An introduction from our Governors

Julie Ackroyd-Foundation Governor

I have worked at Our Lady & St John Catholic College Blackburn for 34 years and during this time, one aspect of my job I have particularly enjoyed is liaising with primary schools, including Our Lady of Perpetual Succour. As a result, I was proud to have the opportunity of joining the governing body in 2015.

My subject specialism is English, which I have enjoyed teaching to a range of pupils over the years.  I am currently the Safeguarding Lead at Our Lady & St John and I also have a specific responsibility for Children in our Care; my governor responsibilities in these areas therefore complement this.

I am a member of the National Trust and I enjoy reading and going to the theatre; I am currently trying my hand at flower arranging!

I am married with two grown up children.  Born and bred in Colne, I have always been an active member of Sacred Heart Parish (now part of the Good Shepherd Parish). For a number of years, I was a Children’s Liturgy group leader. I am currently a member of the church choir.

It is a privilege being associated with Our Lady of Perpetual Succour. I will continue to work hard to serve its community and support everyone in it, in the best way I can.

Clare Spicer-Foundation Governor

I, too, am a teacher and have been at Our Lady & St John RC High school for a number of years. Prior to that I taught Geography, History and RE in Scunthorpe where I worked for 3 years. I came back to Lancashire, my natural 'home', to get married and have been at OLSJ since, starting as a class teacher and progressing through various pastoral and academic roles to my current position as Deputy Headteacher. During this time, I have also completed a Master's degree in Catholic Leadership.

My spare time is spent with my husband and children although they are now grown up and have their own homes. I find I am called on to look after their dogs!! I do, however, love to walk my own dog, Finney, in fair and foul weather! My passion is and will always be Geography and I love to travel whether it be a short break or a longer holiday to foreign places.

I also live by my motto of 'lifelong learning' and aim to enrol for a new evening class each year. So far I have tried my hand at pottery, watercolours, stained glass and international cooking and, most recently, have completed a diploma in floristry. I have now expanded my creative learning into upcycle furniture, having studied courses in upholstery and wood finishing techniques.

I am a parishioner of St Teresa’s RC church near Preston and feel privileged to be a governor at OLPS where I hope I am able to serve the school and community using my educational experience.

Anne Kenworthy- Vice-chair

In my working life I spent 40 years teaching English in three secondary schools and then worked for Lancashire Authority as an English Consultant supporting English departments across Lancashire. I was responsible for the mentoring of both trainee teachers and newly qualified colleagues and for many years worked with feeder primary schools on transition from year 6 to year 7 in English.

I have always enjoyed working with young people and the fascination with how children grow, develop and learn has never left me.

Retired now, I feel I have some experience to share and feel privileged to be involved in education as a member of this governing body. I am married with one grown up daughter. I enjoy reading, walking and spending time with family including my daughter and her husband,  my sister and my necessary and nephew but especially my small grandson.

Miss Watkinson - Staff Governor

I have been teaching at Our Ladys' for 14 years and have been Staff Governor for a number of years during that time. I wanted to become a Staff Governor because my long experience at Our Lady's has given me a strong understanding of the school’s strengths, the challenges we face, and the everyday realities for both pupils and staff.

Serving as a Staff Governor allows me to use this insight to contribute to strategic decisions that shape the long‑term direction of the school. I believe it’s important for the governing board to hear the perspective of someone working directly with children and colleagues every day, and I am proud to represent the staff voice with honesty, fairness, and professionalism.

I am passionate about helping the school continue to develop, supporting positive change and ensuring that our decisions always put children’s wellbeing and learning first. Being a Staff Governor gives me the opportunity to support continuous improvement, celebrate our successes, and play an active role in guiding the future of a school that means so much to me.

If you need to contact any of the governors for any reason please contact the school first. Due to data protection school is not allowed to give out any contact details for our governors.

Letters should be addressed to:

The Chair of Governors,

c/o The Clerk to the governors

Our Lady of Perpetual Succour RC Primary School

Holmbrook Close

Blackburn

BB2 3UG

Dates of the next meetings