NHCS Governing Body
Newton Hill Governors are committed, enthusiastic and dedicated. The Head Teacher is empowered to effectively manage the school and the Governors understand their roles within the structure. They welcome and seek information in order to provide challenge. They recognise and bring their own expertise to the school and these skills are carefully deployed.
Our role as Newton Hill Community School Governors
- Provide strategic direction and challenge, which supports the aims and ethos of the school.
- See decisions are informed by high quality dialogue and active partnership between Governors and staff.
- Be involved in the School Development Planning.
- Carry out their statutory duties consistently. Termly meetings are held and committees monitor the curriculum, Staffing, Budget, Admissions and Buildings.
- Be competent, decisive and realistic, evidenced in numerous ways, e.g. Development of the school site and contribution to the culture for learning within the school.
- Play a key role in the successful appointments procedures.
- Provide excellent support and challenge to the Head Teacher and SLT.
- Act as a critical friend and hold senior leaders to account for the school’s performance and pupil attainment.
- Keep up to date accessing training and support provided by the Local Authority (for maintained schools) or other agencies.
- Visit school and spend time in classrooms.
- Oversee curriculum development
- Ensure all safeguarding requirements are fully met.
- Ensure that the Pupil Premium and other resources are used to overcome barriers to learning.
The Key areas of Governor Involvement are –
- Financial control – budget setting, monitoring and resource allocation
- Staffing and personnel matters – appointing new staff, reorganisation of existing teaching and non-teaching staff
- Discipline procedures
- Appraisal – setting the Head Teacher’s targets and agreeing policy
- Curriculum
- Special Needs
- Building and Environment including Health and Safety
- School admissions
- Target Setting
- RE and Collective Worship
- School Organisation
- Information for parents
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
As an Operations Director in the NHS I bring extensive experience in managing large-scale services, complex budgets, and multidisciplinary teams across a range of operational areas. My career has given me a strong foundation in leadership, HR management, performance improvement, and quality assurance — all of which are skills I believe can add real value to the strategic leadership of Newton Hill Community School.
I have chosen to become a governor because I am passionate about contributing to my local community and supporting children to achieve their full potential. I understand the importance of strong governance, clear accountability, and effective resource management in helping an organisation succeed, and I am keen to use my professional experience to help ensure the school continues to provide high-quality education and a nurturing environment for every child.
I joined the Governing Body as an elected Parent Governor in March 2026 and am passionate about contributing to the continued success and development of our school community.
Having worked in education for many years, as a teacher, senior school leader, and currently as a SEND specialist and Assistant Headteacher at a large primary school, I bring extensive professional experience that I hope will add real value to the Governing Body. My background includes strategic planning, school improvement, governance, and the effective use of school resources, including finance. I have led and supported whole‑school priorities focused on improving outcomes, strengthening curriculum design, and developing inclusive practices for all learners. My work in SEND and Inclusion has given me a deep understanding of how schools can ensure that every child, regardless of need or background, receives the support, opportunity, and challenge they deserve.
As a parent governor, I seek to bring both my professional knowledge and my perspective as a parent to the role. I care deeply about ensuring that decisions are made with children’s best interests at heart, that leadership is held to account in a constructive and collaborative way, and that the school continues to build strong partnerships with families. I am committed to supporting the school in its development, contributing thoughtful challenge, and helping to secure the very best outcomes for all of our children.