Governance

As part of Leading Learners Multi Academy Trust, responsibility is delegated by the trustees to the local governing board as follows (for full information see the Scheme of Delegation document further below.

Leading Learners Academy Trust Board

The Local Governing Boards should be involved in the representation of the local community and its families, and be the recipients of detailed information about how their schools are being managed. Local boards are tasked with scrutinising management information thus providing assurance to trustees that the school is:

operating within the ethos and values of the trust and creating a positive climate for all stakeholders
working within agreed policies
meeting the agreed targets
engaging with stakeholders
acting as an ambassador for the trust

LGBs are responsible for overseeing safeguarding in their school(s) and designate a local Safeguarding Governor.

We operate using a Circle Governance model and therefore there are no delegated sub-committees.

Governing Body Members

Chair of Governors	Rachel Hudson (Parent Governor)
Vice-Chair of Governors	Sue Elliott
Staff Governor	Gareth Jones (Class Teacher)	Appointed by Staff
Co-opted Governors	Christopher Andrews Sue Elliott Ashlea Murphy Joanne Rose	Appointed by Governing Body
Parent Governors	Rachel Hudson Helen Mault	Appointed by Parents
Clerk to Governors	Carolyn Totty
Associate Member	Gill Knapton (Deputy Headteacher)	No voting rights

Meet Our Governors

Headteacher - Kate Ball

Chair of Governors (& Parent Governor) - Rachel Hudson

As a parent Governor of Brookdale, I am firmly committed to the success and progress of the staff and children at the school. I fully support the vision of the Head and believe in the power of education to transform lives for future generations. I am a current Headteacher of a secondary school in Chester and also formerly a Governor and Chair of Governors at a Pupil Referral Unit in Ellesmere Port. I am committed to working closely with the Headteacher and the Governors to drive the strategic development of the school, raise standards of achievement and set the vision for the school. I see the role of Chair as a privilege and feel that my experience and understanding of the current educational context are helpful in supporting the school as we strategically plan for its continued success in the next stage of the school’s journey.

Vice Chair of Governors (&Co-opted Governor) - Sue Elliott

I am retired, having worked in education for my entire career of 39 years as a Secondary teacher of Design & Technology, in addition to secondments to the Local Authority to manage various programmes. I retired as an Assistant Headteacher/Principal in 2015, where my responsibilities included Curriculum and Standards, Quality Assurance and Teaching and Learning, including assessment and reporting.

It has been a privilege to be involved in education in my working life. I am passionate about children’s learning in a supportive environment, which enables each individual to exceed their potential. I believe that every child deserves a personalised learning experience that develops unique giftings and prepares them as active citizens, both today and in the future. I believe that governance is a supportive role, offering a critical friend to ensure continuing improvements within the school. I am proud to be involved at Brookdale, not least because I was one of the first pupil cohorts in 1962!

In my spare time, I enjoy walking, meeting up with friends and family and going to thelocal theatre. I am also chair of the Forum Housing Association, which aims to provide supported housing for the homeless; a Trustee of Forum Creative Enterprise (a subsidiary of Forum) and an ambassador for The Floral Pavilion in New Brighton.

Staff Governor - Gareth Jones

I joined Brookdale Primary School in March 2017. I have taught in several year groups across Key Stage 2 and I am currently teaching in Year 6. I am passionate about providing children with a wide and varied education that facilitates opportunities for them to reach their full potential. I believe a positive, respectful and reciprocal relationship between teacher and pupil is vital for success and gives children the self-confidence to be the best version of themselves.

I am thoroughly enjoying teaching here, being part of the Brookdale team and being the staff governor. This role provides me with opportunities to further embed the family and community ethos of the school as well as ensure that the children in our school receive the high-quality and enriching curriculum they deserve.

Parent Governors

Helen Mault

I joined Brookdale Governors in 2023. I started my career leading play sessions across the Northwest for young people with SEND. This eventually led me to be part of a senior leadership team that developed a new post-19 college designed for young people with SEND. Currently, I am a SEN Advisory Officer for Cheshire West and Chester, focusing on Post 16 and preparing for Adulthood. In September 2023, I am also embarking on a Doctorate in Education and I hope that the learning I undertake will inform my thinking and practices.

I hope my skill sets and my passion for supporting young people in their aspirations become an asset to the school.

Co-opted Governors

Christopher Andrews

I have been a Governor at Brookdale since December 2019 and have been witness to the amazing school and community spirit that has brought the school and Brookdale's children through some incredibly challenging times. Away from school, I manage a project team for a global investment bank, handling multi-billion pound client migrations. I have previously worked both delivering and assessing NVQs in a dedicated SEN school and as a cover teacher in multiple secondary schools.

I am passionate about being able to support the long-term sustainability and growth of the school to allow us to provide the best possible educational and social foundation for our children in a nurturing and enjoyable environment. Outside of work, I am married with a little girl and boy and am a keen fitness and music enthusiast.

Joanne Rose

I began as Governor at Brookdale in September 2021. I have a history of supporting children in the care system and counselling for ChildLine. I have a passion for safeguarding the emotional well-being of young people.

I’ve observed that Brookdale really does strive to meet the educational, physical, emotional, social, and nutritional needs of young people. I particularly like the holistic approach that Brookdale offers to young people and that it emphasises promotion to help young people to believe in their own abilities, skills, and knowledge. I enjoy supporting Brookdale in this and watching the young people thrive.

Ashlea Murphy

I am thrilled at the opportunity to be a Governor at Brookdale. I was a student at Brookdale around 16 years ago, and it is the reason I went into teaching myself. Brookdale feels like home to me, and I am so pleased to see that the school has continued to put the children at the heart of all they do.

Currently, I am a year 2 teacher and PSHE subject lead. During my time at my current school, I have developed my skills around SEND and supporting children within a mainstream classroom, as this is a great passion of mine. I believe all children deserve quality first teaching in a safe, nurturing environment. As PSHE lead, I am currently working alongside our senior mental health lead to raise awareness about the dangers of growing up with social media and the additional pressures it brings. Outside of school, I am passionate about animals and have my own Romanian rescue called Nora.

I look forward to being part of the Brookdale team and supporting the school’s vision.

Full Governing Body Meetings 2024-25

23/9/24
5/11/24
3/12/24
21/1/25
17/3/25
1/7/25

The minutes of Governors' meetings are available by written request to Mrs Ball (Headteacher).

Governor Equality Statement

Our school values all pupils, staff and governors and encourages their contribution across the range of their talents and abilities to promote the highest possible standards of achievement.

Discrimination, harassment and victimisation will not be part of our school. We will promote equality of access and opportunity, positive attitudes, and good relationships between people with different backgrounds, genders, cultures, faiths, abilities and ethnic origins.

Equality runs through everything that happens at our school. As part of this, governors will ensure that all our discussions, initiatives, policies and decisions promote equality of opportunity and oppose all forms of discrimination, including the nine protected characteristics of:

Age
Disability
Gender reassignment
Marriage and civil partnership (but only in respect of eliminating unlawful discrimination)
Pregnancy and maternity
Race
Religion or belief
Sex
Sexual orientation

Join Our Governance Team

Do you have an interest in the governance of Brookdale? Could you share your skills with the leadership team to help the school achieve its future strategy? The Board of Governors is a team made up of representatives from school, the local authority, the community and parents. We are looking to recruit an additional co-opted governor to volunteer to support, challenge and influence the direction of the school so that it delivers the best for our children.

No prior experience is necessary, and there are plenty of training opportunities to understand more about how schools are run and the part a governor can play. If you would like to continue your professional development, build transferable skills, and join a committed team, contact the Headteacher to discuss the role (email: schooloffice@brookdale.wirral.sch.uk)

We would particularly welcome applications from individuals with expertise in HR, Health & Safety / Risk Management and Marketing / PR.

We value diversity and believe that by bringing a mix of individuals with different skill sets, backgrounds and beliefs together, we can best serve our school community.