I have recently retired after 40 years in education, working as a teacher, Headteacher and School Improvement Officer across Birmingham and Devon in a wide range of diverse settings. Throughout my career, I have been deeply committed to ensuring that children feel safe, valued and genuinely cared for, recognising the profound impact this has on their self-confidence, achievement and aspirations throughout life. As a Headteacher, I worked closely with children in care and within care settings, witnessing both sides of the system. There is nothing more rewarding than seeing children flourish in foster placements where they feel secure, loved and nurtured; equally, I have seen the devastating consequences when children are failed by the system.
Since my retirement, I have remained actively involved in supporting children and families through volunteering as a school-based grief support worker, coordinating Ready Easy, a national charity that supports adults to learn to read, and serving as a trustee for a local academy trust with responsibility for safeguarding. These experiences continue to strengthen my understanding of vulnerability and protection. The commitment, care and attention to detail demonstrated by Sparks particularly resonate with me, and I would welcome the opportunity to serve as a panel member, contributing my experience to support high-quality fostering decisions that place children’s needs at the centre.
