Meet The Governors

Danielle Preston

Chair, Co-Opted Governor

Appointment to the board: Joined the Governing Body in October 2017, appointed as Chair of the Remuneration committee in September 2018, as Vice-Chair of the Governing Body in September 2019, and as Chair in September 2020.

Career Experience: After leaving Great Sankey High School & Barrow Hall College, Danielle went on to obtain a BA (hons) in Advertising Design from The University of Salford. Danielle has gained experience carrying out business development and account management roles in several multinational companies, and now works at Anixter, a global supply chain company as Contract Director, responsible for the management and governance of key Defence contracts.

Skills and Experience: Danielle is skilled in negotiation and strategic relationship management with a focus on contract governance and implementation/execution of improvement plans.

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.

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 a number of 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 was appointed as Vice Chair in September 2020.

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 was in charge of 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.

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.

Gary Evans

Staff Governor

Appointment to the board: Joined the Governing Body as Headteacher in October 2022.

Career Experience: Gary went to school and college in Huyton near Liverpool. He obtained a BA (Hons) degree in French Studies at the University of Portsmouth where he also trained to be a secondary school teacher. He taught English in France before returning to the UK. He has worked in 5 schools across the northwest since 1996 carrying out many different roles including Teacher of Modern Languages, Head of Year, Head of Department, Assistant Headteacher and Deputy Headteacher. He has been a Headteacher for 10 years.

Skills and Experience: Gary has over 25 years’ experience of working in education. He has a wealth of experience in different areas of school improvement and has worked with Governing bodies in all the schools he has worked in.

Suzanne Giles

Staff Governor

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.

Chris Short

Parent Governor

Appointment to the board: Joined the governing body in March 2022.

Career Experience: Following completion of his degree, Chris began his career working for a car rental company, he then moved on to work for a medical locum agency before returning to university to gain his PGCE qualification. Since 1999 Chris has worked in a number of primary schools, starting as a Year 5 teacher in Leigh. In 2001 he then moved to teach in a Junior School in Warrington and took responsibility for PE there. Chris went on to gain his NPQH in 2006 and took on the role of Deputy Head in a school in the centre of Warrington in 2008, and then became Headteacher of his current school in 2011.

Skills and Experience: Chris has sat on the Governing Body of three schools as the Staff representative so has a good understanding of the role. Having been in education for over 20 years he is fully aware of the demands and needs of a school environment and how the Governing Body can support the smooth running of the school. Chris has extensive experience of school development, finances and staff appointments.

Jennifer Prescott

Parent Governor

Appointment to the board: Joined the governing body in March 2022.

Career Experience: After leaving Great Sankey High School, Jennifer continued her studies locally before studying medicine at the University of Southampton. Her work history includes working for the NHS and in various Local Authority roles linked to education and training, including a ten-year appointment at a secondary school within the pastoral and safeguarding teams. In 2020, Jennifer completed her PGCE and now works as a teacher of science within a neighbouring local authority.

Skills and Experience: Having spent almost 20 years within and around education, Jennifer brings skills and knowledge linked to pastoral care, attendance, behaviour and safeguarding, together with more recent experience of teaching young people. As a former pupil and member of the local community, Jennifer has maintained a keen interest in the progression of GSHS and the success of the pupils.

Matt Rutter

Co-Opted Governor

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. 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 a number of 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.