Governors

Should you wish to contact the Chair of Governors; Mrs Janet Corcoran, or have a general enquiry you wish to direct to a member of the local governing body, please contact the Clerk to the Governing Body via the following email addresses: enquiries@priory-cit.co.uk or enquiries@garth-cit.co.uk

Local Governing Body Terms of Reference

CIT Governing Body Structure and Responsibilities

The Governing Body

Chair of Governors - Mrs Janet Corcoran

"I have always been a teacher and since retiring have continued to be fully involved in Education through Governance.  I manage The Lincolnshire Autistic Society and work through the Lincolnshire Autism Partnership Board to raise awareness and understanding of Autism.  I Chair The National Autistic Society Academies Trust and Education Quality Development and this national perspective brings perspective and challenge to our local settings."

Nigel Earth

I have lived in and around the Spalding area all my life.  My son was a pupil of The Garth School for over 16 years and many changes have happened to the school in that time.

My inquisitive streak led me to find out how the school works on the inside and possibly try to have an input into it.  Maybe as a child myself, taking things apart and putting them back together just to see how they work, has boosted this.  The qualification of having a child with a severe disability is what has guided me through the years of being a governor at the Federation.  It is the need to achieve something, to see it through, and see what I have done that led me into the building trade.  I work for a local house building company.  Amongst some of the things I enjoy are going on holiday and watching films.

Julia Higgins

Hello, my name is Julia Higgins and I am a Parent Governor at The Garth School where my son has been attending since the end of February 2019. 

Before having Cameron I worked in HR for 20 years.   I have previously been a Parent Governor at his Nursery School and his first Primary School that he attended.  For the last 10 years before moving to Spalding I was the Vice Chair of Families United Network, a charity that supports children with disabilities and their families in Bedfordshire.  It was a very rewarding experience seeing the charity grow from strength to strength and to see how many families have been supported. I am very proud of everything that the Board of Trustees achieved and was glad to have been a part of it.  I also carried out various fundraising events on behalf of the Charity. 

I have a wonderful chocolate Labrador called Bonnie who is registered with PetsAsTherapy, which enables me to go on therapy visits with her.  I am starting to visit at The Priory School and am looking forward to helping support children that will benefit from our weekly visits. 

I am a strong believer in giving back in the community you live in, so I am committed as a Parent Governor to do all I can to ensure that we provide the very best for all pupils.

Kerry Simpson

I was previously a parent governor at the Priory School until my daughter left in 2020. I have seen the work and effort that has gone into shaping my daughter and her future. She now attends Stamford College and is studying Media . When she first started the Priory we thought this would be impossible, but with the right setting and support anything is possible.

I too want to see this for your children so I am now a co opt governor and oversee Pupil Premium.

I would urge you to come on board and see how decisions and policy we discuss at these meetings do make a difference to every child.  Parents views and voices do help to shape the ethos of our schools.

Kate Yearsley

I was born and raised in Spalding, and after my initial career in banking and finance in London, I moved back to the area with my family.  My son attended the Priory School and I initially became a Parent Governor to give something back and offer a parent’s perspective on the board.  Now a co-opted governor, I am committed to ensuring that the excellent work continues so that we can provide the very best for the pupils of the SSSF. 

I now work for a national charity in the community, along with my ‘hobby-job’ of dance and fitness instructing.

Matthew Bloodworth-Flatt 

I began working for the Spalding Special Schools 11 years ago as a teaching assistant at the Garth School. By the next academic year I had moved over to the Priory School where I have worked since.

Over the last 11 years I have been in the role of teaching assistant, teacher, Assistant Headteacher, Headteacher and, as of this academic year, Executive Headteacher for both Priory and Garth. I feel very privileged to have had the opportunity to work within so many roles within one school. I feel this experience gives me a clear understanding of how many parts of the school work and this informs my decision making as I lead the schools.

As well as working for the Spalding Special Schoolsl, I am an appointed Specialist Leader of Education for LEARN teaching school. As part of this, I work collaboratively with other schools in the academy trust and, when required, support schools in the county with their mathematics provision.

Charlene Leuty

My name is Charlene Leuty and I am currently working as an unqualified teacher until I finish my degree in December.  I have 5 years experience in education and this is my first appointment as a governor and I am looking forward to helping the school in other ways.  My passion is to help support and facilitate opportunities for pupils in the best possible ways.

Register of Interest Register 2021/22 Spalding Special Schools Federation Local School Board 

LOCAL GOVERNING BODY MEETING ATTENDANCE RECORD 2020-2021