Stocksbridge High School Governor Pen Portraits Sarah Cavanagh Chair of Governors - Co opted Governor I joined the governing body as a parent governor in 2010, and prior to that was a member of the govening body at Royd NI school for 14 years. I am passionate about our school, and ensuring that our students are given every opportunity to be the best they can be. I attended Stocksbridge High School myself, live in the community, and have two sons who recently attended Stocksbridge High, both of whom are now studying at university. I became Chair of Governors in October 2014, and am also Training governor, English link governor and Snow governor! In my day job I work for the School Food Service, Children, Young People & Families Services, Sheffield City Council, giving support, advice and guidance on school food, free school meals and pupil premium, working with schools, headteachers and children across the city; I have worked within the Education sector throughout my working life. In my spare time I m studying for an Open University degree. Victoria Clarke Brown Vice Chair of Governors - Co-opted Governor I have been a Governor at Stocksbridge since 2013. I am joint Vice Chair of the Governing Body, I also chair the Personnel, Premises and Finance committee. I attended Stocksbridge High School myself and am passionate about raising aspiration within our school community. I am a qualified accountant with over 20 years experience in various global manufacturing organisations and am currently the Finance Director of Distinction Group Limited, a home improvements group based in Tankersley, Barnsley. I sit on the South Yorkshire Committee for the Institute of Directors, with a focus on increasing diversity within the IoD organisation and board positions in general. I am also a Freeman of the Company of Cutlers in Hallamshire. Anthea Peers Vice Chair of Governors - Co-opted Governor I have been a Community Governor at Stocksbridge High School (SHS) for the last 8 years. I am the joint vice chair of the Governing Body and I chair the Student Progress and Welfare Committee. After teaching in Sheffield schools I became a School Improvement Officer and Secondary School Adviser with Calderdale and later Sheffield Local Authority - in this role I was involved with SHS in my professional capacity for several years. I maintain my expectations for children and young people to love learning and to achieve at the highest level. Since retiring I have become involved in various voluntary activities. I am a member of the Independent Education Review panel, which hears appeals for primary and secondary schools in Sheffield, and I am a serving magistrate in Adult and Youth Court. I live in Bolsterstone. I am the Treasurer of the Bolsterstone Community Group and also spend time, with my husband, helping to look after our 3 pre-school age grandchildren in Leeds. I am a keen swimmer and my husband and I enjoy motor caravanning whenever we have the opportunity.
Andrea Beevers Parent Governor I was appointed as Parent Governor in October 2013. My older son has since left school but my younger son is still attending Stocksbridge High School in Year 9. Recently I became Safeguarding and Science Curriculum Link Governor, and have taken part in various training courses to gain more knowledge in these roles. Having worked as a Teaching Assistant at the school for 4 years it gave me a valuable insight into everyday life there and a keen interest in seeing our students grow into contented young adults. For the past two years I have been a music promoter under the name "Let The Music Speak For Itself". I arrange gigs in Barnsley and Sheffield which have raised money for charity and for our local schools. I also ask people who attend certain gigs to donate to the food banks which are passed on to The Hub to distribute to those in need in our community. Suzanne Irish-Deverill Parent Governor I was appointed as a Parent governor in 2013 after my daughter transferred to SHS in Y9. My son followed a year later and is now in Y8. Prior to this I was a governor at Forge Valley school for 4 years and at Marlcliffe Primary for 8 years. I am currently vice-chair of the Student Progress & Welfare committee and SEN link governor. I have worked for the Halifax (now Lloyds Banking Group) for 24 years, initially in branch and latterly in the mortgage department. Since 2003 I have been a Magistrate, sitting in both Adult & Family courts. As an out of area family, we chose SHS for our daughter when she was looking to move schools as we were impressed by the ethos of the school and the commitment of the staff. I hope to ensure that all children who attend SHS have the opportunity to achieve their potential. Nilam Buchanan Co opted Governor I joined the governing body as a Co-opted governor in 2015, and before that had been a member of the govening body at Deepcar St Johns school for 5 years as well as a founding member of Funders (a fundraising and events management group) for over 10 years. I have a daughter at the school in Y9 and a son who also attended SHS and is now at University. I am passionate about the importance of education; strongly believing that we need to aspire all our children to be the best that they can and providing them with every opportunity to do so. I have worked in the Housing Sector for over 25 years and am responsible for delivering large scale development and regeneration projects in Yorkshire, Midlands and the North East.
Bill Fieldsend Co-opted Governor I have a good knowledge and strong links with Stocksbridge High School having lived in the community all my life. I attended the school myself, my 2 children gained their education here and after a career in industry and being selfemployed, I worked as Buildings Supervisor at the school for 9 years before my retirement. I joined the school governing body in 2011 and I am the Health & Safety Governor and joint Chair of the Student Disciplinary panel. I attend a local church and I am a committee member of Stocksbridge Park Steels FC. Julie Jennings Co-opted Governor I have been a governor at Stockbridge High School since 2011 when I became a parent governor. I am keen to help the school provide the best education and opportunities for each and every child whilst also supporting the staff. Originally from Stocksbridge I attended the school and over the years have built strong community links in the area, most recently with the leisure centre. My professional background involves nearly 20 years working for the local authority, most recently in the Children, Young People and Families service, Sheffield City Council. Yuri Matischen Co-opted Governor I am a very recently appointed Co-opted governor (2016) and have two children currently at the school. I am keen to see that the school s ambitions and standards for young people continue to rise and improve so that all children achieve their potential and leave the school well prepared for their journey into further studies, employment or apprenticeships. I am a partner and Managing Director in MLS, a major sports consultancy and event management company based in Sheffield, and the current Chairman of the Sheffield Sharks Basketball franchise, which is currently building its own indoor community arena on the Olympic Legacy Park in the Don Valley. I am a recent past President of the Sheffield Chamber of Commerce and Chairman of the Sports, Leisure and Tourism Sector Group for the Sheffield City Region all of which basically means, I believe that sport and leisure provides jobs, careers and opportunities for young people whilst playing sport is a great way of staying fit, learning how to win and lose, whilst making friends with people from all walks of life! I believe every child should have the opportunity to receive an excellent standard of education in a state school, but also that our school should be more than just about passing exams. School should provide a great environment in which to learn and grow and have fun. We should be encouraging children to be healthy and active, pursue their hobbies, be part of bands and drama clubs and participate in extra-curricular projects that enhance their learning, raise their ambitions and make their time at school memorable!
Michael Warren Co-opted Governor I was educated at the Central Technical school in Sheffield and am now a retired engineer having been Principal NDT Engineer of an international aerospace company with responsibilities at factories on several continents. I have lived in this area for over 35 years. I have three children and a grandson who have attended Stocksbridge High School and three other grandchildren in earlier parts of their education, all of whom I expect will come to Stocksbridge High School. I attend a local church and am a member of various organisation which serve the local and wider communities. It is now almost seven years since I became a governor at Stocksbridge High School. Gayle Feechan Staff Governor I joined the governing body as staff governor in 2014. I am the school s SENCO and a teacher of History. I have been a teacher for eight years and worked at Stocksbridge for two and a half years. I find the school s wonderful sense of community and support unique from any school I have visited, trained in or worked at and am proud to be an employee here. I sit on the Student Progress and Welfare Committee and applied for governance as I strongly believe that communication between staff and governors, as well as students and parents, is imperative in leading our school and our students to success. Richard Crowther Local Authority Governor I have had the privilege of representing the Stocksbridge and Upper Don ward on Sheffield City Council for almost four years, and have served on the Governing Body of Stocksbridge High School for almost as long. I have also been a member of Stocksbridge Town Council since May 2015, and have worked for our local Member of Parliament for the last six years. Having lived in the Stocksbridge area all my life, save for a spell at University, I care deeply about the town and this school not least because of the time I spent here as a student. James Tear Associate Governor - Information to follow -
Jeremy Wilson Associate Governor I live in High Green and work in Sheffield City Centre as a Chartered Surveyor advising clients on matters relating to commercial property. My children attended Stocksbridge High School between 2006 and 2013. I became a Parent Governor in 2007 and then a Community Governor in 2013. This period saw the school through significant changes including the building of the new school, the appointment of a new headteacher and the creation of the link with Notre Dame. Latterly I chaired the Finance & Staffing Sub Committee and was a member of the Steering Group In early 2014 I stepped down as a Governor due to personal and business commitments but retained contact with the Governing Body. In 2015 I was asked if I would assist in the interview process for the appointment of a new headteacher at which time I became an Associate Member.