Governors
Welcome from the Chair
Welcome to the Seymour Park Primary School! Everyone at our school makes a world of difference. We set high expectations for achievement in all curriculum subjects, engage high quality staff and embrace our wonderful local community. As Governors we make long term strategic decisions to ensure the best possible education for our children so that they can make a world of difference inside and outside of the school. The Board of Governors consists of parents, staff and those with additional expertise to ensure a diverse outlook on all aspects of the Seymour Park Experience. If you have any questions please get in touch, we are a friendly bunch!
Khuram Ahmed
Chair of Governors
Seymour Park Community Primary Governance
Governors have responsibility for the effective management of the school, working within the frameworks set out by Trafford Local Authority and national legislation.
Governors have a key role to play in helping our school to provide the best possible education for all our children; an education that makes a world of difference. With their help, we can all raise standards and ensure that every child in our school achieves their full potential. Each year we review our effectiveness and these reports can be found here:
Governors Impact Statement 2024
Governors Impact Statement 2023
Governors impact statement 2020Governors Impact Statement 2019
To ensure Seymour Park Community Primary School achieves its vision of making a world of difference, our governors set long-term school improvement goals. These goals form our Strategic Plan for the next five years and can be found here:
The governing body consists of the Headteacher, a member of the school staff, Trafford representative, members co-opted from the local community and parent governors. Each governor serves a four-year term. Our clerking service is provided by TrustGS.
On this page, you will find information about the governance at Seymour Park Community Primary School. This includes minutes from our Governing Body Meetings. These are a public document and show the work of our governors.
Governing Body
| Name | Governor Type | Term From | Term To | Roles | Declaration of Interest |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mark Mulgrave | Co-opted Governor | 26.5.2022 | 25.5.2026 | Vice Chair 2.9.24 Link Governor: STEM | None declared 2/9/2024 |
| I am originally from Ireland, and have lived in Old Trafford since 2007. I am a solicitor at a commercial law firm in the city centre. I believe that the skills I have developed in the course of a 15 year career in law leave me well placed to make a worthwhile contribution both to the governing board and the school community as a whole. I am used to reading, understanding and assimilating large quantities of documentation, to speaking publicly and to making quick, strategic decisions. I firmly believe that my commercial nous, inter-personal skills and communication abilities can be adapted to the role of governor. I am fully committed to the school and our community. | |||||
| Thomas Johnson | Headteacher | 1.9.2019 | - | Headteacher | Governor at Cavendish Community Primary School 2/9/2024 |
| I am the proud Headteacher of Seymour Park Community Primary School. Working alongside the children, staff, parents and governors of our school family is an enormous privilege. I became a headteacher in 2014 and have been the headteacher here at Seymour Park since 2019. As headteacher, I lead our wonderful school with high expectations for all. I am responsible for leading all aspects of school life; from the curriculum and day-to-day operations, to setting the values and long-direction of Seymour Park. In my free time, I enjoy gardening. | |||||
| Rowena Ainscough | Staff Governor | 07 Sep 2021 | 08 Sep 2025 | - | None declared 2/9/2024 |
| I always knew I wanted to be a teacher and was delighted when I secured my very first teaching position at Seymour Park. I have taught in both Key Stage 1 and EYFS, and have been Assistant Headteacher for almost 20 years. I am passionate about ensuring our children receive the best possible education, where they can thrive, feeling happy and secure. I have supported other schools and trained teachers within Trafford, sharing my experience and expertise. Through my close links with The University of Manchester, I have worked with and supported many trainee teachers during their school placements as a school based university tutor. Our amazing community and school family has been a major part of my life and I am so proud of everything we have achieved. | |||||
| Neil Tatham | Co-opted Governor | 31 March 2022 | 1 April 2026 | - | None declared – 2/9/2024 |
| I work at Seymour Park Community Primary School where I am the Computing Lead. I have the learning responsibility for Computing as a subject and also manage the IT infrastructure side of school. I am an ardent supporter of computing across our school and believe that all our children should have exposure and access to as wide a range of technology as possible. It means a lot to me that our children know who I am and that they can come to me with any concerns or worries that they may have, about their digital or ‘real world’ lives. Outside of school, I enjoy football, American football, watching movies, playing video games and spending time with my wife, son and sausage dog, Daisy. | |||||
| Cllr Ged Carter | LA Governor | 15 Oct 2023 | 14 Oct 2027 | Link Governor: STEM | Trafford Council - Spouse is Executive member for CYP and education in Trafford Council, and is a Trafford Councillor 2/9/2024 |
| I am an elected Councillor on Trafford Council, and I live in Old Trafford. I've recently retired as the Head of We Love Manchester Charity, which supports ambitious community groups and young people in Manchester to succeed. Outside of politics, I love to spend as much time as possible with my partner, daughters and grandchildren, and try to visit the cinema and theatre whenever possible. | |||||
| Dr John Bellamy | Co-opted Governor | 13.10.22 | 12.10.26 | Link Governor: Communication, Language and Literature | None declared 2.9.2024 |
| In my professional capacity as Senior Lecturer in Sociolinguistics, I teach and research across a range of areas that intersect between language, society and identity. As a member of the Manchester Centre For Youth Studies at Manchester Metropolitan University, I work towards meaningful engagement with policy and practice in sectors such as education and youth justice, striving to ensure that everyone has a voice and can be involved in key decision-making processes. My favourite pastimes are jogging, gardening and reading. | |||||
| Khuram Ahmed | Co-opted Governor | 13.10.22 | 12.10.26 | Chair 2.9.24 Link Governor: Understanding Our World | None declared 2/9/2024 |
| I am a Civil Litigation Lawyer specialising in insurance law. I am passionate about equality in education. I have worked with various organisations helping young people such as the Islamophobia Response Unit where I provide advice and support for victims of discrimination. I bring expertise in policy implementation, drafting, and analysis. I am devoted to ensuring children are given the best structure in which to blossom and grow. I encourage this through healthy conversation, openness and support. In my spare time I enjoy reading, hiking and swimming. | |||||
| Hamid Sheikh | Parent Governor | 24.11.23 | 23.11.27 | Safeguarding Governor | None declared 2/9/2024 |
| I work in higher education as a HR advisor and have worked closely with the education sector for over 10 years. I have experience in both compliance and safeguarding in schools. I have lived in Old Trafford for over 30 years and my child is currently a third-generation child attending the school following in the footsteps of myself and also my father. I am committed to working collaboratively with the school leadership, staff, and fellow parents to provide an outstanding education for our children to ensure a bright and prosperous future. In my free time I enjoy playing and watching a wide variety of sports and spending time with my family | |||||
| Caroline Wheelan | Co-opted Governor | 8.2.24 | 7.4.28 | SEND Governor Link Governor: Arts and Wellbeing | None declared 4/9/2024 |
| I work at St Philips CE Primary in Hulme as the Assistant Headteacher. I have worked there for seven years and previously worked in Crumpsall for over 25 years. I love working in Manchester as part of a federation with St James in Rusholme. I am passionate about teaching and still love it as much as I did when I first started. Through my role, I have made close links with | |||||
| Joseph Woods | Parent Governor | 22.11.24 | 21.11.28 | None declared 10.1.2025 | |
| I have been a resident of the local community for the past 8 years and am proud to have two children who attend the school. Professionally I am a registered nurse at a nearby hospital. My desire to become a parent governor stems from a heartfelt commitment to contribute to the ongoing success of the school, and am passionate about supporting the students, teachers and the wider school community any way I can. | |||||
| 1 x Vacancy Co-opted Governor | |||||
Previous Governors in the last 12 months
Deborah Archer-Reeves (1.9.24)
Khawla Badwan (Co-opted Governor and Chair of Governors) 27.7.24
Governors Attendance Record
SPCPS-Governors-Attendance-2023-2024.pdf
2022-2023 Meetings-SeymourParkCommunity-10.pdf2021-2022 Meetings-SeymourParkCommunity-9.pdf
Governing Body Code of Conduct
SPCPS Governors Code of Conduct
Governing Body Minutes 2024/2025
249-2024-09-02.pdf
Governing Body Minutes 2023/2024
249-2023-10-19.pdf249-2023-09-07.pdf
Please note, due to the December 2023 Ofsted Inspection, the meeting on December 7th was cancelled. Minutes from previous governing body minutes are available upon request to the clerk of governors. Please contact the school office for details.
