Governors Who's Who

Richard Scarfe

Lynne Baker

I am Lynne Baker, and I joined the governing Body at Alfred Street School, when I retired from Teaching in 2011. I am currently the longest serving member of the Governing Body. I have also been elected as Vice Chair in the freshly amalgamated school, which is a great honour and the start of an exciting opportunity to develop the school as a successful new Primary School.

Within my role as a governor, I have a particular interest in the development of the whole school curriculum and specifically the creative and connected approach, which gives rise to a broad and balanced curriculum, with joy , awe and wonder at the heart of it.

 I believe it is most important to build up each pupil’s confidence and self-worth, which will enable them to reach their full potential in a range of skills. I firmly believe that a successful pupil is a happy and fulfilled individual and that learning new skills and feeling confident in using them is the key to a well-grounded and capable adult.

My main role is to monitor the curriculum and standards, and to ensure that improvement is made as swiftly as possible.

My background is in Art and Design, and I was a Head of Art for most of my 39 years teaching career. I was also a Head of Year in a very large Middle School in Bedfordshire. My pastoral role as a Form Teacher and Head of Year, has given me vast insight into problems and difficulties pupils may have to face, and I am keen to ensure that all our young pupils can access the curriculum and acquire the necessary skills to flourish at the next level of education.

Alfred Lord Tennyson School is very dear to my heart, and I attended the Alfred Street site as a 5-year-old until secondary level, as did all my family.

The atmosphere in the school is always welcoming and friendly, and pupils are always ready to speak to me when I go into school, particularly those who have attended my after-school Art clubs. The school now has a golden opportunity to create a diverse and thriving Primary School, in line with most of the other schools in the Town. I am excited for its future, and to have a role in its success.

Jake Baker

Brenda Martin

Hello I am Brenda Martin. I am a relatively new Governor, serving the last 9 months on Alfred Lord Tennyson School. I was then co-opted on to the Governing board in September 2023 of Alfred Lord Tennyson School.

I moved to Rushden in 2021 from Bedfordshire.  I have always been interested in education and worked for over 20 years as a Teaching Assistant  working with Children with various needs.  I have 2 grown up children, which 1 of them has dyslexia both are in full time employment.  I want to support  children to be the best possible version of themselves that they can possibly be.

As a Governor I want to make sure that the children have the best access to the curriculum as possible and make their learning journey with the school enjoyable and interesting, and for them to continue to grow in every area. 

I look forward to meeting parents at school events as I am keen to be involved as a volunteer as well.

Sally Love

Hello my name is Sally Love. 

I am a mum of four; with two of my children having travelled through both schools. I now find myself back in the playground navigating the school runs again. 

I am not native to Rushden; having grown up in North London and briefly living in St.Neots. Before settling down to raise my children in Rushden. 

Becoming a mum in the playground very much turned Rushden into my home and I have now lived here for nearly twenty years. I couldn't imagine living anywhere else.

Having left school with fairly good grades despite the failing school I attended. It really showed me what can be achieved with hard work and effort. A value I hope I have instilled in my children and the children I have been in contact with.

My working life has always had to fit around my children and from working in various after school clubs in Rushden. I went into working in a special educational needs college locally. 

This insight into special educational needs definitely aided me when my son needed an EHC plan.

I am eager to make a difference and to see children reach their potential so I hope I my position as parent governor I can do this.

Annette Dagwell

Hello. I’m Annette Dagwell. I was a Parent Governor at Tennyson Road Infant School for just under 3 years and have just recently been reinstated as a Parent Governor for ALTS.

The reason I want to be a parent governor is to ensure that the board has a parent perspective involved in some of the crucial decisions that need to be made within school.

Having a child at Alfred Lord Tennyson School myself, it matters to me that all children are getting the best education they possibly can and are being taught a diverse and enriched curriculum to prepare them for the next stage at secondary school.

Charlotte Sturman

Hi I’m Charlotte Sturman, I’m a Level 3 Teaching Assistant that has worked at Tennyson Road infants for 16 years. I also have 3 boys which all came though Tennyson Road and Alfred Street. I was delighted to be nominated for staff governor at ALTS as I’ve held this role for several years at Tennyson Road.

The hands on experience of the school environment has given me a practical understanding of the challenges and opportunities we face daily which drives my strong belief that every child deserves the best start in life.

Dr Andy Smith FRSA

I’m Dr Andy Smith a retired Senior Lecturer in Special and Inclusive Education at the University of Northampton.

I have a particular interest in the professional development of Special Educational Needs Coordinators (SENCOs), supporting teachers to become practitioner / school-based researchers and the creation of inclusive learning communities. In addition to teaching, supervision and research at the University, I have undertaken international projects in Hong Kong, Bangkok, Finland, the Czech Republic and Estonia.

I’ve been a member of the Teaching profession since starting as a young, fresh-faced probationer teacher way back in the mists of ancient time (1977).  Prior to my role at the University and becoming a Governor at ALTS, I’ve been a secondary school Drama teacher, a middle school Head of English/Drama, a secondary school SENCO, a Local Authority English Advisory Teacher, a middle school assistant headteacher/coordinator for the extended curriculum and a faculty leader in a college of further education.

I have published and researched on a wide range of subjects from the lived experiences of SENCOs to developing Teachers as ‘Storytellers’ (and many things in-between).

Shirley Crooke

Hello my name is Shirley Crooke.  I joined the Governors of Alfred Lord Tennyson School as a Local Authority Governor from 1^st April 2025.

I have lived in Rushden for over 40 years and have 4 children and 7 grandchildren.  My background has been in Business and Office Management in various education related environments.  I worked in the Admissions Department of the Royal Institute of Chemistry, the Science Department at Luton University and then once my children arrived on the scene I began working in schools.  I was lucky enough to be able to undertake the Government funded School Business Management training between 2004 and 2007.  I then worked in a mainstream village Primary School as a Business Manager before taking up a position in 2008 as the Business Manager of a local SEN School that, since my appointment has grown and developed substantially.  I have been closely involved in Strategic Planning, Budget Management, Staff Restructures and Premises Management. 

Having recently retired from my position as Business Manager, I wanted to retain and extend my links with schools in the local area and expressed an interest with the Local Authority in becoming a Governor.  I was introduced to the Chair and Headteacher at ALTS and, having learned more about the journey that the school has and will be going through and the dedication of the staff to its pupils and parents, I hope that my experience and knowledge will be of some help.  The school’s ethos and place within the local community struck a chord with me and I am keen to do what I can to help pupils, staff and parents.

Pecuniary Interest:  I still have links with Rowan Gate Primary School and occasionally work with the Admin teams during times of staff absence.