Welcome to our Governors’ section!

Mrs Sarah Gibson, Co-opted, Vice Chair of Governors

I am on the Senior Management Team of a Recruitment Consultancy in Nottingham. I am a Project Manager and am responsible for setting and delivering the technical strategy for the business.

This role requires me to be extremely organised, proactive, adaptable, and have strong communication skills.

I hope that these skills will beneficial to Portway Infant School in my role as a Co-Opted Governor.

Mrs Tori Beat, Co-opted Governor

I am a parent of a boy and a girl and have loved getting to know the Portway community since 2021 when my daughter started in Reception. I am aware of the importance of challenging societal "norms" to encourage all children to be themselves and, as a family, we are enthusiastic about our role in protecting the planet. Through my previous career as lawyer, I have developed a keen attention to detail and my subsequent study of English Language has sparked an interest in the nuances of communication and language. I am a qualified tutor of English as a second language and am also a volunteer assisting young adult refugees.

Mr Sunil Gupta, Parent Governor

My daughter started at Portway Infants in September 2021. This short period of time at Portway Infants has shown dramatic improvement in her communication, independence and thirst for knowledge and this, in turn, has made me want to become more involved in education, not just for my child, but for all children.

The skills I have developed as a community pharmacist will allow me to offer empathy, understanding and also the ability to engage in effective teamwork with the whole board.

I believe that being accountable for our actions, valuing staff, learning from mistakes and promoting good practice will continue to create an environment where our children can thrive and flourish.

Mrs Lisa McSherry, Headteacher

I am a highly motivated and hard-working teacher with a wealth of teaching and leadership experience. I am passionate about giving children the best possible education which has led to a successful 25-year career in teaching all of which has been spent in EYFS (Early Years Foundation Stage), KS1(Key Stage 1) and KS2 (Key Stage 2)

My desire to nurture and maximise the full learning potential of each child led me to join the Portway Infant team as the Headteacher in September 2020, a role which I am finding both rewarding and fulfilling.

I continue to promote values of compassion, kindness, honesty and respect and ensure they infuse our learning culture.

Miss Emily Moore, Staff Governor

I started my teaching career at Portway Infant School in 2019 and have since taught in both Year 1 and Year 2. I currently hold the post of Year 2 Class teacher, RE Lead and Geography Lead. 

I am passionate about supporting and shaping the school as a whole and, as staff governor, I am able to bring first hand experience of the day-to-day running of the school and share the perspectives of both staff and children.

I look forward to playing an active role in supporting and ensuring the best outcomes for the children at Portway Infants.

Miss Emma Patterson, Parent Governor

I am the mum of two boys with my eldest currently in year one. He loves coming to Portway Infants.

I look forward to helping support the school in ensuring all children feeling happy, safe and supported whilst there. I am also currently a member of the Friends of Portway Infants

Before taking a career break to look after my boys, I worked as a secondary teacher for over 10 years, most recently in the role of Head of Biology at a school in Burton.

Mr Stephen Pike, Parent Governor

Picture to follow

As a former Portway Infant School pupil with one child currently in Reception and another child due to start in September 2025, I believe that I have a deep and long-standing connection with the ongoing success of the school.  Contributing to help maintain the excellent reputation of the school would be a privilege, acting with responsibility, discretion and confidentiality. 

I will bring to the Governing Board financial skills and acumen as a Chartered Accountant.  I have 20 years of experience within finance across a range of organisations.  I previously served on the Finance Committee and Full Governing Body (FGB) of Woodlands School, providing oversight of the schools for the future rebuilding project.

I also had a role as Link Governor in Humanities, successfully obtained additional STEM funding and supported careers and interview skills events.  I was able to support the FGB through the Academy audit process and have experience of FMSiS (Financial Management Standard in Schools).  I would hope to leverage these skills and experiences to contribute fully to the Governing Board and to ensure the very best learning and caring environment for all children attending Portway Infant School.

Mr Sam Pilgrim, Co-opted Governor

I believe every child matters and so I want to support Portway Infants to continue to be the best it can for the sake each and every pupil that attends. In my current role, as a local Church Leader, I bring strong community links and an experience of leading within a different setting. I am able to listen well to people from different perspectives and bring these opinions together to aid effective decision making . I also have historic professional experience as a secondary school Science teacher which gives me an understanding of the joys and pressures that can face schools and teachers.

We do currently have Governor vacancies.

If you would like to join our friendly team of governors, please contact, via email to the Clerk to Governors, Mrs Lisa Kemp, l.kemp@portwayi.derby.sch.uk or call the school office on 01332 550702

Governing Board December 2024

Committee Membership

               Finance, Premises and Personnel                               Curriculum and Pupils                                                                                                                         

                     S Gibson (Committee Chair)                                   E Patterson (Committee Chair)

                       L McSherry (Headteacher)                                      L McSherry (Headteacher)

                                 S Pilgrim                                                                      T Beat

                                    S Pike                                                                     S Gupta

                                                                                                                  A Phillippe

Governor allocation regarding curriculum area is an agenda item for the first full governor meeting of the year (this year it was on 25th September 2024) and so will be confirmed as soon as possible thereafter.

Contacting the Governors

Either email the Chair on chair@portwayi.derby.sch.uk or call the school office on 01332 550702.

Business Interests 

All board members complete a Declaration of Interests form annually and currently none of our governors have any business interest with regard to school.

In addition, we can confirm there no governor has any material interests arising from relationships with school staff.