Governors' and Members' Biographies
FRANK BAKER - ACTING CHAIR OF GOVERNORS
I have been a Governor since my now grown up children were at primary school. I became a Governor at Pool Academy when they transferred to secondary school. I know how important it is for each child to have respect, be able to aspire to achieve their dreams and be the best they can be. It is also important that every student at Pool Academy knows there is a place for them here. Since retiring from my role as a clinical psychologist in the NHS I have more time to look after grandchildren and be a school governor. I am committed to working for the success of Pool Academy and I know we all play a part in that.
RICHARD SCHOFIELD - GOVERNOR
I work in child protection and as such have a keen interest in all safeguarding matters.
I live and work locally and believe that Pool Academy is a vital part of the community, I am committed to seeing the school succeed.
MARY ANSON - GOVERNOR
I am a Managing Partner of Anson Care Services. I qualified as a nurse with a Masters Degree in Policy Studies (Health). Myself and my accountant husband own and manage residential care homes, in Redruth, Portreath and Penzance as well as a small domiciliary care and support agency providing care at home.
I was previously Homes Director of a National Charity, The Teachers’ Benevolent Fund (now the Teacher Support Network) and before that was theatre sister at The Duchy Hospital. The first Registered Manager of Kenwyn Nursing Home in Truro, I have been heavily involved with lobbying on behalf of older people at both central and local government levels ever since, and I often attend the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) chaired by Lord Richard Best in the House of Lords.
I was President of Redruth and District Chamber of Commerce from 2002 to 2005, and again from 2007 to 2012, and was involved in the regeneration of the CPR (Camborne, Pool, Redruth Regeneration Company) area. I am a former District as well as a current Parish Councillor; a Trustee of Headway Cornwall, supporting adults with an Acquired Brain Injury; and also current Chair of Trustees for a small Almshouse Trust, Bain Memorial, who have just two houses in Illogan.
NEVIL FRIGGENS - GOVERNOR
I am pleased to be a part of Pool Academy as a Parent Governor. I want to contribute to the success of the Academy. We live locally and have one child in the school.
I am employed in a full time role in the construction industry, working for a large national construction company. I have worked in the industry for nearly 30 years, always in Cornwall and Devon. I work as a part of a team of managers that supports our core construction activities in Cornwall & Devon, working from home and an office in Plymouth.
I am keen to support the Academy team with my varied experiences, particularly in working with large numbers of diverse stakeholders, and using my day to day skills in team work and collaborative working to ensure the Academy Governance is focused on providing the best opportunities and support to all the students, to ensure their learning experience at Pool is enjoyable in an open, inclusive manner, and that the learning is engaging, rewarding and raises aspiration for all.
DARREN HEARLEY - GOVERNOR
I am a former pupil of Pool school, and I have lived and worked in the Pool area most of my life. I know for personal experience how important it is to get a fundamental base from school not only in academic studies but practical areas as well, such as sport. From my initial O-Level and CSE achievement at the school, I have achieved a Higher National Diploma in Electrical Engineering and a Business Management Certificate from the Open University.
I presently have two daughters in the school and with this in mind I have an interest helping at Pool Academy.
I do not only have a personal interest in community affairs, but have altruistic values as well, these include; volunteering position at Dreadnought Centre, a local children’s charity, Coaching at Beacon Cricket Club, and a member of a process committee at Pool Health Centre, which tries to help improve the patient experience.
I run a small business within the Camborne and Redruth area, so I am well versed in dealing with procedures and communicating with many different people.
I hope this gives you an insight to the many skills that I am able to bring to the Parent Governor’s post.
DEBBIE CURNOW - STAFF GOVERNOR
I was a Pool Academy pupil as were my children. I was a Learning Facilitator for a number of years here and have worked on Reception for the past 4 years which I really enjoy. Pool Academy has never really left me and I am proud to be part of a great team.
IAN BRIANT - MEMBER
Ian was born in Cornwall and his education took him across the Southwest before attending the University of Birmingham. Following a period as a recruitment consultant he qualified as a Chartered Accountant and now runs the Birmingham office. He is also on the board of a number of companies giving him valuable insight into the day to day issues facing businesses today. He has particular expertise in the online retail sector and has been involved in a number of successful start-up businesses. Ian is a regular visitor to the Cornish offices, particularly in the summer! During the colder months he is a supporter of Wolverhampton Wanderers, for this he blames his father.
PROFESSOR TANYA OVENDEN-HOPE PFHEA - MEMBER
Professor Tanya Ovenden-Hope is Professor of Education at Plymouth Marjon University and Lead of Marjon University Cornwall. She is a committed and enthusiastic educationalist with three decades of cross sector experience (FE, school and HE) in teaching, teacher education and educational leadership. An innovative academic, Tanya has maintained scholarly engagement in educational improvement and effectiveness throughout her career. Her commitment to championing the importance of, and developing new ways of thinking about, learning and teaching was recognised when she was awarded Principal Fellow of the Higher Education Academy in 2014 and the National Enterprise Educator Award in 2014. Tanya values the importance of collaboration and has roles that enable the sharing and development of best practice. She is an elected Executive Committee Member of the Universities Council for the Education of Teachers (UCET); member of the All Party Parliamentary Group for the Teaching Profession; elected Special Interest Group (SIG) Convenor for the British Educational Research Association (BERA) on Educational Effectiveness and Improvement and an invited member of the Paul Hamlyn Foundation Advisory Board for the Teacher Development Fund. She is also a Trustee on a number of Education Trusts. The author of over 75 papers, reports, articles and books, Tanya uses her position to raise the profile of educational isolation. Her current research explores the complexity of educational isolation and the effect of this on school experience and improvement for coastal, rural and small schools in England. The findings have included particular issues, which has resulted in further research and development of interventions, such as on early career teacher retention (RETAIN project ) and have resulted in her advising the DfE on the Early Career Framework and Teacher Retention and Recruitment Strategy. Tanya has also used her research findings to inform professional development with teachers and educational leaders (e.g. NEEA, 2014; Social Mobility Commission, 2017, supporting school leaders in Cornwall to consider the challenges of working in a coastal area), as have others (e.g. Ambition School Leadership, 2015; Regional Schools Commission South East and South London 2017, Durrington Research School 2017-18, Education Endowment Foundation 2019 – RETAIN foundation for ECF pilots).
BARBARA SHARPLES - MEMBER
Barbara is a retired business woman, formerly a Managing Director with Dorling Kindersley Publishing plc and The Body Shop International plc. A judge for Cornwall Business Awards, a Trustee and Chair of Cornwall Air Ambulance New Heli Appeal, and a member of her family charity helping local causes and fundraising. A strong believer in mentoring throughout life and continues to mentor women in business, her children and grandchildren.
Barbara has always believed passionately in education and the opportunities it creates for children of all backgrounds and abilities. Barbara considers parents as the first teachers, encouraging a child's curiosity, creating a love of learning and teaching their children to dream. An admirer of all teachers, who give children, through an inspiring education, a window on the world in which they live and the ways they can impact the world and their communities through the paths they choose. Barbara considers it a privilege to be involved with Pool Academy as they take their pupils on a journey of education and achievement.
