I've been a governor at Grange since September 2018 and Chair of the Governing Body since 2021. Initially, I was elected as a parent governor as my daughter was a pupil; she has since moved on to Gosforth Central Middle School. I am now a co-opted governor, elected by the Governing Body. I chair the Finance, Premises and Staffing committee and am the link governor for safeguarding.

As a governor I take great pride in helping to ensure that all of our pupils at Grange are happy, confident learners who achieve their full potential in a nurturing and caring environment. There are many decisions that need to be made when running a successful school and I can confidently state that these are always made, at every level, with the needs of the pupils at the forefront. Our strength is working together, with our excellent staff and parents, to ensure the best for your child.

Outside of school I am a Director and Principal Consultant for an electrical engineering consultancy, specialising in health and safety.

I’ve been a parent governor at Grange First School since February 2023. I am part of the Curriculum and Admissions committees and am the link governor for behaviour.

I see my role as governor to represent the parent voice and to work collaboratively with the school to help the children in Grange thrive during their time at the school and beyond. As a governing body, we think carefully about the decisions that are made and always have the needs of our children, families and staff at the heart of those decisions.

In my day job I am a Consultant Clinical Psychologist working with children and families and aim to bring some of that knowledge and experience to support the school in achieving the best outcomes for all the children at Grange.

I was elected as a parent governor in 2023. My daughter is a pupil at Grange, and my three older stepchildren are in the Gosforth Middle and High School. As part of my role as a governor, I also sit on the Finance, Premises and Staffing committee. 

As a governor, I strive to help Grange continue to ensure that all children learn, develop, thrive, and most importantly, are happy in their learning.

Alongside being a governor, I am an academic in public policy and the founding director of a research consultancy. 

I have been a governor at Grange since 2018 initially as parent governor and now as a co-opted governor. I have a child who currently attends Grange and one who has now moved on to middle school. I am the SEND link governor and the Wellbeing link governor and I chair the Inclusion Committee.

Representing a parent voice and a wider professional voice on the governing body is very important to me as I strive to support our school in providing a nurturing, supportive and challenging educational environment for all our pupils. In particular I aim to do this through ensuring the needs of our SEND pupils within our school are understood and championed by the whole governing body. I am also passionate about advocating for, supporting and developing the wellbeing of both our pupils and our staff.

My interest in SEND comes from my previous working roles as a Speech and Language Therapist and academic researcher and educator in that field, alongside lived experience as a parent. I now work as a Counsellor/Psychotherapist. I aim to bring my experience and passion for these areas to the Governing body with the aim of achieving the best for all of our pupils.

I’ve been a co-opted Governor at Grange since early 2022 and sit on the school’s finance and staffing committee, utilising my 20+ years experience of working in the financial sector. I am also the link governor for “Treetops”, the school’s breakfast and after school childcare club. I have a son that currently attends Grange and my daughter will (fingers crossed!) be attending from September 2024.

I initially became a governor as I wanted to contribute to the school in a different way, as I wasn’t the dominant parent doing drop offs and pick-ups. However, since joining the governing body, it has made me think about the school in a very different way. It has highlighted the daily challenges that the school is up against but also has shown me how the school is constantly striving to be better. I see my role as governor as being there to support the school’s leadership team, to be accessible to all staff of the school and, most importantly, to ensure as far as possible that the decisions being made are in the best interests of all those attending the school.  

Outside of school I am a Chartered Tax Adviser, specialising in Private Client tax, and a key facet of my role is the ability to build relationships with people (colleagues, clients and stakeholders). As a governor, I understand the importance of this and aim to strike a balance between being supportive but also providing challenge.

My name is Claire March and I was elected as parent governor in Spring 2024.  As a mum of a child who attends Grange, I am passionate about enabling all our Grange children to be the very best they can be. I hope to make sure school life gives them great memories, long lasting friendships and the best chance of success as an adult, including a healthy mind-set.

As a teacher myself, I am aware of the increasing pressures facing schools and therefore wanted to put myself forward to help and support Grange to overcome its challenges, meet its goals and continue to provide a fantastic and nurturing education for our children. I have a strong passion about getting it right in Early Years to enable children the best possible outcomes through their career at Grange First School and beyond, making sure every child feels empowered and proud. 

I see this role as a great opportunity to become a ‘critical friend’ of the school, working in a collaborative manner to ensure strategic aims are met. As a parent, I also want to help foster and maintain the school’s inclusive ethos to create a positive and happy learning environment for every child, whilst also supporting emotional wellbeing.