Governors

I would like to warmly welcome you to St Nicholas Catholic Primary School.

The Governors at St Nicholas work closely with the school to fulfill their statutory role and to shape the school’s policy, curriculum, accountability and ethos. The Governors, all volunteers, are from a variety of backgrounds, and contribute to the work of the Governing Body through a number of committees.

Chair of Governors

Mr Stratis Koutsoukos

“I am privileged and humbled to serve as Chair of Governors at our Catholic Primary School in the heart of the vibrant community of Gipton. I have a passion for education for all peoples and ages, having worked in Higher Education for over 20 years in the UK, Europe and Africa. I am a Post Graduate course director for eight Masters (MSc) programmes with over 700 students in one of England’s largest Business Schools. I am an external examiner for two other universities, I advise a number of businesses and have lead many UK & international assignments as a Government Policy evaluator, researcher and strategy consultant. I enjoy working with culturally diverse groups and pride myself for supporting multiple stakeholder interests in a constructive, effective and respectful manner. I try every day to be a good father to my daughter and serve all others as best I can guided by Christian values.”

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Deputy Headteacher

Mrs Nicky Fox

My whole career has been in Catholic education and I have been privileged to teach at St. Nicholas Catholic Primary School since 1996. My two children attend Catholic schools within the Diocese of Leeds and both have had very happy and positive experiences in their schools. I always try as a teacher and a school governor to ensure that all the children at this school will also have this experience. I have been Deputy Head at St. Nicholas since September 2015 and look forward to ensuring that the children in our care see their years at this school as very positive.

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Staff Governor

Mrs Siobhan Doherty

coming soon...

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Foundation Governor

Mrs Deidre Jones

After a career spanning some 40 years in Financial Services I am now retired and am a relatively new Governor but have been delighted and grateful for the support given to me by my fellow Governors, the school itself and the Diocese. My interest in education dates back to my cradle, as my mother was a teacher for over 40 years and I grew up sharing in the triumphs and challenges of this most important area in the lives of our young people. I have 2 grown up children, now living and working in London and the South East neither of whom have favoured me with grandchildren yet! I am a parishioner and Catechist at the church of St Nicholas and my interests include the theatre, ancient and biblical history and travel.

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Foundation Governor

Father Craig FitzPatrick

coming soon...

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Parent Governor

Mr Dave Kagai

I am a parent governor. I feel privileged and proud to be a parent and a governor in the same school. My background is strategic business management and I have worked in five different countries. I have a passion for education and motivating to make a difference especially to the next generation. I am currently working part-time as a Tutor with WEA teaching different groups of adults in the community. I am also a board member of the NHS: Clinical Commissioning group (CCG) Leeds. I am humbled and very grateful to have this opportunity to team up with great people to work for a noble cause for the school and the community.

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Headteacher

Mrs Jane Burns

I am very proud to have been a Head Teacher at St Nicholas Catholic Primary School since 2014. The school motto is ‘Love one another’ and this is felt every day within school. The children come first in all that we set out to do and this is supported by the staff, parents, parish and governors.

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Foundation Governor

Mr Stefano Pianigiani

“I am a language teacher at Temple Moor High School and Nuestra Escuela Leeds (the first supplementary Spanish school in Yorkshire). I am fluent in four languages and teach Spanish, Italian and French. I have and co-authored prestigious language resources in language education in the Italian Sentence builders book and the Spanish Primary Sentence Builders, which have been translated into other languages.

I have studied and lived in Italy, Spain and England, recently completed my MA in Education at Leeds Trinity University. I am a passionate advocate and practitioner of the communicative approach in teaching languages within the classroom. I am honoured to serve as a governor at St. Nicholas Catholic Primary School.”

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Foundation Governor

Mrs Jenny Stuart - Collins

I am delighted to be a member of the Governing Body of St Nicholas Catholic Primary School. I am currently a Senior Lecturer in Primary Education at Leeds Trinity University and have held that role for 13 years. Prior to Lecturing, I taught in a number of Primary Schools across Leeds. Having had a Catholic Education myself, I feel privileged to be a Governor in one of our Catholic Schools. I enjoy music and am one of the organists at Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church, Leeds.