I joined the governor's board in September 22. I am delighted to be involved with the school. Having trained and worked as a teacher of the deaf for many years it is great to be involved again in meeting the needs of deaf children and to support such an excellent provision. I now work for the Department of Education as an Adviser for Special Educational Needs. My role is to work with local authorities and partners providing support and challenge to improve the outcomes for children and young people with SEND. This is a strategic role and this overview of national developments can support Doncaster School for the Deaf. On a more practical level, I have a personal understanding of SEN and what being a parent in 'the system' can involve, as I have two disabled children with special educational needs. I am enthusiastic about ensuring we work together to provide the best education for all the children in the school. Every child has their individual needs and it is a joy walking around school to see how personalised the lessons are. There are a great range of activities and experiences on offer. I look forward to being part of the team that supports such an excellent school.
I was born a Barnsley lad. I was a boarder at Yorkshire Residential School for the Deaf ( YRSD) , now known as Doncaster School for the Deaf , from 1962 to 1976. I became head boy. I received a great education at school. After school I went on to be a professional footballer playing for Sheffield Wednesday Football Club for nearly two years . For around twenty five years I was selected to play for Great Britain and England’s Deaf Football Teams. As an international footballer I travelled around the world, taking part in the Deaf Football World Cup and the Deaf Olympic Games.
Doncaster Deaf Trust offered me a job in the Sport Department in 1998. I have since worked in College residence and supported students in their learning.
For the Last 5 years I have worked for Aspire to Be, (Doncaster Deaf Trusts Employability Service) as a Careers Adviser helping Deaf and Disabled people into work.
I qualified as a deaf Teacher of Deaf Children and Young People (ToD) in 2023 at the University of Edinburgh and have worked at Doncaster School for the Deaf since 2019, initially joining as a trainee teacher during my PGCE placement. I currently lead Art, Craft and Design across the school and teach GCSE Art and Photography, Deaf Studies, and British Sign Language (BSL). I am passionate about supporting pupils' language development and I support pupils with language, translation, and reading, using bilingual approaches. I joined the governing body in September 2024 as a staff governor and am currently studying for the NPQSL to further develop my leadership skills. I am also a Trainee Sign Language Translator, with a strong passion for deaf education, accessibility, and promoting British Sign Language. I pride myself in being a positive deaf role model, showing that deaf people can achieve anything with the right support and a strong 'can do' attitude. In my spare time, I enjoy taking part in community events, volunteering at deaf youth camps, creating artwork that celebrates deaf identity and culture, and travelling to explore new places and experiences.
