Governors

Mrs Denise Chamberlain - Chair of Governors

Date of appointment: 1st September 2026
Term of Office: September 2026 – September 2030
Appointed by: Governing Body
Governor Category: Co-opted Governor
Committee Membership:
Staffing & Finance (S&F)
Business & Material Interests: Nil return
Attendance Academic Year 2025-2026

Governing Body: 4/4
Committee (C&P): 3/5

Mr David Heffernan – Vice Chair of Governors

Date of appointment: 24th May 2023
Term of Office: May 2023 – May 2027
Appointed by: Governing Body
Governor Category: Co-opted Governor
Committee Membership:
Staffing & Finance (S&F)
School Improvement Group (SIG) (Chair)
Business & Material Interests:
Orcina Ltd – Owner and director
Attendance Academic Year 2025-2026

Governing Body: 4/4
Committee (C&P): 1/1
Committee (S&F): 4/4
Committee (SIG): 6/6

Subject Link: Maths

Mr Matthew Hardwick - Headteacher

Date of appointment: 16th April 2018
Term of Office: 2018 - current
Appointed by: Ex Officio
Governor Category: Headteacher
Committee Membership:
Curriculum and Pastoral (C&P)
Staffing & Finance (S&F)
School Improvement Group (SIG)
Business & Material Interests: Nil return
Attendance Academic Year 2025-2026

Governing Body: 4/4
Committee (C&P): 4/5
Committee (S&F): 4/5
Committee (SIG): 6/6

Rachel Akister - Careers Governor

Date of appointment: 12th February 2025
Term of Office: February 2025 – February 2029
Appointed by: Governing Body
Governor Category: Co-opted Governor
Committee Membership:
Curriculum and Pastoral (C&P)
Business & Material Interests:
NA
Attendance Academic Year 2025-2026

Governing Body: 4/4
Committee (C&P): 2/5
Committee (SIG): 1/2

Mr Mark Fidler - Health and Safety Governor

Date of appointment: 13th December 2025

Term of Office : December 2025 - 12th December 2029
Appointed by: Elected by parents
Governor Category: Parent Governor
Committee Membership:
Staffing & Finance (S&F)
Business & Material Interests:
BAE Systems employee and spouse is employed by the school as an STA

Attendance Academic Year 2025-2026

Governing Body: 2/2

Miss Barbara Forrester – Safeguarding & Behaviour Governor - Wellbeing and Mental Health Lead

Date of appointment: 11th May 2022
Term of Office: May 2026 – May 2030
Appointed by: Governing Body
Governor Category: Co-Opted Governor
Committee Membership:
Curriculum and Pastoral (C&P)
Business & Material Interests: Nil return
Attendance Academic Year 2025-2026

Governing Body: 4/4
Committee (C&P): 5/5
Committee (SIG): 4/6

Ms Sue Lomas - Co-Opted Governor

Date of appointment: 3rd October 2024
Term of Office: October 2024 – October 2028
Appointed by: Governing Body
Governor Category: Co-Opted Governor
Committee Membership:
Curriculum and Pastoral (C&P) School Improvement Group (SIG)
Business & Material Interests: Private tutor to UVHS SEN students and UVHS exam invigilator.
Attendance Academic Year 2025-2026

Governing Body: 4/4
Committee (C&P): 4/5

Mark McIntosh - Chair of Finance and Staffing

Date of appointment: 12th February 2025
Term of Office: February 2025 – February 2029
Appointed by: Elected by parents
Governor Category: Parent Governor
Committee Membership:
Staffing & Finance (S&F) (Chair) School Improvement Group (SIG)
Business & Material Interests:
NA
Attendance Academic Year 2025-2026

Governing Body: 4/4
Committee (S&F): 5/5

Mr David Reddy - LA Governor

Date of appointment: 19th March 2026
Term of Office: March 2026 – March 2030
Appointed by: Governing Body
Governor Category: LA Governor
Committee Membership:
School Improvement Group (SIG)
Business & Material Interests:
Primary School Head Teacher

Attendance Academic Year 2025-2026

Governing Body: 1/1

Mrs Hilary Stephenson - SEND Governor

Date of appointment: 2nd May 2026
Term of Office: May 2026 – May 2030
Appointed by: Elected by parents
Governor Category: Parent Governor
Committee Membership:
Curriculum and Pastoral (C&P)
Business & Material Interests: Nil return
Attendance Academic Year 2025-2026

Governing Body: 1/1

Mrs Charlotte Wraith - Pupil Premium & Disadvantaged Governor

Date of appointment: 16th November 2023
Term of Office: November 2023 to November 2027
Appointed by: Governing Body
Governor Category: Co-opted Governor
Committee Membership:
Curriculum and Pastoral (C&P)
Business & Material Interests:
Head of programme support at Teach First.
Membership of the Chartered Management Institute (CMI)
LA governor at Sir John Barrow Primary School
Attendance Academic Year 2025-2026

Governing Body: 2/2
Committee (C&P): 2/2

Governance Professional (Clerk to the Governors) contact at: clerk@uvhs.uk

Historical Governors

Dr Isabel O'Donovan - Chair of Governors

Date of appointment: 26th September 2022
Term of Office Ended: 31st August 2026
Appointed by: Governing Body
Governor Category: Co-opted Governor
Committee Membership:
Curriculum and Pastoral (C&P)
Staffing & Finance (S&F)
School Improvement Group (SIG)
Business & Material Interests:
Our Lady of Furness Federation - Chair of governors

Mrs Joy Egglestone - Mental Health Lead

Date of appointment: 14th November 2023
Term of Office Ended: 27th March 2026
Appointed by: Governing Body
Governor Category: UVHS Staff Governor
Committee Membership:
Curriculum and Pastoral (C&P)

Mr David Cottam -

Date of appointment: 2nd May 2022
Term of Office Ended: 1st May 2026
Appointed by: Governing Body
Governor Category: Co-opted Governor
Committee Membership:
Staffing & Finance (S&F)

Mrs Karen Silcocks - Wellbeing Governor

Date of appointment: 11th May 2022
Term of Office Ended: 10th May 2026
Appointed by: Governing Body
Governor Category: Co-opted Governor
Committee Membership:
Curriculum and Pastoral (C&P)
Staffing & Finance (S&F)

Mrs Helen Evans - Teaching and Learning Governor

Date of appointment: 21st September 2021
Term of Office Ended: 31st August 2025
Appointed by: Governing Body
Governor Category: Co-opted Governor
Committee Membership:
Curriculum and Pastoral (C&P) (Chair)
School Improvement Group (SIG)
Business & Material Interests:
St Columba’s Catholic Primary School - Teacher
Kendal College - Husband Vice Principal