We’re very grateful for the help and assistance of our subject matter experts. Their knowledge and experience has enriched the e-learning modules we provide.
Here are just some of the experts who help us throughout the Modern Governor module development process.
David Eccles | Derek Balaam | Linda Lissimore | Pat Brockman | Sue Noakes | Phil Revell | Ruth Agnew| David Marriott
David Eccles
Tell us about your experience and qualifications
Qualifications – B.Ed. (Hons); M.Ed.; J.P.; Health and Safety National Certificate. 20 years teaching and senior manager in secondary school, two of those as an advisory teacher for Primary Schools. 10 years working as a senior officer in Local Authority Children’s Services, in School Organisation and Planning of Places, Admissions and building project manager. Head of Governor Services and Head of Governance in two Local Authorities.
Accredited Safer Recruitment Trainer and Governor Mark Assessor and serving as BTEC Assessor on the Governor Services course.
What are your specialist areas of expertise?
School Leadership and Governance, Health and Safety in the Workplace, School Improvement, Conflict Resolution, School Planning and Organisation, Working with schools in challenging circumstances.
What is your current occupation?
Currently working independently as a School Leadership and Governance Consultant and Trainer.
What do you enjoy most about your role as a subject matter expert for Modern Governor?
Writing new and up to date materials that will benefit and support the work of hundreds of governors.
What is the most challenging part of being a subject matter expert for Modern Governor?
Having the factual information absolutely correct and ensuring that in terms of the method of delivery, it is presented in the best way it can be for school governors.
In your opinion, how can e-learning benefit governor services?
It gives support to governors that is literally at their fingertips and at their convenience. It means that governors become a working and contributing member of the governing body much sooner. In addition Governor Services can be confident that all governors are given consistent and appropriate training at an acceptable cost.
Top of Page
Derek Balaam
Tell us about your experience and qualifications
I am a qualified teacher and taught biology for 12 years. I have also worked as a full-time church pastor for several years. In addition to my day jobs, I have been a school governor and PCT non-executive director. I have worked in a Local Authority for over 10 years as a Governor Services Manager.
What are your specialist areas of expertise?
School and children’s centre governance.
What is your current occupation?
Governor Services Manager for Brent Council (part-time). I also work self-employed as a governance consultant and governor trainer.
What do you enjoy most about your role as a subject matter expert for Modern Governor?
I like being able to influence the content of courses.
What is the most challenging part of being a subject matter expert for Modern Governor?
Two things spring to mind. One, the awareness that Learning Pool may actually take notice of what I say (scary!). Two, the usually tight deadlines for submitting comments!
In your opinion, how can e-learning benefit governor services?
In these days of change and cutbacks, there is a ready source of training that Local Authorities can point to that is available to governors 24/7 at very low cost. Top of Page
Linda Lissimore
Tell us about your experience and qualifications
I have been Head of Governor Support for Kent County Council for seven years.
What are your specialist areas of expertise?
Support advice and guidance to governor, clerks and headteachers on all governance matters.
What is your current occupation?
School Workforce Development Coordinator for Kent County Council.
What do you enjoy most about your role as a subject matter expert for Modern Governor?
I have the opportunity to input from my experience of working with 7500 governors from a very broad spectrum of different schools and situations.
What is the most challenging part of being a subject matter expert for Modern Governor?
Time commitment – balancing priorities of the day job with the wish to participate in a meaningful way with new materials and resources.
In your opinion, how can e-learning benefit governor services?
It suits busy working governors as well as those who are challenged by circumstances which prevent them attending face to face sessions. In my current role I have used a ‘blended’ learning approach with other e-learning platforms, starting and ending with short face to face training to keep momentum and share learning experience. Top of Page
Pat Brockman
Tell us about your experience and qualifications
I hold a Modern Languages degree, was formerly a Secondary Head Teacher and I am now involved in governor training and as strategic service and Local Authority lead.
What are your specialist areas of expertise?
Appointing Head Teachers, working with new governors and with individual governing bodies. I am also a flexible thinker.
What is your current occupation?
Head of School Governance Dudley
What do you enjoy most about your role as a subject matter expert for Modern Governor?
Making a contribution that will have a broad benefit.
What is the most challenging part of being a subject matter expert for Modern Governor?
It’s a bit like the children’s game ‘Kims Game’. It is hard to spot what is not there.
In your opinion, how can e-learning benefit governor services?
It offers an alternative to face-to-face training but it will not replace the advantage of working with other governors. The level of use needs to be higher. Top of Page
Sue Noakes
Tell us about your experience and qualifications
BA (Hons) in English and Theatre Studies followed by a PGCE in secondary education in English and Drama. Currently studying for an MA in education leadership and management. Previously taught in the secondary sector and a governor for a primary school. I worked for the Diocese of Chester 10 years ago before taking a break after having my second child. I have been back at the Diocese for 5 years.
What are your specialist areas of expertise?
Church school education with a special interest in denominational inspection, admissions and governance.
What is your current occupation?
Assistant Director of Education for Chester Diocese
In your opinion, how can e-learning benefit governor services?
Governors have been given more and more responsibility by successive administrations and are essentially undertaking this role in their spare time. Online training is a good way to help equip governors with some of the knowledge they need in taking on this role.
For example, realising there was no particular module for Church schools we decided to try and develop something that would help governors fulfil their role as governors in such a distinctive organisation. The module was developed in collaboration with colleagues from York, Manchester, Blackburn, Carlisle and Liverpool Dioceses and one colleague also represents the Methodist sector. We hope that, by undertaking basic online training, governors would be encouraged to attend the face to face training provided by Local Authorities and Dioceses to help further their knowledge and skills as they take a strategic lead in the education of our children.
Top of Page
Phil Revell
Phil Revell worked as a teacher in secondary schools for nearly twenty years before moving into journalism. He wrote for The Guardian, Times Educational Supplement and other national titles, becoming an acknowledged expert on leadership and management in education.
2005 saw the publication of “The Professionals”, the result of a research study lasting two years. The book is extremely critical of the way the UK trains and develops its teachers. Phil then spent a short period as CEO of the National Governors’ Association, during which time he stabilised the association’s finances and launched a completely new catalogue of publications for governors.
On leaving the NGA Phil was invited to join Prof. Mick Waters’ Curriculum Foundation as an advisor. Phil is currently working as a consultant for organisations inside and outside education.
On the services provided by Modern Governor, Phil Revell says:
“Governors carry out a vital and challenging role and they are entitled to demand high quality support from their schools and local authorities. Modern Governor helps meet governors’ training and development needs with accessible, high quality resources.” Top of Page
Ruth Agnew
Tell us about your experience and qualifications
I began my career in HR in the private sector and started working in schools’ HR in 1996. I started working specifically with governors in 2007. I have been a parent governor and a Local Authority governor over the past eight years and am currently the chair of governors in a primary school in Warrington. I have a BA(Hons) in English and post gradate diplomas in Personnel Management and Management Studies.
What are your specialist areas of expertise?
School staffing issues and all areas of school governance and clerking.
What is your current occupation?
I am the manager of the school governance service in Cheshire East Council.
What do you enjoy most about your role as a subject matter expert for Modern Governor?
Feeling that my input is supporting governors all over the country in fulfilling their role and improving outcomes for children in their schools.
What is the most challenging part of being a subject matter expert for Modern Governor?
Always keeping up to date and making sure that information is presented as clearly as possible – and juggling it with the day job!
In your opinion, how can e-learning benefit governor services
Governors are an enormously diverse volunteer group with varied levels of knowledge, expertise and most importantly time available to devote to their own development. I believe there will always be a role and a need for face to face governor training and support but I know that within my own Authority that face to face support is not accessed by all governors. Given that the technology is now available to provide governors with training in their own homes at times that suit them it would seem to me that E-Learning is an essential element of the service which we provide our governors and Modern Governor are able to provide a quality and range of materials that no individual Local Authority would have the capacity to provide for itself.
David Marriott
Tell us about your experience and qualifications
I’m an independent education consultant. Until recently I was Head of Governor Services at Wiltshire Council (1995-2011) and Chair of National Co-ordinators of Governor Services (NCOGS) 2009-2011 and was previously Vice Chair 2006-2009. Prior to that I was a teacher, head of department and deputy head between 1974-1995 in five secondary schools (Midlands and Bristol area).
Author: The Effective Governor; Monitoring and Evaluation; Being Strategic; articles on governance for Times Education Supplement; School Governor Update; Matters Arising.
I have a BA (Hons) in English; PGCE and M Ed.
What are your specialist areas of expertise?
School governance – all aspects but especially strategic planning, monitoring and evaluation and accountability. Training and development and Communication – writing for books, magazines, websites and journals
What is your current occupation?
Educational consultant specialising in school leadership and governance
What do you enjoy most about your role as a subject matter expert for Modern Governor?
The opportunity to condense a wealth of knowledge and experience into a small, accessible package for use by any governor, whatever their stage of development in the role.
What is the most challenging part of being a subject matter expert for Modern Governor?
Making sure I’m always bang up to date.
In your opinion, how can e-learning benefit governor services?
It does what no other form of training can do – be accessible 24-7 wherever you are
Loading ...
