Mrs Anna Howe

Co-opted Governor and Chairperson

Key Focus: Humanities

Term of Office: May 2019 to May 2023

Appointed by: ATLP Trust Board

I am born and bred in Birmingham, so have lived in and around Sutton Coldfield all my life. I am married to Dave and I have a grown-up son Luke and teenage stepdaughter Chloe, a Whippet and 3 cats. I am an enthusiastic walker in Sutton Park with said husband and whippet Misty, I feel so fortunate to have the park on our doorstep to indulge my love of the great outdoors. Health and well being are important to me and I am a huge advocate of the benefit of being active and especially Pilates and Yoga for mind and body.

My background is in Programme, Project and Change management, moving into more leadership roles over the last decade. I have worked in the private, charity and public sectors. In 2016 I began my current role as Programme Director for the Gambling Commission who is the regulator for the gambling industry and exist to ensure licensed operators uphold the regulations in the Gambling Act of 2007. It is a varied and interesting organisation to work in and there are a lot of changes happening to make the industry improve.

Being a Governor

I have been a Governor twice before, a LEA (Local Education Authority) appointed one at Town Junior and a parent Governor at Bishop Walsh. I am passionate about education, learning and children’s opportunities. I was a founding Trustee on the charity Aspire who work with schools on physical activities and providing time, education and equipment for schools in Tanzania. I moved on from there in 2017 after 3 years and felt this year was the right time to get involved with my community and volunteer. I am fortunate and thrilled to be working with the dedicated and fabulous people who make up Hill West Primary School.

Mrs Gill Jones

Co-opted Governor

Key Focus: Safeguarding

Term of Office: December 2018 to December 2022

Appointed by: ATLP Trust Board

I have lived in the West Midlands for all of my life and settled in Sutton Coldfield with my Husband in 1976 before either of my daughters were born. Later that year we were blessed with my eldest daughter and just a couple of years after that we completed our family with my youngest daughter. The girls were an absolute delight and Chris (my husband) and I were devoted parents. It was during their early years that I decided to explore a career in early year’s childcare. It all started when I began to take my daughters to playgroup at St James’ Church. Initially I volunteered my services and supported with the toddler group. This quickly led to me taking up paid employment and within just a couple of years I was play supervisor. From there, I worked at a private school in their Kindergarten for a number of years obtaining my qualifications in early year’s childcare and education. During this time I also trained as a swimming instructor and taught children to swim during the day while at school and at Wyndley Leisure Centre in the evenings. In 1996 I joined the team of early years support staff as supervisor at the Hill West Nursery which was managed at the time by a private proprietor. When the opportunity arose in 1998 for Hill West Infant School to seek a new proprietor I was excited to offer my services and this is when I set up my own business and became the Hill West Nursery Manger. I have been the private proprietor since that time and have worked closely with the school’s leadership and management teams to ensure we offer the very best for the children in our care. I sat on the board of Governors of Hill West Infants for a number of years and remained part of the Governing Body when the school amalgamated into a primary school. Having relinquished my position on the governing board a number of years ago I was pleased to then have the time to spend with my ailing husband. Sadly I lost him in 2016 and although this was a significant bereavement I am fortunate to have both my daughters and my grandson for support. The Hill West community were a real comfort for me at this time and in addition working with young children means that they keep you young at heart and never allow you to dwell on the sad things in your life for too long. I was honoured to be asked to re-join the governing body again and look forward to continuing to make a difference to our whole school community through this strategic role.

Dr Beth Clarke

Head Teacher

Key Focus: Leadership, Learning and Teaching

Term of Office: Not applicable

Appointed by: Not applicable

I was born in Aberdare, South Wales to relatively young parents and had a fabulous childhood that was care-free and adventurous. I loved animals and had my first pony aged 7. By the age of ten we had two ponies and two dogs; Doberman pedigrees that bred many litters of puppies. I rode avidly for pleasure during the week and at weekends we would often head off to the nearest horse or agricultural show. Statistics suggest that the number of violent offences against children have not increased in the four decades since I was born yet children don’t seem to have the same freedom today that shaped me as a young child. I would often ride out on my own, for hours at a time, being completely at one with my pony. I was never an avid learner, life was far too exciting and when I moved on to secondary school I was probably of average ability. I really wanted to be a vet, inspired by my love of animals but having chosen the three separate sciences at GCSE soon came to realise that perhaps this wasn’t the route for me. I undertook a two week work placement in a Veterinary practice in Merthyr Tydfil while I considered whether Veterinary Nursing was an option. However I soon decided that if I couldn’t be a vet I would prefer to change direction completely. I wasn’t predicted the best A Level grades and I think it is fair to say that some of my teachers thought it unlikely I would ever do great things academically. I was still absorbed with my life out of school enjoying pony club, shows, and the social interaction that came with it. However I set my mind on becoming a teacher and worked hard to get the necessary grades. I went to University in Cardiff and undertook a four year BA’Ed. On completion of my degree I was keen to move out of South Wales to experience life in a big city and I was fortunate enough to secure my first teaching post in Birmingham. I started my career in Kingstanding and having spent 6 happy years working with the children and families there moved on to a school in Aston. It was here I was promoted to Assistant Head and developed a real desire for Leadership. I had embarked on an MA whilst new to post and wrote my dissertation on Family Literacy, a project designed to help parents with English as a second language better support their children at home. I completed my MA and then sought promotion to Deputy Head and joined the staff at Hill West as a non-class based Deputy. Although extremely sad to be leaving the classroom the thought of being able to make strategic decisions that could benefit a whole school of children filled me with excitement. My years at Hill West have been extremely happy. In my third year I decided to enrol on a taught doctorate programme at the University of Birmingham with the express desire to continually learn and improve my skills. I am aware that we are the temporary custodians of our schools, which ultimately belong to and serve the community. I hope that while I am the Head Teacher Hill West will continue to flourish and enrich the lives of many young people and their families.

Mrs Hannah Cook (currently on maternity leave)

Staff Governor

Key Focus: Leadership, Learning and Teaching

Term of Office: March 2018 to March 2022

Appointed by: ATLP Trust Board

We moved around quite a lot throughout my childhood but, having lived in several parts of the country, including London, Loughborough and Milton Keynes, I eventually settled in Solihull where I moved to be with my dad when I was 14 years old.  I completed my GCSEs there, before embarking on my A Levels at the local Sixth Form College.  I did not inherit my dad’s love of Maths but loved the Arts, choosing to study English Literature, History and Philosophy at A Level.

I think my love of learning (and addiction to stationery) contributed to my desire to become a teacher, which was the only career I have ever been interested in pursuing.  Having two older brothers also meant I would often enjoy playing on my own in my imaginary world; I have vivid memories of playing “schools” in my bedroom, getting lost in a make-believe classroom and even writing end of year reports on one occasion(!)

It was no surprise then when I decided to study for a BA in Primary Education with QTS at UCE (now Birmingham City University) in 2005.  It was a four year course of which I loved almost every second and I felt very well prepared for my first teaching post by the end of it.  I looked around Hill West and fell in love with it straight away.  Since starting my NQT year here in 2009, I have not looked back and have been afforded many fantastic opportunities, taking on various leadership responsibilities before being appointed Deputy Head Teacher in 2015. In January 2018 I achieved my Masters in Educational Leadership, which has given me greater insight into the challenges facing school leaders in a variety of contexts.

Teaching is all-consuming, challenging and downright exhausting at times, but there is no other career I’d rather have, and I feel privileged to be able to influence and build relationships with so many young people at such a wonderful school.

Mrs Harjinder Millington

Parent Governor

Key Focus: Creative Arts

Term of Office: April 2016 to August 2021; (extended for one year)

Appointed by: ATLP Trust Board

Born to Sikh parents who came to the UK from India in the 1960’s, I am a first generation British Asian, who was brought up in Blackburn Lancashire. Having trained as a lawyer in Staffordshire, I moved to Birmingham in 2001 to became a commercial lawyer at international law firm Gowlings WLG (formerly Wragge & Co). Falling in love with the city, I stayed at Gowlings for around 10 years and, after meeting my husband here, I left Gowlings to have my daughter and then very quickly my son, both of whom are pupils at Hill West Primary School, in years 5 and 6.

Having managed my own online furniture retail business for 7 years, I am now commercial director of Rewired, a communications agency in Birmingham which is very strong in the retail, consumer and education sectors. Here I bring commercial awareness, content marketing and brand strategies to clients, whilst supporting them in generating wider business opportunities and developing strong, valuable business relationships.

I also sit on the main board of the Birmingham Hippodrome theatre where I am part of the team working hard to expand the theatre’s audience demographics and outreach to wider, diverse communities through its education and creative programming.

As a strong believer in, and someone who benefited from, the positive and transformative effect that education can have on children, I wanted to give something back.

At Hill West Primary School, I am involved in challenging and supporting the school at governor level and within its community. I believe that every child should be given the best education platform to learn and succeed and that through Hill West Primary School, they can achieve that.

Dr Rhian Warrack

Staff Governor

Key Focus: Teaching and Learning

Term of Office: January 2021 to December 2021

Appointed by: ATLP Trust Board

I was born in Bellshill Glasgow, where my parents had moved from Abertystwyth. They met at the University, where my mum trained to be a teacher and my father studied for a degree and then a PhD in Chemistry. They had only been in Scotland for a few years before I was born, followed by my sister 18 months later and then my brother. When I was 4, we move to Amersham (NW of London) – as my father took a job with Amersham International – moving from skin disease research to managing the production of clinical test kits. Two years later, we moved to a small village outside Newport in South Wales, as my father’s job moved to Cardiff. I loved school, and I was an avid reader. I read the Hobbit (by JRR Tolkein) when I was nine, and this began my life-long love of fantasy and science fiction books. As a young girl, I enjoyed ballet, tap and gymnastics, but as my sister’s gymnastic career took off, I focused on my love of horse-riding and of rugby (although I have always been a supporter rather than a player). I could be found every Sunday morning supporting my younger brother playing for NHSOB all over South Wales and the West of England. From an early age I wanted to be a surgeon, and was devastated when I didn’t achieve the necessary (and predicted) A level grades to accept a place at Cardiff University.  Unexpectedly I was offered a place at Imperial College to study Biochemistry and spent three years learning about the chemistry and biology of living cells. In my Masters, I focused on my interest in the brain, and the biochemistry and biology of how neurones communicate. I then moved to Birmingham to study for a PhD, researching Hydrogen Sulphide and investigating whether this compound, made by bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract, might play a role in Ulcerative Colitis. I presented my research nationally and internationally, sparking a love of international travel, before moving to the Department of Surgery to work on proteins involved in adhesion between skin cells. I had a brief sojourn in banking, before returning to science, looking at genetic factors involved in colon cancer. I love asking and answering questions and analysing information to find out what the data can prove. But after having my first daughter, and seeing her fall ill, I gave up my science career to look after her. I worked as a childminder – and found that I wanted to find the answers to questions about early child development and how young children learn and eventually studied for Early Years Professional Status (a Masters equivalent). I was fascinated by how important the development of self-confidence is, in order for children to learn. When my children were both in full time education, I volunteered in a school in South Staffordshire, before training on the Graduate Training Program in 2013. I spent my first three years as a teacher in Leicestershire, taking on the role as Science Lead after qualifying. I have blended my passion for learning and children, with my love of science, ever since. I moved to Hill West in 2016, taking on the science lead role. Developing the teaching of science across the ATLP and developing the science curriculum as an SLE is something I am incredibly proud of. Being able to influence the teaching and learning in my current strategic role across the whole school is a privilege and one that I will endeavour to do my very best at. I hope that I can continue to ensure that every child achieves their full potential, despite the most difficult of times, in an inspirational and supportive school and academy, so that our children can become whatever they wish in the future.

Mr Matthew Walker

Parent Governor and Vice Chair

Key Focus: Inclusion (Pupil Premium, Pupil Premium plus, Sports Funding)

Term of Office: April 2016 to August 2021; (extended for one year)

Appointed by: ATLP Trust Board

From the age of 13 I grew up in Macclesfield, Cheshire (before that having lived in various parts of England!) and stayed there until I went to Nottingham University in 1999 to study Law with French, which meant that I studied in Nantes for a year as part of my degree – in many ways that was the easiest and hardest year of University life (3 hour long lectures on French law were challenging to say the least!).

Whilst at Nottingham, I met my wife Michelle and when we finished University we moved to Sutton Coldfield so that she could work at the hospital and I could commute to Birmingham City Centre when I started working for Wragge & Co (now Gowling WLG) which is where I still work today, 10 plus years on.

Whilst I enjoy the law and helping my clients be successful, I also love managing people and teams and striving to help people grow their careers and confidence and to see them achieve success. Having had two sons I decided I wanted to give something back to the school where my eldest Ben had started and hope that some of the skills that I had gained over the last 12 years at work would help me help Hill West to be the best that it possibly can.