Ali

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I have been a governor at the school since 2014 and took on the role of Chair in July 2015.  I live locally and have two children at the school.  I grew up in North Devon but moved away after finishing my studies and spent most of my career working in the financial services sector in London and abroad, before returning to North Devon with my young family. I now run The Quay Climbing Centre in Exeter, sharing running the business and raising the family with my husband.

My career began in 1976 as a mathematics teacher in London.  In 1990 I became Head Teacher of Southfield School in Workington, West Cumbria, and led the school successfully through the first round of Ofsted school inspections.   In 1997 I loved to North Devon as Principal of Ilfracombe College.  During the following years standards rose markedly, culminating in a Department for Education Achievement Award in 2003, shortly before I left the college to join Her Majesty’s Inspectors (HMI).  After gaining substantial experience as a frontline inspector, I became a member of Ofsted’s senior leadership team and in 2009 moved to a key role in the development of national school inspection policy and practice.  Following my retirement, I undertook a range of voluntary work before joining the Governing Body of Georgeham in 2013.  I am glad that I am able to put something back into the system.  After a career mainly based in secondary education, I passionately believe that getting it right in children’s first years in school is crucial.  I am Chair of the Teaching and Learning Committee and spend much of my governor time scrutinising the school’s academic performance data to see how we can challenge and support the teachers to bring out our children’s full potential.