Pen Portraits

New Mills School Governors Pen Portraits

David Hoult
David Hoult

Term of office 11 December 2022 – 10 December 2026
Responsibilities on board
I am a co-opted member of the Board of Governors and a member of its Resource Management committee.
About me
I have been a governor at New Mills School since 2018.  I live in Mellor, just over the border in Greater Manchester, where I am also a trustee and Chair of the Board of Governors at Mellor Primary School.  I am a musician – a singer and formerly a horn player – and I trained at Manchester University, Lancaster University and the Royal Northern College of Music.  I was principal of Leeds College of Music from 1993 until I retired in 2008.  Before that I was Head of Music at University College Salford, while also working as a freelance singer and broadcaster on BBC Radio 3.  
Email address dhoult@newmillsschool.co.uk

Heather Watts

Term of office From 1 September 2021
Responsibilities on board
As Headteacher, my overarching responsibility is to lead, develop and support the strategic direction, vision, values and priorities of New Mills School to lead to school improvement. My role on the board is therefore to work collaboratively with governors, primarily by reporting on progress on all key aspects of the school.
About me
I took up my post as Headteacher of New Mills School in September 2021 after having gained much senior leadership experience working in Stockport secondary schools. My experience of working with governing boards began in 2002 when I was elected as staff governor and I have been privileged to work collaboratively with a diverse range of governors ever since.  
I am passionate about all pupils, regardless of their starting points, being adequately challenged and supported to achieve their absolute best so that they go on to positively contribute to society.
My husband, also a teacher, and I have two children – one at secondary school and one at sixth form college so education is an important facet of our family life. When not working, we enjoy family holidays from caravanning in Wales to snorkelling in Ibiza. To relax, I enjoy long walks, gardening and reading.
Email address head@newmillsschool.co.uk

Sarah Cohen

Sarah Cohen

Term of office  May 2023 – May 2027.
Responsibilities on Board
I am the Staff Governor and also a member of the Behaviour, Attitudes and Personal Development Committee. I have a particular interest in our Pupil Premium students.
About me
I have worked at New Mills School for sixteen years and became Staff Governor in May of 2019. I have two roles here, Higher Level Teaching Assistant specialising in English and based in our English Faculty, and I am also part of our brilliant SEND team of Teaching Assistants. My daughter, who attended New Mills School, and I live in New Mills, and we are very much a part of this wonderful community. I am passionate about ensuring all our pupils are provided with an excellent, quality education and with enabling them to fulfil their true potential as they go out into the wider world. Outside of school I enjoy walking, cooking, gardening and a lot of reading.
Email scohen@newmillsschool.co.uk

Sue Fisher

Sue Fisher

Term of office 25 November 2020 - 24 November 2024
Responsibilities on board
I am a Parent Governor and a member of the Resource Management committee. I have a particular interest in improving spaces for sport and physical activity at the school.
About me
I live in New Mills and I am a Parent Governor. I have 3 children, one of whom is in year 8, and twins who will join in September 2022. I am currently PE Coordinator at New Mills Primary School and have been involved in helping children to lead healthy active lifestyles both inside and outside of school, through organised sport and physical activity. Alongside my experience in teaching, I have experience of working in commercial business, the voluntary sector and in the grant giving sector. In a former life, I have been Brand Manager for Persil and Sales Manager to Asda Walmart. After a move into the charity sector, I became Head of the grant giving team at the Heritage Lottery Fund in Manchester for 9 years and have experience of both large-scale capital grants as well as small community projects. Over the last 5 years I have raised around £50,000 for projects to improve our schools and community spaces. Outside of work, I can most often be found up a hill on a bike or on foot. I love the outdoors and take every opportunity to seek adventure in the mountains.
Email address sfisher@newmillsschool.co.uk

Michael Shew

Term of office December 2018 to December 2022
Responsibilities on board
I am the link governor for the Open Faculty (Art and Design, Business Studies, Music, Media, Drama, Design and Technology) and a member of the Quality of Education Committee.
About me
I have been a governor at New Mills School since 2018. I worked full time in secondary education as a science teacher, head teacher, inspector and assistant director of education for forty years before downsizing to part-time and voluntary work a few years ago. I’m currently a part-time assistant lecturer at Sheffield Hallam University Institute of Education, working with trainee teachers in Sheffield schools. My interests include writing fiction, hill-walking and cycling.
Email address mshew@newmillsschool.co.uk

Chris Furness Copy
Chris Furness

Term of office 14 Jan 2021 – 14 Jan 2025
Responsibilities on board
I have no particular responsibilities on the Board at the moment but have Chaired the Resources Management Committee in the past
About me
I am the Local Authority representative on the Board. I am a Derbyshire Dales District Councillor, where I Chair the Communities and Environment Committee.
I have been a governor of the school since 2013. I am Chair of Governors at Bradwell Infants School. I was a pupil of the school when it was a Grammar School and have fond memories of those times
Email address cfurness@newmillsschool.co.uk

Sam

Sam Monteath

Term of office October 2020 – November 2024
Responsibilities on board
I am a Parent Governor and a member of the Quality of Education committee
About me
I’ve been a governor at the High Peak Federation (Newtown and Thornsett Primaries) for many years, and Chair for a good number of them. As my children move on from primary to New Mills School, I wanted to bring that experience here.
I run my own consultancy business from New Mills, and I love this community and its surroundings. I also support young people in my role as Junior Co-ordinator of the cricket club. You might know my face as one of the regular Quizit charity quiz hosts.
Email address smonteath@newmillsschool.co.uk

 Jo Lomax

Jo Lomax

Term of office January 2022
Responsibilities on Board I am a co-opted member of the Board of Governors and SEND Link Governor.
About me I have been a governor at New Mills School since January 2022. As a former student at the school I’m passionate about giving back my time and effort in assisting students at NMS receive a great education and enjoy their time as much as I did.

I have lived in the High Peak all my life. I enjoy walking in the Peak district and European city breaks. I have a degree in Criminology and criminal justice and have worked within local government for a number of years gaining experience in communications, performance, policy and peer mentoring.
Email address jlomax@newmillsschool.co.uk

Tim O’Brien

Term of office September 2019 to September 2023
Responsibilities on Board I am a Parent Governor and Chair of the Resource Management Committee.
About me My son is in year 9 and enjoying being in a school with such a friendly and supportive culture, my daughter is very much looking forward to joining her brother at the school next year.
Having spent some time as a Teacher of Design and Technology, I have spent the majority of my career working in the construction industry. I currently sit on the board of a major contractor. I hope to bring my commercial experience to the Resource Management Committee to help the school continue to run efficiently and  of course maintain the beauty of the grade 2 listed school building.
In my spare time I enjoy motorsport, keeping fit and fixing things my children have broken.
Email address tjobrien@newmillsschool.co.uk

Term of Office  End date July 2022
About me A career spanning over 20 years in the NHS, Tyrone is currently Chief officer / Director of Nursing, working with an NHS Group model in Greater Manchester. He has held various positions across surgery, medicine, women and children’s and community.  
A keen advocate of visible leadership and of staff engagement, Tyrone is a qualified ‘coach’ and also champions the use of measurement for improvement and has led various patient safety developments.
Tyrone has a keen interest in wider determinants of (ill) health, which encompass a wide range of factors including education, housing, community ‘assets’ and wider societal deprivation. Tyrone aims to bring his health background and interests around inequalities in health into performance on outcomes for pupils, ensuring gaps in outcomes between pupils classed as disadvantaged are reduced as compared to all other pupils. He also leads as link governor for the Safeguarding agenda.
Tyrone is married with three children and is addition to his school parent governor role, he is also a local parish councillor for New Mills. He enjoys the outdoors and is a keen promotor of physical health and well-being.
Email address troberts@newmillsschool.co.uk

Peter Inman

Responsibilities on board
It’s a great privilege to be a governor at New Mills School and I have served as Chair of Governors since September 2022. One of my biggest interests is the Quality of Education and I also attend the other governing board committees to gain an overall understanding of the school and its vision.

About me

I work for a large Further Education College, and I know first-hand how a strong education can transform lives and lead to life changing opportunities for all. I live with my family in Birch Vale, and we love the lively community spirit of New Mills. My interests include music, cycling, and growing fruit & vegetables at the allotment!  
Email address
chair@newmillsschool.co.uk

Peter