Designated Safeguarding Lead
I grew up in a small town in South Cumbria ( although it was Lancashire when I was born!) I am the eldest of three sisters. Luckily we were all very close, although being the eldest did pose challenges at times. Looking back the 1970’s were in many ways a good time to be a teenager. Without social media you had a lot more freedom and there were lots of activities for young people, including weekly discos and youth clubs. School was OK but I really enjoyed sixth form, made some good friends and loved the trips organised by a local music shop to see bands at Lancaster University and further afield. I was the first in my family to go to university and benefitted from having a full grant as well as the money I earned from summer jobs, so muchto be grateful for.
I studied History at Newcastle University, loved the city and the course. Unsure as to what to next, I applied to study a teaching qualification at St Martin’s Lancaster, with the result that I stayed in teaching all my working life. I’ve been fortunate to work in some lovely schools and recently retired as Head of Lancaster Girls’ Grammar School. Although at times challenging (particularly the Covid years) the support from the staff and parents plus the wonderful students, made it all worthwhile.
Currently I am volunteering for the NSPCC on their primary school safeguarding programme Speak Out, Stay Safe and it’s great to be back in a classroom. I’m continuing in a few other education related roles but also happy to be spending more time at home, in the garden and with my family. I am really pleased to be joining Escape2Make as a trustee with responsibility for safeguarding.
