Meet the Governors

Jason Ward (Chair)
Co-opted Governor

Aruna Patel (Vice Chair)
LA Governor

Reverend Clive Beard
Ex-Officio Foundation Governor

Ismail Timol
Co-opted Governor

Kailash Parekh MBE
Co-opted Governor

Sarah Woolford
Foundation Governor

Angela Kilpatrick
Parent Governor

Salamatu Victor
Parent Governor

Maria Turda
Parent Governor

John Coxhead
Ex-Officio Governor (Headteacher)

Frankie Greenhalgh
Staff Governor

Louise Holloway
Clerk to Governing Board

Further information about our Governing Board can be found below:

Angela Kilpatrick
My name is Angela Kilpatrick and I started my role as a Parent Governor in 2021 whilst my little girl was in the reception class. I am a Lecturer in English for Academic Purposes and Study Skills with WISER, Academic Skills Development, at the University of Central Lancashire. I have a BA in English Language and Linguistics with Theatre Studies and am a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy.  

I have worked at the University since 2007 and started my career in English Language and Linguistics as an Employability Co-ordinator, helping prepare English Language and Linguistics students for the workplace and developing the English Language Skills Initiative for Employability scheme. 
My current research interests are in academic writing and educational linguistics.  My present research project examines how grammar and writing skills are taught at key stage 2 and the efficacy of the Grammar, Punctuation and Spelling test for improving writing skills. Having been diagnosed with dyslexia only a few years ago, I have a keen interest in Special Educational Needs, and how teaching contextualised grammar can help dyslexic individuals improve their writing. 

I have lived in Preston all my life and it is a real privilege to be able to use my knowledge and skills to support a local school as a Parent Governor.

Dr Kailash Parekh MBE, JP
I obtained a B.Ed (Hons) Degree with QTS from Edge Hill University, and a M.A. degree in Educational Studies in 2003 from Lancaster University. I was transferred to the St Stephen’s Primary School Governing Body from the old Christ Church Infant school in September 1992 and have served as a school governor since then. My role as a school governor has been both interesting and rewarding.

I enjoy working as a team and being able to participate in decision making and influencing policy and practice for the benefit of the children. I am very passionate about promoting equality and diversity, particularly in the field of education. I was instrumental in organising the First Hindu Youth of the North through Hindu Youth U.K in 2002. My other voluntary work includes serving as the Vice Chair on the Racial Equality & Diversity Board and as a Community Governor at Penwortham Priory High. I was also appointed as a Magistrate in October 2001 and sit on the Family panel.Through my work in the community, I have positively contributed in promoting better community cohesion and Race Relations. My work was recognised when I was awarded an MBE in 2004 by Her Majesty the Queen, for my services to Community Relations and Race Relations work in Preston. This was followed by the National GG2 Diversity & Leadership award for my work in the community and for making a positive contribution to the British society. My other achievements include: “National Training Award” for my outstanding contribution to education and training both in 2003 & 2005; Woman of the Year award, 2007 and an Honorary Fellow of UCLan.

Aruna Patel (Vice Chair)
My name is Aruna Patel and I became a Parent Governor when my son started his educational journey at St Stephen's CE Nursery, in 2017. I have since been appointed as a Local Authority (LA) Governor. As a longstanding member of Broadgate community, I am pleased to serve our hardworking team of Governing Body volunteers.

Flourishing at the heart of the Broadgate Community, St Stephen's provides an outstanding start to our children.  I can proudly and honestly say this, having had a 15-year background in Primary Education and having taught in a variety of inner-city schools within Lancashire and around the country. St Stephen's is a truly remarkable school where our children are safe and happy.  It welcomes a rich mixture of faith backgrounds and cultures, whilst celebrating British Christian values inclusively. It continues to empower our children and provide high-quality education, whilst providing opportunity for all our children to aspire and follow their interests.

At college, I studied Physics, Chemistry and Biology. My plan was to be a doctor, specifically a paediatrician as I have always wanted to work with children. However, as a vegetarian (who gets very queasy at the sight of any blood) I had to quickly rethink. Making a huge U turn in life, I chose to study Theology at Westminster College Oxford and then became a Primary School Teacher. I have never looked back and love working in schools!
For me however,  ‘Parenthood,’ has been a whole new roller coaster of real education! It has further equipped me with understanding, new skills and utmost respect for all parents and carers, as each new day and milestone in my child’s young life brings both exhausting challenges and boundless joy. I look forward to meeting you all in this journey at this wonderful school.

Ismail Timol
Hi, my name is Ismail Timol and I became a Parent Governor in 2013 as two of my children had started at St Stephen's but I also wanted to make a positive change on behalf the children and parents and the wider community by becoming a governor. I have since become a Co-opted Governor, as my children have all completed primary school. My belief is that at St Stephen's we have one of the most vibrant, purposeful and exceptional schools for a child to fulfil their potential and my aim would be to ensure children can achieve this.

I have worked in the IT industry since I left University and currently I am working at a local Council within the IT Education sector. I have also been serving on the executive committee at the local Mosque for a number of years and oversee the running of the children’s evening school (Madrasa).
I am also a very keen sportsman who plays football and table tennis regularly every week. I am a passionate supporter of Liverpool Football Club and aim to try and bring the same passion and commitment in my role as Governor!

Dr Salamatu Victor 
St Stephen’s School has played a key role in the life of my first child and provided him with an excellent start. This gave me the assurance to happily enrol my second child in September 2021. I became a Parent Governor in October 2020, keen to represent the views of parents and support the school to become more highly regarded and the best it can be, through the School serving the local community. Through this role, I have been contributing to the School’s strategic direction and play an active part in supporting the continual improvement of St Stephen’s.

I have a Bachelor’s degree in Geography/Remote Sensing, an MSc degree in Environmental Management from Coventry University and more recently, a PhD in Waste Management from UCLan. It was through this academic background I developed further interest in supporting education and social inclusion of younger learners. In my local Church, I currently serve as a Children’s Teacher, Sunday School Teacher and Women Leader, through which I have gained several transferrable skills that are of relevance to the Governing role.

I look forward to making a positive contribution to the Governing Body and working as part of the team to ensure that all children achieve their full potential and enjoy their learning experience in a safe and conducive environment.

Jason Ward (Chair)
My name is Jason Ward and I became a parent governor at St. Stephen’s following my daughter embarking on her education at the school in 2017. I have found the school welcoming, vibrant and positive and as such I felt it would be good to get involved and contribute in any way I can.

My background is primarily in the telecommunications industry where I have worked in many roles from salesperson, to operations manager and then subsequently director within my own company. Since the birth of my daughter I became primarily a stay at home dad and have developed in that period my own online business which I still run to this day. Since September 2017 I have been studying for a degree in business studies at UCLAN, with the goal of becoming a lecturer in this field.

I am passionate about education, and the concept of equality for all in that, and believe that all children should have the opportunity and resources to fulfil their potential. As such I hope to bring whatever experience I can, to aid in the development and success of the school.

Sarah Woolford
My name is Sarah Woolford, and I was appointed to the Governing Body in December 2023. I am a Foundation Governor and aim to support the already excellent relationships between the school and St. Stephen’s Church. I am married to Peter and have two grown-up sons, who both attended St. Stephen’s School when they were little. My younger son went on to attend Hillside Specialist School and College in Longridge and I served there as Parent Governor for eight years.  

We have lived in Broadgate for many years, and I am very involved in the life of St. Stephen’s Church – I am the church treasurer and if you come along to our Sunday morning service (everyone is welcome) you might see me playing in one of the worship bands. I am a qualified accountant and retired recently from a long career in public sector finance; my last role was as Deputy Director of Finance at UCLan. It won’t be a surprise to anyone that I have agreed to join the Resources Committee! I’m not the sort of person to equate retirement with winding down, so on top of everything else I am studying for an M.A. in Theology at Emmanuel Theological College, and I sing (soprano) in the Preston Cecilian Choral Society. I hope to bring all this experience together to serve this wonderful school community to the best of my ability.