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Greg Hall
Hilary Spurrier (Chair of Governors)
After a career in education, I became a governor in 2016.
In 1972 I graduated from the University of Leeds and embarked on a post graduate Certificate of Education at Lancaster University.
My teaching career started in Cwmbran, South Wales and just under two years later I became head of history at Chichele School, Rushden. Internal promotion five years later saw me become head of sixth form. I was also invited to join a government sponsored development studies project, which involved a month in Sierra Leone and the production of materials for use in schools.
In 1983 I became Deputy Head at Kingsbrook School, Deanshanger. Whilst there I experienced every facet of school leadership, including two lengthy spells as Acting Head Teacher. I was invited to train as an Ofsted Inspector and also completed an MA in Education with the University of Leicester.
In 2001, after 20 years in senior leadership, I became an advisor for Milton Keynes Local Authority. I became the senior advisor with responsibility for secondary schools. During this time I continued to undertake Ofsted inspections and became a registered School Improvement Partner, carrying out Head Teacher performance management. In 2008 I retired from Milton Keynes Council and set up my own consultancy working with schools in Milton Keynes and Bedfordshire on a wide range of school improvement issues.
When I finally fully retired in 2016 I decided I wanted to become a school governor, a role I enjoy enormously. School should be fun and inspire pupils to want to learn and find things out. Blisworth School does all of these!
Suzanne Cox Cert. Ed. Adv Dip Ed, NPQH (Vice Chair)
Hello. My name is Suzanne and I have been a member of Blisworth Governing Board since 2018.
I have lived in the village since 1980 and both of my children attended Blisworth School. When they were at the school I served as a member of FoBS and my husband (Rob) was a Parent Governor.
I qualified as a teacher in 1977 and have spent most of my career in Education. Early in my career I worked with children and young people in Residential Care, some of whom had been through the criminal justice system. During this time, I learnt that ALL children deserve the best chance of an outstanding education and to be taught by individuals who strive to make this possible.
My qualities include a sense of fairness, integrity, a genuine passion to see children do well in whatever they choose to do and the ability not to take myself too seriously!
As a Governor I feel I bring the following strengths to the role: School Leadership: planning for and teaching vulnerable children; and making sure that each child can be the best they can be!
June Hawkins
I attended Art College after winning an award in my early school years. I went into teaching in a Primary School very much like Blisworth Community Primary School. It was a wonderful experience.
I married and we went to live in Switzerland. On my return I took a position in a private school, teaching main stream pupils and Art at all levels.
During the time off with my son, I went to help with the 8000 non readers in Northampton and during this time I became interested in pupils with learning difficulties so worked in Summer schools set up for them. I also attended courses to help me to understand their learning difficulties. These experiences encouraged me to understand and find ways of teaching pupils in the way that they could access learning. For example, through Art, Sports, Drama and gardening.
I was approached to open two schools as headteacher, one in Hampstead and one near Buckingham for pupils with Dyslexia, Dyspraxia and so on. It was a tremendous challenge, but incredibly rewarding and both schools gained final registration through Ofsted. I was found to be running a “very orderly community with a sense of purpose, harmony and well being” and it was very rewarding. I went on to be a consultant for an Oxford school. I have now come full circule and enjoy being a Governor of Blisworth Community Primary School.
My ethos is to assist by using my knowledge to develop the whole child through a multi-sensory approach and to encourage pupils to believe in themselves and to work to the best of their ability.
Nicola Ellis-Randall
Liz Carter
James Murphy
Eleanor Austin
Hello, my name is Ellie Austin and, with over 16 years of experience as an educator, I am delighted to join the board of governors at Blisworth Community Primary School.
Since graduating with a first-class honours degree and qualified teacher status from the University of Northampton, I have been fortunate to teach at various fabulous primary, junior and all-through schools within Northampton, several of which being graded as ‘outstanding’. During my teaching career, I have held a number of curriculum and senior leadership roles; I have just stepped down from the role of Assistant Head Teacher at a junior school and am now the Exams Manager at a local secondary school.
My passion, inside and outside of school, is reading. “Reading is the gateway skill that makes all other learning possible,” declared Barack Obama in 2005. Wise words indeed.
I am married, with two grown up children and two very naughty dogs!
As a governor, I feel that I can deliver a passionate commitment to ensuring high aspirations for all the children within our school community and I am dedicated in supporting the achievement of the best possible outcomes for all our pupils.
