Governance Professional
SIPS Education - Governance Professionals
My name is Bhabinder and I am the Governance Professional for Wylde Green Primary School. I have been working within this role at SIPS Education for 10 years, and I enjoy my role as each day is different.
I work with a number of schools in different boroughs and they are all very unique. My main aim is to support them all with their governance matters to ensure that governors are supporting and challenging the school at a strategic level. For me every day in this role is a school day, as there is always something new to learn.
Prior to becoming a Governance Professional , I worked within Sandwell council supporting the wider governance team and prior to this role I worked supporting a small local organisation in helping women that were disadvantaged to engage in opportunities to access training and employment.
In terms of me personally, I was born in Birmingham and continue to live locally. I am married and we have two children, one is of Primary age and one of Secondary age. I enjoy going to the gym at least three times a week and as a family we enjoy going for walks.
I have recently attempted to become an avid gardener, although I am in the early stages of the new steep learning curve.
I look forward to working with the Wylde Green family
Ben Reaney - Chair of Governors (Joint)
I have been a governor at Wylde Green since 2017, joining as a local authority governor. In my time at Wylde Green I have served on the Finance committee, acted as the link governor for Healthy and Safety and spent a couple of years as Vice Chair of Governors before being voted Chair of Governors at the start of the 21/22 academic year, I am now Co-Chair of Governors. I have a lifelong interest in education and I am proud to be part of the school community and to support school leaders deliver the best possible outcomes for the children of Wylde Green Primary School.
Outside of work and school I enjoy spending time with my family outdoors, particularly by the sea in South Wales.
Donna O’Toole
As the Head Teacher of Wylde Green I automatically become a member of the Governing Body. I attend every meeting: the Full Governing Body(FGB); Finance, Staffing & Premises committee and the RASP – Raising Achievement & Standards of Pupils committee. I produce a report for each meeting and work alongside the Chair of each committee or the FGB to set the agendas. I meet with the Chair of Governors on a very regular basis to discuss issues concerning the day to day running of the school including staffing.
I have belonged to Governing Bodies since 1998 in my 2 previous schools as either the staff representative or as the Deputy/ Acting Head so I feel like I have been a Governor forever!
I am entering my 30th year within the profession this year! Although it is a very challenging career, I really enjoy working at Wylde Green, having worked at a variety of schools in contrasting parts of the West Midlands. One of the most rewarding parts of my job is spending time with the children, when they show me their work and chat to me. Seeing things through the eyes of a child- whether they are 4 or 11 is such a privilege!
Outside of school I am married with two children and the newest member of the family is Herbie our beautiful Bishon Frise dog. I enjoy reading a variety of different genres to relax and as a contrast I regularly go to my personal trainer at the gym to help keep me healthy. I also really look forward to school holidays when my family and I go on holidays both home and abroad to spend quality family time together.
Emily Coyne-Umfreville - Chair of Governors (Joint)
I was appointed as a co-opted Governor of Wylde Green Primary School in July 2017. I am currently Vice-Chair of governors and Vice-Chair for RASP committee. I am link Governor for English and EYFS in school. I have over 12 years of experience in governance across Birmingham Schools.
My interest in education and schooling comes from my job as a Senior Lecturer in Developmental and Educational Psychology at Birmingham City University. My PhD was about children’s reading strategies and how they evolve over time. More recently I have carried out research looking at vocabulary interventions in schools and barriers to education across the West Midlands.
In my spare time I am kept busy by my son James, and I enjoy reading and holidays in France.
Richard Hamilton-Martin
I have been Deputy Headteacher and a Governor at Wylde Green Primary school since January 2014. As part of my role, I share the school data with the RASP Committee which analyses standards and pupil performance.
I have been teaching for over twenty five years and a Deputy Headteacher for fifteen years. I have worked in a variety of schools in Birmingham as well as teaching in New Zealand.
During my spare time I am a keen golfer and I share this hobby with my son, Archie. My younger son, Henry, and I are avid supporters of the All Blacks Rugby team, but we don’t get to their home games as often as we would like! However, that doesn’t stop me practising the Haka at the start of every game!
As a family we enjoy bike rides and picnics and visiting different seaside towns around the country. We never allow the British weather to spoil our weekend trips and have learnt to always carry a waterproof!
Paul Carter
"I was elected as a parent governor in December 2018 and became a co-opted Governor during 2021. I have two boys, Thomas and William who are both at Wylde Green and it has been amazing to watch their development as part of the Wylde Green family. This is a truly great school and I feel privileged to play a part in its strategic development.
My background is primarily finance based and I currently work as the Head of Governance for the FTSE 100 Packaging company DS Smith. Prior to this I spent over 15 years as an external auditor and I am a qualified Chartered Accountant. In 2022 I became chair of the “Finance, Staffing and Premises Committee” and work closely with the school to help monitor our financial position.
Outside of work my two young boys keep me very busy but I still enjoy running and playing football when I get the chance."
Stephen Jones
“I joined the team of Governors at Wylde Green School in March 2018 as a co-opted Governor. My main career for almost 37 years was in legal practice. I am now retired.
I am a member of the Finance, Staffing and Premises Committees of the Governing Board. As part of my role for the current academic year, I will focus on progress in Science and STEM as part of the wider curriculum.
Tracey Firth
I was appointed as a co-opted Governor of Wylde Green Primary School in March 2018. I have a position on the RASP committee looking into educational standards at the school, and I am link Governor for training and pupil premium. My day job is working as a pensions actuary which is quite different to a school. But there are a lot of cross overs with the Governor role such as making sure the governance and finances are well looked after.
I have a son and daughter at the school.
Darren Harris
This is my first post as a school governor, I was appointed as parent governor in January 2022, and I'm a member of the Association of Corporate Governance Practitioners. I am a Committee member for Raising Achievement & Standards of Pupils (RASP). I am also link Governor for PE, music, art and pupil voice.
I have worked as a motivational speaker since 2013, speaking to over a quarter of a million pupils across the Country.
Outside school and work, I am a dual Paralympian and multiple World and European medallist.
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Bryony Randall
I am a mother to 2 boys who both attend Wylde Green Primary School, and I was excited to be elected as Parent Governor in July 2021. I have been a nurse for over 20 years and currently work as a Specialist Nurse at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham. Being a school governor is an exciting departure from my day job and although very different there is an overlap between education and healthcare. I have particular interest in ensuring that all children achieve their full potential and am delighted to be link governor for SEND (special educational needs & disabilities) as well as sitting on the RASP committee which focuses on children’s attainment and performance.
Shahadat Hussain - Staff Governor
I have been at Wylde Green since January 2019. Since joining the Wylde Green team, I have worked as a support teacher in Year four and class teacher in Year two and Year four. I am currently an additional in Year 4. I am also the Computing lead and organised the successful Computing Fair in July 2022, which was a wonderful event. In my spare time I enjoy watching and playing football. I am also a keen gardener, who enjoys growing vegetables. Since joining the Wylde Green team, I have enjoyed working alongside and collaborating with my colleagues, teaching children across the school and getting to know the parents.
Anne McGoldrick
I was appointed as a co-opted Governor of Wylde Green Primary School in December 2022, and this is my first governor role.
I have worked in Secondary and Further Education for many years in a variety of roles especially associated with Finance, the last twenty as a School Business Manager. I have a master's degree in Educational Leadership and Management. I currently work in a local school which has three sites across Sutton Coldfield and Erdington. I am passionate about education making an impact on childrens' lives.
I am a member of the Finance, Staffing and Premises Committee of the Governing Board and I am also Link Governor for Pupil Premium.
When not working I love to spend time with my family and walk our two dogs. My husband and I have recently taken on an allotment which we are hoping will allow us to grow a variety of fruit and vegetables.
Richard Green
I was appointed as a co-opted governor in December 2022 and am privileged to have a child at the school. I currently do catch up tutoring in Birmingham schools, after retiring as a Headteacher of a local school. From my previous role, I have experience in education and of being part of a governing body. Before becoming a teacher, I worked for a high street bank as a branch manager so have a finance background. I have been appointed as the Safeguarding governor.
Lucy Jenks
I was delighted to be appointed as a co-opted governor on December 2022. As well as serving on the committee for raising achievement and standards of pupils and head teachers performance. I have special responsibility for EYFS.
This is my first governor position, my previous experience working with schools is derived from my role as a Children's Occupational Therapist, enabling children and young people to be able to do the things they need to do and want to do as part of their daily lives.
My daughter joined Wylde Green Primary in 2020 and has flourished under the school's care. I am excited about being able to help support the school.
In my spare time I enjoy completing craft activities and have recently taken on an allotment with some friends.
Donna Whitehouse - Associate School Governor - Finance, Staffing and Premises (FSP) Committee
I am currently employed at Wylde Green Primary School as the School Business Manager - (Job Share)
I have worked in school business leadership and management for over 30 years and I have been a Governor for 25 years.
In my leisure time I enjoy going on holidays and spending time with my grown up children and my grandson. I have a number of hobbies of which my latest is playing golf. I am not very good but intend to continue with the lessons !!!
