Tollgate Community Junior School

Verity Langley and Carly Hobdell

I have two daughters, one of whom attends Tollgate and is in Year 6.   My wife also works at Tollgate as a Teaching Assistant in Year 4.

In my day job I run my own company contracting as a Project Manager in the live events industry. I started out working on music festivals and touring. My role now focuses on the onsite delivery of corporate events. We work with some of the biggest household names, as well as UK Government departments. I build and manage teams to deliver a project. My company specialises in working in less developed countries with fewer resources.

My role is to ensure teams finish events and projects:

- on time

- on budget

- to the quality levels expected.

I have to be a strong communicator and am used to having to build rapport quickly to ensure results. I identify bottlenecks and work with a team to improve a process. Not averse to getting my hands dirty, I may have to stack flight-cases in the back of a truck or pull power cable in the middle of a muddy field!

Outside of work I am passionate about education. Young people should be aware of the opportunities and varied pathways they have before them. I am a contributor to the Founders4Schools program. As a small business owner, secondary schools around Sussex invite me to talk to 14-16 year olds. I talk to them about my own experiences and how the choices they make will affect their career opportunities. I love giving young people an insight into the world of work and bridging the gap between business and education.

I am a Mum of two boys, one of whom is in in year 5 at Tollgate

I have a strong belief in helping all children to reach their full potential. My eldest son has additional needs. I know first-hand how important it is for children to learn in the right environment to fulfil their potential. Committed in all that I do, I am not afraid of rolling up my sleeves in order to achieve an objective.

I have a keen interest in gardening and have enjoyed planting/pruning etc in the St Andrews Infants secret garden. In an age where children can spend a lot of time indoors on computers, I believe they should have access to an outside learning space.

In my day job I work for a government body where my role involves data accuracy and fraud. I have excellent project management skills and expertise in setting up new initiatives. My responsibilities involve:

- bedding in and analysing new processes

- reviewing them at regular points

- making any necessary adjustments

I have lived in the local area since 2003. I have good links to the community having been the landlady of a local pub and Chair of a local charity run pre-school. Both roles have offered a wealth of experience in people management and sharpened my communication skills. In particular in:

- listening to what people say

- diplomatically delivering news that might not be popular but in a way that people feel listened to.

I am a mum to a son who attends Tollgate and moved to Eastbourne in 2003. 

In my day job, I work with Harvard University as a coordinator for their alumni club, and as the U.K Interview Chair for prospective students who are applying to Harvard College, the undergraduate school. I also run a large basketball league up in London and work with a landscape architect doing technical drawings. 

I run the 1st Seaside Beaver Scouts Group in my spare time, and I am due to finish a degree in Combined STEM with the Open University next year. For 27 years I was a tennis line judge and have officiated all over the world.

I feel that education needs to provide an environment where all children can be enthused and thrive, whether that be socially, in sports, in arts (I am a trained stage manager), academically or a combination.