Meet Our Governors

Chair Of Governors
Mrs J Hopwood

I am delighted to be the Chair of Governors at Newton Hill.

I have worked in education for over 25 years both in Wakefield and Kirklees, having taught across the age range from Nursery to KS2. My most recent role was as a Head teacher in Kirklees.

 I believe that governors play a crucial role in the life of a school by supporting the staff and children whilst also acting as a critical friend.  As the Chair of the Governing Body, I work closely with the Headteacher and other governors to support the school in providing every child with a successful educational experience at Newton Hill.  

Vice Chair Of Governors
Mrs A Doughty

I have joined the Governing body as a member of the local community, step parent of 2 current pupils and hopefully future parent when it is time for my little girl to start school.

I have been teaching for many years and am in a privileged position to be able to say I have taught every year group from Reception to Y11, so I have a good understanding of how children develop through their whole school experience. During this time I have taught a wide range of subjects and had responsibilities across both primary and secondary education. I am hoping that this knowledge and understanding will support my role of governor and assist the school in its development.

I have lived in Wakefield since 2012 and am proud to be a member of the Newton Hill Community. 

When I am not working I am usually enjoying time with my friends, family or slightly loopy dog!

Co-opted Governor 
Ms N English 

I am joining the governing body as a first-time governor in 2023. I have been teaching students in Y7-13 for the past 7 years and I am currently teaching maths and Spanish at a large secondary school in Leeds. I have held pastoral roles for the last few years, and I am particularly interested in students’ pastoral development, mental health, and well-being. I have a master’s in education, and I focused my dissertation on the transition between primary and secondary schools as I have always been interested in primary teaching and the similarities, and differences, between primary and secondary schools.

I am looking forward to being a Governor, because as a teacher, I understand the importance and impact of the role. I am also a member of the local community; I recently moved back to Wakefield from Italy (Milan), where I have been living for the past 3 years. This Governor role will give me an opportunity to contribute to the local community, and the ethos and values of Newton Hill Community School immediately resonated with me. I look forward to being involved with the school’s future development and successes.   

Co-opted Governor
Ms E Thorpe

I joined the Governing body in late 2020 as a first time Governor. I have worked as a team leader in an environmental chemistry laboratory in Wakefield for the last five years, working in a highly regulated industry means I am quite used to bureaucracy and working within a system.  I am hoping to bring my managerial and scientific skills to support Newton Hill and the vision for its pupils.

 

I am an active STEM ambassador and have supported local Wakefield secondary schools with CV and interview preparation, as well as mentoring aspiring scientists with extra-curricular projects. Seeing Newton Hill’s dedication for the students as a governor has given me even more appreciation of education and teaching, and the wider curriculum not just STEM.

 
Co-opted Governor
Mr A Ladejobi
 
I am a Co-opted Governor for the school.  Prior to my current position, I have been working as a Business Analyst in various industries for over 12 years, which includes a period in ACCA ( Association of Chartered and Certified Accountants). My initial motivation for joining the governing body was to give back to my community, Wakefield, and to learn more about the education my children were receiving and to understand how the school delivered this. This has evolved into a greater understanding of the Governor role, which has enabled me to contribute to the strategic development of the school. I thoroughly enjoy the role and responsibilities and I am certainly pleased to be associated with this fantastic school. I look forward to adding significant value over the coming years.
 
 
Co-opted Governor
Mrs S Nicholls
 

I am pleased to be serving as a new Governor with the Newton Hill School community.  I bring with me life experiences as a mother of four, student of Psychology, over 25 years in Business Management, traveler having lived abroad, Author, and Freelance Writer.

Newton Hill has won my heart not only for its amazing students and dedicated teaching staff, but also for its parental involvement in making the community one that encourages a unified vision of success and continued development for their much loved children.  A good symbiotic parent/teacher relationship shows the interest of the children is paramount.

I eagerly embrace the work of governance set before me, and I am committed to serving with dignity and a strong sense of commitment.  I look forward to learning, working, and growing with you all in my challenge as part of your team of Governors.  

Come seek me out! I’m happy to meet you all!"
Co-opted Governor
Mrs A Grisman

I joined the Governing body in 2023. I Have a Bachelors in Law and a Masters in Business Management. I work full-time as a Barristers clerk and in my free-time I also volunteer in the legal sector.  

I have become a school Governor because I wanted to give back and participate in our community. I love education and think that it is important to ensure that our future generation is getting the best education today, for a better tomorrow. 

I believe that the best outcome is achieved when we work together, and therefore I am very excited to be part of a team setting a clear vision and a strategic direction towards a brighter future for our children. 

Headteacher
 Mrs C Wheatley

It is a real privilege to be Headteacher of such a vibrant, exciting school. Our school thrives on a culture where everyone is committed to making a real difference to the children in our care. The children are at the heart of every decision we make to ensure they have the very best possible start to their education, developing personal aspiration and a lifelong love of learning. 

I will endeavor, working alongside supportive parents, staff and governors, to provide a safe, healthy and happy environment for every child to fulfill their potential.

Co-opted Governor
Mrs C Luck

I have worked at Newton Hill since 2002 and I have been fortunate enough to be part of the Governing body since 2008. I have worked across all Key Stages and I am currently on the Senior Leadership Team as Assistant Headteacher and SENCO.

I have always had a keen interest in education and a passion for providing all children with the best opportunities. Joining the governing body has given me the opportunity to explore this further. Being a governor has helped me to gain a further understanding of education and a more strategic overview of our school. My role as staff governor means I provide a link between the staff and governors. I contribute to regular meetings, provide reports and feedback as well as contribute toward new ideas and agenda items.

We are lucky at Newton Hill to have such a range of interests and expertise amongst our governors. This means we are able to bring different dimensions and viewpoints to our work to help and support us in becoming the best that we can possibly be.

Parent Governor
Mrs N Glover
 

I joined the Governing body in late 2020 as an elected parent governor and I have 2 children who attend Newton Hill Community School.

I have a breadth of experience across several organisations within Business Operations, including HR and recruitment, financial management, business planning, risk management, health and safety and project management.  My experience over the years have given me a great insight into understanding just how significant a child’s early years are in shaping their future life.

I have seen what a great school Newton Hill is and I became a Governor to utilise the breadth of skills and experience that I have to support the school and to give something back to the community.  I very much believe that the Governor role is a supportive role whilst providing alternative viewpoints, holding the senior team to account where needed, ensuring value for money and most importantly striving to continually improve and develop the school for the benefit of all pupils, both now and in the future.

Co-opted Governor
Mrs J Reasbeck

I work for a Local Authority Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) service and have done for 8 years. In this time, I have worked as an advisory teacher for autism and social emotional and mental health needs, and also manage resource provisions to support inclusion of pupils with SEN. I work alongside senior leaders within our host schools, as well as other supporting professionals from health and education. I initially trained as a speech and language therapist  

The inclusive and happy atmosphere of Newton Hill School was the first thing that struck me when I first visited as an external professional several years ago, and I can see how hard the staff and leaders of the school work to portray this. I love my job and as a first-time governor, I hope that I can support the strategic management of the school with the experience that I can bring to the table. When I’m not at work, I’m usually spending time with my 2 children, walking our dog or playing in a brass band, all of which certainly keep me busy!

I look forward to this role as co-opted governor and working with the fantastic staff here at Newton Hill Community School.