Local Governing Body Members
Sharon Roscoe – Chair of Governors
Sharon has a wealth of experience in education with extensive governance knowledge and expertise having served as a trustee, governor and chair of governors for primary, secondary, alternative provision and special school governing bodies. Sharon has worked as a MAT CEO for 12 years and mentored aspiring and newly appointed MAT CEOs on behalf of the Department for Education (DfE). She led the Education Improvement Partnership in Blackburn with Darwen before she established the Education Partnership Trust in 2012. She is a member of the DfE Alternative Provision Stakeholder group which advises government and shapes policy. She graduated as MBA in 2011 from Lancaster University. Sharon is committed to pupils being at the centre of all decision making and is an advocate of partnership working and collaboration to improve outcomes.
Matthew O’Boyle – Link Governor for Careers and Personal Development
Matthew is a Company Director and Laser Therapist, helping patients suffering with a wide range of musculoskeletal issues. Prior to this, Matthew was an Assistant Headteacher with responsibility for safeguarding and pastoral aspects of school life, having taught a wide range of subjects during his time as a teacher. Despite no longer working full-time in education, Matthew retains a strong desire to help young people achieve the best outcomes through education, which is why he became a member of the Governing Body.
Miriam Rathore – Vice Chair and Link Governor for Safeguarding and Wellbeing
Miriam has been a Pastoral Manager since 2005 at Blakewater College and now Blackburn Central High School where she has taken on extra responsibilities and is now Community Lead for the school, she is also Secondary School Lead for Cultural Connections, promoting young people’s interest in arts and creativity. Miriam works closely with primary schools across Blackburn with Darwen to support students through the transition process between primary and high school. Miriam actively promotes the profile of the school to involve students with local charities and communities, significantly contributing to awards such as ‘School of Sanctuary’ status and is currently working towards a Rainbow Flag Award to support LGBTQI staff and students in the school community. Miriam’s commitment to education is shown through her enthusiasm to take on additional responsibilities, working with disadvantaged students and giving them the best opportunities possible to raise their self-esteem and self-confidence, ultimately leading to raising their own personal aspirations this is a part of her work she really enjoys. Miriam is impressed with the levels of time, commitment and care shown to the students at The Heights Blackburn by all the staff and looks forward to contributing to the school in her role as a Governor.
Shelley Dunn – Link Governor for SEND
Shelley has worked in Education for 14 years, beginning her career as a Teaching Assistant for 2 years supporting children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), then completing a PGCE In Early Years at Edgehill University and teaching within the primary sector for 11 years. Early on in her teaching career, Shelley showed a passion for supporting children with SEND, particularly children with Social, Emotional and Mental Health needs after spending some time in a nurture class in a large primary school. She completed the National Award for Special Education Needs Coordination and has worked as a SENDCo for 9 years. Shelley has a passion for improving outcomes for children with SEND and has recently been appointed as an Inclusion Teacher for Lancashire County Council, as part of a team working with mainstream settings, empowering them to make necessary adjustments to ensure the inclusion of children with SEND. Shelley is excited to be a school governor for The Heights and being a part of the future developments and securing better outcomes for the children.
Linda Higgins – Governor
Linda worked in Higher Education for over twenty years, sixteen of which were at Manchester Metropolitan University as a Principal Lecturer. Linda’s academic specialism is organisational behaviour and her role involved managing a team of academic staff, and programmes. Linda has also held management positions in the public and voluntary sector and is a qualified leadership coach. Linda has extensive experience of working with senior leaders in both the public and private sector and is currently supervising MBA projects and coaching senior managers in industry.
Adriana Arcangelo-Hanna – Governor
Adriana is Head of English at The Heights Burnley and part of the extended SLT. She brings a wealth of experience, having taught English, with a little French on the side, for nearly 20 years. Adriana has spent most of her career in mainstream education but a recent move into alternative provision has been a welcome change and a new challenge. During her career in education, Adriana has experience in leading aspects of Teaching and Learning, behaviour, attendance and developing student leadership teams.
Adriana looks forward to beginning her journey as Governor and using her skills and experience to support The Heights Blackburn.
