Meet the Governors
Mr A Dabrowski
Chair of Governors / Foundation Governor
Committees: Quality of Education, Catholic Life of the School, Resources
I am a past pupil of Mount Carmel and now retired after a long career with Lloyds Bank. I am married to Karen and have a daughter Katharine (also a past pupil). I am an active parishioner of St. Anne’s RC Church in Accrington and an avid sports fan. I also enjoy the great outdoors. I work closely with our Head Teacher Xavier Bowers, the Senior Leadership Team and with a team of skilled and dedicated Governors. The Governors are ambitious for all pupils at Mount Carmel, and we regularly challenge our leaders to make continuous progress in the Quality of Education we offer. We are also passionate in ensuring that we offer a safe, happy and welcoming environment for our pupils to study. As Chair of Governors, I am delighted with the progress the school has made in recent years but will never be complacent in striving for the continuous improvement in all that we do.
Mr S Ellis
Vice Chair/ Local Authority Governor
Committees: Resources (Chair), Quality of Education, Behaviour, Attitudes and Personal Development
Upon leaving education I joined my family business in Accrington managing this for over 20 years. I have been an active member of the PTFA and I have spent many years both playing in and coaching disability football teams. This, coupled with our son receiving a diagnosis of autism, has given me strong interest in special education needs. My ambition in becoming a governor is to contribute to improving the school’s capacity to provide an inclusive and rounded education to all pupils. I feel it a privilege to be a governor and I will strive to make a positive contribution to the school.
Mrs R Taylor-Dearden
Foundation Governor
Committees: Catholic Life of the School
My name is Rebecca Taylor, I am a HLTA at St. Mary’ s Primary school, a role I have been in and love, for 25 years. I have four children all who have attended Mount Carmel. I love being involved in school life and have been chair and vice chair of the PTA at St Mary ‘s and Mount Carmel. I am passionate about Catholic education and have loved seeing the development of the Catholic ethos in school with the building of the chapel and the involvement of the local clergy. Mount Carmel is a lovely, welcoming school with a dedicated team and I enjoy my role as governor.
Mrs L Whittaker
Foundation Governor
Committees: Behaviour, Attitudes and Personal Development (Chair)
I have been an active member of the Mount Carmel Community since 2005 when the first of my four children attended the school. I became a Governor shortly afterwards. I am currently a Foundation Governor and Chair of the Behaviour, Attitudes & Personal Development Committee. I am proud to have had one of my children become Deputy Head Girl 2009/10 and my son became Head Boy 2020/21. I now have a daughter working in Marketing, one a Special Needs Primary School Teacher and two about to start University. I currently work for a local authority as an administrator and like to spend my time walking my dog and keeping fit. I have previously run the Manchester half marathon in memory of my son Joshua raising money for the British Heart Foundation and several 10k races. I have always been proud to be part of the Mount Carmel Family.
Mrs V Mugan
Co-opted
Committees: Resources, Quality of Education (Chair)
My name is Vickie Mugan. I am married to Mark and have 2 sons, one of whom was head boy in his time at Mount Carmel. I have worked for IBM UK Ltd for the last 30 plus years. I enjoy watching most sports, good food and travel. I look forward to making a positive contribution to school during my governorship.
Mr P Holden
Foundation Governor
Committees: Resources, Behaviour, Attitudes and Personal Development
I was born in Nelson and have lived in this locality for most of my life. I am now retired and spent the majority of my working life as a Management accountant in the NHS and Local Government with a number of authorities in different areas of the country. I have been a Governor at St Marys R.C. primary school for over 20 years and Chair of their Governing body before becoming a governor of Mount Carmel. Latterly before retiring I was a Business Manager for an independent school for a number of years covering all aspects of premises and finance Management. I am married to Sandra and I am an active parishioner at St Marys RC Church Clayton Le Moors. I enjoy all sports as well as travel, gardening and walking.
Mr P Taylor
Foundation Governor
Committees: Catholic Life of the school
My name is Paul Taylor and I was born in Blackburn. I attended St Edmund Arrowsmith RC High School. I am married to Anne-Marie and we have 2 children, Megan & Harry who are both graduates and successful in their own rights. I attend Mass at St Mary’s Oswaldtwistle where Anne-Marie and I were married 30 years ago. Since leaving school, I have worked in the Precision Engineering industry and I now have my own small engineering firm based in Accrington.
Mr S Preugschat
Foundation Governor
Committees: Quality of Education, Resources
Born in Accrington, I am a proud, former pupil of Mount Carmel with further personal ties to the school community being a parent of two past pupils. Now retired, after a long and successful career in Civil/Structural Engineering consultancy work, I enjoy country walks and watching all sports including football and rugby league. As a parent of children who attended Mount Carmel I understand the school’s traditions, its values and commitment to ensuring future generations experience a continuous improvement in education standards. I look forward to working closely with the school staff and contributing positively to the school’s continued success as a member of a thriving, dedicated and enthusiastic governing body.
Ms J Hurley
Parent Governor
Committees: Behaviour, Attitudes and Personal Development
My name is Julie Hurley, I have 2 children, one is currently in Year 11 just starting her final journey here at Mount Carmel and her biggest year yet with her GCSEs coming up. My son attended Mount Carmel too and left in 2022 after 5 years and he has just left college and is about to start his new journey at Cumbria university to study Law. I am originally from London but I moved to Lancashire over 27 years ago. I enjoy keeping fit and spending time with family and friends. My occupation is a property landlord, however I also am a Lead Invigilator at Mount Carmel during the exam period. I am a Foundation Governor at a local primary school too.
Ms S Gallagher
Parent Governor
Committees:
To follow
Mr X Bowers
Headteacher
Committees: Behaviour, Attitudes and Personal Development, Quality of Education, Catholic Life of the School, Resources
I regard it as a privilege to have been Headteacher at Mount Carmel RC High School since 2011. I am proud and passionate about all that is good about Catholic Education and enjoy working with and alongside, pupils, parents, staff and governors as we constantly strive to ensure all our pupils are developed and nurtured to become well rounded young people, well prepared and formed in every way to make a positive contribution to the local and wider community. Working collaboratively with the staff, senior and middle leaders, governors, Lancashire Local Authority and Diocese of Salford we have transformed the school for the better in many ways, but although we are proud of the many improvements we have made, we are never complacent and constantly strive for further improvements. We believe that our Section 48 Report from the Diocese of Salford in March 2020 and Ofsted inspection in September 2021 accurately captures the many aspects of school improvement, school strengths and areas of development. As a school we strive to live out our Mission and vision of our Catholic school which is captured in our strapline ‘ A Family of Faith and Learning’
Mr C Goldsmith
Staff Governor
Committees: Behaviour, Attitudes and Personal Development
I was born in York moving to Wigan during my childhood and have lived there since. I graduated from the University of Central Lancashire in 2012 with a degree in Mathematics before completing my PGCE at Manchester Metropolitan University in 2015. Mount Carmel is the second school I have taught at and I am delighted to have joined in 2019 as Assistant Curriculum Leader, and even more so when I was able to take the role of Acting Curriculum Leader from May 2023 to January 2024. I am pleased to be able to take the role as staff governor at Mount Carmel and look forward to helping the school move forward wherever I can. In my spare time I enjoy watching ruby and playing golf at every opportunity.
Mr R Foster
Associate Governor – no voting rights
Committees: Quality of Education, Behaviour, Attitudes and Personal Development, Catholic Life of the School, Resources
My career as an ICT and Computer Science teacher started at Darwen Vale High School, Darwen in 2007. In 2009 I was promoted to Head of ICT and I remained in post until 2014. In 2014 I was a founding member of a new school in Bolton called Eden Boys' School where I started as Director of Learning Computing & Creative Technologies. In 2018 I was promoted to Assistant Headteacher responsible for attendance, behaviour, pastoral care and safeguarding and remained in post until 2024 when I was blessed to be offered the role of Deputy Headteacher at Mount Carmel overseeing attendance, behaviour and attitudes, pastoral care as well as the welfare and development of our pupils . Educating and caring for students, unlocking their potential and helping them to thrive and succeed is what motivates me every day. I love the vocation of teaching and feel as happy working with our young people and their families today, as I did at the start of my career in 2007. I am a parishioner at St. James RC Church, Orrell along with my wife and two sons, in my spare time I enjoy days out walking with my family, spending time with friends and watching Formula One.
Ms C Farrelly
Associate Governor - no voting rights
Committees: Quality of Education (SLT Convenor), Catholic Life of the School
My career as an English teacher started at Our Lady’s Catholic College in Lancaster before I moved to Accrington when I was appointed as the Head of English at Hollins Technology College. I then took up the post of Assistant Headteacher at St Monica’s in Prestwich before becoming Deputy Headteacher at Mount Carmel in April 2020. I joined Mount Carmel during the national lockdown, so I initially met my new colleagues, pupils and governors in a virtual environment. I am responsible for the quality of education at Mount Carmel, and I am passionate about the continued professional development of our staff. I am proud to be part of the Mount Carmel family, serving our local young people and their families. I am a parishioner of St Anne’s RC Church Accrington and in my spare time I enjoy walking my dog, spending time with my family and, of course, reading a good book!
Mr B Georgy
Associate Governor - no voting rights
Committees: Resources (SLT Convenor)
I was born in Accrington and have lived in the Oswaldtwistle & Blackburn areas the whole of my life. I was educated at St Anthony’s RC Primary School Blackburn, Our Lady & St John RC High School Blackburn and St Mary’s College Blackburn. I have a degree in Accounting and Finance and am a Chartered Management Accountant. I worked for the local authority for 10 years before becoming the Schools Business Manager in 2015. I am married and very much a family man with 2 young daughters.
Mr J Hill
Associate Governor - no voting rights
Committees: Behaviour, Attitudes and Personal Development (SLT Convenor)
I have taught in Lancashire for twenty-seven years, having attended my own schooling in Manchester and university in Wales. I have been with Mount Carmel since 2013, initially as the Director of Science and later as the Assistant Headteacher. My current responsibilities encompass all aspects of personal development. Furthermore, I hold the position of Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL), ensuring the safety of our school community. In my leisure time, I relish gardening, immersing myself in books about the natural world, experimenting in the kitchen, and engaging in hill walking. I am married and have three children, and I have a deep passion for teaching science.
Mr D Sweeney
Associate Governor - no voting rights
Committees: Quality of Education
I was born in Blackburn, but have lived most of my adult life in Preston. I was educated at St Clare’s RC Primary school, where my father was also my Headteacher and then moved to the local Catholic Secondary school, Our Lady’s. I then went on to Cardinal Newman sixth form and then onto Leeds to study History and Politics. I completed my teacher training at Edgehill University in RE and have been serving the community of Mount Carmel since 2006. I’ve also completed my SENCo qualification, graduating in 2019. During my time here I’ve held many roles and I am proud to be the SENCo at Mount Carmel. I’m married with two children, my local Parish is St Oswald’s. I love walking with my family and have a keen interest in Religion, History and Politics.
Mr K Georgy
Associate Governor - no voting rights
Committees: Quality of Education
I was born in Accrington and have lived in the Oswaldtwistle area my whole life. I have always been educated in a Catholic setting, starting school life at St Anthony’s RC Primary School Blackburn, moving onto secondary education and college at Our Lady and St John RC High School Blackburn and St Mary’s College Blackburn respectively. I have a BSc Hons in Sports Science and gained QTS in Science through Liverpool Hope University. I have previously worked at 2 high schools in Blackburn, including Our Lady and St John Catholic College where I spent 10 years teaching science and holding various leadership posts including PSHE KS3 & KS4 co-ordinator, Head of Year, Head of Science and Progress 8 bucket 2 leader. I am a Specialist Leader in Education for Science and have provided varying levels of support to a number of schools with different contexts within the North West. I am currently an Assistant Headteacher at Mount Carmel RC High School, where my main area of responsibility is ARR. I am happily married and we are a young active family with 2 boys and a girl. I am a life-long member of Holy Family Parish in Blackburn and I am actively involved in the Parish as a foundation governor at St Mary and St Joseph’s Blackburn, a Eucharistic Minister and I have also helped to run a Catholic youth group.
Calendar of Meetings 2024/25
| September 2024 | Thursday 12th | 5pm | Governing Body 1 |
| Thursday 26th | 5pm | Catholic Life of the School | |
| October 2024 | Thursday 3rd | 5pm | Resources |
| Thursday 10th | 5pm | Behaviour, Attitudes and Personal Development | |
| November 2024 | Wednesday 7th | 9am | Pay |
| Thursday 21st | 5pm | Quality of Education | |
| December 2024 | Thursday 12th | 5pm | Governing Body 2 |
| January 2025 | Thursday 23rd | 5pm | Behaviour, Attitudes and Personal Development |
| Thursday 30th | 5pm | Resources | |
| February 2025 | Thursday 27th | 5pm | Catholic Life of the School |
| March 2025 | Thursday 6th | 5pm | Quality of Education |
| Thursday 20th | 5pm | Governing Body 3 | |
| May 2025 | Thursday 1st | 5pm | Resources |
| Thursday 15th | 5pm | Catholic Life of the School | |
| Thursday 22nd | 5pm | Behaviour, Attitudes and Personal Development | |
| June 2025 | Thursday 12th | 5pm | Quality of Education |
| July 2025 | Thursday 3rd | 5pm | Governing Body 4 |
Governor Meetings Attendance
Link Governors 2024-2025
|
Governor |
No. of Visits |
Department/Nominated Area |
Curriculum Leader/Lead Teacher |
|
Mr A Dabrowski |
2 |
Maths |
Mr Craig Goldsmith |
|
Mr S Preugschat |
1 |
ICT/Computing |
Mr S Evans |
|
Mr P Holden |
1 |
Science |
Mrs J Bancroft |
|
Mr P Holden |
1 |
Safeguarding & Child Protection |
Mr J Hill |
|
Mr S Ellis |
1 |
English |
Mrs N Forgham |
|
Ms J Hurley |
1 |
Art and Design Technology |
Ms K Nuttall |
|
Ms J Hurley |
1 |
CEIAG |
Mr C Barrett |
|
Mrs V Mugan |
1 |
MFL |
Mrs K Whittles and Mrs D Lynas |
|
Mrs V Mugan |
1 |
Geography |
Mr M Procter |
|
Miss C Kelly |
1 |
PSHCE |
Mr M Khan |
|
Mr A Dabrowski |
1 |
RE & RSE |
Mr B Davies |
|
Miss C Kelly |
1 |
PE & Sport |
Mr P Stobbs |
|
Mrs L Whittaker |
1 |
Staff Health and Wellbeing |
Mrs H Ward |
|
Mrs L Whittaker |
Link Governor |
LA Website/ GEL | |
|
Mr S Preugschat |
1 |
Health & Safety |
Mr B Georgy |
| Mr S Ellis | 1 | Pupil Premium | Mr K Georgy kgeorgy@mountcarmelhigh.lancs.sch.uk |
|
Ms S Ellis |
1 |
SEND |
Mr D Sweeney |
| Mrs L Whittaker | 1 | History | Miss J Mortensen jmortensen@mountcarmelhigh.lancs.sch.uk |
|
Miss J Hurley |
1 |
Performing Arts |
Miss J Bell |
|
Mr P Taylor |
1 |
School ECO and Pupil Leadership |
Mr J Hill |
|
Mrs L Whittaker |
1 |
Health and Social Care |
Mr C Cottam |
Governing Body Committee 2024/2025
Behaviour and Attitudes and Personal Development Committee |
|
| Mrs L Whittaker | Foundation (Chair) |
| Mr J Hill | Assistant Headteacher (SLT Convenor) |
| Mr X Bowers | Headteacher |
| Mr R Foster | Deputy Headteacher |
| Mr P Holden | Foundation |
| Mr S Ellis | LA |
| Ms J Hurley | Parent |
| Mr C Goldsmith | Staff |
Quality of Education Committee |
|
| Mrs V Mugan | Co-opted (Chair) |
| Ms C Farrelly | Deputy Headteacher (SLT Convenor) |
| Mr X Bowers | Headteacher |
| Mr R Foster | Deputy Headteacher |
| Mr A Dabrowski | Foundation |
| Mr S Ellis | LA |
| Mr K Georgy | Assistant Headteacher |
| Mr D Sweeney | Assistant Headteacher / SEND |
| Mr S Preugschat | Foundation |
Resources Committee |
|
| Mr S Ellis | LA (Chair) |
| Mr A Dabrowski | Foundation |
| Mr X Bowers | Headteacher |
| Mr R Foster | Deputy Headteacher |
| Mr P Holden | Foundation |
| Mrs V Mugan | Co-opted |
| Mr B Georgy | School Business Manager (SLT Convenor) |
| Mr S Preugschat | Foundation |
Catholic Life of the School Committee |
|
| Mr A Dabrowski | Foundation (Chair) |
| Mr X Bowers | Headteacher (SLT Convenor) |
| Mr R Foster | Deputy Headteacher |
| Ms C Farrelly | Deputy Headteacher |
| Mr P Taylor | Foundation |
| Mr B Davies | Curriculum Leader RE, RSE and PSHCE |
| Mrs R Taylor-Dearden | Foundation |
| Ms C Kelly | Foundation |
| Rev. F Wadsworth | Visitor |
Appeals Committee |
|
| All (untainted) Governors - (minimum 3) | |
Appointments Committee – Headteacher/Deputy Headteacher |
|
| All Governors | |
Appointments Committee – Other Staff |
|
| Governor department links as much as possible / or Chair or Vice Chair | |
Grievance/Complaints Committee |
|
| Chair | |
HT Appraisal |
|
| Mr A Dabrowski | |
| Mr S Ellis | |
| Mrs V Mugan | |
| Mr J Marsh (LA School Advisor) | |
Pay Committee |
|
| Ms J Hurley | |
| Mr S Ellis | |
| Mr P Holden | |
Pay Appeals Committee |
|
| Mrs V Mugan | |
| Mr A Dabrowski | |
| Mrs R Taylor-Dearden | |
Pupil Discipline Committee |
|
| All (untainted) Governors (3) | |
Governor's Register of Interests 2024/25
| Name of Governor/Staff member | Nil Interests | Nature of Business(type of work/service provided) | Nature of Interest (e.g. Director/sole owner or spouse of director/owner or friend/relative or other) | Date of appointment/ acquisition | Date of cessation of interest |
| Xavier Bowers | Spouse is a teacher at Mount Carmel | ||||
|
Andrew Dabrowski |
Nil | ||||
| Steven Ellis | Partner is Reflect Manager at Mount Carmel | ||||
| Peter Holden | Governor at St Mary’s R.C. Primary School, Clayton-le -Moors | ||||
| Julie Hurley | Governor at Green Haworth Primary School, Accrington | ||||
| Vickie Mugan | Nil | ||||
| Paul Taylor | Nil | ||||
| Rebecca Taylor-Dearden | Nil | ||||
| Craig Goldsmith | Nil | ||||
| Simon Preugschat | Nil | ||||
| Ciara Kelly | Nil | ||||
| Lyndsey Whittaker | Nil | ||||
| Brendan Georgy | Brother (K Georgy) is Assistant Headteacher at Mount Carmel | ||||
| John Hill | Nil | ||||
| Kieran Georgy |
LA Governor at St. Andrew's Primary School Foundation Governor at St. Mary & St. Joseph's R.C. Primary School |
Brother (B Georgy) is Business Manager at Mount Carmel | |||
| Daniel Sweeney | Nil | ||||
| Caroline Farrelly | Governor at St. Anne's & St. Joseph's R.C. Primary School and St. Augustine's R.C. Primary | ||||
| Richard Foster | Nil | ||||
| Catherine Herbert | Nil |
Diocese of Salford
Instrument of Governance
The name of the school is Mount Carmel Roman Catholic High School.
The school was founded by and is part of the Catholic Church. The school is to be conducted as a Catholic School in accordance with Canon Law and the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church, and in accordance with the Trust Deed of the Diocese of Salford and in particular:
a) religious education is to be in accordance with the teachings, doctrines, discipline and general particular norms of the Catholic Church;
b) religious worship is to be in accordance with the rites, practices, discipline and liturgical norms of the Catholic Church;
c) and at all times the school is to serve as a witness to the Catholic faith in Our Lord Jesus Christ.
The school is a Voluntary Aided school.
The name of the governing body is “The governing body of Mount Carmel Roman Catholic High School”
The governing body shall consist of:
a. 2 x parent governors
b. 1 x LA governor
c. 1 x staff governor
d. 1 x headteacher
e. 9 x foundation governors
f. 2 x co-opted governors
Total number of governors 16.
Foundation governors shall be appointed and may be removed by the Bishop of Salford (or any other person exercising jurisdiction on his behalf).
This instrument of government comes into effect on 1st September 2015.
This Instrument of Government was approved by the Diocese of Salford on 16th July 2015 and made by order of Lancashire County Council.
A copy of the instrument must be supplied to every member of the governor body (and the headteacher if not a governor), any trustees and to the appropriate religious body.
2024 - 2025 / Governing Body
Foundation Governors x 9
- Mr A Dabrowski
- Mr P Holden
- Mrs R Taylor-Dearden
- Mrs L Whittaker
- Mr S Preugschat
- Mr P Taylor
- Miss C Kelly
- Vacancy
- Vacancy
Head Teacher x 1
- Mr X Bowers
Local Authority Governor x 1
- Mr S Ellis
Parent Governors x 2
- Ms S Gallagher
- Miss J Hurley
Co-opted Governors
- Mrs V Mugan
- Vacancy
Staff Governor
- Mr C Goldsmith
TOTAL = 16
"We believe in transparency and accountability and aim to develop a culture of diversity, equality and inclusion in which all those connected to Mount Carmel R.C. High School feel proud of their identity and ability to participate fully in school life.
Our governance roles are composed of approximately 69% white British, 0% minority ethnic background* and 31% wishing not to share their information."
*Similar to pupil data, any individual who is of any origin other than white British, is defined as being of minority ethnic background.