MBE for Dedicated Lancashire Chair of Governors
Helen Dicker to be recognised in the New Year’s Honours list
Tarleton Academy’s Chair of Governors, Helen Dicker, has been awarded an MBE in the New Year’s Honours List, for services to education.
She has been the Chair of Governors at Tarleton Academy for four and a half years and was also the Chair of Governors at Tarleton Community Primary (TCP) for sixteen years.
Helen was a student at both schools before leaving the village to study engineering at Durham University, which led onto a promising career as a Geotechnical Engineer. Helen and her husband, Steven, returned to Tarleton after the birth of her first child, Katie, and Helen chose to focus on being a mum after the birth of her second child, Matthew. This also enabled Helen to become more fully involved in the community, starting off by helping to run a toddler group and progressing to become Chair of the Friends of TCP when Katie started there. Helen became the Chair of Governors at TCP when Henry, her third child, started and Chair of Governors at the Academy when her youngest, Charlie, moved across from TCP.
Helen’s contribution to the local community is not restricted to education. She has also been a committee member and secretary at Tarleton Corinthians, an FA Charter Standard Football Club with 20 teams for all ages, including being Central Lancashire Junior League Club Secretary of the Season 2007/8.
As Chair at the Academy, Helen has overseen dramatic and sustained improvement, culminating in an outstanding judgement for leadership and management in the latest Ofsted inspection. Tarleton is geographically on the cusp of West Lancashire, South Ribble and North Sefton, and attracts students from all three areas. The Academy’s most recent success has seen it placed 6th in Lancashire on the new measure of children’s progress made over their time at the school.
Headteacher Mrs Gwinnett said “Everyone who has worked with Helen is absolutely delighted; we are so proud that Helen has been recognised in this way. As our Chair of Governors she is utterly focused on the best possible achievements for all our students. She always makes sure that her support and challenge to us are perfectly balanced. To have a Chair who is as accessible as Helen and so in tune with the needs of the school and the national context is a real privilege. Helen intelligently and sensitively questions our work and our priorities, and to have her as a sounding board is invaluable. The whole of our staff and our governing body hold her in high esteem. She is a lovely person and a fabulous ambassador for the school.”
Mr Upton, Headteacher at TCP added “We are delighted that Helen’s achievements in education have been recognised. During her 16 years as Chair of Governors she was a role model to the community and worked hard to get everybody on board. This was exemplified in 2004 when she won a grant of £86,000 to build a new school hall and helped raise the further £72,000 needed to complete the project in a mere nine months. Helen’s clear values and strategic vision as Chair shaped the school, as did her wonderful sense of humour. Helen’s work has always been child focused; she is passionate about providing the best start for the children of the village, something that is reflected in the huge amount of time she has provided to serve the community. Her generosity, dedication and selfless efforts are among the reasons for her nomination.”
Commenting on the award, Helen Dicker said “It has been a privilege to work with the staff, governors, children, parents and guardians, and the wider community supporting Tarleton Academy and TCP over the years. There has been some hard work but a lot of fun and many great friendships too. I am delighted to receive this award and, whilst it is in my name, I believe it recognises the outstanding efforts of all those who have contributed to maximising the opportunities for our local children.”
This award recognises the outstanding efforts of all those who have contributed to maximising the opportunities for our local children.”
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