Richard Scarfe
- If you want somebody to do a good job, give them a good job to do!
- If you want children to attend (and do well at) school, make them want to go to school.
Q: How should education prepare children for the future?
Q: What world can we expect children to inhabit as they grow older?
A: Nobody knows for sure.
Jake Baker
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 1st 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.
