Welcome to our Governors page

It is a legal requirement for all schools to have a Governing Body and ours is made up of representatives from Parents, Staff, the Local Authority and the Community.  They have a full range of skills so that they are able to challenge and support the work of the school as necessary.  All of our Governors fulfil their role and give of their time on a voluntary basis and work very hard on behalf of our school.

There are several types of Governor making up the governing body as follows:-

LA Governor - A person appointed as a governor by the Local Authority and known as a Local Authority Governor.

Co-opted Governor - A person appointed by the Governing Body who they consider to be committed to the good government and success of the school.  This person may or may not live or work in the community served by the school.

Parent Governor - A parent elected by other parents of children at a school to serve on the Governing Body.

Staff Governor - A teacher /or person working at the school who is elected as a governor by people who are paid to work at the school.

Clerk to the Governing Body - A person appointed to carry out administrative duties for the Governing Body such as preparing an agenda, minuting meetings and dealing with correspondence.  The clerk advises the governing body on legal and procedural matters.

Governors are not expected to get involved in the day to day running of the school; Miss Sephton, our Headteacher, is responsible for the internal organisation and management.  Governors do, however, review the aims of the school and ensure that they are upheld.  They therefore work closely with Miss Sephton and the staff to develop the strategies necessary to achieve the required raising of standards for the school and monitor progress.  They also form and review clear policies, which set out how the school should be run.

Our school governors hold two meetings per term with an additional School Improvement meeting at the start of each academic year.  Here is a short explanation of what each committee does:-

School Improvement Committee - meets to establish and develop the strategic direction of the school, deal with premises management, safeguarding and health and safety and also looks at the financial management of the school.

Performance and Standards Committee -  meets to monitor and review the progress of pupils in the school, including the assessment and tracking of pupil progress, the quality of teaching, professional development, the school curriculum, and any pastoral issues.

All of our governors are part of both of these committees.

Governor Diversity

As a school we recognise that a diversity of thought, voices and perspectives is essential to good governance and the effective running of any organisation.  We regularly collect diversity information from our governors and, depending on current data, can use this to:

• target recruitment to address gaps in experience and diversity.
• develop and adapt board practices to ensure full participation.
• prioritise training and awareness - raising in identified areas.
• address potential "blind spots" through seeking wider advice and perspectives on current and upcoming opportunities, challenges and risks.

However, we are unable to publish this information as it would mean that individual members of our governing body are indentifiable.

Governors - September 2024

Miss Jennifer Sephton - Headteacher

I have worked at Farnborough Road Infant School for over 28 years.  It is a great privilege to be the Headteacher of this fabulous school and I am extremely proud of our children and staff. Early Years education is something very dear to my heart as I believe the first years in school shape a child's attitude to learning for the rest of their lives. I was born, brought up, and educated locally and continue to live with my family near to the school. I live with my daughter, and dog and enjoy walking, running reading, and spending time with family and friends. I am keen to get to know all our parents and join them in supporting their children on their learning journey. Please do not hesitate in contacting me with any ideas or queries. 

Linzi Buchanan Brown

After 15 years of teaching secondary Maths I am currently in the process of retraining as a speech and language therapist.  I grew up in Southport, have lived in other areas of the North West for work, but returned and now live in Southport with my husband and son.  I am passionate about education and appreciate the importance of a supportive and encouraging environment for young people.  My son has recently moved up to Farnborough Road Junior School; I will always be grateful for the positive experiences that he had in the infants.  I currently volunteer once a week in reception and thoroughly enjoy it; it has been an absolute pleasure to gain a greater insight into the working of the school and see the fantastic progress made by the children.

Ruth Caplan-Hinett

I was born and brought up in Southport and attended Farnborough Road Schools myself. I currently have a son and daughter in the infant’s school. My Mum was a governor both at Farnborough Road and later, at Greenbank High where she also taught for many years. I feel support to schools from the whole of the community is essential to its continued growth. Farnborough Road Infant School feels like a family that cares about each one of it’s extended members.  Being a part of this as a governor is a great opportunity to help the school grow and continue to offer a positive educational journey to all its children. 

After training as a secondary school PE teacher, I joined the Armed Forces in 1998 and have been a serving Officer in the Royal Air Force ever since. The military has taught me many things; perseverance, to overcome adversity, leadership and, equally as important – followership. I hope these key skills, along with my inherent underpinning values, can add something to an already successful team.

Outside of work and family time, I am a fitness fanatic, love reading, and enjoy nothing more than a seat in a coffee shop with a hot chocolate and a good book.

Rachel Corfield

Both of my children have attended Farnborough Road and my daughter is currently in year 1. I love being part of school life - I am the treasurer of the Infants PTA and enjoy not only the finance and admin side of the role, but also helping out in school at the various events throughout the year. 

My career has spanned a total of 21 years in retail management, credit management and more recently office management. I'm not afraid to ask questions or challenge something I don't believe is right - I would say my core values are fairness, loyalty and integrity. 

Outside of work and school I love reading, writing, watching football and of course spending time with my husband and children. I feel very lucky to be part of the Farnborough Road community, and it is a privilege to undertake the role of parent governor and help the school achieve its full potential in every aspect. 

Peter Denby

With two daughters at Farnborough Road Infant School, I have a deep vested interest in the performance of our school, the care and attainment of its children and the role Farnborough Road Infant School plays in our local community.

I moved to Southport in 2020 with my wife, who grew up in the area and attended Farnborough Road, and daughters.  A key motivation for the move was so our children could attend the same school as their Mum, which she held in such high regard.

Professionally, I co-founded and now run a successful software and consulting company.  This has provided me with a wide range of skills which will be applied for the benefit of Farnborough Road Infant School.  I'm particularly passionate about the role of technology for children and the wider population, and its responsible use.

When not at work I enjoy spending time with my children and taking advantage of the wonderful Sefton coastline and our local sports facilities.

Lucy Edwards

I have two daughters at Farnborough Road Infant School.  We instantly loved the passion which the children and staff have for learning. I am a fully qualified primary school teacher. I have taught Early Years, Key Stage 1 and 2. I resigned from my last school to focus on our young family. It was the best decision to take a career break as I was able to care for our young children and focus on them.

My last school was an all through outstanding academy from Reception to Sixth Form. I had responsibility of training, developing and supporting trainee and new teachers. I have been involved in Ofsted inspections.

I have since retrained and I’m now a Financial Adviser. I have been able to create relationships with local businesses in our town and work well in the local community to support each other in creating new business. I also train new and experienced advisers, I am excited to be able to use my teaching skills and passion for education as part of my new role. My career works around my young family so I am fully committed to being a Parent Governor and I am delighted to have been appointed.

Neil Farmer

I feel privileged to become a governor of Farnborough Road Infant School.  Both my children attended Farnborough, my wife teaches in the Nursery and I was lucky enough to work at the school for 5 years, so I understand the hard work that goes into giving the children the wonderful education they receive here.  My own time at the school was rewarding and great fun.  I now work for Sefton’s Vision Impairment Support Service.  In my spare time I like to play golf and walk my dogs.

Liz Fawbert

I have two children in Farnborough Road Infant School.  We moved to Southport in June 2024 after living in both Hertfordshire and Belfast.  I completed an MSc in Human Resources Management in 2010 and then began my career as an HR professional at the UK's largest retailer.  I am a qualified Executive Coach and have a keen interest in Leadershp and Team Development.  I enjoy problem solving and am used to working as part of a team to answer complex problem statements, so I am looking forward to working with the other Governors to ensure that the shcool continues to grow and it's already fantastic reputation only gets stronger.  Outside of work, I enjoy strength training, walking our dog Izzie and learning to play tennis.  And of course, being a free taxi driver for the boys!

Lucy Fletcher - Chair of Governors 

I was brought up in Southport and also attended Farnborough Road Infant School myself.  I previously worked as a solicitor in a busy medical negligence department of a large local firm for twenty years.  I have two children and am very passionate about the importance of education and the impact of early years education on children in particular.

I am currently a co-opted Governor, having originally joined the governing body as a parent governor when my son was at the school.  I am proud to be a part of the FRIS family and assist in shaping this tremendous school where children can thrive.

Marilyn Fletcher-Hill

I taught at FRIS for almost ten years; moving between Years One and Two.  During this time, I served as a staff Governor.  My current responsibility as a Governor is to link with the SENCO and The Arts within our school.  

During my years working as a class teacher at FRIS, I was responsible for Subject Leadership in History.  I thoroughly enjoyed inspiring children to become passionate about their locality and their own history, through researching family trees and finding out about the role their ancestors played in historic events such as world wars and talking to their parents and grandparents about their own memories.  I was lucky enough to use my experience in Drama to enhance their learning across the curriculum in an exciting and creative way (not to mention lots of fun!). I also ran Drama Clubs for each Year Group.

In my spare time I enjoy working as a Youth Leader at Southport Dramatic Club. I teach drama skills to students aged 14 upwards as well as direct and act.

I am currently working as a supply teacher and this gives me a valuable opportunity to keep informed about "all things education" from the shop floor and also provides me with experience in other schools in the area.

I am married with four ‘grown up’ children and have three cats. We also have a very lively puppy!  When I have time to relax, I like to read and sew. I love walking too.

Holly Frew

As a dedicated parent and professional, I am passionate about ensuring every child receives a high-quality education, tailored support, and the opportunities they need to thrive. In my role as an Operations and Delivery Manager at a local independent training provider, I work closely with education, leading on Quality and continuous improvement.  Being a parent governor allows me to support the school community to foster an inclusive, nurturing environment where every child feels valued and empowered. I am committed to promoting positive well-being, resilience, and a love for learning. My core values, empowerment, kindness, happiness, quality, and ambition, guide my approach, balancing challenge with collaboration to ensure the best outcomes for all.

Farnborough Road Infant School is a fantastic provision, helping every child grow in confidence and reach their full potential, and I am excited to contribute to its continued success.

Mark Halsall

I have a daughter who attends Farnborough Road Infant School and a younger daughter who will follow in her footsteps.  I am keen to see that our pupils are given the best possible opportunities to develop and that the school continues to play an important part of the local community.  I currently manage a land management company who specialise in grounds maintenance and biodiversity creation.  I have previously worked in housing development, education sufficiency and planning and I have served as a school governor previously for my local school when we lived in Buckinghamshire.  In my spare time I enjoy playing football and walking our dog Nelly.

Hayley Hinton

I was born in Southport and attended Farnborough Road Schools, and currently have a daughter in the Infant School. My grandfather was chair of governors for many years and my family have been a part of the Farnborough Road community for as long as I can remember.

I have been a secondary teacher for 13 years and I am currently in the role of SENCO at a Secondary school in Southport, with my specialist subject being PE. I am passionate about education and building the foundations to support students as they grow and learn. Through my teaching career I have led and still lead on SEND, Safeguarding and Pastoral areas of school life. Outside of work I am a mum of two, and a keen sports player; currently playing for Southport and Birkdale Ladies hockey team.

I was delighted to be appointed as a governor and be part of Farnborough Road Infant School's future journey!

Joe Martland

My daughter has just started her journey with Farnborough Road Infant School and I have a younger son who will soon follow.  As parents do, I strive for the best for my children and I look forward to having the opportunity to be a positive influence and offer my experiences to help shape the environment that my children and their friends will spend, in the most influential and exciting time of their lives.  I was born in Southport and apart from my University years, where I completed a degree in Building Surveying, I have always resided here.  For the last 15 years I have worked for a very reputable network and technology company based in Southport.  I feel I am able to bring the Governor role, many of my transferable skills.

I feel I can offer a great support to the school, its staff, students, parents and the local community.  I understand the commitment it takes to be a Parent Governor and am fully invested in committing my time and effort to the role.

I am motivated to help ensure a school environment that allows and encourages our children to realise and reach their full potential.  I am particularly keen to ensure that all children are safguarded well and above all, feel happy and safe in a compassionate environment that creastes a baseline for their learning and development

Simon Shaw

I have been a Governor of Farnborough Road Infant School (and also of the Junior School) for over thirty years.  My wife Lyn, was a Teaching Assistant in the school for more than fifteen years until she retired in 2014.  Our four children attended both schools through the 1990s and our eldest son, Sam, is completing his PGCE in 2015/16 to qualify as a primary teacher.

I am a Chartered Accountant, which may explain why the other governors seem happy for me to continue as Chair of the Finance Committee!  Having lived in Birkdale for most of my life, I am currently one of the elected councillors for the area.

Katie Sykes

As a staff governor it is important that I contribute to whole school initiatives and development in a strategic way. I feel that being a governor gives me a great opportunity to do this whilst also seeing the bigger picture of school life. My role is to communicate the ideas and views of our staff team whilst giving an insight into the daily life of the school. I have just entered my fifth year of teaching at Farnborough Road Infant School; a role that I thoroughly enjoy. Currently, I am supporting the maths leader as part of the maths team in school. I’ve been given many opportunities to develop as a teacher and I am looking forward to becoming an active member of the Governing Body in the forthcoming years.

RESIGNATIONS

Governors Attendance Details