The Governing Body: About Us
%20(1).jpg/:/cr=t:3.35%25,l:0%25,w:100%25,h:66.64%25/rs=w:365,h:365,cg:true)
Mrs Danielle Winstain - Chair of Governors and Co-opted Governor cog@pattishallshall.co.uk
Mrs Danielle Winstain - Chair of Governors and Co-opted Governor cog@pattishallshall.co.uk
Mrs Danielle Winstain - Chair of Governors and Co-opted Governor cog@pattishallshall.co.uk
I joined the Board of Governors in May 2022 and as of September 2025, I will have 3 children at Pattishall.
I often talk about how our journey to school each day involves passing at least 9 other schools along the way – this this is a choice I have happily made because I truly believe in the vision and ethos Pattishall has for the child
I joined the Board of Governors in May 2022 and as of September 2025, I will have 3 children at Pattishall.
I often talk about how our journey to school each day involves passing at least 9 other schools along the way – this this is a choice I have happily made because I truly believe in the vision and ethos Pattishall has for the children here.
By day, I work in the Civil Service, currently on Space policy. Strategic thinking, decision making and collaboration are my core skillset and I am delighted to able to lend these skills to benefit the school.
I have spent my career working across the whole of government and think I have a unique insight as to how policy is made and implemented, how it impacts those who have to deliver it, and perhaps crucially, how to meet the inevitable gap between the two.
Mrs Teresa Elkin - Clerk to the Governing Body
Mrs Danielle Winstain - Chair of Governors and Co-opted Governor cog@pattishallshall.co.uk
Mrs Danielle Winstain - Chair of Governors and Co-opted Governor cog@pattishallshall.co.uk
As the Clerk to the Full Governing Body of Pattishall Primary, I thoroughly enjoy working with a team of committed and enthusiastic governors.
I also work with a range of other schools and academies in the county and I hope that I can share some of this experience and knowledge with governors at Pattishall.
I have worked as Head of Governo
As the Clerk to the Full Governing Body of Pattishall Primary, I thoroughly enjoy working with a team of committed and enthusiastic governors.
I also work with a range of other schools and academies in the county and I hope that I can share some of this experience and knowledge with governors at Pattishall.
I have worked as Head of Governor Services in one of the largest Trusts in Northamptonshire as well as being a voluntary governor for more than nine years. When I worked with a Northampton primary school as Chair of Governors we were thrilled to be judged by Ofsted as the first 'Outstanding' primary in the town.
Prior to this I worked as part of the Early Years team at the Local Authority following a career in advertising and marketing - this involved working on projects in the UK and across Europe for brands such as Swissair and Visa.
With grandchildren of my own now, I enjoy seeing the progress of education in this country and the new areas such as enrichment which education now incorporates, providing exciting opportunities for all children.
Mr Jonathan Mahoney - Vice Chair and Co-opted Governor
Mrs Danielle Winstain - Chair of Governors and Co-opted Governor cog@pattishallshall.co.uk
Mr Jonathan Mahoney - Vice Chair and Co-opted Governor
I joined the board of governors in 2020, and at the time had two children in the school. Both have since moved on to secondary school at Sponne.
I am a director of a number of companies in the UK and overseas. I believe that the strategic nature of these roles allows me to fulfil the three key responsibilities of the governing body: plann
I joined the board of governors in 2020, and at the time had two children in the school. Both have since moved on to secondary school at Sponne.
I am a director of a number of companies in the UK and overseas. I believe that the strategic nature of these roles allows me to fulfil the three key responsibilities of the governing body: planning the school’s strategic direction, ensuring money is well-spent and holding the headteacher and school leadership to account.
I became a governor during COVID lockdown, a particularly difficult time for the pupils, teachers and parents at the school and was nominated as the finance lead. Having witnessed the importance of the governing body in ensuring the school continues to offer the children a safe, nurturing and challenging learning environment, I remained a governor after my children progressed to secondary school.
Mr Matthew Eggleton-Wood - Local Authority Governor
Mr Matthew Eggleton-Wood - Local Authority Governor
Mr Matthew Eggleton-Wood - Local Authority Governor
I have always been passionate about learning, performance, and being part of something significant, which is why I applied to be a governor.
My background is in performance sport, where I have spent twenty plus years coaching athletics, supporting not only athletes but practitioners to achieve their potential.
In my current role at UK C
I have always been passionate about learning, performance, and being part of something significant, which is why I applied to be a governor.
My background is in performance sport, where I have spent twenty plus years coaching athletics, supporting not only athletes but practitioners to achieve their potential.
In my current role at UK Coaching, I am responsible for talent pathway coaches developing the skills and knowledge that enables them to create positive and inclusive learning environments. Before that, I spent eleven years teaching in higher education sports departments.
My professional doctorate explored practitioner learning in everyday situations from an environmental psychology lens; something I think applies just as much in schools as in sport.
I believe that education should help every child discover what they are capable of, and that the learning environment plays a significant role in how child learn to explore the world. I am excited to contribute to a school where every child can thrive.
Vacancy - Foundation Governor
Mr Matthew Eggleton-Wood - Local Authority Governor
Mr Matthew Eggleton-Wood - Local Authority Governor
This could be you!
If you are a regular church-goer and would like to become a governor with a special oversight of the school's spiritual direction, then please contact cog@pattishallschool.co.uk
Vacancy - Foundation Governor
Mr Matthew Eggleton-Wood - Local Authority Governor
Mr Stephen Jones - Co-opted Governor
This could be you!
If you are a regular church-goer and would like to become a governor with a special oversight of the school's spiritual direction, then please contact cog@pattishallschool.co.uk
Mr Stephen Jones - Co-opted Governor
Mr Stephen Jones - Co-opted Governor
Mr Stephen Jones - Co-opted Governor
Watch this space!
Mrs Navneet Johal - Parent Governor
Mr Stephen Jones - Co-opted Governor
Mrs Navneet Johal - Parent Governor
I joined the Board of Governors in November 2025, and currently have one child at the school. We moved back to the UK from the U.S. at the end of 2023, and while Pattishall was recommended to us by family members, it continues to be our school of choice.
Currently, I am Director of Education Go-To-Market and Product Marketing at Salesfo
I joined the Board of Governors in November 2025, and currently have one child at the school. We moved back to the UK from the U.S. at the end of 2023, and while Pattishall was recommended to us by family members, it continues to be our school of choice.
Currently, I am Director of Education Go-To-Market and Product Marketing at Salesforce which brings together my background in teaching, learning and analysis with my love for education technology.
I started my career 18 years ago as a Lecturer in Government and Politics and Sociology, which has been my career foundation and purpose for everything I have done since then. I am thrilled to lend my skills and experience to benefit the school.
I believe that education is the greatest platform for change, and appreciate opportunities to pay it forward - in this case, as a parent governor at Patitshall.
Mrs Marina Moran - Parent Governor
Mr Stephen Jones - Co-opted Governor
Mrs Navneet Johal - Parent Governor
Watch this space!
Mrs Lowri Thorpe - Staff Governor
Mrs Lowri Thorpe - Staff Governor
Mrs Lowri Thorpe - Staff Governor
Mrs Emma McLean - Head Teacher
Mrs Lowri Thorpe - Staff Governor
Mrs Lowri Thorpe - Staff Governor
What do the Governors do?
Welcome to the Governors section of our school website. We thought you might like to know a little bit about us and what we do.
The Governing Body, Headteacher and senior staff form the school’s Leadership and Management team and share responsibility for the school.
The GB must hold the school to account for the standards it achieves. It must ensure that all resources (including the school budget and staff) are properly used to meet the needs of all children and provide value for money. Governors help to form the School Development Plan and are responsible for monitoring all aspects of its effectiveness in terms of outcomes for pupils.
The Governing Body appoints the Headteacher, and delegates to her responsibility for the day to day running of the school.
Who are the Governors?
The Governing Body is made up of four groups who represent the stakeholders of the school: staff, parents, the church (Foundation) and the Local Authority. This range of people is intended to provide a broad and balanced selection of viewpoints and to represent each sector of the school’s community. Individual governors cannot act or speak on behalf of the Governing Body; decisions are made by the board as a whole.
All Governors serve a four year period and may be re-elected. There are 5 full governing body meetings each year. The minutes of the meetings are available on request from the Governing Body. All correspondence should be sent to Mrs Cheryl Tomkinson, Clerk to the Governors, Pattishall CE Primary School.
Are you interested in becoming a Governor?
What does the work involve?
The full Governing Body meets approximately once every half term. There are documents that need to be read in preparation for all meetings.
There are also working parties to deal with aspects of work that come up from time to time, such as SEN, Equality policies etc.
Governors visit often to gain a working knowledge of the school as well as on a more official basis to formally monitor aspects of the School Development Plan.
What qualifications are needed?
No formal qualifications are required, just a desire to put experience and life skills to good use.
Governors are people with an interest in education and a belief in working together to improve outcomes for local children. They are people who have a few hours to spare each month, and enjoy being part of a team.
It seems like an awful lot of work – why do it?
Most people find it very rewarding to be part of the school team, working in partnership with staff and the community, to secure the best possible education for the children of Pattishall CE Primary School. All governors are welcomed and each plays a vital role in ensuring the governing body is aware of the views of all stakeholders.
For more information about becoming a governor, contact the Chair of Governors or the Head Teacher. Please note that for the protection of children all governor appointments are subject to a vetting process and identity check.