Derek Brooks

I was brought up in Lancashire (and still support Bolton Wanderers as someone has to) and Surrey and taught at a variety of secondary and middle schools until retiring in 2015. I spent the last 17 years of my career at Allenbourn in Wimborne, enjoying the last seven as head. In partnership with the head of a local first school, we established a teaching school in 2013, and subsequently was appointed as a National Leader of Education.

I have been involved with West Moors since 2012 and have witnessed many staffing changes, though the current period represents the time with the greatest stability.

Retirement has enabled me to spend time on hobbies such as woodturning, playing bowls, cycling and walking.

Ron Cox

I was born in Scotland and commenced my education in Aberdeen but moved to London where I attended grammar school. I trained as a solicitor and then joined industry where I specialized in industrial relations. I spent many years negotiating at national level with trade unions in several major industries before becoming Human Resources Director for a large engineering employer.

Two of my children attended West Moors Middle and when I was approached to be a governor, I was delighted to join the team that helps to support the running of the school.

I have benefited from education up to degree level and have served as a governor in four different schools. I also worked with several schools across the south of England in in advisory capacity. I am proud to be associated with West Moors Middle School which has had to deal with major issues over the past few years. I am glad to say, however, that I have great faith in the current staff at all levels and firmly believe the school will exit the current difficult times in the best possible shape.

Lynne Anderson
I am from North Lincolnshire where my family still live so there are frequent journeys “up north” but I’ve lived in Dorset for 35 years arriving here via university in Leicester and accompanying my late husband on postings to RAF Scampton and RAF Kinloss.

I have 3 sons who all came to this school (in the 90’s) and have had links with the school ever since through many Cubs and Scouts who have been pupils here. My work within the community is as a Leader at 1st West moors Scout Group but also as a Governor here for the last 6 years.

My professional life has been in social care and education and I am now (supposed to be) semi-retired but seem to be busier than ever. Whether it’s family, work or volunteering, children have always been at the heart of all I do and am pleased to be part of the team here at West Moors Middle.

Clementine Pestell

I was born in Dorset and have lived here all my life. I have 3 children, my middle child attends West Moors Middle and my eldest has recently left there to move onto Upper School.

I have always been employed in the HR and accounts fields and I currently manage a small local charity part time. I have a dog and 11 chickens and enjoy being out in the garden. I also enjoy baking, crochet and jewellery making. I play the flute and piano, badly!

I enjoy being a Governor and love coming into the school and seeing how the children are taught.

Catherine Cope

I was born and raised in sunny South Africa but have lived in the UK from time to time due to my father being a UK citizen and awarding his children with British passports. Due to the unfortunate crime and corruption statistics in South Africa, all my siblings now fortunately live in the UK.

I spent my first few years in middle schools, teaching mostly English and humanities, but furthered my qualifications by gaining a PGCE in English and drama. From then on, I have spent my career doing what I love: teaching English literature to GCSE and ‘A’ level students.

Since moving permanently to the UK in 2018, I have been fortunate to join the West Moors Middle family and have been a form tutor to year 6, as well as teaching KS3 English and leading careers and drama.

Dr Deborah Craddock

I was born in Bangor, Northern Ireland, and after graduating I moved to England in 1993. I have worked in education since 1996, in primary, secondary (middle school) and tertiary sectors where I have been committed to supporting our children to develop a growth mindset to become the best that they can be, on their own individual journeys. I started as Headteacher at West Moors Middle School in September 2019, leading our incredible school improvement journey and developing staffs’ leadership capacity to create a vibrant, learning environment with an embedded rights respecting ethos. Prior to this role, I completed the National Professional Qualification for Headship (NPQH) programme whilst working as an Assistant Headteacher in a large four form entry junior school, and within the past five years, I have worked as a Specialist Leader in Education, supporting schools in Hampshire, the Isle of Wight and Poole, to raise standards in Maths and Writing. I have also mentored teachers on the Outstanding Teacher Training Programme, supported Newly Qualified Teachers and been a Lead SCITT Mentor, developing teaching capacity for the future. My drive, passion and commitment is evident in all that I do and I am proud of my team’s dedicated efforts to support our school’s community.

Outside of work, I love spending time with my family and I enjoy hobbies, including skiing, cycling, walking and reading. 

Kathryn Wallis
I have lived in Dorset all my life.  My husband and I have two daughters with four grandchildren.   I started my working life in a bank.   After having children I worked for my parents family poultry business working in the office and also hands on when it came to busy times of the year, especially at Christmas.

For thirty years I have worked in schools, firstly as a Special Needs Assistant in a Speech and Language Nursery, then the last twenty years have been in the school office as finance officer, then moving on to School Business Manager at Brockenhurst Primary School for 14 years.  

I have worked in Wiltshire, Hampshire and recently as Finance Manager at West Moors Middle School for two years until my recent retirement. I enjoy walking our spaniel, looking after our grandchildren and reading. Over the last two years I have seen the journey that the school community has been on with Dr Craddock and her team and would like to continue my journey with the school by using my finance/schools knowledge and becoming a Governor.  

Claire Stalley

I live in Bournemouth and I am a busy working Mum to three children (including twins!). Following a career of more than 20 years working for the National Health Service (NHS), I am in the process of training to be a Secondary School Teacher of Mathematics and due to commence as a Newly Qualified Teacher in a State school in Bournemouth from July 2021.

I am incredibly grateful for all the joy and happiness our children bring to us. However, I also understand how challenging raising children can be, particularly juggling all the demands of our busy day-to-day lives. I have a strong understanding and commitment to ensuring mutual respect and the importance of embracing diversity. I would wish for all children to have a positive and happy experience of being at school and for each individual child to be the best that they can be.

I am very passionate about the importance of high-quality education. I have seen and experienced first-hand the very real benefits of having a good education both in day-to-day life and particularly in the workplace. It is absolutely paramount that each and every young person accesses an education of the highest standard enabling them to achieve both academic excellence and to lead a happy and fulfilled life.

I have a committed personal challenge ethic; achievements include completing the London Marathon, various Charity 10k runs and the British Heart Foundation Pier-to-Pier swim. I also have a strong community spirit, undertaking a 4-year voluntary leadership of a local community playgroup, and an avid AFC Bournemouth supporter.

Hilary Billimore
I was born and brought up in Shropshire and then trained to be a teacher at King Alfred’s College, Winchester. I taught for thirty-five years in London and Hampshire, initially teaching Geography, but spending the last ten years teaching Personal, Social and Health Education, specialising in Careers Education and Guidance.

On retirement I continued to make use of my educational experience as a governor and then chair of governors at a local secondary school. I also serve as a voluntary consultant for local education authorities.

I spend a lot of my spare time involved in local grass roots football, both as a spectator and in an administrative capacity.

I enjoy reading, cooking and travelling.

Peter Knight
I was born and raised in the small village of Landford midway between Salisbury and Southampton. After attending what was Downton Secondary Modern (now The Trafalgar School), I served a 22-year career in the Royal Corps of Signals. I continued working in communications with the cable companies that ultimately formed Virgin Media.

I have no children or any links to education but have always thought my school memories to be happy ones. I share a belief that children are a small percentage of the population but a huge percentage of the future. I am a keen sportsman and have enjoyed playing and watching most sports.

Robin Wilcox

I was born in Poole and raised in Langton Matravers, before moving to Chichester for university where I completed a sports coaching degree. During this degree, I undertook a placement in a primary school and from there I made the decision to go into primary teaching. I taught in primary schools in Chichester for four years, before moving back to Dorset in 2017 where I most recently taught in a school in Ferndown.

After leaving teaching in 2018, I have worked as a Project Leader working on a programme working with targeted students in years 9 and above, getting them to consider their future educational options, and now work as UK Student Recruitment Manager for the University of Portsmouth. Outside of work, I am a father which keeps me very busy. I also enjoy walks with my dog Minnie, watching and playing football, and spending time with the wider family.