Governing Board Profiles

Chair of Governors
Carol Burrows 

I have had over 40 years’ experience in education, ten of which as a head teacher of a primary school in Salford.

I do voluntary work at Bolton Magistrates court and I invigilate at a local High School. I am also an educational consultant.

Currently, I sit on two private fostering panels as an independent panel member. I hold the position of Virtual Head of Education for one of the agencies and I am in the process of developing a method of monitoring the progress and educational provision of young people fostered within that organisation. I also deliver training for carers and social workers.

I became a Local Authority governor at Queensbridge after I retired in 2010.

As Chair of Governors, I meet personally with the head teacher on a regular basis and we discuss various issues relating to the school.

In addition to my Statutory Chair duties, I have personal governor responsibility for all ‘Child Protection’, ‘Looked after Children’ and ‘Safeguarding’ matters which affect the school, its staff or any of the pupils. I also sit as a member of all governor committees. I look to bring much enthusiasm to the Governing Body and I work hard to ensure that the school continues to do the best for our children.

Governors at Queensbridge all have strong commitment, enthusiasm and work hard to support the children of Queensbridge.

Debra Leeper

Welcome to Queensbridge Primary School, My name is Debra Leeper and I have been a Support staff governor here for 2 years. I currently work in the Early Years Foundation Unit as a teaching assistant for nursery children. I have 22 years of experience from training as a NNEB Nursery Nurse to being a Deputy Manager and gaining a Degree in Learning and Teaching Studies. I have a great range of knowledge in supporting children with special needs and working across different year groups.

I look forward to seeing you around the school.

Val Packer

My name is Val Packer. I was born in the North East and moved to Leicester where I trained to be a teacher. I worked in Leicestershire for twenty years before moving up to Bolton and worked here for eighteen years until I retired in the autumn of 2009.  During my thirty-eight years in Education, I have worked in mainstream primary and secondary schools and also in special schools, undertaking a range of roles and responsibilities. However, the bulk of my experience has been working with children and young people who have additional needs.

As a Community Governor at Queensbridge, I am involved in all the work of the Governing body, but, because of my background, have a particular responsibility as the Special Educational Needs (SEN) Governor.

Councillor Paul Sanders 

Profile to follow.

Nyree Kendall

I commenced my nursing journey when I qualified as an adult nurse in 1996 with a diploma in nursing attained at Salford University. My professional experience started in a hospital setting where I worked in older person’s rehabilitation. In 1999, I moved to the community and worked as a staff nurse on a District Nursing team.

In 2003, I left practice to become a full‑time student undertaking an undergraduate degree and qualified as a District Nurse and prescriber (V100), following completion of the programme at Manchester Metropolitan University in the same year. I worked as a District Nursing lead until 2007, when I commenced employment with the community nursing development team. In the same year, I completed a postgraduate certificate in teaching and learning at Bolton University, gaining recognition as a teacher on the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) register. Whilst working in community education, I also completed a master’s degree in Back Care and Management at Loughborough University, which enabled me to monitor and deliver moving and handling training and complete ergonomic risk assessments.

I joined the University of Bolton in 2013 as the lead for the Specialist Practice District Nursing programme and a senior lecturer. Since commencing employment with the University, I have held several roles including student recruitment and retention lead, Trainee Nursing Associate apprenticeship programme lead and Mandatory Training facilitator (faculty‑wide). Additional roles include the health and safety lead for the faculty and supporting the development of marketing for the postgraduate provision.

I have experience of working with other Higher Education Providers (HEIs) through supporting validations as an external advisor, and I am currently an external examiner at two universities for the Specialist Practice Apprenticeship programmes.

I have recognition by the Queens Nursing Institute for my role in community nursing and I am a member of the Association of District Nurse Educators, the Association of General Practice Nursing Educators and the Loughborough LARF (research forum).

I have articles published in the Nursing Times and the British Journal of Community Nursing, I have contributed to the Oxford Handbook of Primary Care and Community Nursing, and I have presented at the Westminster Briefing.

I am currently undertaking doctoral studies to further develop my research knowledge and skill.