Local Governing Board

Jan Holder is the School Business Manager.  She first started working at Ayresome in November 1993 in a part time capacity giving administrative help in both the Infant and Junior school offices.  This was her first job role upon returning to work after a career break to bring up her two daughters who are now grown up and married.  When the school was going through amalgamation in 2002, she moved to another school nearby as a full-time administrator where she gained experience in budget handling and monitoring. Jan moved back to Ayresome in 2006 when the opportunity arose to take up her present role.  Jan has a great loyalty to the school and is proud to be part of such a wonderful learning environment on its journey to becoming an outstanding school.

Lisa Biggin is Headteacher of Ayresome. This is her sixth Headship of schools spanning 20 years, all of which were in difficult circumstances. A former National Leader of Education, Lisa started her own consultancy business in 2010 specialising in academy transfer, driving schools out of special measures and teacher training. After working predominantly in Oxford but also nationally for four years she returned to her home town of Middlesbrough to take up the Headship of Ayresome in September 2014. A keen musician, dancer, theatre goer enjoying travelling in her motorhome, Lisa remains committed to making everything both outstanding and ‘awesome’ at Ayresome’.

“You’ve never really left school” This comment was made to Glyn relatively recently and contains more than a grain of the truth. With a degree in English Literature and a Post Graduate Qualification in Education Glyn taught English in a large secondary school  for 2 years, leaving in 1983 to train as a priest within the Church of England. On being ordained to a curacy in Brighouse, he was appointed as a Foundation Governor to the parish school, and has been involved in Governance and education throughout his ministry. He still does some teaching. He is engaged through the world of RE as Chair of Middlesbrough’s Standing Advisory Council for Religious Education (SACRE). He is enthusiastic about interfaith work and many children have benefited from a wide range of projects which have been sponsored by partners as diverse as SACRE, The Hindu Cultural Society, Ripon Cathedral and York Minster.

Glyn has been Chair of Governors at Ayresome since 2011 and also at Archibald since 2002. He was heavily involved in bringing the Royal Shakespeare Company to schools in the Middlesbrough area. Glyn came to Middlesbrough in 1996 to be parish priest of All Saints. Prior to that, he was, for seven years, Vicar of Saint Andrews, Ferrybridge. In 2008, he was made Citizen of the Year in recognition to his contribution to education regeneration projects which have had  a positive impact on the town. He frequently appears on local radio and is very proud to be associated with the school considering himself to be an adopted son of the Boro.

He enjoys frequent visits to the theatre, keeping the staff at Waterstones busy with frequent orders, travelling to Leeds for Concerts and opera, or watching the latest cinema releases

I am a Year 3 class teacher and cohort leader. I started working at Ayresome Primary in October 2015 following two years of teaching experience in Hartlepool. I was elected staff governor in April 2016. My main areas of interest relate to the social, moral, spiritual and cultural development of the school. My aim is for every child to understand how special and unique they are. I have recently been nominated Ayresome’s lead in our journey towards the Rights Respecting school award and School of Sanctuary accreditation. I look forward to working with other governors to support the schools transformation.

In my limited spare time, I enjoy walking along Seaton Carew beach and visiting the theatre.

Steve Hall is Independent non-executive director of North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust. He was appointed in 2007 until February 2017. He is an independent consultant with extensive commercial experience. His former positions were managing director of Compass Group and Hallmark Catering Management.