A SCHOOL governor has been appointed to a role as a national leader in education.

Jackie Murray, a governor at Benedict Biscop Church of England Academy, in Sunderland, has been selected as a National Leader of Governance by the National College for Teaching and Leadership.

The role is part of the Government’s drive to use highly effective school governors to improve the performance of other schools and academies.

Mrs Murray, a retired NHS public health specialist from Durham, has worked to support schools within the Durham Diocese for more than15 years.

She said: “Within 18 months I had become chair of governors and was approached to become a member of the Board of Education for the Durham Diocese, of which I am vice chair.”

Mrs Murray was then asked to offer her support and expertise in leadership and management to a school in South Tyneside, which had been put into special measures, the result of which saw her awarded regional governor of the year at the 2007 National Teaching Awards.

Currently working with four school governing bodies, she is also a member of the Prince Bishop Teaching School Alliance Strategic Board.

The Alliance, a partnership between Benedict Biscop C of E Academy, Whitburn Academy and three strategic partner schools, works together across the Durham Diocese to share knowledge and raise standards through school-to-school support.

“I was fortunate enough to go to a wonderful C of E school which gave me the building blocks to succeed in life,” said Jackie.

“Now I am in a position to be able to help other schools by sharing my knowledge of support, leadership and management so that they can give their children the same life values to move on from school as aspiring, confident young people.”