Governors

We put children’s well being at the centre of all of our activities. 

For all Governance documentation, please click here and scroll to the bottom of the page.

We are looking to recruit additional co-opted governors (volunteers) to the Old Moat Local Governing Committee.  No previous school governor experience is necessary as training will be provided but a commitment to support and challenge school leaders in the best interests of all Old Moat pupils is essential. 

 The role requires attendance at four meetings a year (Tuesdays 6pm-8pm) where there is an expectation that governors have read the reports associated with the agenda and will ask questions of school leaders.  You would be joining a great team of seven governors, some very experienced, some newly-appointed, but all committed to the success of Old Moat.  You would also be joining a strong multi-academy trust and would benefit from learning and development opportunities.

 If you are interested in learning more about the role, please contact Steph Rhodes at CLIC Trust: srhodes@clictrust.org

OUR LOCAL GOVERNING COMMITTEE

Gavin White
Co-Chair of Local Governing Committee

Gavin is a councillor in Old Moat ward, a qualified architect and a charity trustee for a number of local charities in Manchester.  His work includes helping with various homeless projects in the City, ex-offenders and operational/staff management, organisational development and governance with 3 local charities in Manchester.

Gavin also works part-time (2 days per week) for Jeff Smith MP as a constituency caseworker and is involved with many community groups in the Old Moat and Withington area.

Gavin is a Parent Governor with 1 child at Old Moat Primary School and has been a Governor at Old Moat since 2006. 

Sally Fletcher 
Co-Chair of Local Governing Committee 

Sally is a long-serving governor who works in technology and has experience of working at the BBC.

Isabelle Qamar 
Vice Chair of Local Governing Committee
Co-opted Governor 

Isabelle has been a Governor at Old Moat since 2006, originally a Parent Governor, and is the Link Governor for Safeguarding.

Isabelle has worked with children since 2002 and is the Managing Director of Community Minded Limited.  Isabelle manages Old Moat Childcare based at the Sure Start Centre which includes full day care, playgroup, after school club, creche, holiday care and play schemes.  She is the designated person within Old Moat Childcare responsible for recruiting staff and volunteers/students and is responsible for Health & Safety and staff training.

Isabelle is a keen runner and volunteers at a junior park run to support children from 4 years to 14 years to complete a 2km run.  Isabelle speaks French and enjoys horseriding.

Sharon Smirk 
Staff Governor 

Sharon is a Teaching Assistant at Old Moat and runs the school breakfast club, in addition to many roles outside school working with children in the local community. 

Sarah Bennett-Green
Staff Governor

Sarah is a Year 1 Teacher at Old Moat and member of the Geography Curriculum Team.

Ajai Singh 
Co-opted Governor 

Ajai has been a governor at Old Moat since 2021. A former teaching assistant at two secondary schools in Manchester, Ajai has a keen passion for how outstanding early years and primary education can have a tremendous impact for children and young people throughout their lives. He is also Vice Chair of Governors at a maintained school in Manchester.

Avni Hindocha
Co-opted Governor

Avni is a public health doctor in the North West, having previously trained in paediatrics in the NHS, and undertakes research into child health inequalities alongside her clinical work.

She has several years’ experience working with children and families in Greater Manchester, and is particularly passionate about early years development, health promotion and safeguarding. She is especially interested in understanding the long-term effects of the pandemic and economic crisis on the health and wellbeing of our children and young people. 

Avni has strong links with the area having been born at Withington Hospital, attending school nearby, and after many years living and training in London she has now returned to live locally with her toddler and husband.

Adwoa Boakye
Parent Governor

Adwoa joined the governing committee in December 2023 as a parent governor.

Shilpi Soni
Parent Governor

Shilpi joined the governing committee in December 2023 as a parent governor.