Health and Safety Link Governor
Gus is retired and enjoying life back in the Cotswolds with his wife and two dogs. He is a very proud parent of two sons and grandfather to five grandchildren. A passionate follower of sport, his durability is illustrated by being a Bath Rugby season ticket holder for 50 years. Gus became a Trustee in 2018 after spending five very enlightening years ‘farming’ and running a tourist business in North Devon.
The majority of his working life was as a teacher and then Headteacher in schools in Bath, South Gloucestershire and Bristol. During his 30 years of Headship experience, he was fortunate to be part of a Building Schools for the Future scheme, a mini Education Action Zone, the BEON project (a scheme to introduce IT and the intranet into the classroom) and a School of Creativity. Gus was also privileged to be seconded to work at the local authority on developing federations and trusts to encourage and promote partnership working and executive leadership across schools. His school was one of the first in Britain to host a breakfast club, a forest school and a Children’s University (extended activities on a Saturday).
Gus has the leadership experience of being involved in four new builds and as a founding member of a free school. Throughout his career, Gus believed in parental engagement and partnership working and the value of education in regenerating communities.
Kate is an educational psychologist by training with over 30 years’ experience of working with children with special educational needs in mainstream primary and secondary schools, special schools and FE colleges. Kate has worked as an Assistant Director of children’s services in a local authority in the South West of England where she was responsible for the leadership of school improvement, early years, SEND, youth services, behaviour and attendance. Kate has also worked on government projects (Academy and Free Schools) for the Department for Education and the Department of Health (National Healthy Schools Programme).
Kate has worked for private fostering agencies helping to enhance the educational outcomes of children in care. She has extensive experience of school governance having been a chair of governors across a number of independent specialist schools (SEMH - 95% rated good or better) and set up and developed a specialist free school (autism) near Bristol.
As a Secondary mainstream Geography teacher, Gaby soon became drawn to working with SEND students. As her career progressed, she consciously decided that she wanted to follow my leadership journey into a Special school rather than continue in mainstream where there are limited opportunities in SEND leadership. She has been a National Leader in SEND, working collaboratively with colleagues in different settings to drive school improvement. She is passionate about ensuring all students with SEND are provided with as many opportunities for success and personal growth as possible.
I am currently an Assistant Principal for Pastoral at The Sky Academy. After initially training as a primary teacher, I have spent my professional career working within the special educational sector, both within schools and with external agencies. I have a passion for ensuring all children are given equal opportunity and voice no matter their circumstances.
