Governor Profiles

Laraine Jones - Co-Chair of Governors

(Certificate of Education, Batchelor of Education Hons.)

I have worked as a teacher in Nursery schools in the city for 33 years, the last 10 years as the Headteacher of Thomas Boughey Nursery School in Shelton, until my early retirement in December 2013. As part of this role I have had responsibility for the school budget and also ensuring that the standards in the school were high, and children were safe. The school had 3 inspections under my leadership which have been Outstanding, and Good with Outstanding elements. The school was based in a Children’s Centre, and for a period of two years I also managed the Children’s Centre budgets, services, staff and standards. This was an interim measure before the move to a locality model of management.

In a voluntary capacity I am also a founding Director of the Thomas Boughey Kindergarten, a PVI childcare organisation with charitable status which cares for and educates children from 0 to 5 years (Ofsted Outstanding judgement July 2015). As part of this role I have responsibility for the quality of the care offered to service users, Performance Management of staff, and the successful business management of the company. I am also a Foundation Governor at St Mark’s CE (A) Primary School (Ofsted judgement Good with Outstanding elements) and a LA Governor and Vice Chair at Westfield Nursery School in Longton (Ofsted judgement Outstanding) As part of my role as Governor in these two schools I have supported the management of the schools and successfully monitored standards of education, the curriculum, Health and Safety and supported the process of staff recruitment.

The majority of children from Thomas Boughey Nursery School and Kindergarten are of ethnic minority heritage and many move on to St Mark’s Primary School and Etruscan Primary School. I, therefore, am known and respected by the local community and understand the needs of the children and families from this area.

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Julie Thompson - Co-Chair of Governors

I have always had connections to the Shelton and Etruria area as I grew up there and attended St. Mark’s C.of E. School. I worked at Shelton Nursery School for 30 happy years as a Senior Early Years Practitioner until taking early retirement in 2007. I then became a Governor at Thomas Boughey Nursery which enabled me to use my expertise to continue to actively contribute to the school and the community. As a Governor on the Federation Board I am committed to ensuring quality education and high standards in a safe and nurturing environment to improve outcomes for all pupils. I am also a trustee at Thomas Boughey Kindergarten which is a PVI with charitable status for 0-5 year olds. In 2015, it was judged to be outstanding by Ofsted.

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Claire Furnell-King

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Kerry Dawson

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Matt Gough

Qamar Sohail

Laura Grocott Staff Governor

For the past 10 years I have worked in education, teaching all year groups from Year 1 to Year 6. I have been at Etruscan Primary School for the past 7 years and as well as being a Year 4 teacher, I am currently the leader for Assessment, Curriculum and History. I feel lucky to be part of such a wonderful community, not only in Etruria and Etruscan Primary School, but also across the Federation. It is a privilege to be able to represent the views of the staff as part of the Governing Body.