Meet our governors

Donna Kellett

​​​​​​

Mark Curran

I became a governor in May 2016, I have lived in the local area all my life and have one child at the school with another due to start in 2017. 

I am looking forward to working with pupils, parents and staff to drive the school forward and deliver a fun and exciting education that all our children deserve. 

I have worked for a financial company for the past 12 years in various managerial roles building transferable skills such as leadership and analytical skills which I will use to help the school deliver an education we can all be proud of.

• Appointed: May 2015
• Term of Office:  8 years
• Appointed as co opted governor (Vice Chair of Governors)
• Appointed by governors
• Business, Personal & Pecuniary Interests: None
• Meetings attended in 2022 - 2023: 90%
• Mark is a member of the following committees: Resources, Teaching and Learning.  Mark is also the Governor with responsibility for Complaints, Performance Data, Financial Data and Reading.

Simon Chapman

• Appointed: September

• Term of Office: N/A

• Appointed: Ex Officio as Headteacher

• Business, Personal & Pecuniary Interests: None

• Meetings attended in 2022 - 2023: NA

• Simon is a member of the following committees: 

Paul Harrison

I have recently been elected as Staff Governor and my roll on the Governing body is to represent the views and opinions of the Lawns Park staff.

I started working at Lawns Park in 2004 and have seen all 3 of my children happily attend the school. I have almost 40 years experience in property maintenance, building management and Health and Safety. I use these skills to ensure a safe, happy and secure environment for all.

I am proud to be a member of Lawns Park and committed in ensuring the schools continuing success.

• Appointed: February 2023
• Term of Office: 
• Appointed as a Staff Governor
• Appointed by Staff
• Business, Personal & Pecuniary Interests: 
• Meetings attended in 2022 - 2023: NA
• Paul is a member of the following committees: 

Katrina Greenhalf

I am a co-opted governor with the school. I work full time as the HR Manager for a charity in Leeds and I also work in the community as a Member Pioneer with the local Coop food stores and Funeralcare branches.

I believe that schools are not stand alone establishments; they are very much at the heart of communities and I think it is very important to do what we can to bring people of all ages together, to create & maintain that true community spirit.

Many of the pupils at Lawns Park Primary will continue in this community as adults.

I have been a governor in the past and I hope to use that experience, along with my work experience to help these pupils enjoy their learning, thrive in their school years and create their own strong community bonds in the future.  

• Appointed: June 2023
• Term of Office: 
• Appointed as co opted governor
• Appointed by governors
• Business, Personal & Pecuniary Interests: 
• Meetings attended in 2022 - 2023: 100%
• Katrina is a member of the following committees: 

Cllr. Adrian McCluskey

• Appointed: September 2023
• Term of Office: 
• Appointed as local authority governor
• Appointed by local authority
• Business, Personal & Pecuniary Interests:
• Meetings attended in 2022 - 2023: NA
• Ann is a member of the following committees: 

Cllr. Ann Blackburn

I became a Governor at Lawns Park in 1998 on behalf of the local authority as I live in the area and I wanted to see how a school that was popular and achieved good results worked. Though there have been many changes over the years the school remains popular. 

I have been a local councillor since 2002 and bring my experience in this role to the board of Governors. I have also served in different roles over the years. I am currently the Literacy Governor and Governor for year 5.

• Appointed: October 1998
• Term of Office: 25 years
• Appointed as local authority governor
• Appointed by local authority
• Business, Personal & Pecuniary Interests: None
• Meetings attended in 2022 - 2023: 57%.
• Ann is a member of the following committees: Teaching and Learning. Ann is also the Governor with responsibility of DT

Darren Porritt

I became a Governor in September 2017 and currently sit on the Resources Committee and Teaching and Learning Committee.

I have two children at the school  (in Foundation Stage and Year 2) and became a Governor to help make the school as good as it can be for my children and everybody else’s, both now and in the future.   

I am a chartered accountant and have worked as an auditor and in various finance roles within the financial services industry. I aim to use the finance, analysis and strategic skills I have developed, as well as common sense for the benefit of the school. I’m especially keen that the school does not limit its aspirations and has practical plans to achieve its ambitions.

• Appointed: November 2017
• Term of Office: 4 years
• Appointed as co opted governor
• Appointed by governors

• Business, Personal & Pecuniary Interests: None

• Meetings attended in 2022 - 2023: 100%.

• Darren is a member of the following committees: Resources, Teaching and Learning and Three Year Plan. Darren is also the Governor with responsibility for Sports Premium, PE and Maths.

Neil Shackleton

I am a parent governor at Lawns Park. I have a child that attends Lawns Park. I think Lawns Park is an excellent primary school, delivering high quality learning opportunities both within, and outside, the classroom.

I believe that the first years of a child’s education are crucial to their later academic achievements and – just as importantly – to the development of social and other life skills. I feel passionately about primary school education. I work with energy and enthusiasm to help Lawns Park maintain its high standards, and meet future challenges. I am at the school grounds daily and I hope that I would be approachable and accessible to all parents and carers.

• Appointed: January 2018
• Term of Office: 4 years
• Appointed as parent Governor.
• Appointed by parents

• Business, Personal & Pecuniary Interests: None

• Meetings attended in 2022 - 2023: 100%

• Neil is a member of the following committees: Pay Appeal, Teaching and Learning, Pupil and Staff Welfare, Performance Management, Fundraising and Marketing, Communications and Three Year Plan. Neil is also the Governor with responsibility for SEND, Health and Safety, Arts Mark, Art and Science

Jillian Ellis

I became a co-opted governor in September 2018, have lived in Leeds my whole life and also currently have a child at Lawns Park Primary School.

After graduating with an honours degree in Business and Management, I have since gained over 16 years of experience working in client-side research, which started as analytical and later in management. Working across varied industries such as utilities, publishing, media, and for the last 8 years at a not-for-profit organisation in Leeds. Where my current role is within the Insight team where my strengths lie in quantitative research, analysis of data, attention to detail and ensuring objectives will be met by any research carried out.

This has led me to be particularly interested in the marketing and communications area of the school and for me to sit on the communication and fundraising committee. With the main aim to try to raise both the profile of our school and money to help fund all the additional resources we would like, to be able to provide an even more enriching environment for our children.

• Appointed: May 2018
• Term of Office: 5 years
• Appointed as co opted governor
• Appointed by governors

• Business, Personal & Pecuniary Interests: None

• Meetings attended in 2022 - 2023: 100%

• Jillian is a member of the following committees: Pay Appeal, Fundraising and Marketing and  Communications. Jillian is also the Governor with responsibility for Attendance, Music and Arts Mark.

Claire Parkin

I am the Senior Family Support Worker at Farnley Children’s Centre and am committed to working with children and families and raising aspirations for everyone. I sit on the wellbeing committee and have responsibilities for Safeguarding, Pupil Premium, health and wellbeing. Being a governor is a  role which I am extremely passionate about and I am looking forward to being on the Lawn’s Park bus.

• Appointed: 
• Term of Office:
• Appointed as
• Appointed by 

• Business, Personal & Pecuniary Interests: None

• Meetings attended in 2022 - 2023: NA

• Claire is a member of the following committees:

Saj Shah

I became a co-opted Governor in October 2021. I have lived in Yorkshire my entire life and have a business in the area.

My business employs 130 people, the majority of whom live in the locality of the school and have children at the school.

Over the past six years I have worked with the local councillors and other businesses on various projects that were aimed at making improvements across West Leeds.

Throughout my working and personal life, I have always believed that teaching and learning is vital to help everyone, but in particularly children, to reach their full potential and as a new Governor I look forward to working alongside all the staff and the parents.

• Appointed: October 2021
• Term of Office: 11.10.21 to 11.10.25
• Appointed as co-opted Governor
• Appointed by governors

• Business, Personal & Pecuniary Interests: None

• Meetings attended in 2022 - 2023: 0%.

• Saj is a member of the following committees: Three Year Plan, Communications, Fundraising and Marketing.