Oaklands Primary Academy

I am delighted to be a Governor at Oaklands Primary Academy.  Oaklands is a happy, vibrant, and successful school community with a bright future. I am pleased to be able to contribute to an excellent place for children to develop, to learn and to be fulfilled.  This can only be done in partnership with the parents, the teachers and the pupils; I look forward to working with you all.  I am a retired educationalist with extensive secondary education experience, teaching and managing a Modern Languages department for over 30 years. It is with both humility and passion that I approach the role of Governor as I want to continue to be able to contribute positively to education. I have worked in a community school, a comprehensive, an academy and a grammar school, teaching French and German to 11-18 year olds. I was Head of Modern Languages in a very successful and oversubscribed mixed secondary school in Essex with up to 1500 children on roll.  I set up language courses for the new Sixth Form, managed and led a department of eight staff, ran school trips and set up work experience placements abroad for French A level students. My most recent posting was teaching French in a grammar school in Medway. This post gave me a wonderful opportunity to focus in depth on teaching and learning.  I was interested in exploring the interest I had developed throughout my career in how children learn socially in the classroom as well as outside it.  I undertook research at the school with the support of the Headteacher for an MA in Education - (Effective Learning), which I obtained from the UCL Institute of Education in London. I believe that this professional development and my broad teaching experience will enable me to make a useful contribution to the work of the Governing Body at Oaklands. 

I myself attended a state grammar school in Buckinghamshire and was lucky enough to win a scholarship to Cambridge University at a time when few pupils from state schools were admitted. I believe that everybody should have the opportunity to do their best in the path they choose, and that we have to help and support our young people. I was encouraged by my parents who were both teachers and who believed in me. I believe in our young generation, and I know that we must support them today, so they can become the leaders, the businesswomen and men, the artists and the providers of tomorrow. I love cats, and enjoy music of all kinds, especially the rock stars of my generation (Jimi Hendrix, Pink Floyd and David Bowie), and jazz.  I have family and friends in Bucks, London, Scotland, the Channel Islands, France, Malaysia and Mauritius, and I love travelling and meeting up with them. I enjoy cooking for family and friends.

I have been a governor at Oaklands for at least twenty eight years; so long in fact that neither I, the school or Bromley Council have a record of when I first became one! I became a governor when my eldest daughter was in year 1 at what was Oakland’s Infants’ School. Her daughter, my granddaughter is now eight.  In that time the school has changed from an infants’ and junior school with a single governing body, an infants’ and junior school with separate governing bodies and then a primary school with a single governing body. We are now a Primary Academy with a single governing body. I am enjoying working with my fourth Head Teacher and in the time I have been here have seen huge changes, driven by the constant external pressures of Government direction and the drive and enthusiasm of the Heads, the staff and not least the wonderful children of Oaklands. Whenever I come into the school I am unfailingly impressed by their confidence, knowledge, politeness and consideration of, and to others.

My background is in building construction, with emphasis on safety and health and I look forward to working with the Head and senior team as well as the contractor to deliver our new school extension as a safe and enjoyable learning experience for the students. I have used my expertise on the building and sites committees, finance,  governance and main governing bodies.

Apart from my grandchildren, my hobbies and interests include golf, which I play as often as weather permits, reading (almost exclusively non-fiction) and pub quizzing. As I approach retirement I hope to be able to find the time to travel more, particularly around Europe. I may even take up my artist’s brushes again.

When I was younger, I knew I wanted to be a teacher. I have always been passionate about making a difference in children's lives and celebrating their successes.  In 2008, I began my career as a teacher in Ontario, Canada, where I was born and raised. I came to London in 2009, with the hope of gaining some insight into education in a different country. Once I arrived, I knew I was going to stay. I supply taught for a year to get to grips with the difference in the education system and then accepted my first permanent position as a teacher in London in 2010.  I acquired Qualified Teacher status in the United Kingdom in June 2012, and since then I have worked as a successful teacher and effective leader in Primary Schools in Lambeth and Croydon. As a primary school teacher, I have held several positions of increasing responsibility culminating in my current position of Inclusion Manager, SENCo and Senior Leader at a primary school in Croydon.  I have been dedicated to providing an inclusive educational experience for all pupils and promoting an inclusive culture within school communities.  I have had the opportunity to lead in developing changes to the way SEN provision has been organised at schools in Lambeth and Croydon to support high levels of achievement for all.

When I’m not working, I enjoy being a mother to my two beautiful daughters and appreciate family time with them and my husband. We love weekends in our household! We try to do as much as we can together, which often includes playing in the garden, swimming, soft plays and dancing. By being apart of the governing board at Oakland’s, I am keen to give back to a community close to home and look forward to working closely with the school community.

I joined Oaklands Governing Body as a co-opted Governor in June 2019.

I was born in Belfast and completed my education to degree level in Northern Ireland. After graduating I worked for an American bank in the City, before leaving to have my family. 

When my children were small, I was a volunteer in community education providing support to teenagers and adults who wished to improve their literacy skills. I found this work immensely interesting and rewarding, so I decided to re-train to become an adult education English teacher, with a specialism in dyslexia. I recently took early retirement after nearly 20 years in this field.

My work experience and qualifications have given me a greater understanding of the importance of a good education. It opens the door to confidence, opportunity and fulfilment in life.

I feel very privileged to be a Governor at Oaklands and I hope to utilise my experience and skills from my professional life to make a positive contribution to a school community where standards are high and children thrive. 

In my spare time I work as a volunteer for the National Trust, enjoy travelling, visits to the theatre and cinema, and very occasional trips to the gym.

I am a member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development with over 12 years’ experience within the Human Resources field. My career started in the Hospitality industry. I studied hotel management and had both the privilege and opportunity to work in some amazing hotels in Africa and the Middle East.

There was an opportunity to try my hand at financial services in 2007. I joined the HSBC in a retail Business Development role based in Dubai. This naturally transitioned into a Learning and Development role which subsequently morphed into a series of Specialist Performance and Reward roles in regional, global and group capacities.

For me, education is pure alchemy. It is a force for good, a great equaliser that enriches and positively transforms peoples lives. My affinity for education started at home as both my parents were primary school teachers. Following their example of service, I was always looking for ways to contribute.

With this in mind, I put myself forward for selection as a school governor in 2017 which culminated in a two-year stint as a governor of a PRU. At the end of my tenure I again put myself forward for selection which culminated in my appointment to the Oaklands Board in late 2019. I am thoroughly excited and energised by the school and the opportunity to contribute to the alchemical process of enriching young minds.