It is a privilege to lead Stanborough from September 2018. I have an unshakable belief in every student, each with their own gifts, talents, challenges and aspirations. My team share an educational philosophy which promotes the highest expectations and consistent pastoral care. Our core aim is to nurture enquiring minds and to inspire our youngsters to pursue their dreams, leaving our school ready to excel in a future which has limitless possibilities.

I am a Mathematics graduate from Lancaster University and have 23 years’ experience working in schools. I have been educated in three countries; a secondary school experience in Nigeria, followed by A-Levels in India and a Mathematics degree in the UK. My educational experience in three countries has enabled me to appreciate various cultures and backgrounds but has also provided me with an insight into the positive differences in the education system in these countries. My principles, values and ethos as an educational leader have been shaped by these experiences.

I am a mother of three children, all of secondary school age and have been happily married for nearly 20 years. In my spare time, I enjoy long distance running and have taken part in a number of competitive races.

Neil Hounsom holds the role of Chair of Governors and also sits on the finance and resources committee. Neil began as a parent governor 10 years ago.

I am now retired and I spent all my working life in the Civil Service. My career was mostly in IT, both within my own department but also across the whole of the Civil Service where I concentrated on Programme and Project Management and IT Strategy. I also undertook economic assessments of South American and Caribbean economies and was responsible for negotiating and recovering sovereign debts.

My youngest son attended Stanborough and I saw how much he enjoyed his time there and my aim has been to ensure that all students continue to get the best education possible, not just in the normal curriculum subjects but in extra-curricular activities. As a Governor I especially enjoy working with staff and making their time at Stanborough productive and enjoyable.

Peter Miles has been a governor at Stanborough for the past 24 years. Peter started his governor role as a parent governor and is now a community governor and the chair of the finance and resources committee.

I studied Psychology at the University of St Andrews and Ergonomics at the University of Birmingham, then have spent most of my career to date working in the IT sector at companies such as Rowntree, Whitbread, Spar and what is now TalkTalk TV, eventually becoming a Prince2 project management practitioner. I now work for a small financial analytics company in a part-time capacity.

I have some experience of being a charitable trustee. I was a trustee of the Sealed Knot, a national historical/educational charity during the 1990s. I was treasurer and then chair in Applecroft School PTA while my son was a student there. I am now chair of FOSS.

Left to my own devices, I would never have considered becoming a governor. I was nominated by an existing governor and then talked into applying by the chair and deputy chair, who convinced me that I had the necessary skills and experience to make a contribution. I’ve been in the role only since the beginning of November 2015 and still have a lot to learn but I look forward to contributing towards the success of Stanborough School.

I have worked at Stanborough School for the past 8 years as an English Teacher and have been a Year Leader for the past 4 and a half years.

I am passionate about work ethic, attainment interventions, striving for consistency and implementing effective behaviour management strategies.  I strive to build a good rapport with all students, embodying the principles of mutual respect.  I welcome the opportunity to be more involved in the school through this role of staff governor.

Matthew Buckley has been a governor for 14 years and started as a parent governor. Matthew is now a community governor on the finance and resources committee.

I initially started my career in education and spent eight years lecturing at graduate and postgraduate level. Since then I’ve visited numerous places including Oxford University, to lecture and talk on a variety of subjects ranging from cryptography to e-commerce best practice. Amidst the start of the original dot com boom I left teaching to join a tech start-up.

Post the dot com crash, rather than return to education, I started an online consultancy, working within the telco sector before founding Intelligent Positioning, and developing a natural search technology platform helping global brands and SMEs improve their online performance.

I have always been passionate about education and someday I hope to return to teaching. Meanwhile I became a parent governor in the hope that I can offer some support and contribution to the school that is currently playing a critical role in my son’s future.

I qualified as a chartered accountant in 1990 and since then have worked in both business and practice. In 2003 I became self-employed and still retain a small practice today alongside my employment with a London based Finance Consultancy.

I have been a governor and a member of the Finance and Personnel Committee at a local primary school since 2003. I decided to take on the role shortly before my eldest daughter joined the school and have found it interesting and rewarding to be involved in the management and life of the school. It seemed a fairly natural step to join the governing body at Stanborough when my youngest child started here. I hope that I bring some relevant skills and experience with me.

I have two children at Stanborough School and have lived in Welwyn Garden City most of my life. My career has been spent in the Sport & Leisure Industry. In my youth I competed nationally, moved on to coaching, was a Health Club Manager and I am now part of the management team at Stanborough Park. With most of my roles I have been responsible for youth and sport development programmes. Creating opportunities for children to try new sports and experience the outdoors is very rewarding. I became a governor to offer my skills, knowledge and experience to help develop the school.

I am currently working as Information Collections Consultant at the University of Hertfordshire – in this role I manage the university library’s electronic information resources.

As the parent of three children who are past, present and future Stanborough students, I have a long-standing, continuing commitment to the school. I am passionate about helping young people reach their full potential, both through working at the University of Hertfordshire, and volunteering locally as a Girl Guiding leader for many years, and am keen to offer my commitment, enthusiasm and support to the Stanborough School community.

Shelagh Jennings has been a parent governor for three years and has a daughter who attends Stanborough.

I work for HM Government in IT. I have over 20 years experience in technology. Before joining HM Government I was the Technology Director for the Guardian.

I became a parent governor to offer some support and contribution to Stanborough as two of my children have now joined the school.

I have been teaching in a range of roles for over 30 years in a variety of schools both in the state and private sector.

My current post is Head of SEND in a local school and in the last 10 years I have also been a pastoral leader. Previous to this I was a head of girls PE at Stanborough but I have also had other opportunities along the way to teach English, dance and drama.

Both my boys have been educated firstly at Applecroft and then at Stanborough. It was whilst at Stanborough I had the opportunity to re-train in my new role. It has been a rewarding experience for me to be involved in the school that helped my boys on their way and helped me forge my career forward in the area of Special Educational Needs. I am passionate about teaching and still think I am lucky to do something I genuinely enjoy.

Sean Williams has been a governor for 19 years. He started as a parent governor when his children attended Stanborough and moved on to be a community governor on the personnel committee.

I’m a Staff Governor (Teaching), I sit on the Standards & Achievements Committee and I teach History.

Having worked at Stanborough since 2015 I have an active interest in the school’s development and well-being of all students. I am a dedicated professional, who has worked in a variety of roles at previous schools. I am looking forward to serving the community in which I live and also representing the staff with whom I work.

I am an ex-student of Stanborough School and left in 2012 to complete my further education in Sussex. I now work in the Houses of Parliament for a Sussex Member of Parliament and assists with their parliamentary duties.

Outside of work, I am heavily involved with the Air Cadets and have been a part of the organisation since 2008.

I have been working at Stanborough for sixteen years as an HLTA. During this time I have also held the roles of Form Tutor Deputy Year Leader and Associate Year Leader. My current role includes Life Skills Leader and Careers and more recently part time Deputy Year Leader to Year 7. I am fully committed to the school and I have an active interest in the school’s development and the education and wellbeing of the students. I am looking forward to representing the staff with whom I work.

My background is in corporate sales. In particular putting sales pitches and presentations together during formal bids and tender processes. I have worked in the IT industry for 10 years and the hospitality industry for the past four, I am currently in a senior sales effectiveness role for a global business travel agency. I’m tasked with leading the strategies for new business campaigns and coaching sales managers from many different countries in Europe through the pre-sales and negotiation stages of a campaign.  My skills and experience lend themselves to being an ambassador for the school and I am keen to share my experiences in business and putting together a winning pitch.

My son has just started in Year 7 and being our eldest child, secondary school is all new to us! It’s felt like a big leap so far, although he has settled well and had a very positive experience.  To help him make the most of his time at Stanborough and to get the very best from all the wonderful opportunities coming his way, I felt it important to become part of the school and gain further insight into the secondary school process.

I hope to be able to drive more improvements through this already well-established school and bring an even greater positive experience to Stanborough students and teachers.