St Bernadette’s Catholic Primary School – Local Governing Body

Mary Bilous – Foundation Governor

Chair of the Governing Body
Link Governor for Leadership and Management

Mary has been a governor at St Bernadette’s for twenty years. She was born and brought up in Lincoln where she lived with her parents and sisters. Although her father practiced as a GP in Lincoln, he was originally from Ireland. Mary attended St Joseph’s Convent in Lincoln and then Presentation Convent Matlock for sixth form where she boarded for two years. After training as a nurse at Guy’s Hospital in London, she subsequently became a midwife and health visitor.

Mary says, “I am married to Rudy and we moved up to the North East when my daughter was 4 months old, for Rudy to work in Newcastle. We came to Stokesley when he became a Consultant. He has now retired from the NHS and works for Newcastle University Medical School in Malaysia. I work at James Cook University Hospital as a diabetes specialist nurse, a job which I really enjoy.

We have four children who were all at St Bernadette’s school and my association with school dates back over the last 24 years. St Bernadette’s is very close to my heart.”

 

Sarah Brady – Head of school

I grew up in Marske and attended St Bede’s Primary school before going to Sacred Heart Secondary School. My Catholic education continued when I attended St Mary’s VI form College to do my A Levels and Trinity and All Saints University Leeds to complete my Teaching degree with English literature.

Although I enjoyed my time in Leeds, I returned home and became an NQT (now ECT) at St Bernadette’s Primary School. I have continued my time here fully committed to the children and families in this truly special school.

I thoroughly enjoyed my time as a teacher, and have had experience teaching in all year groups. I have a particular passion for EYFS and led subjects in English, RE, Music, EYFS and PSHE/RSE/  I became a Deputy Head under the mentorship of Mr Conway and for the past 3 years have been Head of School. This year, I am beginning my new role as acting Headteacher, which I am very excited about!

I am a passionate advocate of Catholic education and look forward to every challenge and opportunity to continuously drive our school further forward.

I have been a Governor at St Bernadette’s and I am also currently a Governor for St Bede’s, my former Primary School.

 

Paul Benfield, BA, BEd – Foundation Governor

Link Governor for Quality of Education

Paul has been a governor at St Bernadette’s for the last ten years and in other schools for nearly 30 years. He was born and bred in Middlesbrough and educated at St Mary’s College when it was the local grammar school. He trained as a teacher at Christ’s College, Liverpool and over his forty years of teaching he worked in six different secondary schools in the Cleveland area. Paul is a former Head of a comprehensive school where he gained nineteen years of experience as a leader and manager. He is also a retired magistrate. In his free time he is a keen golfer, gardener, walker and caravanner.

Paul says, “I have lived in St Bernadette’s Parish for over 51 years, serving as a Eucharistic minister and Reader. My three sons had the benefit of being educated in local Catholic schools; St Bernadette’s, Newlands and St Mary’s College – where I attended as a member of the Sixth Form intake when it first moved to Saltersgill from Linthorpe.

My vision for the future of St Bernadette’s is that all students benefit from a broad progressive education to become the best that they can be. I believe that Trinity Catholic College has huge potential and is capable of offering outstanding education opportunities to the children when they leave St Bernadette’s.”

 

Jacinta Hunt – Foundation Governor

I attended St Bernadette’s primary school and then continued my education at Newlands FCJ (now Trinity). I later attended St Mary’s college to undertake my A levels. I then went on to study Biological Sciences (BSC) at Teesside University followed by Radiotherapy and Oncology (PGDip) at Sheffield Hallam University.

I have always lived locally and I have been a parishioner of St Joseph’s Church in Stokesley for most of my life.

“I am a Therapeutic Radiographer at a local hospital, aswell as a mum to three small children, two of which currently attend St Bernadette’s. Since becoming a mum myself, I have developed a special interest in children’s and young adult’s metal health and wellbeing, and have recently completed several qualifications in this area whilst on maternity leave.

I am a newly appointed foundation governor and will mainly be involved in Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), an area which I am passionate about. I am a practising Catholic, and it was very important to us that our children attend a school in which their intellectual, physical, emotional and spiritual needs are met. St Bernadette’s offers all of these and so much more. I am delighted to begin this new role of foundation governor, as having experienced being a pupil of St Bernadette’s myself and now as a parent of children attending the school, I am keen to play a small role in ensuring that St Bernadette’s continues to thrive”.

 

Louise Pennick – Foundation Governor

Teaching has been my vocation for as long as I can remember. My school life began in Redcar where I attended St Dominic’s Primary School (which is now St Benedict’s) before joining Sacred Heart Secondary school. I completed my A-Levels at St Mary’s sixth form college before taking a gap year to experience the ‘world of work’ and test my vocation for teaching. I completed a Bed with Theology and Religious Studies at Liverpool Hope University.

My first teaching post was at St Clare’s in Acklam where I enjoyed leading a range of subjects, extra curricular activities and the First Holy Communion programme for a number of years. I enjoyed a decade teaching at this wonderful school where I made many lifelong friends in the school and parish before moving to St Bernadette’s.

I married Shaun in 2008 at St Augustine’s Church in Redcar where I had previously received the sacraments of Baptism, Reconciliation and the Eucharist. My son Luke was born in 2013 and attends our school. It is a privilege to be part of the school family of St Bernadette’s both as a parent and teacher.

I am the SENDCo, Assistant Headteacher and Reception Teacher at St Bernadette’s and I love the challenges each day brings. I have had experience in teaching almost every year group and my favourite place is in the classroom. The positivity and love our children bring each day is infectious and there is no better job in the World. As SENDCo, I try hard to work with parents, staff and children to get them the support they need while setting ambitious goals and aiming high.

This is my first year as a governor and I am looking forward to the new experiences and challenges this new role brings. Mrs Louise Pennick

 

Nick Kane – Foundation Governor

EYFS
QoE – Foundation Subjects
Behaviours and Attitudes

When I first became a Governor I had a child in EYFS and therefore took a particular interest in how EYFS worked and integrated children into the school environment.

About two years

I have a Masters Degree in Mathematics and I am a Chartered Accountant.

In my role as a Chartered Accountant I have worked for a number of local NHS organisations, including South Tees and North Tees Hospitals. I am now working for NHS England as the financial regulator for Hospitals in the North East of England. Understanding how public sector organisations utilise their finances is a transferrable skill that has allowed me to understand the assurances received from the school that funding decisions are made with the appropriate level of diligence.

I am a keen lover of sport. I regularly run endurance events such as marathons and I am working towards an ultra marathon in 2024. I also am a big football and cricket fan, holding a membership at Durham County Cricket Club and a lifelong Newcastle United fan.

I first moved to Nunthorpe in 1995, and other than a four year gap for university, I have lived here ever since.

I am a Trustee for a charity.

I went to St Bernadette’s for Year 5 and Year 6 having just moved to Middlesbrough. I was a proud member of Hilda House, although my Children both are Postgate through and through!

My main memory is being the only child in the school who was a Newcastle fan, which was a hard time when Boro reached the two Cup Finals in 1997!

Having gone to the school as a child, there was always only going to be one place my children would go. I loved my time at St Bernadette’s and I’m delighted my children feel the same way.

The school has given a lot to me and my family over the years, and I really wanted to give something back. I have a lot of transferable skills and felt becoming a governor was a great way to support the staff.

My vision for the school comes back to it ‘being the best it can be’. There will always be challenges, good times and bad times, but I’m sure the school will always come through these. I am always here to support as and when I can, either through my formal role as a Governor, or as a parent.

I’m very proud to be associated with the school. I think the Children and the Staff are equally fantastic, and I’m sure the school will go from strength to strength over the coming years.

 

Orla Hayman

Parent Governor since Summer 2023  BSc, MSc in Radiation Physics

My current role at James Cook University Hospital as Head of Medical Physics provides me with ideal skills for this role encompassing working in a senior team, project management and budgeting. I love to cook and to bake. I like to go out walking as much as I can. I love sports in particular Rugby and The GAA in Ireland. I also love gardening.

Since we moved to the area in 2017, we have lived in Nunthorpe and I work at James Cook University Hospital in Marton. This has allowed us as a family to build friendships and a community through the school and church. I have 2 daughters attending St Bernadette’s, Annabelle is 9 and in Y5 and Jessica is 4 and in Reception.

School plays such a pivotal role in our children’s lives as they grow up. The role of parent governor is a wonderful opportunity to be part of the team who can influence the direction of our school and make it the best it can be for our children.

Through my role in the NHS, I appreciate the importance of governance, and aim to provide challenge in a friendly and supporting manner.

I look forward to being part of the governors’ team who are dedicated to the school’s vision and to share in its continued success.