Meet the Governors

  • Mrs Jennie McAleny

    Head Teacher

    Declarations of Interest: None

    I have been the Headteacher at Gayton since September 2019. I have taught in four different schools across four different local authorities. It is a pleasure and a privilege to be the Headteacher of Gayton. There is no doubt that Gayton is a very special place to be with dedicated teachers, governors, parents and pupils who are a true delight to be around. I am really passionate about us providing the best educational experience for our children whilst they are at the school so that they leave Gayton well equipped for the next stage of their education.

    In my spare time, I love to spend time with my family and friends and love going on walks together. I also love to read and think it is a wonderful way to switch off!

  • Mr Will Clark

    Co-opted Governor

    Term of Office: 9th December 2019 - 8th December 2024
    Declarations of Interest: General Partner Enterprise Ventures Ltd

    I have acted as a co-opted governor since 2015. I work for Mercia Asset Management PLC and am the Managing Director of its Regional Venture Fund activity. With three contracts in the Midlands, Yorkshire and the North-East and an office in Manchester, it’s always nice to be heading back home to the Wirral where I have lived for the last fifteen years.

    My wife Liz is a former pupil of Gayton Primary School and our two girls Charlotte and Emma have followed in their Mum’s footsteps, enjoying its very happy atmosphere and ethos. Regrettably, neither of them will wear their brown uniform as they have both now progressed to senior school – how time flies! Notwithstanding this, I’m still keen to continue in my role as governor as the school plays an important role in the community despite the challenges of ever shrinking budgets.

    Like most, downtime is spent running a franchise of the Dad’s taxi service (typically to the local swimming clubs), with cricket, photography, hill walking and motorsport providing ample variety for recharging the batteries.

  • Mr William Holt

    Vice-Chair

    Term of Office: 1st January 2023 - 31st December 2027
    Declarations of Interest: Chief R&D Officer, FairXchange, Board Member, Be the Business Boards

    I am excited to start my role as a co-opted governor for Gayton Primary. I grew up in Heswall and studied at Liverpool University before moving to London for further studies and work. The family returned to Heswall in 2016 and since then, our eldest has commenced reception earlier this year. We were keen for our children to attend a school with a strong community spirit and a warm positive learning environment. I am pleased to be part of, and have the opportunity to grow, the school community in this role.

    I’ve been a fund manager for 20 years and ran my own company which has given me a wide experience in finance, business, programming/IT and capital raising. I am keen to develop my role, as well as utilise my skills, to support the governing body and the school.

    Outside of work I enjoy spending time with the family as well as tackling the garden and playing the guitar.

  • Ms Daisy Dakin

    Parent Governor

    Term of Office: 1st January 2023 - 31st December 2027
    Declarations of Interest: None

    I am very excited to be joining the governing body here at Gayton Primary
    School, and am looking forward to learning all that the role entails, and assist in
    any way that I can.
    Chris and I relocated to Wirral in December 2020 and our priority has been
    ensuring that our 2 children settle, find friends and enjoy school. I am pleased to
    say this has been a success, and a big part of that is due to us joining the
    community here at Gayton.
    My days are filled with looking after my household and working part-time as a
    tutor, mentor and examiner within the field of dentistry. In my spare time I love
    to catch up with friends for coffee or food,. I also enjoy running and reading, and
    our Labrador Honey is a great distraction!

  • Mrs Anita Gore

    Business Manager

    businessmanager@gayton.wirral.sch.uk

    Term of Office: 1st January 2024 - 31st December 2028
    Declarations of Interest: None

    I have been employed as a Business Manager at Gayton Primary since 2009 and prior to that I worked in two Cheshire primaries as a Bursar for a further eight years. I am a qualified business manager with many years experience of managing change and as a non-teaching member of staff I hope to give a different perspective to the governing board.

    I am married with two grown up children and I enjoy exercise classes, walking, holidays and weekends away whenever possible!

Governors Who Have Left in the Previous 12 months:
 
Catrin Rees - Co-opted Governor, no declared interests, 14th September 2021 - 13th September 2025

Ruch Such - Staff Governor, no declared interests, 1st January - 23rd June 2023
 
Lisa Mann - Co Chair of Governors, 27th March 2021 - 30th December 2022
 
Debbie Marchant - LA Governor, 1st December 2020 - 30th December 2022
 
Lindsay Cowan - Co-opted Governor, 22nd March 2021 - 5th December 2023
Declarations of Interest: Postgraduate student at Liverpool Hope University
 
 
  • Mrs Claire Boyd

    Co-opted Governor

    Term of Office: 9th December 2023 - 8th December 2027
    Declarations of Interest: Teacher at Meadowside school, Wirral

    I am Claire Boyd,and in my professional life I am a teacher of children with Special Educational Needs. This is my first, four year term as a governor so my experience is minimal at the moment but I am hoping to use my experiences within the education sector to help support the Gayton Primary School.

    My family and I moved to Gayton relatively recently and absolutely love where we have come to live and so I jumped at the opportunity to both use and develop my existing skills in a way which supports my local primary school.

    In terms of hobbies I wish there were time for more! I love to cook and spend a lot of time reading about, shopping for, and making food. Exercise is an important part of my life and I try to get outside every day whether for a family dog walk, a jog, or to do some gardening. Beyond that, I spend a significant portion of my non-working time ferrying my children to various extra-curricular activities.

  • Mr Tomos Peters

    Co-opted Governor (Chair)

    Term of Office - 9th December 2023 - 9th December 2027
    Declarations of Interest: None

    I am Tomos Peters and in my professional life I am Director of Transformation and Project Management Office at Astra Zeneca. I spent my childhood in Heswall before moving away for education and work, returning with my wife and three children to Heswall to live in the summer of 2018 when all three of my children enrolled to attend Gayton.

    When I have the opportunity I love to spend time exercising, watching football and, where my knees comply, playing football. I enjoy food, cooking and especially eating.



  • Mrs Jenny Young

    Parent Governor

    Term of Office: 1st January 2023 - 31st December 2027
    Declarations of Interest: None

    I started my role as a parent governor here at Gayton in January 2023.
    I have two children at the School, with my eldest having joined in 2000 and my youngest in 2022.
    Prior to joining the governing board, I have been a keen supporter of the School through my involvement in the PTA and in the School’s OPAL initiative, for which I am the parent representative. I am really pleased to have been given the opportunity to serve as a parent governor and I am looking forward to using and developing my skills and experience to extend my support in this new capacity, acting as a critical friend to the School to help to ensure that it is the very best it can be.

    My work experience is mostly in Higher Education, initially in teaching and pastoral roles, and more recently in Professional Services Management and Student Experience.

    Away from work, I enjoy spending time with my family. We like to try to get outside as much as we can and we are big fans of walks in the countryside and trips to the beach.

  • Mrs Rachael Oomen

    Staff Governor

    Term of Office: 17th March 2023- 16th March 2027
    Declaration of Interest: Links with Riding for the Disabled

    I have worked as an HLTA at Gayton Primary since 2020. I have taught in three different schools across Cheshire and Wirral. I have worked as a Year 1 teacher, provided one to one support for SEN pupils and currently enjoy teaching French and Religious Education across the school. I love coming to work at Gayton, where staff are passionate about providing a nurturing and stimulating environment for all children.

    In the past, I have worked as a Commercial and Operations Manager, for a number of tour operators. I have always loved to travel and have lived in Switzerland, Netherlands, Belgium and Germany. I now live in West Kirby with my husband, three children and dog, Rocky. We enjoy spending time walking locally and in the Lake District. We all love to ski, although I am by far the slowest, and most likely to be found having a coffee break!