John Sneddon – Chair of Governors
Originally from Scotland, I moved to Salford in 2008, at which point I felt I wanted to give something back to the community while also learning a bit more about the local area. I applied to an advert looking for Local Authority Governors and was matched with Brentnall Primary School. In recent years, I have studied towards a BSc in Engineering and Management with Open University and a MSc in Corporate Real Estate with University of Salford, and I work for Co-op’s Head Office as a Contract Manager for their Estates team – all of which I feel equip me with the necessary skills to determine the aims and overall conduct of the school with a view to promoting high standards of educational achievement. My professional experience helps me in my voluntary work to set staff levels, set and agree the school budget, ensure that broad and balanced curriculum is delivered, as well as monitoring health and safety and the management of the premises.
Emily Bagnall – Staff Governor
A lot of you may already know me as I am the Lower Phase Leader here at Brentnall. I have recently joined the Governing Board as a Staff Governor as I am passionate about giving the children the best opportunities and I am very interested in working with the Governors as the school grows.
Joseph Donnelly – Co-opted Governor
Having worked in education in Liverpool, Salford, China and now Bury, I am passionate about ensuring children have access to the highest quality education. I am currently a Primary School Teacher for Bury Local Authority and applied to become a Governor at Brentnall as I felt it was an opportunity to share my own experience and gain a greater insight into the workings of schools. I have recently achieved Mathematics Specialist Teacher credential (MaST) through Edge Hill University, where I am still involved in the ITT programme. I am currently working towards an MEd in Primary Mathematics education. My experiences in the UK and abroad have given me an excellent insight into a variety of different schools and their different approaches and educational ethos, giving me valuable insight when considering school budget as well as ensuring that a balanced and considered curriculum is delivered.
Geoffrey Hodge – Parent Governor
I have lived in Salford since 2002 and our son, Oscar, is in his third year at Brentnall having joined the reception class in 2016. When Oscar was allocated Brentnall by the council it wasn’t a school we knew about having applied to the school where he attended nursery. We were obviously concerned that he would be moving away from his friends but were amazed at how quickly he fitted in and the speed at which he learnt. When the parent governor post came up, it seemed a good opportunity to help and support the school.