Governor Profiles
Julie Cushion
Julie is a Community Governor and is the current Chair, she has been involved with the school and governing body for over twenty years.
Her employed role is as the Constituency Assistant for the local MP and has previously been a Local Borough Councillor for Belfairs.
Julie’s other education involvement is as a member of the multi academy trust SEN Trust Southend.
She is heavily involved in the local community as director of various charities, Southend Citizens Advice, Southend YMCA, PROST8 and Aspirations Southend.
Marcia Carr
Marcia is a Parent Governor and has had children at the school since 2013. Her background is in Performing Arts. She completed her training at Royal Holloway (University of London) where she returned to start her PhD. She is a recognised Feldenkrais Practitioner and is currently Deputy Chief Examiner for the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (LAMDA), She is an Associate Artist with National Youth Theatre of Great Britain and has her own theatre Companies, Arts Outlblast and Creative Blast (based at The Thameside Theatre, Grays), specialising in Community Theatre, a Performing Arts Academy and providing training in all aspects of Performance, both for performers and teachers including specialisms in delivery with SEN and young people. Marcia is a fellow of the Royal Society of Arts and has just achieved her Senior Fellowship with Higher Education Academy. She is also an Adjudicator and member of the British and International Federation of Festivals. She has toured nationally and Internationally as a performer and with shows that she has directed and choreographed and been nominated for a number of awards, winning, Time Out Critics Choice, Best Actor, Buxton Festival and Best Performer, Manchester Evening Standard. She works in Performance Conservatoires Internationally but nothing brings greater pleasure than being able to bring her skills for free to the young people at Fairways in music, dance and drama to support curriculum and empower through effective communication.
Joan Carr
Joan is a Local Authority Governor and is the current SENCO governor within the school. She has been involved with the school via Friends of Fairways for 4 years.
Prior to retirement she worked within the legal profession for many years and a great deal of this was spent dealing in family law. She have handled many divorce cases involving children and custody of children, and many other child welfare cases. Many of these included extremely difficult issues with children struggling to cope with not only the separation of their parents, but also the rancour between the husband and wife. In a number of cases Social Services staff were involved due to issues with the children’s mental health and wellbeing causing their schoolwork to suffer.
She was a member of the Panel for Domestic Violence in Birmingham and worked closely with the Birmingham Asian Advisory Service, being a trusted advisor on all aspects of family law, particularly where children were concerned.
She served as Chair of Governors at an inner city infant/primary school in Birmingham The school was in an extremely underprivileged area and as such had all of the inherent issues that befall such an environment. Her family law and child welfare experience were of invaluable assistance to the school.
David Wood
David has worked with Fairways as a Parent Governor for nearly four years. He focuses on supporting curriculum areas and has worked in education for over 20 years.
David’s employment covers the Secondary, Further & Higher education sectors as well as working for various exam boards and universities as an external examiner across the UK.
Away from work, David has worked with community groups across the Southend district for many years, including the YMCA, Southend Music services and the Music Man Project.
He continues to practice as a musician, whilst working with his wife Rebecca to bring up their three children, two of whom currently attend Fairways.
Caroline Nutting
I have been involved in education for 20 years, achieving a degree in early years and also a higher level
diploma in adult education. I also have teaching status and hold a level 5 in safeguarding. I am currently the
manager of an outstanding Ofsted rated early years setting in Leigh on Sea.
Although the children are younger than school age I feel it keeps me current in education values and competencies.
I am always updating my knowledge as I feel this is important.
I am still trying to measure the impact that the last few years has had on our children's education, learning and wellbeing.
As an educator I would be keen to be a bridge to support the children at Fairways as a parent there.
As my background demonstrates I am passionate about education and safety for all children and allowing
them to thrive in an environment they are proud to be a part of. I strive to improve the opportunities for
children and young people and believe the partnership of parent and school is invaluable.
Jo Green
I have worked in education for over 20 years and have been the Principal of an Alternative Education Independent School (BEP Academy) for nearly 5 years. BEP Academy is a small school of up to 90 students, many of those students are classed as vulnerable, and there is a high percentage of children who either have an EHCP or SEN needs. I am also the Designated Safeguarding Lead at the school.
I have been through a number of Ofsted inspections, and I am also called regularly by Ofsted if they are checking other schools, as a number of our students are dual rolled.
Both my children have attended Fairways School, my youngest son is currently in Year 6. He has an EHCP, Fairways supported us in ensuring that support was put in place for him, and their support with both my children has been amazing.
Jade Blackburn
I’ve been a Fairways parent since 2012 with my youngest daughter currently in Year 1. As a parent, I have been consistently impressed with the quality of education and care provided by every member of staff regardless of their role within the school, as well as the way in which the school have supported children to return to a normal school life after two years of disruption. My professional experience as a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Professional Development, with over a decade of experience in HR leadership roles specifically within the education sector, has given me a deep understanding of the challenges faced by schools in today's climate.
I have an in-depth understanding of school funding frameworks and finances as well as the pressures that schools are under to continue delivering the best possible education and outcomes in a challenging climate and against national inspection frameworks.
My expertise in employment law, HR best practice and statutory compliance, including safeguarding - having previously worked as a safeguarding lead in the post-16 sector– will allow me to not only bring this expertise to the board but also to work collaboratively with the wider governing body to ensure that every child has access to an excellent education & wider personal development opportunities and that Fairways continues to thrive whilst advocating for the school and supporting the wellbeing of the leaders, teachers & support staff that look after our own children’s wellbeing so well.