Meet the Governors

Mr A Dabrowski

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

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

Mrs R Taylor-Dearden

Foundation Governor
Committees: Catholic Life of the School (Chair), Behaviour, Attitudes and Personal Development

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

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

Mrs V Mugan

Foundation Governor
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.

Miss A Anderson

Miss A Anderson

Foundation Governor
Committees: Catholic Life of the School, Quality of Education

Hello, my name is Anne Anderson and I have the privilege of being a Foundation Governor at Mount Carmel R.C. High School. I am honoured to be asked to take on this role in a school where I believe the hardworking and dedicated staff strive to ensure all children in the school are nurtured and developed to their full potential. For many years I have been closely involved in primary education and also in my local community. Before I retired from teaching in 2016, I was, for 39 years, a teacher at my local primary school, St Anne’s and St Joseph’s Accrington, and for 15 years held the position of SENCo with the responsibility for children with Special Educational Needs. I have strong links to my local Roman Catholic Church, The Parish of St Anne and St Joseph Accrington, and have worked over the years supporting the life of the parish - the church, the priests and the parishioners. My faith is strong and this strength has sustained me greatly over the years. The life of the parish is very important to me and I get daily opportunities to give back something to my local Catholic community, St Anne’s and St. Joseph’s, for the support the church and its parishioners have given to me over time. I believe that a Catholic education is one of the main ways that the Catholic faith can be maintained and reinforced. I endeavour as a governor of Mount Carmel High School, to work to the very best of my ability in fully carrying out my duties as a Foundation Governor. I look forward to the future working alongside the other Governors of the school in ensuring that the school’s values are upheld and its aims and objectives are achieved.

Mr P Holden

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 Paul Taylor

Mr Paul 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.

Ms J Hurley

Ms J Hurley

Parent Governor
Committees: Behaviour, Attitudes and Personal Development

My name is Julie Hurley, I have 2 children, one currently at Mount Carmel and one who left in 2022. I am originally from London but have lived in Lancashire for over 25 years. I enjoy keeping fit and spending time with family and friends. I have been a foundation governor at a local primary school for over 10 years and I hope this will be useful for my role as parent governor at Mount Carmel. I am also an invigilator at Mount Carmel during the exam periods but my main occupation is a property landlord.

Mr D Batt

Mr D Batt

Parent Governor
Committees: Resources

I have two daughters, who are both pupils at Mount Carmel RC High School. Professionally, I am the owner and Operations Director of a local Electrical Contracting business. My main interest during my spare time Is Rugby Union, I am a former international player and I am now offering my own experience and expertise coaching a local rugby team. I am also the Head coach for the Player Development Programme. I am looking forward to my role as governor and to contributing to the ongoing success of the school.

Mr X Bowers

Mr X Bowers

Headteacher
Committees: Behaviour, Attitudes and Personal Development, Quality of Education, 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

Mr C Goldsmith

Staff Governor
Committees: Quality of Education

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 P Dugdale

Mr P Dugdale

Associate Governor – no voting rights
Committees: Quality of Education, Behaviour, Attitudes and Personal Development, Catholic Life of the School (SLT Convenor), Resources

I am proud to be Deputy Headteacher at Mount Carmel Roman Catholic High School. My areas of responsibility are around the Catholic life of the school, safeguarding & pastoral care and raising the aspirations & progress of disadvantaged pupils. I have previously worked in faith and non-faith schools across Lancashire. I attended St Theodore's RC High School and Sixth Form in Burnley before going on to teach there and at Blessed Trinity RC College. I look after my own physical and mental health by running and walking around this beautiful part of Lancashire. I have 2 children and am a keen Burnley supporter, both of these regularly keep me awake at night. I was called to this mission I carry out at Mount Carmel and am dedicated to ensuring the very best for the young people and families that I serve.

Ms C Farrelly

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

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

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

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

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 2023/24

September 2023 Thursday 14th 5pm Governing Body 1
  Thursday 28th  5pm Catholic Life of the School
October 2023 Thursday 5th  4pm Resources
  Thursday 12th 5pm Behaviour, Attitudes and Personal Development
November 2023 Wednesday 8th 9am Pay
  Thursday 23rd 5pm Quality of Education
December 2023 Thursday 14th 5pm Governing Body 2
January 2024 Thursday 25th 5pm Behaviour, Attitudes and Personal Development
February 2024 Thursday 1st 5pm Resources
  Thursday 22nd 5pm Catholic Life of the School
March 2024 Thursday 7th 5pm Quality of Education
  Wednesday 27th 5pm Governing Body 3
May 2024 Thursday 2nd 5pm Resources
  Thursday 16th 5pm Catholic Life of the School
  Thursday 23rd 5pm Behaviour, Attitudes and Personal Development
June 2024 Thursday 20th 5pm Quality of Education
July 2024 Thursday 4th 5pm Governing Body 4

Governor Meetings Attendance

Updated: 15/09/2023 199 KB

Link Governors 2023-2024

Governor

No. of Visits

Department/Nominated Area

Curriculum Leader/Lead Teacher

Mr A Dabrowski

2

Maths

Mrs L Robinson
lfrobinson@mountcarmelhigh.lancs.sch.uk

Mr Craig Goldsmith (MAT leave cover)
cgoldsmith@mountcarmelhigh.lancs.sch.uk

Mr A Dabrowski

1

ICT/Computing

Mr S Evans
sevans@mountcarmelhigh.lancs.sch.uk

Mr P Holden

2

Science

Mrs J Bancroft
jbancroft@mountcarmelhigh.lancs.sch.uk

Mr P Holden

2

Safeguarding & Child Protection

Mr J Hill
jhill@mountcarmelhigh.lancs.sch.uk

TBA

1

English

Mrs N Forgham
nforgham@mountcarmelhigh.lancs.sch.uk

Ms J Hurley

1

Art and Design Technology

Mrs E Mollart
emollart@mountcarmelhigh.lancs.sch.uk

Ms J Hurley

1

CEIAG

Mr C Barrett
cbarrett@mountcarmelhigh.lancs.sch.uk

Mrs V Mugan

1

MFL

Mrs K Whittles and Mrs D Lynas
kwhittles@mountcarmelhigh.lancs.sch.uk
dlynas@mountcarmelhigh.lancs.sch.uk

Mrs V Mugan

2

Geography

Mr M Procter
mprocter@mountcarmelhigh.lancs.sch.uk

Mrs L Whittaker

2

History

Miss J Mortensen
jmortensen@mountcarmelhigh.lancs.sch.uk

Mrs R Taylor-Dearden

1

PSHCE

Mr M Khan
mkhan@mountcarmelhigh.lancs.sch.uk

Mrs R Taylor-Dearden

2

RE & RSE

Mr B Davies
bdavies@mountcarmelhigh.lancs.sch.uk

Mr D Batt

1

PE & Sport

Mr S Low
slow@mountcarmelhigh.lancs.sch.uk

Mrs L Whittaker

1

Staff Health and Wellbeing

Mrs H Ward
hward@mountcarmelhigh.lancs.sch.uk

Mrs L Whittaker

 

Link Governor

LA Website/ GEL

Mr S Ellis

2

Pupil Premium

Mr K Georgy
kgeorgy@mountcarmelhigh.lancs.sch.uk

Mr S Ellis

2

Health & Safety

Mr B Georgy
bgeorgy@mountcarmelhigh.lancs.sch.uk

Miss A Anderson

2

SEND

Mr D Sweeney
dsweeney@mountcarmelhigh.lancs.sch.uk

Miss J Hurley

1

Performing Arts

Ms J Bell
jbell@mountcarmelhigh.lancs.sch.uk

Mr P Taylor

1

School ECO and Pupil Leadership

Mr J Hill
jhill@mountcarmelhigh.lancs.sch.uk

Mrs L Whittaker

1

Health and Social Care

Mr C Cottam
ccottam@mountcarmelhigh.lancs.sch.uk

 

 

Governing Body Committee 2023/2024

Behaviour and Attitudes and Personal Development Committee

Mrs L Whittaker Foundation (Chair)
Mr J Hill Associate / SLT Convenor/ Behaviour & Attitudes/ Safeguarding
Mr X Bowers Headteacher
Mr P Dugdale Deputy Headteacher
Mrs R Taylor-Dearden Foundation
Mr P Holden Foundation
Mr S Ellis LA / Vice Chair of Governors
Ms J Hurley Parent

Quality of Education Committee

Mrs V Mugan Foundation (Chair)
Ms C Farrelly Deputy Headteacher (SLT Convenor / Curriculum, T&L, CPD)
Mr X Bowers Headteacher
Mr P Dugdale Deputy Headteacher
Mr A Dabrowski Foundation / Chair of Governors
Mr S Ellis LA / Vice Chair of Governors
Mr K Georgy Assistant Headteacher - SLT Assessment, Recording and Reporting
Mr D Sweeney Assistant Headteacher / SEND
Miss A Anderson Foundation
Mr C Goldsmith Staff 

Resources Committee

Mr S Ellis LA (Chair) / Vice Chair of Governors
Mr A Dabrowski Foundation / Chair of Governors
Mr X Bowers Headteacher
Mr P Dugdale Deputy Headteacher
Mr P Holden Foundation
Mrs V Mugan Foundation
Mr D Batt Parent 
Mr B Georgy Business Manager (Associate/SLT Convenor)

Catholic Life of the School Committee

Mrs R Taylor-Dearden Foundation (Chair)
Mr P Dugdale Deputy Headteacher (SLT Convenor)
Ms C Farrelly Deputy Headteacher
Miss A Anderson Foundation
Mr A Dabrowski Foundation / Chair of Governors
Mr P Taylor Foundation
Mr B Davies Curriculum Leader RE, RSE and PSHCE
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)

Governors terms of office

Updated: 17/10/2023 120 KB

Governor's Register of Interests 2023/24

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    
Paul Dugdale   Governor at Sacred Heart R.C. Primary School, Accrington      
Caroline Farrelly Nil Governor at St. Anne's & St. Joseph's R.C. Primary School, Accrington      
Steven Ellis     Partner is Cover Supervisor at Mount Carmel    
Andrew Dabrowski Nil        
Brendan Georgy     Brother (K Georgy) is Assistant Headteacher at Mount Carmel    
Kieran Georgy  

Governor at St. Andrew's C of E Primary School, Oswaldtwistle

Brother (B Georgy) is Business Manager at Mount Carmel    
Peter Holden   Governor at St Mary’s RC Primary School, Clayton-le -Moors      
John Hill Nil        
Daniel Sweeney Nil        
Julie Hurley   Governor at Green Haworth Primary School, Accrington      
Rebecca Taylor-Dearden Nil        
Lyndsey Whittaker Nil        
Anne Anderson Nil        
Vicky Mugan          
David Batt     Partner is Reprographics Technician at Mount Carmel    
Paul Taylor          
Craig Goldsmith 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.

 

2023 - 2024 / Governing Body

Foundation Governors x 9

  • Mr A Dabrowski
  • Mr P Holden
  • Mrs R Taylor-Dearden
  • Mrs L Whittaker
  • Ms A Anderson
  • Mr P Taylor
  • Mrs V Mugan
  • Vacancy
  • Vacancy

Head Teacher x 1

  • Mr X Bowers

Local Authority Governor x 1

  • Mr S Ellis

Parent Governors x 2

  • Mr D Batt
  • Miss J Hurley

Co-opted Governors

  • Vacancy
  • 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.