About our Governors

Anne is an experienced retired secondary head and brings a wealth of knowledge to her role as Chair of Governors.

I was born in Amble and apart from my student days have always lived here. I have had a lifetime of involvement with education and our local schools. I have served as a governor of each of our schools, including the two I attended as a pupil, over a period of forty years. Thanks to good teachers and a supportive family I had the chance to study to Degree level and beyond, which was a rare achievement for a Secondary Modern student then. I was involved in community education in Amble and taught in the prison education service. I know how important the chance of a good education is to the young people of our communities. Achieving the best outcomes for our young people is a passion we share as governors.

I was privileged to serve as a local Councillor between 1983 and 2017 and held several senior positions, as Chair of Council, Town Mayor, and before I retired Cabinet member for Children with Northumberland County Council. I was proud to be awarded the MBE for services to the community in Northumberland in 2017.

I have served as a governor with James Calvert Spence College since 2018 and am currently Vice Chair with responsibility for safeguarding and equalities – another lifelong passion of mine. I am an active member of St Cuthbert’s parish church, write regularly for their magazine and am a member of the church council. Reading is my way of relaxing – whenever I have the time!

I am proud to have been in a school governance for over 7 years, joining JCSC as co-opted Governor in November 2022. I enjoy working closely with the school and Governing body to really make a difference in the children’s education and support the school staff in providing the best environment. My professional background is in Human Resources with 20 years experience across public sector and private sector financial services organisations. My expertise covers recruitment, employee relations, budgeting, resource planning and staff development. 

I moved to Northumberland 15 years ago with my husband who has been based here with the RAF, we have two children, a corgi puppy, guinea pigs and pet ducks. I love to walk along the Northumberland beaches and explore countryside in this beautiful part of the world.

I became a co-opted governor at JCSC in May 2022. I have spent many years working in education and have taught in various countries around the world (India, Hong Kong and Turkey) before more recently teaching in Edinburgh for fifteen years. I moved to Northumberland in 2021 and graduated with an MA Education (SEND/Inclusion) at Northumbria University in 2022. I am now working towards a PhD at Northumbria University to support neurodivergent pupils in mainstream UK schools. My mission as a JCSC governor is to ensure that all the SEND pupils are supported as much as possible and thriving in school.

I live in Amble with my husband and two young children, having settled here after moving all over the country for various jobs. I’m originally from Somerset. I became a co-opted governor at JCSC in 2022, as I wanted to serve the community I live in using the skills available to me. 

In my work life I’m a content lead, overseeing a small team researching and producing material that supports schools with compliance. Before this I spent a number of years as an academic, with a job in the History department at Durham University being the original reason for moving to the North East. 

I care deeply about education as the source of opportunity for young people to forge their own way in life. I want to help make sure that all pupils at JCSC get the education, experiences and opportunities they deserve and leave school equipped for whatever they want to do next.

Having grown up in North Wales, I moved up to Northumberland after graduating from my Masters degree due to falling in love with the beautiful area and the kind locals. After initially joining team JCSC as a Learning Support Partner in 2020, I now work as Assistant SENCo along with my appointed as the Staff Governor in 2025. 

From previous jobs supporting homeless teenagers not in education/employment, to now working within an educational setting, my experiences allow me to share my knowledge and experiences to further strengthen our vision of making JCSC a great and inclusive learning environment for all students and staff.

I was born and grew up in the North East of England, until leaving home to train as a teacher.  After marrying, my husband and I made our home in Milton Keynes for thirty years. We raised three children, who all attended our local state schools, before going on to university.  I was a an active member of the infant school PTA and also worked as a volunteer in the school library, as well as helping children with their reading.  As our children started school, I worked in the local preschool and later trained to become a counsellor. For many years I worked for a charity, Manna House Counselling Service in Northampton, and more recently for The Living Way in Sunderland. As a counsellor I worked with a range of clients, from secondary school age to retirees. 

We moved back to the North East in 2022, choosing to live in Amble. We love the town, the sense of community, the sea and beautiful countryside. I am a member of St Cuthbert’s parish church and work on the Highlights team, which brings touring drama and music performances to Amble. I am passionate about good mental health and access to the best possible life chances for every young person, and I’m thrilled to join the governing body at JCSC.

I moved to Amble in 2023 after living in North Tyneside, and I’m delighted to now be supporting the school community as a co-opted governor.

I’ve previously been a parent governor at our local primary school, and I’ve also volunteered as a Scouts Leader for a Squirrels troop—roles that strengthened my belief in the value of giving young people confidence, curiosity, and opportunities to grow.

My career has been in local government, and for the past four years I’ve worked in Early Careers with a particular focus on apprenticeships, work experience, supported internships, and school engagement. This work has shown me just how important it is that every young person has access to meaningful pathways and a clear understanding of the options available to them as they think about their future.
Education, inclusion, and equality of opportunity are really important to me. I’m passionate about helping students discover what motivates them and ensuring they feel supported—wherever their interests and aspirations may lead.

I’m looking forward to contributing to the school’s ongoing success and to supporting all our young people to thrive.