Executive Headteacher
I was born in London but grew up in Cornwall from the age of 5. I gained a First Class BEd (Hons) in Maths from Exeter University and then taught and lived in Plymouth for 8 years, marrying and having my first child before moving to Manchester (my husband’s home town). There I had 2 more children and carried on teaching part time for 6 years before deciding to return to bring up our family in Cornwall. I now live just outside Bude where I enjoy coastal walks with my children and dog. After working locally as an assistant head and completing my Headteacher qualification, I was thrilled to be able to join St Catherine’s as Headteacher where my passion for teaching is directed daily to the challenges of ensuring high quality, inspiring education for every one of our wonderful pupils.
Parent Governor
Originally from Kent, we made the move to Cornwall in 2015; moving to Launceston 3 years ago. I continued my secondary teaching profession in Bude up until April of last year, retiring after nearly 19 years, to follow my passion for working in the outdoors with animals.
My son attends St Catherine's and seeing him thrive & transition from Nursery care into the main school with such confidence & determination is a sign of how happy he is here. Students, staff and support staff are a credit to the ethos of the school and it only felt natural to want to be a part of that. As a parent governor I hope to be able to share my experiences not only within education but as a parent of a child in the school and work together to support all those along the way.
Foundation Governor
I attended St. Stephen’s school in the 50s, Horwell Grammar and Launceston College in the 60s and returned to teach at Launceston College in the 70s after training in Brighton and teaching in Reading.
I met my late husband whilst he was an Archaeologist in Launceston Castle and both my sons were born in the town - I have very strong ties with the area.
I am a Councillor on Launceston Town Council and served as Mayor from 2017-19. I have organised the Youth Council for several years and feel strongly that young people of the town must have a voice.
In my spare time I enjoy catering , pottery, textile work and reading. I love to travel, especially to France on family holidays.
Parent Governor
I spent my early years moving around the country before settling in Tavistock, where I spent my teenage years before moving away to read Geology at University College London. After graduating I attended Royal Military Academy Sandhurst and on completion of training I commissioned into the Royal Logistic Corps. During my time in the Army I travelled to Canada, Cyprus, Germany, Nepal and completed an operational tour of Afghanistan.
I met my wife Becky whilst serving. I left the Army so we could start a family and settled in Gloucestershire where we had our two girls. On leaving the Army I transitioned into the world of project delivery, where I have controlled and enabled the governance of many projects, programmes and portfolios. I was delighted to achieve a lifelong dream of settling in Cornwall in 2021 as I started my new role with the Met Office where I am establishing the project delivery capability and governance of the entire Met Office portfolio of change work. In my spare time I enjoy running, water sports, property renovation and gardening.
I live in Launceston and both girls attend St Catherine’s. I am really excited to bring my experience and skills gained from enabling governance across a broad cross-section of public sector and private industry in order to support the school in delivering the best it can for our children.
Head of School
I was born in Hampshire, but lived in Gloucestershire until I was 22. Having gained a BA Hons in Social Science, I worked in a rural community for adults with autism and then moved to Plymouth, where I continued to work with adults with learning disabilities, until I had a short break to be with my three children. When my children were a little older, I returned to college to train as a primary teacher and came to work at St Catherine's in 1998, where I have been ever since! During that time, I have worked in a variety of classes and am currently sharing my time between being a Year Four teacher and Head of School, which gives me the great joy and privilege of working closely with all the wonderful staff and children throughout the school. All the children who know me will tell you outside of school my great loves are singing, reading, walking and cats!
Co-opted Governor
I was born on a ship just off Genoa in the Mediterranean before coming to the
UK and adopted at 6 weeks. I grew up in a large family in Farnham, Surrey. My
mother (an English teacher) was an emergency foster parent and ended up
adopting 7 of us. I left home at 16 to study Maritime Radio and Radar
Electronics- a Merchant Navy Radio Officer qualification. I stayed ashore due
to my mother’s cancer.
I joined Her Majesty's Coastguard in 1999 in Brixham Devon after 1 year’s
training and 4 years’ service. I realised how much I loved the job; it really
suited me. I have since transferred to New Zealand for 2 years’ service,
Bermuda for 1 year and finally Australia for 4 years. The advance in technology
over the years is fascinating.
My 2 children live in Hampshire and from them I have 3 delightful young
grandchildren.
I wish every child to be able to dabble in science, think about adventure and
flourish in their own way and I think some of my experiences can help them.
Staff Governor
I am currently a year 5 teacher at St Catherine's and I have previously taught in both Year 2 and Year 4 here. Before coming to St Catherine's, I worked in a small Primary School in Devon and experienced teaching in mixed year groups. I was lucky to be able to teach all year groups at one time or another, from Reception to Year 6 and I can honestly say I have loved them all! Teaching is so much more than a job for me, it is a privilege and a passion and a profession I am proud to be part of.
Before coming to teaching, I worked in Manchester managing care contracts for the Local Authority. Just over ten years ago I started my teaching career in Early Years and initially qualified as an Early Years Professional before completing my Primary Teacher Training. I love the challenge of supporting students and families in so many different ways, and seeing a child develop their confidence and self-belief is the greatest reward of all. I believe that a young person's emotional well-being is the key to reaching their potential and aim to make this aa key priority in my classroom.
As a Governor, I will be committed to school development and in doing so hope to help to secure the best education and school experience possible for our very valuable young people and their families.
Co-opted Governor
I am really pleased to be part of the St Catherine's family as a Governor. I was born and brought up in North Devon before moving away to University and embarking on a teaching career in Gloucestershire and Wiltshire. I returned to the county 7 years ago with my husband Joe and we have our lovely Labrador Merlin. Whilst in education I had a particular interest in Literacy and Additional Special Needs and continue this interest in my Governor role. I love the outdoors and gardening. We live in a beautiful part of the country and I love to explore both coast and countryside.