Governance

I am proud to have all my children attend Beacon Academy. I studied BA (Hons) in History and Politics at Warwick University. Since then I have completed a PGCE, a Graduateship in Coaching Practice and a Post Graduate Certificate in Food and Grocery Management (with University of Edinburgh).

I moved to Crowborough in 2007 and am pleased to be have been an elected Town Councillor since 2010. In terms of work I have been the Branch Manager of Waitrose Crowborough for the past eight years, as well as being elected to the Partnership Council (one of the governing authorities in the John Lewis Partnership). I am also privileged to be a trustee in the Crowborough Foodbank and an “actor” (word used loosely) in the last seven Crowborough Player pantomimes. I have been married to Mel for twenty years and am part of All Saints Church, Crowborough.

I was previously a trustee and moved to become a community member of the LGC in September 2022.

I joined the LGC in 2022, having spent the last 18 years teaching in primary schools in the South East, 13 of those years spent as a school leader in Kent and East Sussex. I have taught in both the private and public sectors. I am currently Director of Education for a Multi-Academy Trust in the South East of England. I am a Specialist Leader of Education in curriculum and assessment. I also speak and coach on mental health in leadership. I am currently undertaking a MSc in Educational Management and Leadership.

Outside of education (which really is my passion), I enjoy walking, visiting my (now young adult) children, music festivals and travelling as much as I can. My overriding reason for being on the Committee is to ensure that young people in our community get the best possible opportunities so that they are well-equipped for happy, successful lives

Peter is a career civil servant. He has worked in various Uk Government Departments for over 25 years. He is currently the Principal Private Secretary to the Secretary of State for Business & Trade.

Peter has served as a UK diplomat in South Africa, Iraq, Morocco, Pakistan and Cyprus. As well diplomatic postings, he has worked in the Cabinet Office and the Northern Ireland Office. He was seconded to the French Foreign Ministry for the French Presidency of the G8.

Peter holds a first degree in French Studies from the University of Birmingham. In 2001-3, he attended the Ecole Nationale d’Administration in France and completed a Masters in Public Administration.

Peter lives in Crowborough. He has two young sons, one (so far) at Beacon Academy. Peter’s partner is a teacher of Modern Foreign Languages.

I have been a school governor and trustee for 10 years. Last year I was elected Chair of Governors at Grove Park School in Crowborough. I am also a parent governor representative on the ESCC people scrutiny committee – equivalent to a parliamentary select committee at national level, where sitting alongside County Councillor’s I am responsible for holding the Council’s Chief Officers to account in respect of their Children, Education and Adult Social care responsibilities. In my professional life, I have nearly 40 years’ experience as a senior manager and director working across the utilities and IT industry sector in both small and large organisations. I have sat on several company boards in both an executive and non-executive capacity where I have been responsible for holding company chief officers to account. Whilst I have now stepped down from full time paid employment - some might say retirement – I keep busy with my own business interests and of course several voluntary roles. My most recent work has been managing power network investment policy and Low carbon development, working closely with universities and energy businesses across the UK, on innovation projects to deliver the low carbon agenda. I am a graduate and trained environmental engineer. I am married and we live in Crowborough with our two daughters, both in secondary education. I have an interest in all aspects of education, science and technology and believe that my skills and experience would enable me to help hold the Beacon Academy leaders to account.

This September saw my son, William, allocated a place at Beacon Academy. A new era begun. Suddenly the wider neighbourhood opened up to us as we received welcome letters and invitations to attend settling in sessions. It is clear with Beacon Academy being the only secondary school in Crowborough that it is the heart of the secondary school community. I feel as I reach a mile stone birthday that I am in a place where I can give something back to society and support the school with the next generation. I have worked in education for over 15 years and keen to further my educational journey, gaining new perspectives, listening and learning as well as sharing my opinion and knowledge to date. The successful journey Beacon Academy has been on over the past few years has been heard far and wide on the parental grapevine. I am keen to further support this progress as the Academy branches out to support Uplands. I very much look forward to playing a role on the Local Governing Committee.

I grew up in the Rhymney Valley in South Wales, leaving to go to the University of Essex, where in 1989 I attained a BA Hons degree in Sociology and Social Policy. I completed my PGCE at Goldsmiths’ College and began working as an English and Sociology teacher in an inner London secondary school. It was here that I became passionate about literacy and was involved in Lewisham’s ‘Literacy 2000’ strategy. Having gained this experience, I was appointed as a Development Officer then Assistant Director at The Basic Skills Agency, a DfE funded Quango whose mission was to reduce national illiteracy and innumeracy. In 2003, I took up an Assistant Headteacher post at Crown Woods School in Eltham, leading on literacy, teaching and learning, and assessment. On the birth of my youngest son, we re-located to Crowborough, and I spent four years taking care of my young family. I returned to work via a maternity cover at Lewes Old Grammar School and in 2016 joined Beacon Academy as a part-time teacher of English. While at Beacon, I became a Specialist Leader in Education for English and have maintained my keen interest in pedagogy and literacy. I am the Literacy and EAL Co-ordinator and I have just begun a national professional qualification in senior leadership. Both of my sons attend Beacon Academy and any spare time I have is usually spent focused on them. However, I do enjoy dog walks on the Ashdown Forest (especially when it’s dry) and when I can, I relish becoming completely immersed in a novel!

I grew up in a small town in East Sussex and moved to Crowborough in 2010 with my husband, we instantly enjoyed living in Crowborough and quickly formed friendships. We now feel part of the community and everyone was very welcoming.

I currently work as an Assistant Head of Year; I love working with different students across my year group. It’s lovely to see how adaptions or changes we make as a school has a direct positive impact on the students. I’m really passionate about helping our students be the best version on themselves they can be and learning how to be resilient and motivated.

I also volunteer in the community for All Saints Church where as part of a team we run a toddler and parent group and a youth group for primary aged children.

I have 3 children aged between 5-13yrs, as a family we love to cycle, walk our dog and generally spend time outside enjoying our beautiful countryside.