Meet Our Local Governing Committee
Phil Anderson
Trust Member – Local Governing Committee Chair
About Phil
Proudly serving as the Chair of Benfield Local Governing Committee (LGC), I hope I can bring a wealth of educational experience to our school community. Currently, I live in Newcastle and started my career as a maths teacher before specialising in initial teacher training, teaching and learning, and school leadership. With a passion for the outdoors, I also work as a freelance expedition leader around the world developing young people. Alongside volunteering as a governor, I am an active member of the North of Tyne Mountain Rescue Team.
What inspired you to become a governance volunteer?
I firmly believe in a fair education for all. A strong education, with high ambition and opportunity, is the most powerful tool to help children achieve excellence. Becoming a governor enables me to work towards this belief, connect and represent the local community and have a positive impact. I want to work with Benfield’s amazing students, staff and wider community so the school continues to grow as a truly extraordinary place.
What are the benefits you get from being a governance volunteer?
Being a governor gives me a strong sense of purpose. Over time, this has helped me develop my strategic thinking and engagement with stakeholders. It helps to understand the unprecedented challenges schools face in today’s society, as well as represent a loyal, hardworking community. Working with a diverse team has helped me draw on the expertise of other governors to continually learn.
In three words, how does being a governance volunteer make you feel?
Connected. Fulfilled. Committed.
Angie Birt
Trust Member – Local Governing Committee Co-Vice Chair
About Angie
I have been a member of Benfield Local Governing Committee since 2018 and I am currently Co-Vice Chair. This year my focus will be on attendance. Good attendance is so important and is linked to better exam results and future job opportunities.
I grew up and went to school and then University in Scotland. I really valued my education, it has opened up many opportunities for me and I now live and work in Newcastle.
What inspired you to become a governance volunteer?
I was inspired to become more involved and to get to know the local area better – joining NEAT Academy Trust was a perfect opportunity for me to do this. I also work with one of the largest employers locally and want our young people to flourish and thrive with all the skills they need to join the workforce of the future.
What are the benefits you get from being a governance volunteer?
It has been a privilege to work with the school team, to meet staff and students and to support Benfield School and the wider community.
In three words, how does being a governance volunteer make you feel?
Inspired. Impressed. Grateful.
Lynne Cope
Trust Member
About Lynne
I have been a careers professional for over 20 years and I am currently an Operations Manager for EDT, leading a team of Careers Advisers to change the lives of young people across the North East delivering quality Careers Education, Information, Advice and Guidance (CEIAG).
What inspired you to become a governance volunteer?
To support the students and wider community. Also to develop more knowledge about working in schools.
What are the benefits you get from being a governance volunteer?
I have been able to accomplish the above and continue to develop as a professional.
In three words, how does being a governance volunteer make you feel?
Make a difference.
Susan Currey
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.
Carole Day
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.
James Holdsworth
Trust Member
About James
Hi, I’m James and I’m proud to be a member of Benfield’s Local Governing Committee. I started my working life in education and did qualify as a teacher in the distant past, although my career diverted away from education at that point and through a few twists and turns led me into social work, where I have been for over 10 years. Outside of work, I’m a husband, father and dog owner. I enjoy most sports, but particularly rugby, cricket and football (including following Everton’s perpetual challenges), and love a good board game.
What inspired you to become a governance volunteer?
I hadn’t necessarily ever aspired to be a governance volunteer but the opportunity crossed my path almost by chance. The more I thought about it, the more I thought and hoped I would have relevant skills and experience to offer. My professional work embodies my personal values of equity and fairness, and involves working in the best interests of children and young people. I feel all of this aligns strongly with the role of governance volunteer at Benfield, so I was keen to join the team and play a role in ensuring that children at the school have an equal opportunity to learn, develop and become the best version of themselves.
What are the benefits you get from being a governance volunteer?
I value being a governance volunteer because I can see how the work contributes to a bigger picture of supporting children to learn, grow and develop in many areas of their lives, not just education. I enjoy being part of the team of LGC members, supporting and being supported by colleagues and further challenging and developing my own skills, knowledge and experience.
In three words, how does being a governance volunteer make you feel?
Proud. Invested. Optimistic.
Steph Murray
Staff Member
About Steph
I have worked at Benfield School for 16 years and care deeply about the young people we serve. I started here as a PE teacher and have been fortunate enough to hold many roles within the school. I believe in the staff, pupils and governance of the school and look forward to what our young people can achieve.
What inspired you to become a governance volunteer?
I wanted to make a difference in the school that I work in. I believe in our young people and I want to help provide them with the best possible outcomes and provide them with the skills and qualities needed for life after Benfield School.
What are the benefits you get from being a governance volunteer?
Being the voice of staff in Benfield School, knowing I can share the staff voice with the team and share ideas, suggestions and areas for improvement to enable us to grow as a school.
In three words, how does being a governance volunteer make you feel?
Proud. Excited. Motivated.
Carolyn Reay
Trust Member
About Carolyn
I work as a Deputy Headteacher at Central Walker CE Primary School. I first started working in Walker 11 years ago and it is a part of Newcastle that is now very close to my heart. When I’m not working, I spend most of my time with my two boys who are football-mad 9 and 6 year olds.
What inspired you to become a governance volunteer?
Many of the children who attend the primary school that I work in go on to attend Benfield School. I was keen to play a part in helping Benfield School to be the best that it can be.
What are the benefits you get from being a governance volunteer?
I get the chance to be part of a team who are committed and enthusiastic about making a difference to the lives of the young people of Walker.
In three words, how does being a governance volunteer make you feel?
Proud. Inspired. Fulfilled.
Hamdi Torun
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.
Neil Walker
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.