Pen portraits of Governing Body Members
S Lomax -Parent Governor and Chairof the Governing Body
Committees – Finance, Premises and Staffing
Pupils and Standards
I have worked for Home Office for the last 19 years, and lately I’m based in Solihull as a Chief Immigration Officer for Immigration Enforcement. During my career, I have extensive experience in dealing with vulnerable people, which has allowed me to undertake extensive safeguarding training which assists during work but also can be put into practice if required at Elms Farm. Along with safeguarding, I bring experience with recruitment and data analysis which has proved successful within the school.
I have been elected as a parent governor primarily starting at Elms Farm in May 2013 and subsequently joined the IEB in summer 2014. I was re-elected as Parent Governor in Autumn 2015 in readiness for the reinstatement of the Governing Body.
I have one child in Elms Farm nursery, so my involvement with the school doesn’t end as a governor or board member, but as a parent who wants the best for their children.
J Stirrup Co – opted member
Committees – Finance, Premises and Staffing
Pupils and Standards
- Currently an Education and Skills Officer for Birmingham City Council working on statutory duties around young people’s participation in education and training. This has included opportunities to address the skills gap and increase young people’s experience of work situations to improve their future employment potential.
- Previously an officer for the Building Schools for the Future (including Academies) programme, working to ensure building plans supported education priorities.
- Considerable experience as a teacher in a variety of different schools and settings.
- This experience will enable Julie to support the schools around potential employer links, support for building programmes as well as issues surrounding teaching and learning and behaviour and attendance.
Based on the model developed in the Careers and Enterprise pilot projects, as an Enterprise Coordinator Julie matches advisers from business to work directly with the senior leadership team in Birmingham secondary schools and colleges to create effective employer engagement plans to establish more effective connections to the world of work, shaping or adding value to the school’s careers, enterprise and employer engagement strategy.
Julie is also a part of the Enterprise Adviser Networkthat is being delivered by Birmingham Education Partnership in collaboration with Birmingham City Council, Business Professional Services and Birmingham and Built Environment Skills in Schools. It is leading the way with an innovative approach that is aligned to key growth sectors identified in Greater Birmingham and Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership (GBSLEP) Strategic Economic Plan for the region; sectors where there are - and will be - jobs locally, such as construction, professional and financial services
Elizabeth Gallagher Headteacher
Committees – Finance, Premises and Staffing
Pupils and Standards
Elizabeth Gallagher qualified 23 years ago and taught in a variety of schools in Nottingham. She returned to Birmingham in 2004 to take up the deputy headship at Elms Farm and then was appointed Head teacher in 2005. She has trained and acted as a Local Leader of Education.
Elizabeth has skills and expertise in all areas of Primary teaching and her main role now is Leadership and Management. She has managed change in school as it has grown from 200 pupils to 430 and changed demographically. She has a particular interest in the social and emotional development of pupils of all ages and Special Needs.
Cllr Sue Anderson Local Authority Governor
Committee – Finance, Premises and Staffing
I have been a local Councillor for Sheldon Ward for 23 years and before that was a Councillor for Duddeston for 2 years. In that time I have been a Governor for local schools in both wards, in both the primary and secondary sector. I went through the process of academisation at a secondary school in Sheldon
I started teaching in Birmingham in 1966 in a girls’ secondary modern school where I persuaded the head to enter her class for maths city and guilds exam to ensure they left with a qualification. In 1966 I moved to an adjoining borough to teach in a Comprehensive school where I taught for 26 years retiring as a senior teacher.
My political life has involved serving on the Education committee, children’s social care, environmental services amongst others. I spent 7 years as a non-executive on a local Health Trust chairing the Clinical Governance committee. This experience was invaluable when I became a cabinet member for initially Social services and then after 12 months a cabinet member for Adult Social Carefor Birmingham City Council a post which I held for another 6 years. This role gave me additional experience in budgets, finance, HR , changes to services and communication with service users and the public. I chaired the Health and Wellbeing Board and was a member of a number of partnerships connected with Health and Social Care . I was also the Third Sector Champion for Birmingham City council.
I am now in opposition and am a member of two important scrutiny Committees , Education and vulnerable Children and Adult Social Care and Health.
Lesley Geoghegan Staff Governor
Committee – Pupils and Standards
I have been a teacher for 25 years and I have taught in all year groups from Nursery to Year 6. Before joining Elms Farm as Deputy Head Teacher in February 2013, I was an Assistant Head Teacher in a large inner city school. I have skills and expertise in all areas of Primary teaching and my main role now is Leadership and Management. I have a particular interest in ensuring that the curriculum is creative, motivating and enjoyable as well as meeting the needs of 21st century children to make them ready for a successful future.
I am pleased to represent the staff of Elms Farm School on the Governing Body and will continue to ensure that the pupils in our school receive the best quality education and experiences that we can provide.
Hayley Sumner Parent Governor
Committees – Pupils and Standards
I have been involved with Elms Farm for many years. Prior to becoming a parent governor i was on the PTA and a parent helper, which istill continue to enjoy. Early Years development is a keen interest of mine, and becoming a parent Governor was important to me as I have 2 children at the school. I have previously served as Chair of Governors during a very difficult time for the school, and I am now very much looking forward to supporting the school as it continues to improve.
During my time as a governor I have attended many training courses, including Safeguarding, Data analysis, Performance Management, Introduction to Chair, Curriculum, Effective Challenge and Safer Recruitment, all of which will help me to be an effective member of the governing body.
I have worked in the Freight Forwarding / Logistics industry for 18 years, and currently work for DHL Global Forwarding, in the Airfreight division. During this time, alongside my day to day role, I have been involved in project development, contract negotiations, and security.