I have had links with HCCS since my elder daughter started there in 1993. I became a Governor in 1994 and was Vice Chair of Governors for many years. From April 2012 until September 2014 I was the Chair of Governors.

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I have been in education for over 40 years teaching across all sectors from Early Years to adult Higher Education. I am currently involved in Teacher Education.

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Recently I was appointed as Vice Chair of the Members Board and I am firmly committed to ensuring that HCCS continues to go from strength to strength.

I was a governor for many years, initially at Goostrey Community Primary School, where I held the position of Chair for several years. I joined HCCS as a Governor in 2009, for a period of 8 years and during this time saw the school through Academy status. I Chaired the Behavioural & Wellbeing Committee, was the Special Educational Needs Governor and sat on the Appeal Panel for Exclusions and Admissions.

 

Both of my daughters attended HCCS and Sixth Form College, my youngest leaving in 2018. I am self-employed providing a variety of businesses with Occupational Health services.

 

I am a charity member of the Remembering Nell Foundation and on the committee for Goosfest (yearly arts and music festival).

Originally from The Netherlands, I have lived and worked in the U.K. since 1994 and we have lived in the local area for over 10 years. Our twins both attended HCCS. I was a parent governor at HCCS from 2012 to 2018 and chaired the Estates and Facilities committee.

 

As a director for a digital transformation consultancy I work predominantly with central Government departments, including the Department for Education.  I have worked in consultancy, IT and digital transformation for over 30 years and am especially interested in culture, agile ways of working and user centric design to deliver great outcomes.

I write fiction under the name Sophie Rickard, and have lived in the area since 2010. I served as a Governor at HCCS from 2018 for four years, including as Chair of the Behaviour and Wellbeing committee. I currently serve as a Family Court Magistrate. I have a particular interest in safeguarding and inclusion following several years working with NSPCC Childline.

 

My children (one at university and one teaching primary) have both overcome SEND diagnoses to thrive in adulthood and I have a keen interest in all aspects of equality and diversity. I am proud of HCCS 'approach to learning and development, and the school's wider culture.