Welcome from our Governing Body

Mike Tooze
(Chair, Foundation Governor and SEND)
"Mike's experience in education started with his teaching career in the 80s which continued until he retired at Deputy Head Teacher level in 2015. During his teaching career, Mike became a Parent Governor in the 1990s and has been a Foundation Governor at St Matthew's since 2015, being recently appointed as Chair of Governors in September 2020. In his varied leadership roles, Mike led on a wide range of whole-school issues. These included curriculum, teaching and learning, assessment, pastoral care, safeguarding, health and safety and staff welfare. These experiences enable Mike to participate positively in his current role as the Chair and Foundation Governor."

Elva James-Galloway
(Vice Chair and Foundation Governor)
"I am delighted to be a part of St Matthew's and enjoy working with the wonderful children here."

Sonia Thompson
(Head Teacher)
"We are justifiably proud of our school and our student's achievements, their behaviour is excellent and they enjoy the learning experiences that they have. We have hard working and well qualified staff and as result of our specialism have an emphasis on innovation and technology."

Ian Stewart
(Foundation Governor)
"Ian is a solicitor with over 30 years' experience, almost all of it spent with the international law firm Pinsent Masons. Ian has always specialised in property law, originally advising companies in the industrial and retail sectors on their property requirements. Since 2009 he has increasingly focused on advising companies and local and national government departments on infrastructure projects such as new roads and bridges, and on energy projects like pipelines and power stations. In particular, Ian works on developing offshore wind farms. Ian has had an interest in education since serving as a parent governor at his children's primary school (Whitehouse Common School in Sutton Coldfield) in 2001. In 2011 he became a governor at St Matthew's School, where he has served in various capacities including a spell as Chair of the Governing Body. Ian is also quite active in his church, where he teaches key stage 3 children in the Sunday School. His hobbies are gardening, reading history books, and basking in the glory of Liverpool Football Club, who he has followed loyally for 50 years."

Asa Tarrant
(Staff Governor)
"Asa graduated from Newman University in 2017 and immediately joined St Matthew's School. After spending two years gaining valuable experience in Year 2, Asa now works with Year 3 children and is the PE Lead for the whole school. As a hardworking team member, Asa was elected to be Staff Governor in 2019 and looks forward to supporting his colleagues in this new and exciting role."

Riaz Karachiwalla
(Parent Governor)
"I am delighted to be a part of St Matthew's and enjoy working with the wonderful children here."

Danielle Edwards
(LA Governor)
"I am delighted to be a part of St Matthew's and enjoy working with the wonderful children here."

Emma Woodhouse
(Clerk to the Governing Body)
"I am delighted to be a part of St Matthew's and enjoy working with the wonderful children here."