Meet The Governors

Danielle Preston

Chair, Co-Opted Governor

Appointment to the board: Joined the Governing Body in October 2017, appointed Vice-Chair in September 2019, and as Chair in September 2020.

Career Experience: After leaving GSHS, Danielle continued her studies at The University of Salford, where she obtained a BA (hons) in Advertising Design. Danielle has gained experience carrying out account management and business development roles, and now works at Wesco Anixter, a global supply chain company as Director of Strategic Contracts where she is responsible for overseeing the management and governance of key Defence programmes.

Skills and Experience: Danielle has a wealth of experience in contract governance and implementation/execution of improvement plans. As a former pupil of Great Sankey High School and Barrow Hall College, Danielle has a keen interest in supporting the local community and the success of Great Sankey High School and its pupils.

David McClelland

Vice Chair

Appointment to the board: Joined the Governing Body in December 2015 and previously held the role of Chair of Finance and Resources committee from February 2016. David was appointed as Vice Chair in September 2023, and is also the Link Governor for Safeguarding.

Career Experience:David left Great Sankey High School, as a student, in 1993 embarking on a career of supporting businesses in a variety of roles. Starting on an IT support trainee programme with the BBC and then later moving on to support a local government organisation which became privatised in 1995. He has held several posts including system and helpdesk support for a global cinema chain, and business support for a regional waste disposal company, before joining a family logistics business in 2000 (gaining an Institute of Directors Certificate in Company Direction) In 2012, David carried out an acquisition of a logistics business, which in 2018 was acquired itself, and went on to become their Business Support and Project Manager. David is now Business Manager for a Primary School in Runcorn.

Skills and Experience: With over 26 years of business experience gained in a variety of organisations within the corporate area from SME to global brands, as well as his current experience of working in a school setting, David brings to the board a vast range of knowledge and practical experience in a variety of business areas including IT, Finance, HR and Business Administration. He is a valued support to the school from which advice and knowledge can obtained; whilst still being an effective ‘critical friend’ of the school..

John Morris

Co-opted Governor

Appointment to the board: Joined the Governing Body in 1997 and previously carried out the role of Vice Chair for 3 terms 2020-2023.

Career Experience: John is an experienced solicitor, now specialising in criminal law and therefore brings a wealth of legal expertise to the Governing Body.

Skills and Experience: John is an Alderman of Warrington Borough Council and oversaw finances at Warrington for a number of years. He was also the Councillor for Whittle Hall ward for eleven years, and Chair of the Scrutiny Committee at Warrington Borough council which held the Executive of Warrington Borough Council along with the other Stakeholders to account.

Stuart Ryder

Co-opted Governor

Appointment to the board: Joined the Governing Body in May 2016 and is the Link Governor for SEND.

Career Experience: After leaving Great Sankey High School and Barrow Hall College, Stuart went on to gain a BA (Hons) in accounting from the University of Wales before embarking on a career as a practice accountant and becoming a Fellow of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants. After 15 years, the majority of which were spent as a senior manager, at a medium sized practice in Cheshire, Stuart decided in 2012 that the time was right to set up his own practice to provide a more people-orientated approach to the provision of accountancy and taxation services..

Skills and Experience: With over 20 years working in the accounting profession, Stuart has a broad knowledge and understanding of the financial aspects of operating an organisation as well as being able to appraise the financial reports presented.

Matt Rutter

Co-Opted Governor

Appointment to the board: Joined the Governing Body in June 2023.

Career Experience: Matt has 17 years’ experience of working across Further and Higher Education institutions and awarding bodies in England. Matt has held a range of teaching and leadership and Senior Assessment Associate roles including his current role of Associate Dean for the School of Health, Science and Wellbeing at Staffordshire University and Lead Standards Verifier for Pearson. Matt has experience of raising educational standards and achieving better outcomes for learner cohorts through driving several projects around assessment, curriculum design, the use of a range of pedagogic approaches, inclusion planning and embedding employability and career planning.

Skills and Experience: Matt has national qualification writing experience for AQA, City and Guilds and Pearson developing qualifications across levels 2 and 3 and has been given a ‘Services to’ Award by the Joint Council for Qualifications for this work and his examiner work. He is currently engaged in awarding body work for Pearson as a Lead Standards Verifier, International Verifier and Standards Verifier across several subject areas. Previously Matt has held the post of Chief Examiner for AQA and City and Guilds, which required National oversite of exam performance and standards.

Katie Whitmore

Parent Governor

Information coming soon...

Suzanne Giles

Staff Governor

Appointment to the board: Joined the governing body in January 2023.

Career Experience: Having been to school and college in Swinton near Salford, Suzanne then obtained a BSc (Hons) degree in Applicable Mathematics at Manchester Metropolitan University. Her work history includes working for a bank and solicitors processing mortgages from sale to completion giving her experience of managing a team and speaking to customers over the phone. In 2009 she completed her PGCE at Edge Hill University and was employed in the September at Great Sankey High School as a teacher of mathematics.

Skills and Experience: Having worked at Great Sankey High School for 14 years Suzanne has gained experience in teaching, pastoral care, and behaviour management. As a Subject Mentor she has trained and supported many trainee teachers, and more recently has become a Teacher Educator, and in this role, she has delivered CPD and coached colleagues within the school. Being fully committed to Great Sankey, in becoming a Staff Governor Suzanne aims to support the leaders of the school, bringing a viewpoint from the inside, both from a staff and student perspective.

Alison Hales

Staff Governor

Appointment to the board: Joined the governing body in September 2024.

Career Experience: Originally from Essex, Alison joined the Royal Navy at 18 and served for 9 years. On leaving the service she worked with several companies as a PA/Office Manager, before taking a 5-year break to have her son. During this time, she retrained as a teaching assistant and worked with SEND children aged 3 to 18 for several years. After being offered a temporary admin role within a school that eventually lasted 3 years, she decided to leave the classroom behind her. Alison started working at Great Sankey High School in 2020 as the Attendance Officer.

Skills and Experience: Having worked within a school setting for the last 12 years with 5 of them being at Great Sankey, Alison has gained a great deal of experience working with children of all ages. She brings working knowledge of safeguarding and pastoral care as well as an in-depth knowledge of Attendance. Alison is passionate about supporting Great Sankey, its students, staff, and parents.

Gillian Magowan

Co-opted Governor

Information coming soon...

Felicity Hannah

Parent Governor

Information coming soon...