About Our Governors
I am delighted to be part of the QEII School team as Co-Chair of Governors. I have been a foster carer for over 14 years, and we still have the same two foster children living with our family. I am also a teacher specialising in working with children with Autism. This experience has helped me whilst teaching post 16 students in Health & Social Care at college. It was so encouraging to help students begin their journey towards their chosen careers. It has been lovely to see some of our ex-students volunteering and even working at the school! I am excited to support all the amazing work that happens at QEII and to see the school develop and expand.
I am a co-opted Governor, my whole career having been in the education sector, most specifically teacher training and Health and Social Care. I have been working with QEII School for many years now, facilitating local placement initiatives and latterly being part of the team supporting the opening of our new post 16-19 college.
Both my children joined QEII School in 2010 on moving to Horsham and we were all made to feel welcomed and supported. I decided I wanted to play a small part in continuing the great work that this school does everyday and became a governor shortly afterwards. For most of this time I have been Vice Chair, apart from an 18 month period of being Chair during my daughter’s final year in school. I bring over 20 years experience of being a parent to children with SEN and complex health issues.
At university I studied biochemistry, marrying when I graduated and joined the Civil Service in the Office of the Official Solicitor, who has a role protecting the vulnerable in legal proceedings. I spent 10 years working in the children's team and obtained a Diploma in Child Protection from the University of London. While I took a 10-year career break when I had four children and supported my elderly parents, I have continued to work for the Civil Service and my passion for the vulnerable is undiminished. For the past 10 years I have worked in the Healthcare and Welfare Team at the Official Solicitor's Office. A significant part of my role is ensuring that young people who lack capacity to make their own decisions are appropriately supported to achieve their potential as they transition into adult services.
I am also involved in a local church and facilitated through them, I take my dogs to visit residents at a local extra care centre where they are popular guests!I am Bernie Daly and have been a co-opted governor for many years at QEII school. I am a retired social worker, I used to work with children with disabilities locally and in Surrey. I am on the Wellspring committee, a magazine for children with disabilities in West Sussex. I also volunteer with the Blue Oasis Disco held every 2-3 months at the Drill Hall in Horsham.
In my early career I gained 20 years of experience in Business Management for a large corporate company. For over 15 years, since having a family, I have worked with children & teenagers in Special Education and more recently I’ve been supporting young people with learning difficulties and autism in a commercial bakery setting.
I have personal experience of having a child with a disability and complex needs and I feel strongly that every child should feel safe and happy at school and receive an outstanding education from their teachers and support staff.
I have been teaching for nearly 20 years across a range of settings. I started teaching at QEII School in 2018 and have worked across the school in each of the departments so have a good understanding of the needs of the different year groups. I have strong relationships with staff so feel I am in a good position to represent them on the Governing body.
Alison Mullineux
I have been teaching for almost 30 years and have always worked closely with children with special education needs through my role as a SENCo. I joined QEII School in January 2023 as one of the school’s Assistant Headteachers. My current responsibilities include being the school’s Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) and Senior Mental Health Lead (SMHL). I am also the Designated Teacher for Children Looked After. Through my role as Associate Governor, I am able to ensure that safeguarding and mental health are always priorities in the governing body’s strategic decision making. Outside of school, I love long walks on the beach with my family and our dog. I also enjoy reading and pottering in the garden.
I have a son at QEII school, and I am passionate about the continued success of the school and supporting the amazing work that the head teacher and staff do in providing the best possible education for children with varied and sometimes complex needs.
Professionally, I currently head up a global department monitoring and ensuring the safety of new and innovative medicines in clinical trials for a multinational research company. In this capacity, I am used to handling complex issues and challenges within a highly regulated environment and I hope I can use my experience to support the school as it goes from strength to strength.