LINDSEY Wharmby, who has been governor of Ilkley Grammar School during a number of major changes in the school, was named Governor of the Year.

Picking up the award she said the most important thing a governor can bring to a school is community and a desire for that school to succeed.

She recently retired from her role as governor at Ilkley Grammar School, and has worked in or around schools since the 1960s.

Mrs Wharmby was nominated for the award by head Helen Williams, who wanted her work recognised.

She said: “We feel her tireless voluntary service as a school governor is very deserving of the T&A Governor of the Year award as she retires from her chair of governors role.

“As chair of governors, in addition to the usual extensive calendar of meetings, correspondence and attendance at school events, Lindsey has led the appointment of a new headteacher, overseen the school’s conversion from a single to a multi-academy trust, overseen the expansion of the school’s PAN at pre and post-16, and has also played a key role in the school achieving its first ever outstanding rating from Ofsted earlier this year.

“In addition to all of these things, Lindsey has championed and supported the school in all quarters of the community and has always gone above and beyond, freely giving of her time to ensure that the school is fully supported and challenged.”

She told the T&A that one role of a governor was to make changes to the education system as seamless as possible. She said: “Students shouldn’t notice any changes in the system, that is all for us to sort out.

“When we became an academy it was very important that we kept Ilkley as an important part of the community. Schools have to stay part of the community, they can’t work in isolation.”

Honorary mentions:

Ruby Bhatti

Shehzad Sharif