Governors

Til Wright

Chair of Governors

Til has born and brought up in Rotherham, but spent her working life in Leeds. She now lives in Huddersfield. She took early retirement 10 years ago but has kept up to date with safeguarding and related issues. She was a teacher for 25 years then went in to senior management in the LA. She had a broad remit which included serious case reviews, safeguarding, liaison with head teachers. Most recently she has been the safeguarding governor at Huddersfield New College for 8 years. She is used to working in difficult/sensitive situations.

Steve Perren

Principal

Steve has been the Principal here at Castle Hill School since January 2018. Prior to this he was Head of School and then Acting Principal. Steve came to Castle Hill from Highfields School in 2006, when the school was first built and over the years he has had the privilege of seeing the school grow and develop. Since that time the school has gone through a lot of exciting changes and developments, including the construction of our ReWorks Eco Build . Our latest development is to join the Together Learning Trust which is due to take place in 2024. The school continues to evolve and change and Steve feels fortunate to be part of this ongoing dynamic process.

Jayne Askew

Staff Governor

Jayne has been a class teacher at Castle Hill school since it opened in 2006 and previously at Highfields school. She now works part-time as the communication teacher in school, liaising with the Speech and Language Therapist, setting up low and high tech communication systems, running communication groups and being part of the curriculum working party. She also is responsible for maintaining and resourcing the Chill Den – and making sure everyone keeps it tidy! Jayne is a mum to adult triplet daughters, one of whom was a pupil in our school. She has first hand experience of life with a special needs child and this has enriched her role as a teacher.

Katrina Whale

Staff Governor

Katrina has been working at Castle Hill School as an Enrichment Activities Facilitator since 2013, this role involves project management and fundraising. She has a background in teaching Dance and Performing Arts in Primary, Secondary Schools and Further Education settings. Alongside her role at Castle Hill, she works as a freelance Creative Producer on a range of Arts and Community Projects. As part of this work, she is the Project Manager for Action for Autism and Asperger’s Barnsley. Katrina is passionate about developing opportunities for children within school and people across the community, particularly those living with challenging circumstanced, to engage with uplifting creative experiences that are outside their usual day-to-day lives.

Kristy Dyson

Parent Governor

Kristy has been involved with Castle Hill School since her son joined in September 2019. She has a Business Degree and a Postgraduate Diploma in Personnel and Development, as well as being a member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development. She has 15 years experience of working in Human Resources, for both public and private organisations. She will use her transferable skills involved with advising and supporting Managers and Staff on policies and procedures, as well as a parent’s perspective to the role. Kristy is keen and excited to support everyone in school.

Kristy is now a full-time mum, who understands the very busy life of a special needs parent. She also appreciates the advocacy needed to ensure that children receive the support and care they need to fulfil their potential. Outside of school, Kristy and her family are very active. They enjoy the great outdoors and try to ensure that inclusion is at the heart of everything they do.

Emma Firth

Co-opted

Update coming soon.

Richard Instone

Co-opted

As the father of four grown-up children, I have long had an interest in schools and how they function. This interest was further developed by my twenty years spent as a mainstream primary teacher, in an urban school which knew considerable social and economic deprivation, with consequent special needs. Since retraining as a music therapist, it has been my pleasure to work at Castle Hill since 2016, initially for one day a week and subsequently for two. I have developed a strong bond with the school, its staff and students, and am keen to see it continue to thrive as a nurturing and positive environment for all the school population. I hope I can fulfil the role of governor in a way that contributes an honest appraisal and an objective voice to the local governing committee.

Joan Haines

Joan has a background in Education, Business and Charitable organisations including Shared Inspiration Ltd, Joan Haines Coaching and Consultancy, Achievement for All, School Improvement, Ofsted Inspector, Strategic Leader SEND, Head of Sensory Services Leeds (for Deaf and Blind Children and young people ), Teacher, Coach and Trainer. She is an International NLP Trainers Association (INLPTA) Master Practitioner and Trainer and a Multi-Braining Integration Techniques (mBIT) Coach and a Certified Havening Techniques ® Practitioner. As a qualified PE teacher, Joan is passionate about physical activity and the benefits for the physical body as well as benefits for positive mind sets, resilience and performance. Joan has an MA in Leadership and Management and National Professional Qualification for Headship. This means that she brings many and varied professional skills to the role of coach and trainer. Joan is a Governor, Castle Hill Special School, Together Learning Trust. Through her business known as Shared Inspiration, Joan provides leadership, management and wellbeing coaching, training and Havening therapy for increasing resilience and performance for Principals, Headteachers, Senior Leaders, managers, teachers and support staff in schools, focussing on wellbeing and resilience, goal setting and performance.