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Meet our Governors​​​​​​​

Stephen Jones - Chair of Governors (Co-opted Governor)

I have worked in local government for over 37 years in leisure & sports administration, youth & community  services and in mainstream /further and higher Education as a senior manager, lecturer and a consultant. 

I am a serving Governor at Cedars Primary School and previously, I served as a governor at Beardwood Community High School

I am a passionate supporter of good causes. I have previously acted as a Trustee for a number of charitable organisations, and I am currently advising and supporting a local charity in Blackburn.

I am committed to ensuring that the school and its workforce is supported and equipped to enable our pupils to develop their full potential. 

Pecuniary interests - IMO Charity

Co-opted Governor at Cedars Primary School

James Waddington - Headteacher

I have worked in Education since September 2004 which is now many years ago!  

My passion in Education is helping children read and develop a love of books.

I have been working at Meadowhead Infants since Easter 2017 and I have loved every second of it.

Prior to my appointment as Headteacher at Meadowhead Infants I was a teacher at a school in Darwen. 

The early years of school, I believe, are the most important, and I am proud to help shape the lives of so many young people and support them in becoming kind, caring, ambitious and responsible citizens. 

I am married with two young children who keep me more than busy!

No pecuniary interests

Michael Stanley - Co-opted Governor

I live locally with my family. I am a time-served electronic technician and been involved in the manufacturing sector for 30 years. For the last 12 years I have worked for Lancashire County Council in the education sector.

No pecuniary interests

Lorna Sibanda - Parent Governor

After qualifying as a teacher, I taught Maths & English in Further Education, at a local college in Blackburn. 

I enjoy working with the youth and take pride in seeing the future leaders motivated and inspired to do well in life.

Being involved in my community is so refreshing for me. For more than 10 years, I have worked a within our local Parishes as the PCC treasurer - St Barnabas, Vice Treasurer - St Andrews and member of the committee in St Andrews all Church of England.

I’m a wife & mother of three children who were former Meadowhead Infants pupils.

As a Maths specialist I don’t restrict my passion to numbers only I care a lot about other educational disciplines too.

I hold an MA in Educational Management & Leadership, and definitely look forward to making a positive contribution to the school.

Pecuniary interests - Director - SLS Accounting Consultancy Ltd and Trustee at St Andrews Church of England PCC

Natalie Young - Co-opted Governor (Vice Chair)

I have been a governor at Meadowhead Infant School since September 2020.

I have lived in the area for 14 years, both my children have attended Meadowhead Infant School, so I feel like I have a personal connection with the school, as well as having the best interests of both parents and children at heart.

I have a background in the Sciences, and experience with children with additional needs.

I am keen to learn about the organisation side of schools, and what keeps our schools happy and thriving

As a governor my aim is to help the school make the progress we need, whilst retaining our school's structure and values.

Pecuniary interests - Vice Chair of Governors at Meadowhead Junior School

Katie Hodgkinson - Parent Governor

I live locally with my family and have lived in the area for many years. I have two sons and my younger son attends Meadowhead Infant School. 

I am a registered Manager for a domiciliary care company and my passion has always been in the health and social care sector. I have worked in this sector since I was 18 years old.

I have a BA in social care. 

I am really interested and keen to learn more about how the school works and helps children with special educational needs. 

No pecuniary interests

Anne-Marie Neild - Local Authority Governor

I taught for 20 years across the Primary and EYFS age-range, in Lancashire schools and in a Lancashire nursery school. I left teaching to become an Inclusion Officer for Blackburn with Darwen Council in May of 2021 and have loved the challenge of a very different role, supporting schools with their attendance and working with electively home educated (EHE) families, as well as working on Children Missing Education (CME) cases. I have found combining my background in education with my new role to be a real asset. I was allocated Meadowhead Infants and Meadowhead Juniors as part of my school case-load and have been working with both schools, addressing attendance issues through supporting the schools and families over the last year – it has been a pleasure getting to know the schools, staff and some of the children.

I have a passion for education and achieving the best outcomes for all children – I feel this comes from receiving a high-quality of education which engages the children, accessed through excellent attendance at school.

I became a LA Governor for Meadowhead Infants at the end of March 2022 and am very much looking forward to working further with the school and the Governing Body.

No pecuniary interests

Chris France - Co-opted Governor

I have worked in education since 2015 when I pursued a PGCE and became a primary teacher. I teach one of the year three classes at Meadowhead Junior School and am a co-opted governor at Meadowhead Infant School. Prior to this I held several teaching positions in Blackburn with Darwen and Preston.

In addition to education, I have a background in local government having served as a Borough Councillor in Chorley for twelve years and a Parish Councillor in Withnell for fifteen years before leaving these positions when I relocated to Blackburn in order to focus more on education.

In my spare time, I am a keen angler, hiker and gardener.

Pecuniary interests: Member of N.A.S.U.W.T, Teacher at Meadowhead Junior School

Alison Sabat - Staff Governor

I have worked for the local authority for 20 years covering various roles in different departments. I have been working in schools since 2015, I was Office Manager at a Maintained Nursery School and since 2020 I have been the Office Manager at Meadowhead Community Infant School. 

No pecunairy interests

Recently retired Governors:

Julie Marshall - 07.07.2021 - Resigned June 2023