Our Governors

Chair of Governors

My name is Cheryl Morgan-Muir and currently my role is Chair of Governors across the Hornsea Burton and Skipsea Primary School Federation. I have been in the role of Chair since 2017 and before that I was vice-Chair.

In 2008 I joined the Hornsea Burton Primary School governing body as a parent governor and was later co-opted on to the governing body of our Federation.

My current responsibilities include Safeguarding, Health & Safety, E-safety, Parental engagement and educational visits.

My professional background is in psychotherapy and holistic wellbeing. I lived overseas for over three decades in Germany and the Netherlands and am fluent in two foreign languages.

My two youngest children both attended Hornsea Burton, and all my children have completed the majority of their educational journeys successfully at local schools in Hornsea.

I am also a Hornsea Town Councillor and am deeply invested in supporting the children and young people in our town to ensure they are safe, happy, can succeed and make progress.

Our recent collaboration with the HSLC, the local secondary school, is an exciting opportunity. They share our ethos and commitment towards enriching the lives of our pupils and creating an equal playing field to make sure each child has the opportunity to thrive and succeed.

CO-OPTED

Here is a little background information about myself. After completing my B.Ed (Hons) teacher training degree in Scarborough, I subsequently moved to Hornsea where I have resided for the past 39 years. I spent my entire teaching career at HSLC where I was initially a member of the Performing Arts Department, working as a drama specialist, eventually holding the post of Head of Faculty. From 2002, until my retirement in 2015, I served on the Leadership Group in the role of Assistant Head. I also taught GSCE English in the latter part of my teaching career. Since my retirement from HSLC I have worked as a freelance drama teacher in local primary schools, delivering workshops and directing school productions on a regular basis. I was also principal of 'Centre Stage Theatre School' in Hornsea for 18 years, until 2019, teaching young people aged 7 - 16 every Saturday during term time.

I now enjoy a varied lifestyle in my retirement indulging in lots of outdoor activities, particularly visiting coastal areas and beauty spots. I am to be found, come rain or shine, walking the local beaches and keeping fit! I enjoy beach combing, including fossil hunting. I am also an avid reader.

I have served as a Governor for the Federation since 2016 and am currently Chair of the Strategic challenge and improvement committee. This gives me the opportunity to support the work of both schools in their endeavours to provide an exciting and engaging ‘best fit’ curriculum for all pupils.

I attended a small primary school as a child and very much value the ‘family atmosphere’ created at both of our primary schools in the Federation. It is important to me that, as Governors, we support every opportunity for our pupils to ’shine’ so they can ‘become the best they can be’. I am also passionate about the Arts and all that it can offer young people. Our current partnership with HSLC is undoubtedly another bonus for the pupils, enriching and supporting their education where appropriate.

I feel privileged to sit on the Governing Body and hope I can bring both experience and passion to my role. I hope to serve you well.

CO-OPTED

As a former Teaching Assistant at Skipsea Primary School, I was delighted to be co-opted on to the Governing Body of the Hornsea Burton and Skipsea Federation in February 2020 to continue my association with both fantastic schools. I spent seven happy years at Skipsea and it is indeed a “special place to learn and succeed.”

Working in school was a career change for me as I had previously worked for NatWest for many years but left following the birth of my second child. I started my banking career in Hull and finished at the Hornsea Branch, which I managed whilst being supported by a fabulous team.

I now spend my time as a part time carer for my mum. I also have a little more free time to do other things too like gardening, walking and going to the gym. As well as my volunteer role as a governor I am also the treasurer for our local church.

I look forward to continuing to support everyone, staff, parents and carers, and governors to ensure children in our schools achieve in a happy, safe, secure and caring environment.

CO-OPTED

I am the Vicar of Skipsea, Atwick and Hornsea (where I live in the vicarage) and have been in post since December 2017.

I lived in Hull for nearly 30 years, initially as a student at Hull University where I did a degree in mathematics. I then worked for some years with Sanctuary Housing in the rents office before retraining as a secondary school teacher of mathematics. I taught for some years in Hull schools, latterly as a Second in Department, before I left to pursue ministry in the Church of England in 2012, in which I was ordained in 2014.

I’m a trustee of some local charities through being Vicar, including the Atwick Education Charity, the Church Lands Trust and also the ACross [the capital C is deliberate] Country charity based in West Yorkshire that seeks to offer an opportunity to re-connect with nature and our sense of self through a mix of physical activities as a group and independent art projects over the course of a weekend. Currently we work mostly with refugees and asylum seekers.

I have an active interest in local government, attending Town and Parish Councils when I can, and working with local community groups to support our wider community. I’m also part of the local ecumenical Christians Together group, sharing in worship and running events for all ages.

I have been married to Darren for over 29 years and we enjoy all things science fiction related. I enjoy our lovely garden, visits to the coast from Mappleton to Scarborough and spending time with my cats.

As a governor I hope to help the Federation achieve the very best for all the students in its care and have a particular interest pastoral care and the finances of the schools.

STAFF

Before becoming an Assistant head in the Hornsea Burton and Skipsea Federation, I was head of year at Driffield Junior School, along with teaching in Bridlington and several local village schools. As an avid reader who nearly fell out of love with reading towards the end of my own time in school, I am committed to developing a love of reading in children by giving them the skills, confidence and opportunity to engage with rich and diverse books. In previous roles I have also been worked as part of the Yorkshire Maths Hub to develop the mastery approach to teaching and learning across the region. I am also keen on using and developing innovative approaches using technology to improve educational accessibility and outcomes, and qualified as one of the first officially certified Google Trainers in Yorkshire. During the pandemic, I supported several schools remotely to develop their provision as part of this role.

Prior to teaching, I have worked as a teaching assistant and worked my way through the ranks to become a program leader on an New York summer camp for over 2000 children. My initial background is in Law, and along with having a law degree I have worked for a pioneering domestic violence charity supporting and leading victims through the legal process.

I enjoy sport, reading and exploring different parts of the world- spending several years travelling has allowed me to see many fantastic and fascinating parts of the world (and play cricket in many of them!)

PARENT

Hello my name is Billie-Jo Thompson; I grew up on our family farm in Ulrome and have lived in Skipsea now for over twenty years. I’m married with one daughter who has now started Skipsea School.

When leaving school myself I trained in childcare and have worked over the years in Local Authority schools and being manager at a private nursery both in West and East Yorkshire. I’ve been self-employed for over fifteen years working alongside my husband in the motorcycle industry too.

When I get the opportunity I love to travel and see as much of the world as possible, but when at home my hobbies are decorating, gardening sewing and reading.

I am pleased and looking forward to having the opportunity to be part of the governing body for the Hornsea Burton and Skipsea Federation.