetings, ‘drop in’ observations, guidance and support with all aspects of pedagogy. I am currently working towards my National Professional Qualification for Senior Leadership (NPQSL), which is developing my knowledge and understanding of strategic leadership and management at a whole school level and how to implement sustainable strategies to improve teaching and outcomes for all children. I am passionate about providing children with the right tools and opportunities so that they all leave St. Hilda’s well-equipped academically, socially, emotionally, and spiritually for high school and the wider world.

Prior to teaching, I have worked as a Marketing Assistant at a private school and then as a Data Integrity Auditor.