I have spent almost my entire life in an educational setting – school, then college followed by 38 years of teaching and then leadership positions in schools in Surrey, Nottinghamshire and London.  En route to retirement in 2021, I was encouraged to explore whether service as a priest was the next step to take.  I am now undergoing training in the Diocese of Gloucester.  I am supported in this training by St Mary’s, Newent (which is part of the benefice encompassing St Peter’s Clifford’s Mesne and Christ Church, Gorsley).  It was from their newsletter that I learned of the vacancy on the Governing Body at the Gateway Federation and was delighted to join the Lea and Gorsley Goff’s family as a Foundation Governor.  Having served as the Chair of Governors of a Church of England Primary School in London for the five years before our move to Gloucestershire, I was also happy to help out and serve as the Interim Chair.  As a governor, my focus has always been on pupil welfare and outcomes – they are at the centre of all that we do.