Meet Our Local Governing Committee

Trust Member – Local Governing Committee Co-Vice Chair

About Susan

I was born and brought up in the North East area before becoming a teacher. I worked in schools across the area, as well as internationally. I now live near the coast and work for an exam board, working with teachers to make sure our GCSEs and A-Levels are clear and the best they can be for students.

What inspired you to become a governance volunteer?

Working in education but no longer within schools, I wanted to work in a local school to be able to support them and see the amazing work they do with young people. Benfield has a special place in my heart as I worked there as a Learning Support Assistant early in my career.

What are the benefits you get from being a governance volunteer?

I find it so inspiring to see what young people achieve when they believe in themselves. I love seeing how we as LGC members can support the school to nurture students to achieve excellence.

In three words, how does being a governance volunteer make you feel?

Inspired. Proud. Determined.

Parent Member

About Carole

Hi, my name is Carole Day and I am your Parent Local Governing Committee member.
I have lived in Walker all of my life and my children attend Benfield School. I was voted onto Benfield Local Governing Body by the parents of Benfield in May 2022 and will continue as a member until May 2026.
I regularly attend Benfield School in an official capacity and I also ‘see’ Benfield on a daily basis. I am passionate about the education and well being of all of our children in the Benfield community and I have spoken to many parents.
I take great pride in being the Parent Local Governing committee member and rest assured I do challenge robustly. At the end of the day however, no matter what title I have, I am a mam and, like our community, I want what is best for our children.

What inspired you to become a governance volunteer?

Having previously been a Parent Governor at Walkergate Nursery and Walkergate School in the past, I felt that I wanted to be involved in governance at the school where my children attended.

What are the benefits you get from being a governance volunteer?

When you become a governance volunteer you are required to attend training courses relevant to your role as a Parent LGC member. As a result I am able to support and challenge Benfield school.

In three words, how does being a governance volunteer make you feel?

Informed. Included. Influential.

Trust Member

About Sarah

I have worked in education for the last 16 years, as a secondary school teacher, Curriculum leader and now as a Teacher educator. I am a big fan of the outdoors and my happy place would be out in the countryside with my 2 dogs, I am very passionate about education and ensuring that every child is valued and has the opportunity to fulfil their potential.

What inspired you to become a governance volunteer?

I was inspired to become a governor because I believe it is a role that can make a real difference in both supporting schools and holding them to account over vital decisions and processes – this inevitably can have an impact on the students and local community served by the school.

What are the benefits you get from being a governance volunteer?

There are numerous benefits to being a governance volunteer – working with schools towards common goals, seeing and supporting schools in the on-going challenges faced with a community focussed lens and seeing the impact on students.

In three words, how does being a governance volunteer make you feel?

Engaged. Motivated. Purposeful.

Trust Member

What inspired you to become a governance volunteer?

I have always believed every young person is deserving of the best possible education. This is regardless of family income, family structure, religion, gender and sexual orientation.

In my opinion, there are too many instances of young people being failed or not being supported enough to reach their potential.

Being a Governor won’t allow me to change the state education system but it will allow me to be active in attempting to help address issues which may be barriers to young people meeting their true potential.

I currently have the time and enthusiasm to contribute to the Governing body and am keen to widen my knowledge of the structures and legislation behind the delivery of education in our area. I hope I have an open and enquiring mind and am keen to become more deeply involved in this fundamentally crucial system.

Staff Member

About Paul

As a dedicated educator and current Head of Department at Benfield, I bring a wealth of leadership experience and a deep understanding of the daily rhythms of school life. My career has been defined by the firm belief that academic excellence is only possible when built upon a foundation of emotional security and inclusive practice. I advocate for an environment where wellbeing is the heartbeat of the school, ensuring it is treated as a core strategic priority rather than a supplementary “add-on.”

What inspired you to become a governance volunteer?

I was inspired to step into governance because I am convinced that a school only reaches its true potential when its vision robustly supports the mental health and resilience of the entire community. By volunteering, I gain a vital “big picture” understanding of the systemic structures that protect both student and staff welfare, which in turn enriches my own perspective on educational leadership. This dual role allows me to contribute my “on-the-ground” expertise to help shape a thriving, sustainable future for the school.

In three words, how does being a governance volunteer make you feel?

Empowered. Purposeful. Connected.

Trust Member

About Hamdi

Hamdi Torun is an academic at Northumbria University. He has higher education teaching experience for more than 10 years. He is an electrical engineer by training and conducts research on microsystems especially for sensing applications. He is a co-founder and a board member of GlakoLens, a biomedical spinoff company.

What inspired you to become a governance volunteer?

Having observed the incoming students to the university over the years, I have become more interested to explore the landscape in secondary education.

What are the benefits you get from being a governance volunteer?

Being a governance volunteer has allowed me to observe how the strategic decisions are taken and how those have an impact on students’ experience and learning. Having this perspective, I am now better informed when I need to make decisions.

In three words, how does being a governance volunteer make you feel?

Connected. Engaged. Satisfied.

Co-opted Member

About Neil

I trained as a science teacher in the East End of London originally and have taught and worked in a variety of schools across the country for the last thirty years; I am currently Headmaster at a local independent school in Newcastle.
I trained as a school inspector in 2018 and inspect both the educational side and the compliance aspects of schools so am often involved in looking at safeguarding, health and safety, etc.

What inspired you to become a governance volunteer?

I chose to become a governance volunteer because I have the joy of seeing how another type of school works and am able to be a ‘critical friend’ to the leadership team of Benfield – holding them to account but also encouraging them in their successes. As a school leader myself, I know how important it is to have some people on the governing board who understand the management of schools as a different model from a traditional business and wanted to share my expertise.

What are the benefits you get from being a governance volunteer?

As a governance volunteer within an academy, I am able to better understand the particularities of this model of education and build professional relationships with a wide group of people that will, hopefully, be of benefit to all. Leadership is a learning process and I enjoy sharing thoughts and ideas with the leaders at Benfield.

In three words, how does being a governance volunteer make you feel?

Involved. Useful. Encouraged.