Local Governing Body

The Local Governing Body has 13 members and meets at least once per term. Members of the Local Governing Body are from all walks of life and bring knowledge and experience which prove invaluable in the governing of the school.

A governor’s role is as a ‘critical friend’ to the school. They do not manage the school on a day to day basis but work as a group to guide and approve plans from the Principal and the Leadership Team. They often provide valuable insights, or work as a sounding board for ideas and plans, to maintain and enhance the provision of education at AGGS.

Their role also includes the oversight of activities in the school and several governors act as ‘link governors’ to gain specific knowledge in a particular area to keep the Governing Body informed more closely about what is happening in that area.

The remit of the Local Governing Body is determined by the Trust’s delegation framework. It includes parent governors, staff governors and community governors.

The Local Governing Body of AGGS is currently made up of 13 governors. Each governor is elected for a four-year term of office. Parent governors are elected by the parents/carers of students currently attending the school. Staff governors are elected by current staff members while appointed and co-opted governors are appointed by the Local Governing Body.

Rachel White is the Clerk to the Governors her role is to minute all meetings and prepare draft minutes to be ratified by the relevant subcommittee/full governing body.

If you have any queries for the governing body, please email admin@aggs.bright-futures.co.uk.

Mr Martyn Wilshaw

Type of Governor & Appointment	Chair – Appointed by foundation/Trust
Term of office starts:	19/02/2017
Term of office ends:	17/02/2026
Relevant Business Pecuniary interests (Inc. Governance Roles)

Mr Asker Ali

Type of Governor & Appointment	Appointed by foundation/Trust
Term of office starts:	05/09/2022
Term of office ends:	04/09/2025
Relevant Business Pecuniary interests (Inc. Governance Roles)	Asker Ali was born and raised in Yorkshire, has Indian parents, and Persian ancestry.  He attended Bradford Grammar School, and studied Economics at Reading University. He has lived in the local area since 2016 with his wife and two children.  Asker is a chartered accountant and, for the past 4 years, he has been a Director at KPMG specialising in international tax – he helps international businesses manage their global tax affairs and meet their international tax obligations. Prior to that, he was mostly in London working as a head of tax in oil and gas businesses, and also spent two years in Australia.

Ms Stephanie Gill

Type of Governor & Appointment	Ex-officio by virtue of office as headteacher/principal
Term of office starts:	01/09/2014
Term of office ends:	–
Relevant Business Pecuniary interests (Inc. Governance Roles)	Stephanie is Principal at Altrincham Grammar School for Girls. Following a degree in natural sciences and her PGCE, she taught mathematics for a number of years in a variety of schools both at home and abroad before becoming Head of Mathematics at St Edward’s School in Oxford and then The Latymer School in Enfield. She subsequently became Head of Sixth Form and then Director of Studies at The Queen’s School in Chester, before taking up her previous role as Deputy Headteacher (Pastoral) at West Kirby Grammar School. During her teaching career she has enjoyed opportunities for further university studies, in mathematics, psychology and French, as well as completing her Masters in Educational Leadership and Management and her National Professional Qualification for Headship.

Mr Paul Jones

Type of Governor & Appointment	Elected by parents
Term of office starts:	06/06/2022
Term of office ends	05/06/2025
Relevant Business Pecuniary interests (Inc. Governance Roles)

Mr Mike Thompson

Type of Governor & Appointment	Elected by school staff
Term of office starts:	27/09/23
Term of office ends	26/09/26
Relevant Business Pecuniary interests (Inc. Governance Roles)	Mike has been teaching mathematics at AGGS for around 10 years. He was born and raised in Liverpool, before studying Chemical Engineering at The University of Manchester and subsequently completing a PGCE in Secondary Mathematics. After a spell teaching in Tameside, Mike came to AGGS. Alongside his work in the mathematics department, Mike is part of the leadership teams for both the NW1 and Turing NW Maths Hubs which seek to improve outcomes in mathematics for students across Greater Manchester by providing professional development and support for teachers across the region.

Mr Tariq Saied

Type of Governor & Appointment	Appointed by foundation/Trust
Term of office starts:	08/02/2025
Term of office ends	17/07/2026
Relevant Business Pecuniary interests (Inc. Governance Roles)	Tariq was born and raised in Manchester. He studied computer science as an undergraduate student and has a 30+ year career in IT and computing working for companies such as RHM Foods, Hays, BT and Daisy. He has worked on the Building Schools for The Future (BSF) and was technical lead on the Royal Wedding in 2011 and the Queens Diamond Jubilee in 2012. He has enjoyed many senior roles in a varied career. He is married to Anila and they have 2 boys and a girl who attended AGSB and AGGS Schools.   He is vice chair of the board of Governors and chairs the Finance, Buildings and Estates  committee. He has 10 years experience as a school governor at AGGS and has previously been a STEM ambassador and a Pensions Trustee.

Mrs Louise Simpson

Type of Governor & Appointment	Elected by school staff
Term of office starts:	11/12/2023
Term of office ends	10/12/2026
Relevant Business Pecuniary interests (Inc. Governance Roles)	Louise was born and raised locally, attending Sale Grammar School. Her early career was in banking, before moving onto facilities management. Following on from this, she decided to focus on finance and studied alongside work to achieve her full chartered management accountancy professional qualification. She is currently the Finance Manager for Altrincham Grammar School for Girls, and is also responsible for the finances for the Professional Development Network. She has worked at the trust since June 2020. Prior to this role, she worked for 10 years as a management accountant at another local multi-academy trust.

Ms Zoe Thompson

Type of Governor & Appointment	Elected by parents
Term of office starts:	6/06/2022
Term of office ends	5/06/2025
Relevant Business Pecuniary interests (Inc. Governance Roles)	Zoe Thompson grew up in Canada before moving to the UK to study law at London School of Economics and Political Science. She was called to the Bar at Middle Temple in 1999. She has lived in the local area for 20 years and currently practises as a barrister and mediator from chambers in Manchester, specialising in civil litigation. She also sits as a judge.

Mr Jon Hitchin

Type of Governor & Appointment	Appointed by foundation/Trust
Term of office starts:	11/02/2025
Term of office ends:	10/02/2029
Relevant Business Pecuniary interests (Inc. Governance Roles)