MEPPERSHALL ACADEMY - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Willows Class Teacher. Senior Leadership Team
Job Titles:
- Elms Class Teacher ( Mon - Wed )
Job Titles:
- Meppershall Parent Governor
I qualified as a Diagnostic Radiographer in 2007 and worked in the NHS for 8 years. Since then I have worked in the medical device industry working with consultants across Europe, the Middle East and Africa to provide custom made solutions to complex aortic disease. For the past 3 years I have worked in a Team leadership role in this setting I've been able to develop my critical thinking and strategic skills whilst we've created a team where we're continually seeking improvement and developing a growth mentality. Problem solving and challenging conversations are a routine part of my day and I look to bring this skill-set to the Governor role.
I am originally from the North East of England, though I have made my way through the North West and the South Coast before settling in the region. Both of my children currently attend, and are very happy at, Meppershall Academy.
I'm a new parent governor and am excited to help out in anyway I can. I've previously been on the Meppershall Preschool committee and was chair of the committee at the start of the pandemic, I learnt lots about dealing with staff and helping children in my time on this committee. My daughter went to Henlow a few years ago and my son is currently at Meppershall Academy. I'm a software engineer and have worked in this sector for other 30 years, having started before the internet took off and worked alongside it's growth.
Job Titles:
- Meppershall Parent Governor
I have recently been appointed as Parent Governor and have a strong connection with the Meppershall Academy as my daughter currently attends and I attended myself during the nineties. I am passionate about supporting the development of the Academy, its pupils and the Local Community.
I am a qualified Quantity Surveyor and have worked within the Construction Industry since 2009, more recently I have commenced the role of Contracts Manager, where I lead teams in delivering projects in a safe, timely manner and to high quality, whilst ensuring commercial and legal compliance. The experience I have gained to date and skill set surrounding critical thinking and problem solving, will support the Governing Board in the strategic development of the Academy and raise the standards of achievement.
I have been a governor for almost 20 years, firstly at a primary school in Norfolk, then for over 10 years at Henlow Academy, before stepping in as interim Chair of the Local Governing Body of the Poppy Hill Multi Academy Trust (MAT) in October 2021. I have held many different roles and have been closely involved with both the strategic as well as the more education-focussed aspects of being a school governor. I regularly sit on the interview panel for new staff members, to help ensure we appoint the best people we can, to provide the best education possible to the children.
My children both left Henlow Academy a number of years ago but I continued as a governor as I enjoy the challenges the role brings. It is exciting to now be involved at Meppershall Academy and to help shape, and then see the results of the many positive changes happening at the school under the leadership of Mrs Newman. Membership of the Poppy Hill MAT is also a huge opportunity for Meppershall Academy. The support and experience of the Trust will ensure Meppershall Academy will continue to develop and thrive over the coming years.
I have been involved in education all my life principally as a teacher of Science and Mathematics. I started my career as an upper primary teacher in Hitchin and after a maternity break returned to teaching Science GCSE , again in Hertfordshire. However after a second maternity break I taught in Henlow Middle School part time before moving to full time at Etonbury teaching Science and Maths in both establishments. Over the years of teaching I developed a particular interest and enjoyment in special needs students and therefore spent the last years of my career at a local Special School. I was involved in the KS4 department with a wide spread of ability within each class ranging from an academic ability of Entry Level to students who gained a good GCSE grade C in Maths and /or Science. I held management posts at both traditional and specialist schools.
My husband's family have been involved in Meppershall School for over one hundred years. All my sons attended there and I was a parent volunteer in Reception/Year 1 where I learnt useful tips from the very experienced teacher in that class. My husband was Chair of Governors for some years whilst our children were there. On my retirement from teaching in 2013 I felt I wanted to continue contributing in education. Therefore supporting our local school as a governor seemed a logical step in gratitude for all that the school had given to our sons.
Job Titles:
- School Business Manager and Senior Leadership Team
Job Titles:
- Teaching Assistant / Midday Supervisor
Job Titles:
- Teaching Assistant / Midday Supervisor
Job Titles:
- Teaching Assistant / Midday Supervisor
Job Titles:
- Birches Class. Unqualified Class Teacher
- Meppershall Staff Governor
Job Titles:
- Intervention Teaching Assistant / Midday Supervisor
Job Titles:
- Elms Class Teacher ( Thurs - Fri )
Job Titles:
- Teaching Assistant / Midday Supervisor
Job Titles:
- Teaching Assistant / Midday Supervisor
Job Titles:
- Teaching Assistant / Midday Supervisor
Job Titles:
- Head of School, DSL, Senior Leadership Team
Job Titles:
- Assistant Head, Assistant DSL, Senior Leadership Team, Oaks Class Teacher
I am excited and proud to be on the Local Governing Body, I have a strong background of working as a School Governor. I have been a staff governor in another school I previously worked at and more recently was on the Governing Body of one of our feeder schools for almost ten years. During that time, I was Chair of Governors for five years. This was an excellent opportunity to work as part of a team with different people and stakeholders, it was thoroughly rewarding and enjoyable. It gave me a working insight of the everyday, medium and long term challenges and opportunities facing our schools.
I have been Head of Geography in three schools and have taught Geography and Business at GCSE and A- Level. I have also had a pastoral management role as Assistant Key Stage Three manager in a large Secondary school in Buckinghamshire. I currently enjoy my role as a Key Stage 3 Form Tutor at Henlow.
Job Titles:
- Trustee Elected Safeguarding Governor
Job Titles:
- After School Club Co - Ordinator
Job Titles:
- Lunchtime Company Catering Assistant
Job Titles:
- Midday Supervisor / Cleaning Staff / Classroom Assistant
Job Titles:
- Intervention Teacher ( Mon - Wed )
Job Titles:
- Part Time Unqualified Class Teacher / Midday Supervisor
I am a qualified accountant with over 20 years post qualification experience in various accounting roles from auditing, finance management to my existing role as Financial Controller of a £15m business. I am the finance lead governor and my role involves regularly meeting with the finance staff at Henlow Academy, understanding the financial position of the Academy, challenging budgets set and actual results reported. I also assist with the audit process and review the financial accounts before they are presented to the whole Governing Body.
I have 2 children who attend Henlow Academy and have a keen interest in reviewing the performance data of the school, especially progress made for SEN children.
Outside of my role as an accountant I am a keen sportswoman and represent Bedfordshire at Badminton.
Job Titles:
- England Multi Academy Trust
- Trust Policies
I qualified as a secondary school English teacher in 1970.I Taught in schools in Basildon, Harlow, Middlesbrough and Reading before taking a career break to bring up my children.