Chair Of Governors
Term of office : 19.09.2019 until 18.09.2027
Jon can be contacted via the school office: c/o Cockburn Haigh Road Academy, Haigh Road, Leeds LS26 0NQ
After over 30 years working in commercial businesses, leading change and transformation programmes in the legal, insurance, financial services and technology services sectors, I’ve now worked full time in both a professional and voluntary capacity in the education sector for the last nine years, in varying settings across West Yorkshire and Lancashire. I currently serve on, or work with, a number of IEBs/governing bodies/trust boards.
As a ‘National Leader of Governance’, my primary focus is upon supporting schools which have been categorised by Ofsted as ‘requires improvement’ or ‘inadequate’, which have an identified need to improve standards of governance, or which face other significant challenges, e.g. a substantial financial shortfall. Over the last eight years, I have been able to contribute to ensuring that many such schools rapidly returning to performing at a ‘good’ level.
Recognising that excellent teaching changes lives, I am passionate about improving the quality of education and about the important role governors can, and must, play in driving up standards.
Register of interests:
Director of Jon Hairsine Limited (provider of education consultancy services). Trustee of Cockburn Multi-Academy Trust. Governor of Middleton Primary School, Bankside Primary School, Riverside Junior School, Colden Junior and Infant School, Todmoden High School, Calder Learning Trust, Whitegate Infant School.
Parent Governor appointment 1st September 2023 - 1st September 2026
I currently work as a Resuscitation Officer for the NHS, running and delivering courses to NHS staff.
I believe that all children in our community deserve equal access to a quality education. By being a governor, I believe have the opportunity to advocate for the families with children attending the school and if needed, hold the school to account and fair scrutiny. This, I hope, will help maintain a quality and holistic education experience for those children attending and contribute to the positive experience already provided by Cockburn Haigh Road Academy.
I have an understanding of the multifaceted needs of a family and the factors that can influence how they function and engage with an organisation such as a school.I also have an existing understanding of how large, government funded organisations run and how they are subject to different stakeholders, policy and legislation.
Parent Governor 15th March 2022 - 15th March 2026
My name is Lizzie and I am married with 2 children, my youngest currently attends CHRA. I am a secondary teacher with responsibility for KS4. In recent years I have been working at a through school and have the joy of working with children from age 5 up to 16 years old. My spare time is limited but like most people, I love to spend time with my family. I also run a Children's Charity that I have been involved with for many years. The charity supports families in need by providing children who may need a break from home with a camping holiday in the Yorkshire Dales. I became parent governor because I wanted to learn more about the EYFS and KS1 curriculum and also support the school that has supported my children transition into their early years of education so smoothly and succesfully. I am really enjoying working with CHRA as parent governor and I am looking forward to learning more about the school and its amazing children and families.
Term of Office 15.03.2022 to 15.03.2026
Registers of interest: Nothing to declare
During my teaching career, I have worked across the primary age range and specifically taught classes in Nursery and years 1,3,4 and 5 with booster work to support year six. I also spent time on secondment to Education Bradford to lead a Year 2 project on improving communication, language and literacy attainment.
As a leader I have been able to engage with my love of literacy, leading the subject across two large primary schools. Through this subject leadership I have embraced the opportunity to work collaboratively with other schools and leaders, for the benefit of pupil attainment.
In my previous school, I took on a variety of roles to support the school in meeting the needs of the pupils. This included two years as special needs coordinator; a position that helped me gain a deeper understanding of processes and procedures in Leeds as well as expanding my knowledge of how best to support children with additional needs.
As a leader of people, I have worked as phase leader for lower KS2, KS1 and EYFS, embedding driving the joy of learning within the team ethos. As Deputy Headteacher in a large inner city primary school I learned the art of school leadership and bring this, along with a passion for developing excellence in learning, to my role at CHRA.
I joined Cockburn Haigh Road Academy as Headteacher in November 2019.
Term of Office: 25.11.2019 to 24.11.2027
Register of interests: Nothing to declare
Staff Governor 27th October 2023 - 27th October 2026
I have been teaching since 2011 and joined Cockburn Haigh Road in 2012. I currently teach Year Two and lead Mathematics, History and Geography. This breadth of experience means I have a strong insight into teaching and learning, curriculum and assessment.
Having worked here for so many years, I am dedicated to serving the local community. I enjoy working with the wonderful families attending the school and have formed fantastic relationships with them over the years. My role as Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead has given me a deeper insight into the challenges and struggles some families experience and the impact this can have. I believe that all the children and families within our community deserve to be safe and supported, particularly the most vulnerable groups within school, to ensure that they have access to a good education and to provide them opportunities that broaden their life experiences.
Being a school governor will allow be to see school from a different perspective and I look forward to being able to contribute my ideas and experience to the team.
I am a Secondary school Teacher and Director of Year with over 7 years experience in an educational setting, across a wide range of subjects and education phases. .
As well as a school governor, I am also trustee for a non-profit charity, who strive to work with convicted prisoners by encouraging the maintaining of family ties whilst serving their sentence, with support of families, research suggests offenders are far less likely to reoffend. The charity recently saw the roll out of a “consequences of actions” programme with a youth group in Kirklees.
My own experience as a student didn’t come without it's challenges. From the age of 8 years old I was a young carer of a single parent family, growing up in an area where deprivation and unemployment was alarmingly above national average. From my own experiences, I have always felt a strong desire to make a difference to young lives and help others achieve their full potential, no matter their upbringing. Education should not be a postcode lottery. I believe in a broad and balanced curriculum which prepares young people to be model citizens in modern Britain. I feel proud to be part of the Cockburn community and strongly believe in the well rooted values and expectations, My primary focus at Cockburn Haigh Road is SEND provision.
Term of Office 30.09.2022 to 30.09.2026
Karamjeet Virdee: retired 01.03.2023
Luisa Panetta: retired 31.08.2023