Governors

Mrs L Maccarthy

Chair of Governors

I joined the Governing Body of Grove Vale Primary School in September 2017 as a Co-opted Governor. I have spent the last 10 years as the Head Teacher and then Principal of an inner city Primary Academy in Birmingham. Prior to this I was Deputy Head and SENCo at another Birmingham Primary School and the Head of an SEN resource base for children with physical disabilities. I am now retired and feel that my experiences within Education will greatly support my role on the Governing Body of Grove Vale. My role on the Governing Body includes being a member of the Pupil and Curriculum Committee as well as the SEN Governor, Outcomes for Children (Data) Governor and Link Governor for Year 6. I also volunteer one morning a week to support reading in Year 2. Working closely with both Year 2 and Year 6 gives me an insight into the school’s performance against the National Curriculum which supports the Governing Body to monitor and evaluate the educational successes, school improvement, teaching and learning and curriculum delivery alongside the areas of pupil wellbeing, health and safety, safeguarding and the Core Values of the school. My areas of responsibility touch all areas of the Core Values but my one interest is that all children have equal opportunities to learn, feeling confident in everything that they are asked to do, so that they can feel good about themselves and model good learning and social behaviours – “Valuing Ourselves and Each Other”.

Mrs S Gosal

I have been a governor since 2013. I started off as a Parent Governor and more recently became a co-opted governor. My background is Health and Safety and I am on the Premise’s Committee. I assist with ensuring that the Health and Safety aspect is up to date. Health and safety of the pupils and the school is of the utmost importance and this is one of my key strengths. I am the year 1 Link Governor and have some time with them. I am looking forward to seeing this relationship grow. My key areas of Responsibility are Personal Development Behaviour and Welfare and these very much link into the school values and personally primary school forms such a large part of a child’s life that these areas are developed and embedded by school and the resources and pathway to achieving this in the school is fully mapped out and can be seen day in day out when you see the children at work and play within the school environment and indeed outside I really enjoy my role as a governor and seeing the progress that the school and the children are making. All of the core values are important to the development of children, however the one that most aligns with me is Engage in Learning. It is very rewarding as a parent and a governor to see the enthusiasm on the children's faces as they explore a topic. All children are provided with an equal opportunity to learn and the quality of work that the children produce just blows me away!

Mr T Bowen

I was approached to join the Governing Body at Grove Vale as a Co-Opted Governor in Autumn 2023.The majority of my working life in education has been in the Great Barr area, giving me a very clear understanding of the needs of our community, it's children and families. A teacher at nearby Hamstead Junior School from 1989-2002; Deputy Head Teacher at Whitecrest Junior and Infants from 2002-2005; Head Teacher at Hamstead Junior 2005-2021 saw my career coincide with the ever changing world of education, and its demands upon children and staff. During this time I also acted as Chair of West Bromwich North Learning Community, a learning community of local schools in which Grove Vale has and continues to make valuable contributions in the shared endeavour of sharing outstanding practice and the provision of the very best opportunities for all children in our community. Since retirement in 2021 I have volunteered at Grove Vale, completing such activities as providing an independent review of reading across Key Stage 2, analysing results, teaching a small group of Year 6 children in preparation for their KS 2 SATS Maths paper, as well as accompanying groups on educational visits. I retain my interest in education, from the comfort of retirement. I have considerable experience of strategic planning and look forward to seeing Grove Vale continue to excel and develop.

Kishma Bolaji

I was co-opted to the Governing Body of this outstanding school in December 2020, and I am wholeheartedly committed to ensuring its continued success. I am a specialist medical negligence solicitor in a national law firm and I also Co-Chair a social networking organisation, Birmingham Black Lawyers, which supports aspiring and junior lawyers from black and other minority backgrounds to progress within the profession. I am, more importantly, a mother of 3 and understand firsthand the importance of good governance in schools and the impact this has on both the students and their families' lives. I am passionate about the provision of not just outstanding academic training, but also real life skills and knowledge to prepare students to excel in their communities, and the wider world we live in. I believe my skillset, training and background enables me to offer diversity of thought and perspective, making our Governing Body even stronger and more effective.

Mr Mattew Payton

In 2021 I was invited to join the governing body of Grove Vale primary school, As a previous student at the school I am really excited to be joining the team. I have worked in a number of secondary schools within Sandwell and I am currently Head of Department within a school in Birmingham. Knowing how important primary education is and how it shapes young people . I hope to bring some of my experiences from 10 years in education to the governing body. I am interested about teaching and learning and how this can impact on the attainment of students and their progress. As a PE teacher another area of interest is the wider role education has in shaping young people's lives socially and emotionally with extra-curricular opportunities and experiences . After speaking with the head teacher, it was clear to see the drive and passion all staff have here at Grove Vale. Hopefully within my new role, We can continue to give young people within Great Barr a fantastic start in their education experience not just academically but holistically, like I had many years ago.

Mrs M Bunch

I have been a co-opted governor at Grove Vale Primary School since 2016. I have many years of experience in education and school leadership in Sandwell and the local area. My current professional role is Deputy Head Teacher at Grove Vale. I started working at Grove Vale in 2010 when I was seconded as Assistant Head Teacher, I then became Deputy Head Teacher in 2012. My role prior to secondment was as an Early Years Consultant for Sandwell LA where I supported schools and settings in providing high quality education provision for children from birth to 5. I have also worked in several other primary schools as a class teacher and member of their senior leadership teams which has enabled me to gain experience in leading many different areas within school. I believe strongly in the core values at Grove Vale as a member of staff and school governor, and I am committed to supporting school to provide the best possible experience for all its pupils, families and staff.

Miss S Hopcroft

I am currently a Key Stage 1 teacher and the leader of Phase 2 (Year 1 and 2) at Grove Vale. I am the teacher governor for the school and have worked her for a number of years now. This has resulted in me having excellent knowledge of the school and how it is run. I also lead PSHE, Science and Personal Development. I have a good understanding of our strengths and next steps. My knowledge allows me to support the governors with their understanding of elements of the school. I also have a strong relationship with all of the staff. I am dedicated to the school and the children. At Grove Vale the children are always at the heart of everything we do, which is the ethos that I support.

Jayne Bourke

Ms

I was invited to join the Governing Body at Grove Vale Primary School in the Spring Term of 2022 as a Co-Opted Governor. I have worked for the Local Authority for over 45 years both in the Education and Finance Service areas. For the last 25+ years, I have worked in the Schools Financial Services traded team supporting a number of schools as their Budget Officer. I support schools with all financial aspects from setting the budget to providing financial monitoring reports thus I have a detailed knowledge of Schools Funding. I feel that my experience within education and finance will support my role on the Governing Body of Grove Vale. As a Governor, I consider my most important role to be the safety, welfare and education of the pupils. I want to make a positive contribution to children’s education and I want to ensure that objectives are met and that future planning is both visionary and realistic.

Mrs S Pathak

I recently got elected Parent Governor at Grove Vale School. I have been serving in this role since September 23rd. My professional background lies in the banking sector, where I have worked for NatWest Bank for the past 19 years as a Performance and Business Management Manager. However, my passion lies in education and providing children with the best opportunities to unlock their full potential. In addition to my role as a Parent Governor, I am also honoured to serve as the Chair of the Parents Friends Association. In this position, I work diligently to raise funds through various activities, with the aim of supporting school projects and enhancing the overall experience for the children. As the Reception (Early Years Learning) Link Governor, I have the privilege of regularly visiting the school and observing the incredible work being done by the staff. I am always impressed by their dedication and the positive interactions they have with the children. I am looking forward to working collaboratively with the school, parents, and staff to contribute towards creating a nurturing and inspiring educational environment for all our students.

L Rashid

I joined the Governing Body of Grove Vale Primary School in September 2023 as a parent governor. I have worked in both primary and secondary schools within the Black Country. I know how important primary education is for young people to prepare them for the future and provide them with the best opportunities to reach their full potential. I have a passion for sport and physical activity (being a football referee and working for many years at Sandwell Leisure Trust) and am interested in the wide variety of extra-curricular opportunities offered to pupils. I regularly visit the school to see the fantastic work being done by the staff as well as supporting events. I am the link governor for year two, pupil premium and PE and School Sport. As a parent I don’t just want the best for my child, but the best for all our pupils, ensuring the school excels for pupils, families, and staff. I am looking forwards to supporting this ‘outstanding’ school in continuing to strive to provide the best educational environment possible for our pupils.