I have worked for Birmingham LA as a teacher and then City Learning Centre (CLC) Manager for 37 years. The CLC was linked to Balaam Wood School, which is how my association with this school began. I have been able to take on more Governor duties since I retired and am proud to now be Co-Chair. I am very lucky to have a fantastic team of governors to work with. I also look after a growing number of grandchildren. I am a Yoga teacher and also enjoy reading and travelling.
I started my career as a secondary school teacher in Birmingham over forty years ago, before becoming a Headteacher and a National Leader of Education. I became a Trustee of the King Edward VI Academy Trust Board in 2019 when Balaam Wood joined the Trust. I am also Vice Chair of Governors at a Special School. In my spare time I enjoy travelling, walking, Trefoil Guild and supporting a youth group as Vice Chair of the General Council. I hope my skills and knowledge will help support the strategic development of the school.
I have been a school governor in Primary and Secondary schools for 28 years because I am passionate about children and their education. I work as a Lab Technician in a Secondary school so I am very familiar with the day to day life of a school and love the opportunity it gives me to get know the pupils as well as the staff. In my spare time I play the piano, working towards Grade 8, and I enjoy crafts, knitting and sewing.
I joined the Governing Body at Balaam Wood Academy in 2021 and I am currently Director of a national STEM education charity. Prior to this I was Deputy Headteacher in a secondary school and taught science in a number of schools across Birmingham and the West Midlands. I am passionate about providing meaning opportunities for students, particularly those from a disadvantaged background, both in the classroom and beyond. I have recently started learning how to fly in the hope of gaining a private pilot’s license.
I joined the Governing Body at Balaam Wood Academy in 2019. I have worked as a Chemistry teacher at a local secondary school since 2012, and have served as a staff Governor there since 2016. Prior to my career as a teacher, I worked as a research scientist at The University of Birmingham for the best part of a decade. I am passionate about delivering the best possible educational experience for all pupils as I know first hand how transformative the power of education can be to a young person’s life. In my spare time I enjoy reading, socialising, walking, and trying to learn Irish.
I joined the Governing Body at Balaam Wood Academy in 2023, having previously been a Governor, and a student, at other schools in the KE Trust. I am a Civil Servant working in Policy and Strategy at the Department for Levelling Up, as I am passionate about developing and implementing policies to help solve prominent issues and improve our societies. I am also an advocate for apprenticeships, as I have completed two apprenticeships myself. I volunteer with the Apprentice Ambassador Network to share insights about these pathways with employers, teachers, students, and parents. In my personal time, I enjoy travelling, learning languages, and spending time with my dog.
For any enquiries regarding Lynda or Val, please reach out via the school’s official enquiry email address
