Responsibilities/Committees: Chair of Governors

Responsibilities/Committees: Vice Chairperson. Chair of REP Panel/Joint Chair of  the Safeguarding and Pupil Welfare Board.

I am a mother of 2 daughters. I became an Associate Governor at Lonsdale in Sept 2016, then a full Governor in September 2017. I have previously been a Parent Governor at Marriotts School from 2012/2014. I am registered disabled and have found that with my free time this has given me the opportunity to give back to my local community. I believe that every child deserves a good education no matter their background and I hope to help support the school in achieving this.

Responsibilities/Committees: School Development Board

Dr Jarvis is currently Pro-Vice Chancellor (Education and Student Experience) at the University of Hertfordshire. Prior to joining the university in 2006 she was SENCo and Inclusion co-ordinator at Ashwell Primary School. She is passionate about ensuring that all learners achieve challenges and enjoy success and that all children are empowered to find their own voice. Dr Jarvis has lived in Graveley, just outside Stevenage, for the last 32 years.

Responsibilities/Committees: Safeguarding and Pupil Welfare Board

My name is Katie Byrne I have been Governor for the last 13 years at Lonsdale school. I was a pupil previously at the school. I live in Letchworth, independently in my bungalow, with help from my personal assistants and my care agency. I have a disability, but I get around in my electric wheelchair and live life to the full.  I am currently at Hertfordshire University in my second year of studying to be a Special Needs teacher. This is brought a lot of challenges because I now realise that I really want to help students with disabilities to reach their full potential regardless of their disabilities.

I feel that as a Governor I do understand how to make sure students to be independent without their disability becoming the focus and the fact that I can show the students that you can live independently in your own home with support and this perhaps gives them a goal to achieve themselves in the future. I really do enjoy my volunteering as a governor because I like to know that I have helped the school become a great school that it is and I feel very welcome and part of the team at Lonsdale and are valued member of the school. 

I think it is good that I can show parents and students that disability does not mean you can’t do anything it means you can because I have done it myself.  Also, students and parents are more than welcome to send me emails with any questions they might have regarding disabilities, leaving school, going to college, leaving home and living independently/with support.  I am more than happy to try and help them in the best way I can by giving them my perspective

Responsibilities/Committees:  Joint Chair of the  Safeguarding and Pupil Welfare Board, Safeguarding Governor

I have been a Governor at Lonsdale since 2014.  I am a frequent visitor to school through my work as a Youth Connexions Personal Adviser.  I have worked with young people and children in a range of settings for as long as she I remember!  I have both, personal and professional experience of supporting people with disabilities and learning difficulties. When not discussing issues around transition with Lonsdale pupils, I am usually discussing music, film and Lego as an alternative!

Responsibilities/Committees: Safeguarding and Pupil Welfare board and Wellbeing Award for Schools (WAS)

I am a new Parent Governor to Lonsdale School (joining for the 2017/18 academic year), although my son has been a pupil at the school for a few years now. 

I joined as Governor because I wanted to be involved in the decision making at the school and to be a part of making it an exceptional learning place for all the children who attend. Being part of the school community is really important to me and I am thoroughly enjoying my new role!

As well as enjoying quality time with my young(ish!) family, I also enjoy playing Hockey and generally keeping fit and healthy in my spare time and my passion for sport and physical activity spills over into my day job! I work part-time at the University of Hertfordshire’s Sports Village as a Sports Development Officer. I love my job – creating and coordinating opportunities for children and young adults to keep fit and healthy through a variety of sports and physical activities  during school and university term-time as well as school holiday periods. 

I am a Senior Associate Solicitor at Tees Law, specialising in Education Law. I have extensive experience representing parents of children with special educational needs, including but not limited to cases appealing provision and setting in the SEND tribunal. I am a member of the Education Law Association and I am a regular contributor of articles to an education and family centric publication in Essex. I have delivered training to schools, local authorities and parents in relation to Special Educational Needs and the law in practice. When I do get some ‘down time’ it largely centres around the differing needs of my toddler and teenager. I enjoy playing the piano and am currently learning to play the alto-saxophone (albeit rather slowly!) I am also an avid baker and have recently been learning about using unlikely replacement ingredients in baked goods to address my youngest son's various allergies.