Meet our Local Governing Body
Councillor Chris Wills - Chair of the Local Governing Body
I am a Councillor for Withington Ward, where I also live. I am one of the Council's Lead Members for LGBT+ issues. I work in Higher Education, as a university administrator, and have worked in this environment for over 15 years. I believe all children should have the opportunity to realise their full potential, and that schools have a fundamental role to play in this.
Being a Councillor takes up much of my spare time. However I do also enjoy travel, reading, the cinema and music. I try to keep fit and am currently learning to swim.
You can contact our Chair of the Local Governing body by emailing c.wills@kingswaycommunitytrust.co.uk, or by writing to Chris c/o Green End Primary.
Lisa Vyas, Executive Headteacher
B.Ed (Hons) and NPQH
I am Executive Headteacher working across the Kingsway Community Trust and have been a National Leader of Education since 2006. I have a strong commitment to working in Manchester and have taught in this area for the whole of my teaching career. I became headteacher at Ladybarn in 1998 and Green End in 2007, taking it from special measures within 7 months. I was in the first cohort of Primary school improvement partners and I have also mentored future headteachers through the Manchester Aspiring Leaders programme. I have a passion for working in urban schools to raise aspiration and self-belief of children and their families.
David Clemmett, Trustee, Lead for Inclusion/SEND
I have lived locally since 1988 and been a volunteer at Ladybarn since 2017. I retired in 2016 and have worked for various local City Councils in Adult Social Services in older people's and learning difficulty services . I have always tried to support services in recognising people's individuality ;supporting their independence and building on people's strengths . This includes seeing that people can develop confidence in a safe environment. I have three children who all attended local schools and feel schools have an important role to play in their local communities. I have enjoyed my time at Ladybarn and as a Governor want to see children having the best possible opportunities to grow and develop.
Shannon Corcoran - Community Governor, Green End & Ladybarn
I have lived in South Manchester for my whole life and am passionate about promoting equality and supporting children and young people to thrive in education. I studied Psychology as an undergraduate and attained my PGCE in primary teaching in 2016. I taught in South Manchester for four years and completed an NPQ in Middle Leadership. I was Assessment and Mathematics lead across KS2 for two years while teaching Year 6. I then decided to retrain as an Educational Psychologist, as I wanted to better utilise my psychology skills to improve outcomes for children, families and school staff. I am now studying for my Doctorate in Educational and Child Psychology at The University of Manchester. In my spare time, I enjoy running with my partner and trying out new recipes, not always successfully!
Lynn Birkinshaw - Staff Governor, Green End
I joined the Trust in 2008 as a class teacher with over 20 years teaching experience. I began my teaching career in primary schools in Scotland, and before joining the Trust I was a specialist teacher for children with autism. I am passionate about teaching and learning, and am committed to enabling all children to reach their full potential. I feel very proud to be part of the Kingsway Trust in serving the schools and communities of which we are a part. In my spare time I enjoy playing netball and with two Mancunian daughters enjoy watching Manchester City Ladies Football Team.
Aaron Davies, Community Governor
I moved to Manchester from Australia in 2015. Since arriving, I have always lived in South Manchester. I have worked in health and social care for over 10 years and I am currently a service manager for a children and young people’s therapy service. I have a particular interest in improving outcomes around mental health and wellbeing and the role of public health and community development within this area. In my free time, I am often found walking my dog in one of our local parks, planning my next travel adventure or catching up with friends.
Fiona Long, Community Governor
I have lived in south Manchester for since 2002. Until recently I taught Linguistics and English as a Foreign Language at university. I now work for the NHS teaching English to refugee doctors and nurses. I have a passion for learning and helping others to learn and I hope to be able to share both of these as one of the Trust governors. I love spending time outside in my local area, running or walking. I also took up cooking in lockdown which is an ongoing learning experience.
Emma Garner - Parent Trustee, Ladybarn Primary
I am an experienced secondary school science teacher with a passion for education. Recently, I made an exciting change in my career to become a paediatric nurse, driven by my love for working with and caring for children. As a parent of three boys, spending quality time with my family is my absolute favourite thing to do and is really important to me. In my free time, I enjoy sewing as a way to express my creativity and find relaxation. With a compassionate nature and a strong desire to make a difference, I bring a unique blend of teaching, parenting, and nurturing skills to my role as parent governor
Fraz Majeed - Parent Governor, Green End Primary
I am a dedicated and involved parent of three, elected as a Parent Governor at Green End Primary School. I currently work as an IT Consultant (Service Engineeeer) in the Banking Sector.
As a devoted parent, I recognize the importance of creating a nurturing and stimulating learning environment for all children. This understanding drives my commitment to promoting inclusivity, open communication, and cooperation among parents, educators, and administration in the school community.
As we embark on this journey together, I am committed to working collaboratively with all stakeholders to ensure our children receive the highest quality education in a nurturing and inclusive environment.
Outside of my Parent Governor responsibilities, I enjoy spending time with family and friends and weight training.