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. Julie served as the Constituency Assistant for the local MP for many years and has previously been a Local Borough Councillor for Belfairs. Julie’s 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 Co-opted Governor. Previously a Parent Governor, Marcia's 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 is also involved with the school through her significant support of Friends of Fairways (FOF). 

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 has 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. Joan 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. Her family law and child welfare experience were of invaluable assistance to the school.

David Wood

Having previously served as a Parent Governor, David is now a Co-opted governor. David has worked in education for over 20 years and supports Fairways with curriculum oversight. 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

Caroline has been involved in education for 20 years, achieving a degree in early years and also a Higher Level Diploma in adult education. She also has teaching status and holds Level 5 in Safeguarding. She is currently the manager of an outstanding Ofsted rated early years setting in Leigh on Sea.

Although the children are younger than school age, her work keeps her up to date in education values and competencies.

Caroline recognises the importance of continually updating her knowledge and still seeks to measure the impact of the COVID-19 years have had on our children's education, learning and wellbeing. As an educator, she is keen to be a bridge to support the children at Fairways as a parent there. Passionate about education and safety for all children and allowing them to thrive in an environment they are proud to be a part of, she strives to improve the opportunities for children and young people and she recognises the partnership of parent and school is invaluable.

Jo Green

Jo has worked in education for over 20 years and is the Principal of an Alternative Education Independent School (BEP Academy). BEP Academy is a small school of up to 90 students, many of whom are classed as vulnerable, with a high percentage of children who either have an EHCP or SEN needs.  She is also the Designated Safeguarding Lead at the school. 

She has been through a number of Ofsted inspections, and she is also called regularly by Ofsted if they are checking other schools, as a number of her students are dual rolled. Both her children have attended Fairways School. Her youngest son has an EHCP and Fairways supported the family in ensuring that support was put in place for him while he attended Fairways.  

Gemma Tyler

 

Parent governor 3

Our community is currently voting for a new Parent Governor. Elections will close in January 2026