Meet the Governors

Chairs of Governors: Claire Higgins

As Chair of Governors, I feel privileged to work with the headteacher and the senior leadership team to promote and maintain high standards of educational achievement at St John Fisher and ensure that the governing body sets a clear vision, ethos and strategic direction for the school. I was appointed as Local Authority Governor (LAG) in March 2019 and am in my second term as an LAG.

My Governor link areas are safeguarding , SEND, pupil premium, inclusion, attendance and behaviour, PHSE, computing and digital Safeguarding and school council link governor. I have an interest in health and safety and I Chair the Health and Safety committee working with the School Business Manager and Site Manager to ensure the school H&S standards comply with the requirements of the Tameside Local Authority auditors.

Having attended St John Fisher RC Primary myself before I moved on to St Thomas More, I feel passionately about leading the team of Governors as we work together at a strategic level to ensure that the Catholic vision and character of the school is upheld.

Mandy Harris

I am very proud to be the Headteacher at St John Fisher RC Primary School. I came here in September 2018 from St Catherine's RC Primary School in Didsbury, where I was the Deputy Headteacher for four and a half years. I have taught for 27 years and have experience ranging from Year 1 right through to year 6. My favourite subject is Maths and I still love to teach it. I have lots of experience in curriculum development and assessment and quality first teaching. All of which are skills I share with the staff here at St John Fisher. I have also previously been the Teacher representative on the governing body.

I have four children all of whom were educated in the catholic sector and I am committed to developing the faith life of our school in conjunction with the academic. Developing the whole child and helping them to be ready for the next stage in their lives is an important part of our job.

I am passionate about education and am dedicating to making St John Fisher the best Catholic Primary School it can be.

Lindsey Hamnett

I am a Foundation Governor appointed by the Bishop of Salford. My Job is to ensure that the school is conducted in accordance with the rites, practices and traditions of the Roman Catholic Faith.

I have been a part of the school/church community for 16 years volunteering at PTA events as well as being a Faith Friend helping out with the sacramental programme and the children’s chapel at St John Fisher Church.

I am a stay at home mother to 4. My eldest, Aimee is currently studying A-levels at college. My son Harry is at secondary school and my youngest two daughters, Charlotte and Megan attend St John Fisher.

Having four children of my own I understand that every child is unique and special. I volunteered to be part of the governing body to ensure each pupil reaches their full potential at this school.

Niall Johnson

It is a privilege to be appointed as a Foundation Governor at St John Fisher in April 2021. Most recently, I have been elected as Vice Chair of the Full Governing Board. Having lived in Haughton Green since a child and having been a former pupil of St John Fisher and St Thomas More, I know the local community well. Previously, I have worked at St Thomas More for 7 years in a number of roles which include: Teacher of Religious Education, Head of Year 7, Head of Year 8, Head of Year 9 and Assistant Currliculum Leader of Religous Education. During my time at St Thomas More I was part of an outstanding section 48 inspection. Currenltly, I am Head of RE at All Hallows RC High School in Salford. My curriculum, teaching and learning experience, and knowledge of the spiritual life of Catholic Schools will be valuable in ensuring that the children of St John Fisher receive a Catholic education that allows them to leave as rounded individuals, equipped with the skills and knowledge to face an ever-changing world.

Maria Higgins

It is a privilege to be appointed by Bishop John Arnold (Salford) as Foundation Governor at St John Fisher. Although I am a relatively newcomer to the parish, I have helped to lead the music at Sunday Mass for some time now and encouraged the school children to partake in action songs and play percussion instruments during the liturgy. I am a Eucharistic minister and I have also played an active role in the parish ‘Live Simply Award’ which was achieved during Covid-19. This Cafod award involved liaising with our two parish primary schools as well as St Thomas More and as a governor of St John Fisher, I am keen to look at ways this work can be embedded further and observe the sense of responsibility that the children have in caring for the world around them.

I am a retired teacher. Eight years of my career were spent in primary education followed by more than thirty years in teaching adult literacy and carrying out adult dyslexia diagnosis in many communities across Tameside and North Manchester. My career has taken me into many different settings including teaching deaf students for Tameside College, working in psychiatric units linked with Tameside Hospital and MIND, leading Family Literacy and Numeracy in many Tameside primary schools and teaching English from basic level to GCSE for Manchester Adult Education Service. This knowledge and experience taught me the importance of a rounded education particularly at an early age when the foundations are laid. As a governor, I welcome being part of a team that monitors and evaluates the school’s progress towards achievement ensuring the best for each child.