Meet the Governors

Mrs Gemma Talbot

Governor Category: Headteacher
Responsibilities: Executive Headteacher
Committees: All
Term of Office: 25/09/2024 – 24/09/2025
Attendance at Full Governing Board and Committee meetings for 2023-24: 100%

I have been working in education since leaving education myself in 2000. I have been fortunate to work in a range of schools across the South of England. I have worked in various roles including teaching assistant, teacher and leadership roles. I have always had a passion for seeing other people be happy, achieve and thrive. I am thrilled to be the Executive Headteacher of Linwood School and to be a part of this diverse, amazing community.

Mrs Sue Lay

Governor Category: Co-opted (Appointed by Board)
Responsibilities: Chair of Governors
Committees: Personnel & Wellbeing
Term of Office: 26/06/2024 – 25/06/2028

As an IT Programme Director with a wealth of experience in banking, financial services, and higher education, I am honoured to serve as a Co-opted Governor at Linwood School. Bringing strategic leadership in IT management and a deep commitment to special needs education, I am dedicated to enhancing governance and collaborating closely with the incredible Linwood community. Together, we will uphold Linwood School’s reputation as a centre of excellence, supporting every child’s journey to reach their full potential.

Mrs Sonia Colton

Governor category: Local Authority (Appointed by LA)
Responsibilities: Vice-Chair of Governors, Chair of the Learning & Achievement Committee
Committees: Learning & Achievement, Personnel & Wellbeing
Term of office: 22/09/2021 – 21/09/2025
Attendance at Full Governing Board and Committee meetings for 2023-24: 90.9%

As a local authority officer, I have worked closely with Linwood School up to my retirement in November 2014. As Principal Education Officer (SEND) with both Dorset County Council and Bournemouth Borough Council, I managed the SEND assessment process for individual children and young people aged 0 – 25 and determined their educational provision and placements in mainstream and specialist schools. Through my work alongside the Executive Headteachers at Linwood and the other local authority special schools, I had significant responsibility for ensuring that there was sufficient local SEND provision to meet the changing needs of children and young people with the most severe and complex needs. A teacher by profession and a member of the local community, I am committed to continuing my support for the outstanding work of Linwood School.

Mrs Jo King

Governor category: Co-opted (Appointed by Board)
Committees: Learning & Achievement
Term of Office: 01/12/20 – 30/11/2024
Attendance at Full Governing Board and Committee meetings for 2023-24: 87.5%

I started teaching at Linwood in April 1989, having previously taught in two special schools in the London area. As a class teacher at Linwood, I worked with many groups of children across the school. From 2007, I worked at developing communication as part of my role as Total Communication Leader. In April 2017, I became Assistant Headteacher and Learning Leader for the Alma Curriculum and retired in summer 2021.

Mrs Lorna Booth

Governor Category: Parent (Elected)
Committees: Learning & Achievement
Term of Office: 11/10/2022 – 10/10/2026
Attendance at Full Governing Board and Committee meetings for 2023-24: 100%

I am a mother of three amazing children; two sons and a daughter. Both my sons attend Linwood School. I have been in the Child Care and Education industry for over 25 years and never have I met such a dedicated, caring and positive school as Linwood. Every individual is encouraged, cared for, nurtured and inspired to grow as an individual who reaches their full potential.

Dr Festus Adedoyin

Governor category: Co-opted (Appointed by Board)
Committees: Finance & Asset Management
Term of office: 25/01/2023 – 24/01/2027
Attendance at Full Governing Board and Committee meetings for 2023-24: 87.5%

I am a Senior Lecturer at the Department of Computing and Informatics, Bournemouth University. I live locally to the school with my family. My current research interest is in understanding user behaviour towards digital interventions for managing healthcare delivery in underserved communities. I consult for the United Nations and am a member of the Editorial Board for several academic journals.

Mrs Tabitha Sherlock

Governor category: Staff Governor
Committees: Learning & Achievement
Term of office: 27/09/2023 – 26/09/2027
Attendance at Full Governing Board and Committee meetings for 2023-24: 100%

Following my Business Management degree, I worked in Marketing and Projects before re-training as a teacher in 2007. I worked in mainstream primary, including three years in a preschool before moving into Special Needs Education. I joined Springwood Campus in 2019 as a class teacher. I have recently joined the school support teams and have taken on the role of Project Manager.

Mrs Cathy Naude

Governor category: Parent (Elected)Committees: Learning & Achievement CommitteeTerm of office: 08/01/2024 – 07/01/2028
Attendance at Full Governing Board and Committee meetings for 2023-24: 100%

My son has been at Linwood School since 2015 accessing both Vita and Alma curriculums. I see how incredibly caring and kind the staff are with the students. They know all the students so well and encourage them to be the best they can be. I am very proud to be a parent at this wonderful school.

Mr Jeremy Payne

Governor category: Parent (Elected)
Responsibilities: Chair of the Finance & Asset Management CommitteeCommittees: Finance & Asset Management CommitteeTerm of office: 08/01/2024 – 07/01/2028
Attendance at Full Governing Board and Committee meetings for 2023-24: 75%

I am a dad to five boys and our youngest currently attends Linwood Campus in Year 8. I am the Executive Headteacher of a Federation of Junior and Infant schools in Chandlers Ford and am passionate about inclusion in education.

Mr James Winsor

Governor category: Co-opted Governor
Committees: Financial & Asset Management
Term of office: 24/01/2024 – 23/01/2028
Attendance at Full Governing Board and Committee meetings for 2023-24: 75%

I am a Chartered Certified Accountant, and I am incredibly excited to join Linwood School as a co-opted governor. My experience in the accounting field has equipped me with a diverse set of skills and experiences from the private sector, which I am eager to bring to this role. I am enthusiastic about this opportunity to collaborate with the talented team at Linwood and to be a part of shaping a bright future for our students. Let’s work together towards fostering an environment where every learner can thrive.