Pen Portraits

I originally grew up in the local area, before studying Ecology at the University of Durham, I moved onto completing my PGCE at the same University.

I began my teaching career in the town of Sedgefield in the North-East and returned to teach at Broughton Junior School (as it was then) in 2005.

I taught in a range of year groups, led a variety of subjects and held different leadership positions before becoming the headteacher at Broughton Primary School in December 2017.

It is a privilege to lead our school and its staff in educating your children.

Having relocated many times as a child due to my Dad being in the army, I settled in Scunthorpe at the age of 10 where I went to school, college and eventually took a job on the Scunthorpe Steelworks. Whilst working on the steelworks I earned a BA (Hons) in English Language and Literature at the Open University. I am now a full time Organiser and use the rhetoric and communication skills that I learnt at university every day.

It is a privilege to be a Governor at Broughton Primary School, a position that I first became interested in as I believe that all children have the right to a brilliant education no matter their background or circumstance. Away from school I am an avid Park Runner and member of Scunthorpe and District Athletics Club. I also love to travel with my wife whenever we get the opportunity.

I have always lived in Scunthorpe and after a brief time working for Lloyds TSB, I gained my degree in Primary Education from Bishop Grosseteste. I have been teaching in primary education for 12 years now and have experience in teaching age ranges from Reception through to Year 3. I currently teach Year 2 at a local Infant School part time as I also have a young family. I moved to Broughton last year and my eldest son is currently in Year 2. My youngest son attends Little Acorns pre-school and will be starting at Broughton Primary this coming September.

Having young children means that most of my free time is spent organising their out of school activities and social events. We love to be active and enjoy swimming and lots of days out together. I enjoy keeping fit when the time allows and have always enjoyed most sports, particularly athletics, whether it be taking part or supporting others.

I hope that my experience in education can prove useful as a member of the Governing body. I am keen to play an active role in school life and to work alongside staff, families and our community to ensure our pupils receive an inspiring curriculum which enables them to reach their full potential.

I have a degree in History from the University of Lincoln and studied my PGCE at Hull University in 2013. I am teaching my sixth year at Broughton Primary School and have experience working in Years 4, 5 and 6. I currently teach in Year 6 and am also the Upper Key Stage 2 Phase Leader on the Senior Leadership Team as well as the Maths Coordinator for the school.

I am a co-opted governor and I sit on the Resources Committee. I also often attend the Children and Learning Committee meetings due to the contributions I am able to make as a class teacher, phase leader and subject coordinator. I decided to become a governor to get a wider understanding of the running of the school and to be more actively involved.

I love my job and enjoy coming to work every day. I feel proud and privileged to be a part of Broughton Primary School.

I was born in Broughton and went to Broughton Primary School. At 17 I joined the Army and spent 12 years working in training and technology roles for a number of military organisations. I left this to allow more time for my family and have spent the last 8 years at a software company in both Architect and Senior Leadership roles.

When we chose where to resettle Broughton was the obvious choice due to the great community and excellent schools for our two children who are still at the school.

I struggle with dyslexia which has affected me both in my early education and now professionally. Even something like writing this pen portrait is a time consuming challenge for me. As such I am passionate to see holistic support for those who also have learning needs so they don’t see it as a barrier to doing well in life.

In my spare time I volunteer with the Broughton Community and Sports association of which I am also a trustee. I am eager to contribute to the Broughton Community which attracted me back to the area.

I am proud to be a governor of the School which gave me an early start in technology and I am thankful for the opportunities given to me to help contribute to the school.

I studied English/History BA at The University of Sheffield. I then completed a PGCE at Bishop Grosseteste and began my teaching career at Broughton Primary School. I have been a teacher at Broughton Primary School for six years. Since that time, I have worked in Years 4, 5 and 6. I am English coordinator and a member of the senior leadership team.

I have always considered Broughton Primary School to be a very special place where all children are valued and encouraged to thrive in whatever they do. It is a pleasure and a privilege to work at such a fantastic school.

I was born and brought up in Scunthorpe, before going to University near Liverpool and then moving back to Brigg following graduation. I have worked in schools for the last 15 years and currently I am the Bursar of a large Secondary School.

As a father to twin boys at Broughton, I would like to help the school in maximising its resources to allow all children to achieve the best that they can. Outside of work I love spending time with my family and playing football and cricket.

I am very pleased to become a governor. I have settled in Broughton, have been involved within the community, and we have recently seen our twin boys complete their primary education in the school. We know what a special place this school is and that each and every child is valued however challenging they may be, and that they are supported to learn, to grow and to develop the life skills to succeed in the future.

I trained as a teacher after completing my degree at Oxford, taught for a while, but then spent over 20 years in the RAF as an education and training development manager, during which time I completed an operational tour and also gained higher degrees in educational technology and corporate management. I have had the opportunity to experience educational provision in all areas of the UK and overseas as a parent, a manager, an inspector and a governor. After retiring from the RAF, I worked in local government as a manager and advisor in education and children’s services, and for an examination board.

I count myself as now being a full-time foster carer, and I am a national trustee for The Fostering Network in the UK. Locally, we are active with the local PIP forum and supporting children with additional needs.

I settled in the area with my husband and his daughter in 2012, moving to Broughton in 2016 shortly before our daughter was born. Our son followed in 2019 and both children attended local nurseries. Our son still attends nursery but last year our daughter moved on to Little Acorns before joining Broughton Primary School in Reception in September 2021.

I initially studied French at Hull University, which gave me the opportunity to teach English at a school and university in France for a period of time. Following this, I worked within the Education sector at the local authority before embarking on my career in Human Resources. I studied an MSc in HR Management at Lincoln University on a part-time basis and have worked in a variety of roles since. I am now a HR Manager, working part-time for a local business. I love spending time with my family and our weekends are usually spent doing something fun together, but when I can I enjoy running and keeping fit.

I am pleased to have the opportunity to be a governor because I am passionate about making a real and positive contribution to our local school.

Background

After leaving University with a degree in Human Resource Management I worked for a number of years in recruitment as a head hunter for corporate organisations. I then decided to move into Welfare to Work where I have developed my career over the last 18 years. I have worked in both operations delivering contracts that support long term unemployed individuals back into work, skills contracts to up skill and develop the potential of individuals and Apprenticeship provision. For the last 5 years I have worked within the Business Development arena as a Partnership Development Manager working with Stakeholder and providers to develop effective partnership links for future opportunities.

Interests

I love spending time with my family and a lot of my interests centre around my 5 year old daughter. We love spending time walking in the park and going swimming along with baking and anything creative.I enjoy reading and crafting along with decorating cakes.Whenever I can I enjoy going to the gym and CrossFit.

Reason for becoming a Governor

My work has given me a real vision into how important it is that education includes life and employability skills. I wanted to use the skills that I have to support and enable every child to reach their full potential.

I grew up in Scunthorpe before moving to Doncaster where I spent my senior school years. I went straight into employment after school and moved to Peterborough with work at the age of 21.

I have worked in accountancy for 26 years now and am currently a Management Accountant Accountant a distribution company.

I relocated to Broughton in 2014 with my 3 children, my youngest of whom is a student in the school.

My two boys both play football for Broughton and my spare time includes football training and matches for both.

I also love salsa dancing, reading and spending time in nature.

In 2021, inspired by a desire to improve the community for everyone, I stood as a Councillor in the May elections.

I was involved in encouraging the council to improve Pocket Park for the community, which I'm hoping will see field trips for the children to encourage a love, respect and appreciation for our natural environment

This will also have positive impact on their wellbeing.

As a governor, I want to help to ensure out children get the best possible education and that, as parents, we can receive the best possible communication to help them achieve their full potential.

I served 26 years with Humberside Police, mainly investigating serious and organised crime and then spent my final 10 years in a safeguarding role implementing the Prevent agenda across Hull and East Riding. I have also been a foster carer until recently.

Following my retirement from the Police in 2018 I have trained as a life coach and particularly enjoy coaching teenagers and young adults to help them achieve their full potential in life whilst being content and happy. I am also an independent panel member sitting on several foster panels in the Lincolnshire / Yorkshire area.

I have a son who is a student at Broughton Primary School.

My spare time is taken up with my family, dogs and horses and I also enjoy yoga and pilates.

I became a co-opted Governor at St Hugh's Special School in Scunthorpe after my retirement from full time work as I wanted to help make sure some of the most vulnerable young people in our communities get the very best possible education and when a Parent Governor vacancy arose at Broughton I welcomed the opportunity to bring my skills to the school. I sit on the finance committee.

I am on the school run most days so feel free to stop me and have a chat.

I am a retired professional engineer commencing work as an Apprentice Engineer at the Scunthorpe Steelworks before obtaining a BEng (Hons) and becoming a professional engineer and Engineering Manager in the oil, gas and chemical industries.

I have lived locally in the same village all my life and I have been a member of an International Voluntary Charity Organisation since 1991. I am a Director and Trustee with the Humber and Wolds Rural Action Community Council and I am also an Independent Person for North East Lincolnshire Council.

I have been a School Governor for over 30 years gaining a wealth of experience with Primary, Secondary and Approved Provisions, and presently, as well as a Governor at Broughton Primary school, I am a Governor at Killingholme Primary and the Chair of Governors at Sir John Nelthorpe School.

I am passionate that schools provide a safe and inclusive environment which provides the best opportunities, skills and support for our children to learn and reach their full potential, allowing them to flourish in the local community and the wider society.

The teaching and learning environment should have at its heart a partnership between staff, pupils and parents, which should aim to support the effective learning, discipline and mutual respect.