Governors

The Board of Governors at Greenbank are a team of people, drawn from a wide range of backgrounds including parents, staff, and others co-opted from the community and Local Authority. We share the school’s aim to support all the children in a caring, safe and friendly environment and are ambitious for them all to achieve the very best outcomes.

We are confident that the wonderful Staff at Greenbank deliver a broad, balanced curriculum, aiming for continuous improvement in the education offered and the well-being of every child.

The remit of the Governing Body and Committee structure

The purpose of the Board of Governors is to provide confident, strategic leadership and to create robust accountability, oversight and assurance for the educational and financial performance of the school. The Governing body meets regularly, usually at least once every half term. It’s three core functions are:

  • Ensuring clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction
  • Holding school leaders to account for the educational performance of the school and its pupils, and the performance of management of staff
  • Overseeing the financial performance of the school and making sure its funding is well spent

Remit of Finance Committee

The Finance Committee is responsible for agreeing the school’s annual budget, for monitoring forward financial planning, for the site and building, including health and safety matters, and for personnel matters. It is there to ensure that all of the school’s money is spent wisely and effectively in the best interests of the children. The Finance Committee will support and advise the headteacher on the general financial management of the school. Decisions taken by the committee must be consistent with the priorities identified in the School Improvement Plan.

Further information

School governors are members of a school’s Governing Body.  They have responsibility for raising school standards through their three core strategic functions of:

  •       Ensuring clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction.
  •       Holding the Head Teacher to account for the educational performance of the school and its pupils.
  •       Overseeing the financial performance of the school and making sure its money is well spent.

Our governing body was reconstituted in 2022 and is made up of Co-opted/Foundation Governors, Local Authority Governor, Staff Governor, Parent Governors and Head Teacher Governor and a Clerk to the Governing Body. We also have an Associate Governor who cannot vote on issues.

Our Governing Body meets half termly. Committees such as Staffing, Finance and Curriculum are convened as and when required.

Training and Skills

Our governors bring various skills and attributes to their role. They have undergone training in areas such as Prevent, Keeping Children Safe, Impact of Equality Act 2010 for Schools, Assessment and Standardisation, Safe Guarding Children and Information Governance, IOSH, Safer Recruitment, Disciplinary, Pupil Premium.

Mrs D Wrigley

Head Teacher

Debra has been Headteacher of Greenbank Primary since September 2006, having previously been acting headteacher of St Silas Primary, Toxteth where she began her teaching career and taught in both Key Stages 1 and 2. During her time at Greenbank the number of pupils on role has significantly increased and whilst very much a community school, Mrs Wrigley is delighted that the school’s reputation as a culturally diverse and fully inclusive school attracts pupils from across the city. As Headteacher Mrs Wrigley is responsible for the strategic direction and the vision of the school. It is in this capacity that she works collaboratively with the full Governing Body and all committees. Mrs Wrigley has led the school through four successful Ofsted inspections and is driven by the desire for all Greenbank pupils to achieve their full potential in a happy and safe environment.

Mrs Jane Owens

CHAIR

Jane was elected to Chair of the Governing Board in October 2022. Jane is an experienced Chair of Governors in a variety of settings across mainstream schools, academy schools and trusts. She also works as a governance consultant across the country assisting governing boards to review their custom and practice. Jane holds the firm belief that strong, effective governance improves the quality of experience and education that children and young people deserve regardless of their starting point. She was delighted to have been awarded an MBE for services to education in Wirral. Jane is also LINK Governor for Safeguarding.

Mrs Brenda Barnes

Co-opted Governor

Brenda is a co-opted Governor who is the SEND link at Greenbank. Her professional background is in education. Prior to retirement she taught Modern Languages for over 35 years, and latterly was a Professional Tutor overseeing PGCE and ITT students. She has a particular interest in ensuring that all children, including those with special needs, are given the opportunity to fulfil their potential in all aspects of school life.

Ms Alix Cunningham

VICE CHAIR

Alix became a Parent Governor in 2020 and was elected to Vice Chair in October 2022. She serves on the Finance and Pay Committees and is Link Governor for Pupil Premium and EYFS. Alix has lived in the area since her teens and both her younger brothers attended Greenbank Primary (Morrisons Juniors). Prior to having her son who is now in Year 3, she provided respite foster care. She works full time as a Sales Manager for a packaging company and has an interest in environment and community led projects.

Ms Berta Maia

Parent Governor

Berta became a Parent Governor in 2020 and is Vice Chair of the Finance Committee and Link Governor for Maths. Berta has over 20 years of work experience in Finance in both the commercial and not for profit sectors. Soon after her children were born she changed career and became a Maths teacher. She is very engaged in the community and is passionate about Greenbank Primary, where her daughter now in year 5, has started her schooling in England.

Mr Cris Waters

Staff Governor

Cris is a class teacher in Year 6 and is subject leader for Science. He has been based in Greenbank Primary School since his training with Edge Hill University in 2014. Prior to teaching, Cris completed an English with Education Studies degree with John Moores University in 2012; it was during the Education Studies part of his degree that he developed a love of teaching and moved from Wigan to Liverpool to pursue his ambition.

Ms Britta Kuhnen

Co-opted Governor

Britta was a parent governor from 2010 to 2019 and has been a co-opted governor since then. Britta’s 4 sons went to Greenbank Primary School and have happy memories of their time there. Britta used to work as a project manager for an international games company before retraining in applied arts. She now runs her own glass and graphics studio. Britta is the Whistle Blowing governor and Chair of the Finance Committee.

Ms Elke Weissmann

Parent Governor

Elke was elected as Parent Governor in 2023. She works at Edge Hill University in Ormskirk, teaching Media Studies. She is also an active travel campaigner, volunteers for Love Wavertree and is passionate about the community, social justice and climate change.

Ms Louise Kaemena

Deputy Headteacher (Associate Governor)

Mr Alexander Habeck

Parent Governor

With four years of teaching experience, including two years in England and two abroad, I have gained valuable insights into different educational systems and approaches. I believe in the importance of a strong partnership between parents, teachers, and the governing board to create an environment that supports every child’s growth. My commitment to improving outcomes for children is evident in my dedication to creating engaging and inclusive learning environments.

Ms Vanessa Eyres

Clerk to Governors

Ms Marian Carey

Marian has been a co-opted Governor since 2024. She is a dedicated and experienced risk, compliance, and governance professional with a passion for building sustainable frameworks which embed equity, diversity, and inclusion at all levels of organisational leadership, strategy, and planning. Marian has worked across a number of industries, including: museums and heritage; arts management; community activism and advocacy; political organisation; the charity sector; social housing; and higher education.

Cllr Martyn Madeley