I chose to become a school governor as I wanted to volunteer in order to  support my local community. 
 
I previously studied to become a primary school teacher and over the years have managed a drug and alcohol service, statutory safeguarding team for a large local authority and currently I work for a trade union. This has provided me with invaluable experience of people management, change management, financial management, safeguarding, governance processes all of which I felt were transferable to this opportunity.

I currently work as the Outreach Director for The Watermill theatre.  As a manager, I have exceptional leadership skills within an arts organisation, extensive project management skills and ability to nurture staff and foster a positive working environment. I also have strong links with schools, organisations and charities across West Berkshire.

I have lived in the Newbury area for most of the last fifty years and attended a local Secondary school. Having trained to teach, I taught at state Primary schools across the area and, until my retirement a few years ago, was a head teacher at three different schools. It was a joy to be involved in developing young people to take place in an ever growing and changing society. For several years I have supported a local Infant and Nursery school as a Foundation Governor. In the last few, I became a Local Authority Governor at Speenhamland Primary and subsequently joined Newbury Academy Trust.  I applaud and fully support the Trust’s vision of working to give all students the help and inspiration to become fulfilled and purposeful members of society. We have to embrace the challenges presented to us and make them work for our young people. Other interests include working as a volunteer for the British Polio Fellowship, bringing members together for events and trips.

My family of three daughters, my husband Rui and I came to Newbury in 2013 where the youngest attended Speenhamland School since Y1 and the eldest two enrolled at Trinity for Y8 and Y9. They are both at Cardiff University now, and the youngest is already at Trinity in Y7. I’ve practised Medicine with a speciality in Oncology for 18 + years, gaining a variety of skills including in non-medical areas, developing my communication abilities, fairness, willingness to always strive for the better good of others and learning to value and respect each person. In the meantime, I’ve accomplished a master’s in psychology and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and was a Lecturer for Med School in several Universities, teaching Anatomy and Physiology, Pathology, and Ethics and Deontology. I am currently working closely with the Berkshire Healthcare NHS Trust Foundation where I was also elected as a Governor for West Berkshire, and I am leading a research team working with several European laboratories.  
I firmly believe that a School is more than an institution; it’s an essential part of a student’s life that will always make a considerable difference towards their choices and success in their future. If I can help to ensure that we have the best teaching and experience for our students and for the wellbeing of the staff who work with them daily, I believe I’ll be making a useful contribution for our society.   
 

Born into a family of teachers it was almost inevitable that I too became a teacher one day and I am so happy that I did! Educating young people has been an absolute pleasure and privilege and having taught in a range of schools for 24 years I have a broad and varied experience of secondary school education. My career started in Hereford as a Teacher of Geography, and then I moved to Andover and Basingstoke where I led Geography Departments. I was later appointed to the post of Assistant Head at Little Heath School in Reading in 2006. I have lived in Thatcham for the past 12 years with my husband and we have two daughters in Years 2 and 6. Watching them progress through school and develop as individuals is the most exciting part of our lives so far and reaffirms my belief that every child has the right to an outstanding education that meets their needs, interests and aspirations.

I have lived in Cold Ash since 2001.  Both my (now twenty-something) sons attended Trinity School and I was a parent governor of Trinity and their primary school during their time there. 

My career has been mainly as a software development contractor, but I also worked at West Berkshire Council as an education data analyst for several years so I have good knowledge of the measures used for educational attainment.

I have lived in Newbury since the early 1990s and been involved in School Governance in West Berkshire for nearly 14 years at Victoria Park, Speenhamland schools and currently Trinity.  As a parent of three children I believe, it is crucial to support the Home/School/Pupil relationship to provide the very best for every child to have the opportunity to reach their potential. My career has been in Manufacturing and Operations Management, and today I work as an Operations Management Consultant for a Global Software company.  Within my roles I have introduced University Placement and Apprentice Schemes to assist students in their studies and to build opportunities for Higher Education and Work.  I firmly believe that a positive attitude to young people helps them to learn and to adopt strategies to suit the needs of today’s students.  This is crucial in the development of our future leaders, business owners and those who will go on to support our local economy. I want to see the very best for ALL pupils, and share the vision of a purposeful Multi Academy Trust.

I have lived near Newbury with my husband since 1986 and have three grown children who attended local schools. The majority of my career, until my fairly recent retirement, has been spent in teaching.  I have taught performing arts to all age groups starting in London then Hampshire and West Berkshire in Primary and Secondary schools eventually leading performing arts departments. Subsequently I was appointed as a lecturer at the Royal Academy of Dance Faculty of Education in London training undergraduates and graduate teachers. My last teaching years were spent at Trinity School which has helped to give me a real insight into both sides of the educational “coin” as a governor. During these 40 or so years I have witnessed a large variety of educational changes but know that at the heart of this teaching has always been about giving the best opportunities that we can to our children enabling them to succeed in this world no matter what. I am passionate about providing access to excellent education for all no matter what their abilities and ensuring that all children receive the very best that we can offer within the Newbury Academy Trust.

I am an optimistic, passionate, hardworking, professional and committed individual who brings creativity, integrity and initiative into people and task orientated situations. I continue to value opportunities to build up my experience and skills to improve currently as a teacher of young people, colleague and pastoral leader. I continually aim to be an efficient worker with better time management and task completion to ensure a work/life balance. I look to have an idea of the bigger picture and prioritise the finer details. I am not afraid to seek advice and wisdom from others, and where necessary will look for a solution to a problem by thinking outside of the box. I am a well-rounded person who recognises the balance my faith, family, work and hobbies bring to my life. I am married to Rachael and we are blessed by the gift of our 3 children.  As a Christian. I am an active member of Glendale Church, Newbury, through taking on roles as Life Group leader, Service leader, Sermon Speaker, Crèche leader and Trustee. I desire to be a School Governor to make a positive impact on the education of my own children, but also the pupils of the attending schools within the trust. I desire to see all pupils be provided the best educational experience as they grow into well-rounded individuals who will have a positive impact on their families, peers, community and country, based on their strengths and developed abilities and life insights.

I joined the Trinity governing body at the school's inception as parent governor when my son joined from Turnpike in year 8. I had just become a parent governor on the Turnpike governing body in 1999. Since then I have served on various committees, including chairing Finance and Pupil Welfare. I was appointed to serve on the IEB in 2008 and have continued to the present time.

My commercial background was within Facilities and Health and Safety. I worked for CfBt Education Trust prior to retirement, so gained some experience of young people's needs, including careers guidance and prison education. I was also involved with the PRU governance for a little while.

I have been involved in Education for over 40 years – initially as a classroom teacher, head of department and Deputy Head of a large comprehensive in Oxfordshire.  I joined West Berkshire Council in September 2003 where I spent 7 years as a school improvement adviser. I led the Secondary Strategy Consultant Team where I specialised in Behaviour and Attendance matters, provided teaching and learning and curriculum advice as well as many other aspects of the Secondary agenda. I am currently an Education Consultant and continue to work with Secondary Schools on a range of activities.  I have a Post Graduate Certificate in Special Educational Needs, a BA with First Class Honours and two MA degrees in Education. 

A scientist by qualification, I spent several years working in academic research before embarking on a fulfilling career in the pharmaceutical industry. Living in Kintbury with my family for the past 26 years, I have always been keen to support the local community and I started my experience in school governance in 2005. Now, as a mother of 5 children who currently span primary, secondary and further education, my passion for schools to provide children with the best possible opportunities to become successful and life-long learners continues. In 2014, I was delighted to become a governor at Speenhamland School and support its transition to Newbury Academy Trust and I feel very privileged to use the skills and experience developed through many project management and leaderships roles to work alongside fellow governors, staff, pupils and their families to make a positive impact on the well-being and outcomes of children throughout their schooling.

My wife and I have lived in Newbury since 2003 and have two teenage sons. Both of the boys attended Speenhamland until year six and are now at the state run Duke of Yorks Royal Military School in Dover. My career has been largely spent in the information technology sector and for a number of years focused on leading technology change initiatives/programmes for financial services organisations. I currently work for a software company in London as a member of the management team, leading their global professional services organisation. I am very interested in how we best prepare students to transition into the workplace and in my current role take undergraduates for their placement year from Surrey University and also regularly recruit recent graduates into our team. In my previous role I was on the steering committee for their graduate programme, through which we oversaw the progress of the annual intake of around 20 participants and ultimately their transition into the business.

I have worked at Speenhamland School for 7 years in various capacities. Firstly as a Teaching Assistant, then as a Student Teacher and following the successful completion of my PGCE in 2016, began teaching there as the Year 2 teacher. I am passionate about education and its importance in the lives of all of the children who come through our doors. In my capacity as Staff Governor I hope to be able to support and add to the development of our schools as we look towards the future.

In my professional life I lecture, research and provide consultancy on issues pertaining to gender, media, education and culture. Before entering Higher Education, I had a career in the secondary education sector, including as an Advanced Skills Teacher in a then-designated Education Action Zone. I first entered HE in the UK to work on and then lead the Excellence in Cities national urban teacher development programme at Westminster Institute of Education (now part of Oxford Brookes University) for the Department for Education. I have developed a range of courses for in-service teachers with a focus on underachievement and widening participation, and have created support and training materials for the DfE, for example for the Key Stage Three strategies and for the Gender Equality Duty. As well as my research publications, I have published books for teachers and students. I was a school governor at the former Peers school in Oxford for six years. I was Oxford City councillor for Rose Hill and Iffley from 2013-2018.

I live in Newbury with my husband and two children. My son attends Trinity and my daughter attends Speenhamland. Speenhamland School has been part of mine and my family’s life for the past 9 years and I am passionate about seeing all the schools in our Trust succeed. I have always worked within the childcare setting and I currently work for the NHS as a Community Nursery Nurse with the Health Visiting team. I have had many challenges along the way and have used these to learn and develop my skills. These challenges have encouraged me to see positives and negatives and improve services that are available to the families I support. I believe parent governors have a special role to play in supporting schools to provide high quality learning in a safe, caring and purposeful environment and prepare the children for their educational journey.

I am honoured to be a Staff Governor at Trinity School, where I have worked for over 3 and a half years. I have lived in the Newbury area my whole life having attended Shaw House School in the I980s, it is lovely to be back working here.  I currently live in Thatcham with my husband and children who both attend Trinity. I have been a teacher for the past 8 years, previously working at Edgbarrow School in Crowthorne as Assistant Headteacher for Sixth Form. My focus has always been Business Studies and developing a real enthusiasm for the subject and the world of work. My previous career has been largely spent in the telecommunications sector and for a number of years working in Channel and Product Marketing at Vodafone.  This experience was amazing and something that has enabled me to bring my teaching of business and marketing to life. I am very interested working as a Staff Governor to oversee the school plans to help our students achieve the very best in terms of progress and achievement as well as develop into decent, kind, hardworking individuals.

Since moving to Newbury almost twenty years ago, I have worked in community roles and, for much of that time, with young people. Since qualifying as a teacher, I have become increasingly interested in combining the skills and experience I have accumulated as an arts practitioner, business leader and educationalist. Being a Governor (Trustee of the NAT) seems to me to be the perfect synthesis of the varied elements of my career to this point, and I hope that I can effectively apply these experiences so as to have a positive impact on the schools within the trust.

Much of my career has been in admin and office management.  For the past ten years I have clerked for local maintained primary schools, during which time I achieved the Clerks’ Accreditation.

I have been Clerk to the Board of Trustees for Newbury Academy Trust since January 2018 and my role is an advisory and administrative one. I’m there to help the board understand its role, functions and legal duties, and to document evidence that the board are fulfilling these duties. 

I live in Newbury, and my children are at various stages through their education and careers.