Govenors

Lisa Darwood - Head Teacher

I have worked at SPGS for 17 years and was appointed Head Teacher in 2017. I am a proud mum of two daughters, who are both also teachers. I am passionate about tackling social injustice and inequality. I have worked in schools all over the world (Pakistan, India, Russia, Ghana, South Africa, UAE and Europe) and I have helped to set up a school in Ghana. My partner and I also work with the Homeless Charity ‘Crisis’ where we campaign for the betterment of those less fortunate. I have the best job in the world, and I cherish every day that is afforded to me. I feel extremely privileged that we have the most amazing teachers and pupils at SPGS and I wouldn’t want to work anywhere else. I am keen to ensure that the views of all our stakeholders are listened to, shared, and valued.

Nick Clarke - Chair of Governors

After a career in industry, commerce and retail I have been teaching for more than thirty years in secondary schools, further education colleges and for universities. For several years I have also examined in ICT and linked subjects for one of the examination boards. Outside school I have run several IT consultancies. I first became a parent governor at Selly Park when my daughter was attending the school. I am now a co-opted governor with special interests in eSafety and SEND. Both of these derive from my current teaching position as subject leader for ICT at a specialist school for children who are blind or visually impaired. I feel I am able to be useful bringing experience to the school from these various educational settings.

Lily Man - Vice Chair of Governors

My background is in Financial services, currently I work as a Chartered Governance Professional with experience in Investment Banking & Asset Management. Having grown up in London, I moved to Birmingham in 2018 and have found a second home at Selly Park. I also serve on the Pay & Finance committees. I enjoy challenging the status quo and question our processes whilst always looking at ways the school can continue improving. Selly Park Girls School is an outstanding institution, with dedicated staff and students and I am delighted to be a member of the governing body. My academic degrees are in Philosophy & International Law. In my spare time, I am an avid reader, anthropologically curious and a perpetual student.

Andy Lee - Co-opted Governor

I moved to Birmingham in 2003 to Study Sport & Exercise Science at the University of Birmingham, I’ve worked for NatWest since 2006 with roles in retail, corporate projects, support services and is currently the Strategic Lead for Diversity in Business, which involves working with Universities and external Business Support organisation who provide business support to Black, Asian & Minority Ethnic (BAME) Entrepreneurs across the UK, I’m also a director and trustee of Relate Birmingham, who are a charity that provide counselling services to individuals and families across Greater Birmingham and Solihull. I joined Selly Park’s governing body in November 2012 as a Local Authority (LEA) governor, and was co-opted onto the board in 2018.

Diane Rutherford - Co-opted Governor

I have been a governor Selly Park Girls' School for some time as both my daughters are former pupils. My background is in teaching adults both in the UK and abroad. I work for an organisation called brap and we focus on issues related to equity, equality and human rights locally, nationally and internationally. Our work is with all kinds of organisations. As the learning and professional development lead, I aim to help people to think about how we can work together to create a society - school is a great place to start - where we are all actively behaving and thinking in ways that make it possible for us to learn, live and work together well.

Roy Highfield - Co-opted Governor

I’m a retired Chartered Building Surveyor, having spent my career undertaking client-side construction project management developing campus facilities both within the health and higher education sectors, having spent the last 15 years developing the campus at University of Birmingham. I’m therefore used to working in a live educational environment and dealing with the challenges that brings.

My wife is chair of governors at a nursery school and also working as Clerk to Governors for a Birmingham school. I have two sons, one living in Wales and the other here in Birmingham, and four grandchildren, two of whom are at school in Birmingham and one in Wales.

I am a member of the Christadelphian religious organisation and help out on a voluntary basis in one of their residential care homes, seeking to enrich the lives of residents and support their welfare. I’m also a lay preacher and am on the organising committee of an annual five-day residential family based conference and an annual daylong conference.

Nicola Craig - Co-opted Governor

"I have worked at Selly Park for 10 years. Having grown up in Ireland, I then lived and worked in schools in America and Australia but felt most at home Birmingham. During my time at Selly Park I have been responsible for the school timetable, attendance, teaching & learning and SEND, I am now DSL and safeguarding lead. I originally joined the governing body as a staff governor and was later co-opted. I am proud and privileged to work in an outstanding school where all pupils not only meet their potential but thrive."

Governors

Roy Highfield - Co-opted Governor

Our Committees

Pupil Discipline Committee

Staffing Committee

Complaints Committee

Appeals Committee

Our Link Governors