Mike Forshaw, Chair of Governors

I’ve been involved with the school since my older daughter came to Priory in 1996, first serving as an elected Parent Governor and latterly as a Community Governor. I have been Chair since 2003, my current term as a Governor ends in 2015, however my position as Chair is reviewed annually. My wife works for L.C.C. as a manager of a S.E.N. Teacher Team, my older daughter is currently training to be a solicitor and my younger daughter is a cabin crew member with Emirates Airline. I am a director of a local coach company. My interests outside of school are primarily my family, learning to play the saxophone and Scarisbrick Parish Council.

Denise Moorcroft, Vice Chair of Governors 

Andrew Brocken, Chair of Finance & Community

Having had three daughters attend Burscough Priory Science College, my involvement with the School goes back to 1997 and I have been a member of the Governing body for around fourteen years. I have throughout this time actively supported the school with a specific focus on the Performing Arts Department and ICT and for a period of time was the School webmaster. Being a musician I have over the years played for quite a few of the shows the School has put on and have also been involved in the sound and lighting for all kinds of other performances and events in the school.

My background is in IT, an industry I have worked in for over thirty years. I also co-own and run the Burscough Brewing Company, a micro brewery located in the heart of Burscough. My musical background stems from twenty two years service with The North West Infantry (TA) military band as well as other blues and soul combos. From a family perspective I still have two daughters at University, one studying Media (De Montfort) and the other studying Medicine, (Barts & the Royal London). My eldest daughter graduated from Leeds University with a degree in Arts Management and currently works for the Roy Castle Foundation as the Overseas Challenge and Events Manager. My wife works at Edge Hill University and is currently studying for a Management degree. I graduated in 2000 with an MBA from the Open University.

In the little amount of spare time I have I still enjoy playing trumpet/trombone in a 12 piece blues band and I also teach a certain Mr Forshaw to play the saxophone.

Alasdair Watson, Chair of Teaching & Curriculum

I have been a parent governor at Burscough Priory Science College since January 2005, shortly after my son started at the school having moved to Burscough just over a year earlier. Since then, my daughter has also attended BPSC and is currently in Year 11 and taking her GCSEs in 2012.

As a family, we relocated to Burscough from Northamptonshire primarily because of the choice of primary schools, but as importantly our belief in what Burscough Priory Science College would provide to both of our children with very different strengths and needs as they moved onto secondary education both from a pastoral and academic perspective. My wife works in the primary school sector providing support to children with special educational needs and I work as a commercial manager for a subsidiary company of Travis Perkins PLC.

Jacky Citarella, Chair of Pupil Progress

I have been a Governor at Priory since 1997. I was elected originally as a parent governor and remained so while my four children attended the school. When my term as parent governor ended I agreed to stay on as a community governor. I have chaired the Pupil Welfare committee for a number of years and have been involved with the Every Child Matters Centre as a mentor for the last year. Outside of school, I am a member of Newburgh Parish Council and go fell walking in the Lakes at every opportunity.

Maxine Britton

I have seen Burscough Priory from many angles. Firstly I attended the school and left in 1985. I returned shortly after I was married and a new mum to Thomas, to work at Burscough to support children with Special Educational Needs. I undertook A levels at night school. Having worked at Burscough for seven years, I decided to embark on a BA Honours Degree course with Edge Hill University in order to become a Primary school teacher. I had my second child Maisie.

Having sucessfully completed a PGCE through Lancaster University, I began teaching firstly in Skelmerdale and now at my current school (Dalton St Michael's) where I am Senior teacher and have assistant Headteacher responsibility's. Thomas attended Priory then college and is now working as a bar manager and Maisie is there currently in year 10. Therefore I have not only seen the school from the perspective of a pupil, employee and parent but now as a Governor too. I have obviously seen Burscough Priory go through many changes not to mention its name change. I am very keen to be involved in positive change for the future and welcome being a voice for parents.

William Cropper

I was appointed an LEA Governor at Priory soon after being elected as the local LCC member in 2005. I am a retired farmer from Scarisbrick with an interest both in education and community affairs. I have served for many years as a Governor of Pinfold Primary, and as a Parish and Borough Councillor representing Scarisbrick Ward.

My wife is a retired SEN teacher, and she currently serves as a Governor of both Burscough Village Primary and St. Marks Primary in Scarisbrick. We have both served on Scarisbrick Village Hall Committee and currently I serve on the Community Association at the Grove. We have a married son and two young grandsons living in Edinburgh, and enjoy travel.

Cynthia Dereli

I became an LEA governor over 20 years ago and after a break have been back in that role for the last few years. I was a governor through several periods of change. Each time there has been a lot to learn, but the opportunities for training have also been good. I think it has been rewarding to engage with the way education has been changing. For part of that period I was also the parent of a Priory pupil.

I have worked in Higher Education for over 30 years, latterly in Business Management, and that experience has complimented my role as a governor. For most of of that period I have also been serving as a local councillor at Borough or Parish, again an experience that I hope has enabled me to offer an informed perspective on some of the issues that arise for a governing body.

I am and have always been committed to an inclusive approach to education, seeing education as about preparing the citizens of the future. To this end the ethos of the school sits alongside the exam results as a measure of the school's success.

Jason Grice

I am a relatively new Governor at Burscough Priory and was appointed by the Authority, as I am also the local councillor for Burscough West Ward in which the school resides. I am married and have one daughter who joined the school in Year 7, 2011. I was also a former pupil at the school, leaving in 1986.

I currently run a small family manufacturing business on Burscough Industrail Estate which with family time and council work keeps me very busy but when I get chance I enjoy shooting and fishing.

Jez Hall

I first became an elected Parent Governor of Priory in 1994 when my daughter was a pupil and served for two years as Chair of Finance. Some years later I was invited back as a Community Governor which coincided with my son also attending Priory which in the interim period had become a Science College. Following a successful career working at Director level for a number of PLC commercial leisure companies, from bowling centres and nightclubs to seaside piers and theme parks, in 1995 I was a founding Director of what became Powerleague Group plc the five-a-side football specialist. With colleagues I grew that business from a start up backed by venture capital through a management buyout to a stock market flotation on the Alternative Investment Market. I stood down when the business was purchased and taken private in 2008.

I have since been involved in other sports related companies but currently support my wife’s business “Vanilla Home and Gift Store Limited” of Ormskirk and Formby. My daughter graduated from Leeds University in 2004 and is pursuing a career in fashion whilst my son started at Newcastle University reading International Business in September 2011. They both owe not a small part of their success to date to their time at Priory.

Chris Mawdsley

Having only joined the Burscough Priory governing body in mid-2011 as a community, I am quickly learning the ropes. As a former pupil of the school leaving in 1995, it is a real privilege to have the opportunity to be involved with the school to help shape its future to ensure that the pupils get the best possible education, as they deserve. Currently, I am employed as the Constituency Manager for Rosie Cooper MP, Member of Parliament for West Lancashire. Since 2008 I have also served as a Borough Councillor on West Lancashire Borough Council. In my spare time away from work, I enjoy spending time with family and friends, reading and listening to music.

Anne Mawdsley

I joined the staff of Burscough Priory Science College in 2007 working initially with Key Stage 4. As a consequence of re-organisation during the last headship, I am currently the Emotional and Behavioural Specialist managing the Every Child Matters Centre. I have enjoyed working with staff and students to develop the inclusive support and integration practice of the school via the Every Child Matters Centre.

I am married and my husband is a serving Police Sergeant with over 34 years service. I am the proud mother of two sons both of whom are musicians. My eldest son also works for a charity working with vulnerable adults. I also spend as much time as possible with my extended family enjoying their company. Currently my father who is aged 83 is in his second year at University completing an honours degree and this has impressed upon me that it is never to late to learn.

During 2011, I was elected to serve as a staff governor. Serving as a school governor allows me to give something back to the school community.

Kirsty Nickson

I have currently have three daughters attending Priory and this vested interest in Priory led to my acceptance of a Local Authority Governor appointment in 2010, a term of office which will span four years. My local community roots are longstanding and my Father is currently a Burscough Parish Councillor. I was a past pupil at Priory (as was my husband) and, leading on from my successful secondary educational experience, I was encouraged to continue with education, undertaking a BA (Honours) in English Language with Literature and History and an LLB (Honours) in Law. I am now a qualified Solicitor and Professional Trustee, currently working in Southport. In my own time I help with fund-raising for my daughters’ gymnastics club, being a founding member of their ‘Friends’ committee. I firmly believe that a solid educational experience is the foundation for a rewarding future and I am committed, as part of the Governing Body, to ensuring a wealth of educational opportunity is offered to all of Priory’s pupils to the highest standard.

Val Parry

I've been involved with BPSC since 1993 when my oldest son started at Priory. I joined the PTA, was then elected as a Parent Governor and latterly served as Community Governor. I have recently retired as SENCO, CP officer and teacher in charge of CLA at a local large secondary school. I have two children working in Australia, a daughter working locally and a son in his last year at Leeds Met. All of them work in the food industry. My interests outside school are primarily my family, my animals, RDA, travel and running.

Denise Prescott

My name is Denise Prescott and I am a Parent Governor at Priory High School. My youngest son is currently in Year 9 and my older children both attended and thrived at Priory. My daughter is currently studying for her A levels at Runshaw College and my oldest son is studying Medicine at the University of Nottingham. My base profession is in Physiotherapy but currently I am employed as a Lecturer in the School of Health Sciences at the University of Liverpool. My professional interests are rooted in educational development and from January 2012 I will be commencing a doctorate in educational research. In my non work time I am a busy mum, I enjoy walking the dog and I attend St. John the Baptist Church.

Kerri Walton

I have been a teacher at Priory since 1994 and have been very involved in enriching children's lives . My teaching career started in PE and developed through the pastoral system as Head of year 8 and 9, then as Head of Lower School and then in 2010 to Assistant Head Teacher; I now also work within the Performing Arts department . I am a great believer that every child has the innate ability to learn but sometimes there are barriers to their learning that may need to be addressed. I was incredibly fortunate to spearhead the development of the "Every Child Matters Centre" which I believe is at the heart of our school and encompasses the ethos of the Governing body and school. I was elected onto the governors in 2011 as Staff governor.

My interest outside of school are definitely my 3 children and spending time with them. They all ride horses and have represented their country in Show jumping which I am incredibly proud of.

Andrea Winrow

I am a single Mum of three teenage daughters, all of whom currently attend Priory. I have worked for Lancashire County Council Social Services within Adult Care for the past twenty five years.
My main priority in life is my family and to ensure my daughters are happy and healthy. I spend most of my spare time "running around" after my daughters , caring for our many pets, and spending time together.

One of the main reasons I became a Governor was the fact my daughters had left primary school and began their education at Priory. I felt I had "lost" contact with school life when they finished primary education so wanted to be involved with their school life again, ensuring they and all other pupils received the best education the school could offer.

Kevin Wyke

I am one of the newer Parent Governors at Burscough Priory and hope to bring a bit of 'fresh faced' enthusiasm to the role. My Daughter is currently in year 8 and my son is just a couple of years away from starting in year 7 so we are at the start of what we hope to be a really enjoyable journey with the school. My day job involves supporting organisational improvement in the NHS, something I am very passionate about, and I hope that in some small way I can help Priory to continue it's development and improvement. Away from work I spend much of my time ferrying the family to various social and sporting engagements and when I have time for myself like to spend it on rocks or on my bike.