Governors

Rev. Patrick Regan (Chair of Governors)

My involvement with St Michael’s School goes back to the early Seventies.

All our five children attended St Michael’s and I have been a governor ever since.

St Michael’s is a wonderful school and I am privileged and proud to be associated with it and I know my fellow Governors feel the same. Having served for many years on a variety of governing bodies and college corporations across the whole spectrum of education I can assure you are they are the most dedicated, hard working and talented group I have encountered. It is certainly the happiest board I have ever been involved with, which reflects the atmosphere which pervades the whole school.

Rev. John Birch (Vice Chair of Governors)

My name is John Birch. I am married with three grown up children and three grandchildren.

I have been strongly associated with our school for nearly 60 years firstly as a pupil and now as a Foundation Governor for the last 30 years. I regard it a privilege and a pleasure to support our staff and children in my Governing role.

As a Deacon in the Parish, I take a special interest and responsibility for Religious Education and I am the link Governor for Relationship and Sex Education. I am proud of our school’s achievements and I will help to ensure that our children continue to learn in a safe and caring environment.

Father Niall Mullaley (Foundation Governor)

My name is Father Niall Mullaley, I am the Parish Priest of the parish dedicated to Saint Philip Neri in Birkenhead.

Christine Perkins (Foundation Governor)

I have been a governor at St Michaels for over 10 years, first as an LA governor and now as a foundation Governor.

I was an active member of the PTA when my children attended the school and I am an active member of the church, so when I was asked to become a governor I was happy to become involved.

I enjoy learning about the developments within the schools and the way in which the curriculum is being taught across the school and also being involved in various committees.  I enjoy the participation in the school events where possible and Mrs Ralph keeps us up to date with any news.

As i am enjoying retirement, we value the time spent with the family and especially our grandchildren. As we have a motorhome we can pack up and go to wherever we wish at a moment’s notice, but always take lots of books, my knitting and walking boots.

Gill Gaunt (Foundation Governor)

I have been a Foundation Governor for about six years. I enjoy it very much as the school has been part of my life for a very long time. The school wasn't built when we moved to Woodchurch but my brothers & sister attended as did my eldest son.

I feel privileged to be a Governor and be involved with the school helping make decisions for the good of the school. I am a parishioner of St Philip Neri (St Michaels) and I am involved with various activites at church.

We enjoy our family and we have four granddaughters who I have looked after over the years. As I am retired, I enjoy gardening, reading, watching tv and walking.

Madeleine Haines (Foundation Governor)

I am Madeleine Haines and I am a Foundation Governor which means that I am a practising Catholic and was appointed by the Diocese.

I have been a Governor at St Michaels for almost eight years and I love working with the school to support its work in giving the children the best education possible . Possibly one of the highlights of my time as a Governor is that  I have been able to go to Ireland with Year 6 children on three occasions. It was lovely to see them thoroughly enjoying themselves and enthusiastically throwing themselves into all the activities. They were a credit to you. It is sad that they are not able to go due to Covid – I can understand how disappointed they must be.

I live in Wirral and have been involved in education for a very ling time and so it is a privilege to be a Governor at St Michaels and to be of service to the school and its children, staff and parents/carers.

Graham Lysaght (Foundation Governor)

This is my first year as a Governor and was asked by our Parish Priest Fr Chris, as an ex-pupil of St Michaels (a long time ago!) it was an honour to be asked and I'm really looking forward to seeing what I can bring to St Michael's and working with the other Governors to help our parish children in their early steps of education and their faith. I'm also a member of the Parish Council. As I've only been in the position to coming on for a year, it's still early days, however, the enthusiasm and passion from all the Governor's is something which I feel is so important for the children and teachers of the school, this is certainly something I'm hoping to be able to grow on and bring some further fun to the table!

My early roots are with the Woodchurch Estate, living here with my parents and sister and dog Shep!. When I was younger. I joined the Scout group on Home Farm Road and later becoming the Scout Leader of the group, something I'm very proud of. I do like to keep busy and I'm still a member of Birkenhead Scouts and have produced the Gang Show for the past 20 years, it runs bi-annually. It now runs at The Gladstone Theatre in Port Sunlight. We've successfully taken the show on the road with shows at The Liverpool Empire, The Bloomsbury in London's West End and most recently at The Gaiety Theatre over on The Isle Of Man. I also work with an international Chinese organisation and produce shows in Liverpool, Edinburgh and Oxford. I'm a big lover of the theatre, especially musical theatre and I'm fortunate enough to be able to see and review shows on a regular basis.

For the past 8 years I've worked for a Creative Media University in Liverpool, we have campuses in Glasgow, Oxford and London and 48 campuses globally, I work closely with schools and colleges, across the North West. In my early years I worked in local press and spent 3 years in local newspapers, television and 5 years in local radio in Liverpool. I took 5 years away from the world of media and worked for several pilgrimage companies and was based at the shrine of Lourdes in the Pyrenees, it was an absolute privilege to work in one of the most beautiful places in the world, I still visit Lourdes several times a year with my Mum and sister. I moved to Oxford, where I lived for 6 years and together with four colleagues, we bought a local commercial radio station, something I'm extremely proud of, it certainly taught me many valuable business life lessons, especially that anything is achievable with the right team!

I now live in Prenton with my little dog Lexie who keeps me busy and makes me laugh every day! A random fact about me ... I accidently bought a log fire-place from Gary Barlow (from Take That) for my cottage in North Wales!

Kate Walker (LA Governor)

I joined the Governing Body four years ago as a Local Authority governor.

I had been a headteacher for many years and I wanted to use some of the skills and experience that I had built up, for the benefit of the school. I enjoy learning about all the developments taking place at school, innovative teaching methods and the ways in which the teachers ensure that the children have a really supportive, rich, learning environment.

I have three grown up children and a cat. I enjoy walking, with my husband and friends, painting and reading.

Anne Roberts (Staff Governor)

I have worked at St Michael and All Angels for 31 years and have built up strong relationships with staff, parents and children - past and present.

I am totally committed to the continued improvement of our school and can contribute many years of professional experience. I have taught across all Key Stages and set up the Behaviour Base. For me, St Michael’s is more than just a place of learning, it’s a family and community where we all support each other.

Susan Ralph (Headteacher Governor)

I took up my post as Headteacher at St Michael and All Angels Primary in January 2013 and therefore became a Governor.

I became a teacher in 2001 and throughout my career I have worked in two other Primary schools, one in Wirral and one in Cheshire.

When I am not busy in school I have two gorgeous primary age children and a husband at home who keep me very busy! We love to go for family bike rides and "welly walks" and we are also football mad in our household!