Meet the Governors
A greeting from our Chair of Governors - Mr Damian Collins
"Every school has a board of governors, and Turncroft Nursery School is no exception. The board is made up of a chairman/ woman, a vice chair and a group of people taken from members of staff, parents, and co- opted people who have shown an interest, and who have special talents or experience to offer.
We meet each term to look at all the things that have happened in the past weeks. The Headteacher gives a detailed report about the school and is able to answer any questions that may crop up, or consider any suggestions a member may put forward.
We look at the finances, staffing, buildings, alterations to timetables etc... We play a full part in decision making and feel that we are important members of the Turncroft Team.
The meetings are interesting and informative. There are usually biscuits too!"
Here are details of how our Governing body is structured, including the names, categories, responsibilities and terms of appointment for each Governor.
Turncroft Nursery School
Governing Body
| Name | Expiry Date | Address |
|
Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council (1) Mr Damian Collins (Chair) |
27/09/25 |
c/o Turncroft Nursery School Highfield Road Darwen BB3 2DN 01254 701534 |
|
Headteacher (1) Mrs Gayle Berry |
As Above | |
|
Staff (1) Miss Jennifer Murphy |
31.08.25 | As Above |
|
Parents (2) Miss Naomi Woodhouse Mrs Trudy Jones |
01.04.2022 01.04.2022 |
As Above As Above |
|
Co-opted (1) Cllr Lillian Salton (Vice chair) Linda Lawrence |
10.09.2024 31.08.2025 |
As Above As Above |
|
Associate Members (4) Mrs Lisa McIver Mrs Marion Fort |
N/A N/A |
As Above As Above |
Name: Mr Damian Collins (Chair)
Type of Governor: LEA
Register of Business Interests: None - (17/11/22)
Register of Pecuniary & Personal Interests: None - (1/12/22)
Governance role in other schools: None
Relationships with Governors or school staff: Brother in law of Office Manager - (12/11/19)
Responsibilities on the Governing Body: Staff dismissal/discipline, Appeals, Pupil discipline. Admissions panel, Finance and pay. Foundation curriculum. Premises (health and safety). Personnel. Head's performance management. Pay appeals, grievances. SEN and Gifted and Talented. Safeguarding and drugs education.
Commencement of Role: 2018
- I have been involved in education for over 28 years and have been a Deputy Headteacher, SENCo and Head of Department
- I am passionate about education and opportunities for all children
- I am married with two grown up children and two cats
- I enjoy reading, listening to music and hill walking
Name: Cllr Lillian Salton (Vice Chair)
Type of Governor: Co-opted
Register of Business Interests: None - (17/11/22)
Register of Pecuniary & Personal Interests: None - (1/12/22)
Governance role in other schools: Chair of Governors at St James' Primary School Lower Darwen
Responsibilities on the Governing Body: Admissions
Commencement of Role: 2020
- I am the Mayor of Darwen
- I taught in Blackburn for over 40 years being head of a local infant department for 17 years.
- I am a local Councillor and work alongside Children’s Services.
- I enjoy working with all children and I am a member of various local organisations.
- In my leisure time I enjoy keeping fit, visiting the theatre and reading. I also love visiting new places both at home & abroad.
Name: Mrs Gayle Berry
Type of Governor: Headteacher
Register of Business Interests: None -
Register of Pecuniary & Personal Interests: None -
Relationships with Governors or school staff: None -
Governance role in other schools:
Responsibilities on the Governing Body: Safeguarding, Admissions, Finance and Pay, Curriculum, Premises, Personnel, Equality and Children in Our Care
Commencement of Role: 2023
- Information to follow
Name: Linda Lawrence
Type of Governor: Co-opted
Register of Business Interests: None - (17/11/22)
Register of Pecuniary & Personal Interests: None - (1/12/22)
Governance role in other schools: None
Relationships with Governors or school staff: None - (12/11/19)
Responsibilities on the Governing Body: Personnel/Admissions Panel
Commencement of Role: 2009
- I am married with 3 children
- I have been a Cub Leader for over 25 years
- I love learning new skills, especially in I.T.
- I previously worked at Turncroft Nursery school for over 25 years
Name: Mrs Marion Fort
Type of Governor: Associate Member (No Voting rights)
Register of Business Interests: None - (17/11/22)
Register of Pecuniary & Personal Interests: None - (1/12/22)
Governance role in other schools: None
Relationships with Governors or school staff: None - (12/11/19)
Responsibilities on the Governing Body: Admissions, Finance, Premises, Health & Safety and Extended Schools
Commencement of Role: 2007
- I have been married for over 38 years and have two sons.
- I have worked with children and families for over 30 years
- I have worked at Turncroft Nursery School for over 17 years.
- I am passionate about good quality childcare.
Name: Mrs Lisa McIver
Type of Governor: Associate Member (No voting rights)
Register of Business Interests: None - (17/11/22)
Register of Pecuniary & Personal Interests: None - (1/12/22)
Governance role in other schools: None
Relationships with Governors or school staff: Sister in Law to Vice Chair - (12/11/19)
Responsibilities on the Governing Body: Admissions, Finance & Pay and Personnel
Commencement of Role: 2003
- I have been married for over 25 years and have two children
- In my spare time I enjoy reading and walks with my Dog Millie
- I have worked at Turncroft Nursery School for over 20 years
- I am very proud to have been part of Turncroft's 'Outstanding' achievements over the years
Name: Miss Jenny Murphy
Type of Governor: Staff
Register of Business Interests: None - (17/11/22)
Register of Pecuniary & Personal Interests: None - (1/12/22)
Governance role in other schools: None
Relationships with Governors or school staff: None - (12/11/19)
Responsibilities on the Governing Body: to be confirmed
Commencement of Role: 2018
- Before my teaching career I worked as a nursery practitioner in a nursery for 5 years
- I previously taught at St Barnabas Primary School in 2017/18. I started my teaching career there as an NQT in a year 1 class.
- I am passionate about the Early Years Foundation Stage and committed to providing high quality experiences for all children
- I enjoy keeping fit and healthy. I attend the gym regularly, attend classes and enjoy running
- I love working at Turncroft Nursery School and I am proud to be part of the school
Name: Miss Naomi Woodhouse
Type of Governor: Parent Governor
Register of Business Interests: None - (01/04/22)
Register of Pecuniary & Personal Interests: None - (01/04/22)
Governance role in other school: None
Relationship with Governors or School Staff: None - (01/04/22)
Commencement of Role: April 2022
- I was born in Darwen, but lived in Spain for 18 years
- I am a single mum to a 3 year old
- I am keen to train and eventually work in Early Years
- I have 4 pet fish and 2 water snails. I also love plants and have lots around the house
- I feel very privileged to be a Governor at Turncroft Nursery School
Name: Mrs Trudy Jones
Type of Governor: Parent Governor
Register of Business Interest: None - (01/04/22)
Register of Pecuniary & Personal Interests: None - (01/04/22)
Governance Role in other school: None
Relationship with Governors or School Staff: None - (01/04/22)
Commencement of Role: April 2022
- I am married with 2 grown up children and 2 grandchildren
- I was a parent governor at both the primary and secondary schools my children attended
- I have worked for Blackburn with Darwen as a specialist SEND practitioner for the Early Years Team for over 20 years
- I have lived in Darwen for 2 years and Blackburn for over 30 years
- I enjoy the cinema, eating out, walking and going on holidays
- I am looking forward to being a governor at Turncroft Nursery School
Name: Mrs Celia Rushton.(Retired from post 14/03/2023)
Type of Governor: LEA.
Register of Business Interests: None - (17/11/22)
Register of Pecuniary & Personal Interests: None - (1/12/21)
Governance role in other schools: None
Relationships with Governors or school staff: None - (17/11/20)
Responsibilities on the Governing Body: Staff dismissal/discipline, Appeals, Pupil discipline. Admissions panel, Finance and pay. Foundation curriculum. Premises (health and safety). Personnel. Head's performance management. Pay appeals, grievances. SEN and Gifted and Talented. Safeguarding and drugs education
Commencement of Role:2002
- I have been a teacher for over forty years and was Head of Infants, and latterly, Deputy Head at St Peter's C of E primary.
- I have been involved with Turncroft for most of those years, during the tenure of four Headteachers. I did almost all of the supply teaching at the nursery for thirteen years, and know the school and the staff very well. I am very happy to work with such a dedicated team.
- I have two daughters, one of whom is also a teacher. Music is my other love, and I sing with four choirs. I travel the world as far, and as often as I can.
Turncroft Nursery School
Governing Body Committees
Statutory Committees
Disciplinary and Staff Dismissal - Any 3 Governors not involved(not staff or Teaching Governors)
Appeals - Any 3 Governors not involved(not staff or Teaching Governors)
Pupil Discipline - Any 3 Governors not involved(not staff or Teaching Governors)
Other Committees
Admissions Panel - Mr Collins, Mrs Gayle Berry (Chair), Mrs Lawrence, Cllr Lillian Salton
Finance and Pay - Mrs Gayle Berry (Chair), Mr Collins, Mrs Fort, Mrs McIver
Curriculum - Mrs Gayle Berry (Chair), Mr Collins, Miss Murphy
Premises - Mr Collins, Mrs Gayle Berry, Mrs Fort (Chair), Cllr Salton
Personnel - Mrs Gayle Berry (Chair), Mr Collins, Mrs Lawrence, Mrs McIver
Heads Performance Review - Mr Collins (Chair), Cllr Salton
Pay Appeals - Any 3 Governors not involved (not staff or Teaching Governors)
Grievance - Any 3 Governors not involved (not staff or Teaching Governors)
Designated Responsibilities
SEN & Gifted and Talented Safeguarding Link Equality
Mr Collins Mr Collins Cllr Salton Mrs Gayle Berry
Children in our Care Extended Schools Health & Safety
Mrs Gayle Berry Mrs Fort Mrs Fort
Full Governing Body Meeting Dates and People in Attendance
|
Name of Governor |
16/11/22 |
14/03/23 |
13/06/23 |
07/11/23 |
19/03/24 |
11/06/24 |
|
Mrs Gayle Berry (headteacher) (15/04/2024) |
/ | / | ||||
|
Mrs Celia Rushton (Chair) Retired 14/03/23 |
/ |
/ |
Retired |
- |
- | |
|
Mrs Kathryn Bolton (Headteacher) Started 01/01/2023 - 31/08/23 |
/ |
/ |
/ |
Left |
- | |
|
Mr Damian Collins 06/11/18 (Chair) |
AA |
/ |
/ |
/ |
AA | |
|
Mrs Linda Lawrence |
/
|
/ |
/ |
/ | AA | |
|
Mrs Michelle Brindle (resigned 14/03/23) |
AA |
Resigned |
- |
- |
- |
|
|
Mrs Marion Fort |
/ |
/ |
/ |
/ |
/ | |
|
Mrs Lisa McIver |
/ |
/ |
/ |
/ |
/ | |
|
Miss Jenny Murphy |
/ |
/ |
/ |
/ |
/ | |
|
Cllr Lillian Salton (Vice Chair) |
AA |
/ |
/ |
AA |
/ |
|
|
Mrs Trudy Jones (Parent) April 2022 |
/ | / | / | AA | / | |
|
Miss Naomi Woodhouse (Parent) April 2022 |
/ | / | / | / | / | |
|
Mrs Elizabeth Shears (Headteacher) Retired 31/12/22 |
/ | Retired | - | - | - | |
|
Mrs Kathryn Clayton-Young (01/09/23 - 14/03/24 (Exec Headteacher) |
/ | / | ||||
|
Mrs Gayle Berry (01/09/23 - 14/03/24) Acting Headteacher |
/ | / |
/ = present; AA = apologies accepted; AWA = absent without apologies