Local Governing Body

Bernice Kostick – Chair of Governors, Lead Governor for Safeguarding

My name is Bernice Kostick. I am currently the chair of Governors at Prospect House School. I am very pleased to contribute to the school as a Governor. I was brought up in North Manchester and I attended a local mainstream school for my own education. I have 38 years’ experience as teacher in Manchester schools. Most of my teaching has been in North Manchester. I have been a Head Teacher for 20 years. My current school is located close to the new Prospect House School.  I have a knowledge and understanding of the local community and I am keen to contribute to the development of Prospect House.

Musibau Kaffo – Vice Chair of Governors, Lead Governor for Finance and Community of Belonging

 

Musibau Kaffo, known as Kaffo, is a managing actuarial consultant for PwC, based in Manchester. He specialises in risk management and modelling having worked for the global accountancy firm for 5 years. Following university, he actually worked in education as a teacher of Mathematics, at a secondary school in Oldham. He taught ages 11-16, including some further education classes and achieved his PGCE as part of the Teach First programme.

 
He is passionate about social mobility and providing opportunities in the private sector for socio-economic disadvantaged pupils, having volunteered as a mentor and coach for college and university pupils whilst working at PwC. He continues to be involved with education acting as a Governor for Prospect House.

 

Emma Waddington – Lead Governor for Pupil Premium and Quality of Education

My name is Emma Waddington and I am currently a teacher at Piper Hill Specialist School.

After completing my degree at University of Manchester in Learning Disability Studies, I have worked in education for the past 8 years specialising in supporting children and young adults with special educational needs. I have been based in South Manchester working in different specialist educational contexts before being employed as a teacher at Piper Hill.

I am very passionate about students with special educational needs accessing a high-quality education and having a range of opportunities to progress in their learning. I am looking forward to working alongside the staff, students and governors at Prospect House.

Lisa Taylor – Lead Governor for EYFS

I have worked within the teaching profession for over thirty years with my experience ranging through special provision, primary and nursery education. For the past twenty years I worked at Martenscroft Nursery School and Children’s Centres , integrating education, childcare and the wider children’s centre remit. I became Headteacher of the provision in 2017 leading the school through an outstanding OFSTED inspection. I also led the teaching school offer developing training and leading on the Moving Forward Together project supporting the private sector in developing provision.

I believe that education plays a pivotal role in life and that everyone deserves a positive educational experience which is responsive to their needs and works with the whole family.

I left Martenscroft in April 2021 to continue studying yoga for trauma in children and young people. This is a unique qualification recognised by both the Yoga Alliance and the British Psychological Society. I am currently teaching yoga to children, adults and families in both general and more specialised work. I have also completed a foundation yoga for Autism qualification.

I look forward to continued involvement with Prospect House sharing both early years and yoga/wellbeing skills and experience.

Rob O’Hara – Lead Governor for Health and Safety

I have been headteacher at The Birches Specialist Support Primary school based in South Manchester for the last 6 years. Prior to that worked at Piper Hill as Assistant Head then Deputy Head for a period of 7 years, and previously had enjoyed teaching both Design Technology and PE in a specialist secondary school in Bury. Hopefully bringing a solid background of SEND teaching and leadership to the Prospect House Governing Body.

 

Stuart Harris – Co-Opted Governor

I currently work as a Deputy Head at Grange School. I am responsible for Personal Development , Behaviour and Attitudes as well as aspects of Health and Safety. I am the senior DSL and an Intermediate Team Teach Instructor.

I have been at Grange School for over 10 years and feel privileged to work with such a fantastic group of pupils who make sure that every day is different and brings it own unique rewards ; I know that the same can be said of the children who attend Prospect House and I consider myself equally privileged to have been given the opportunity to contribute as a Governor and work as a critical friend with Tracy , her staff and pupils.

I bring a range of experience and a proven track record of success to the roll of Governor along with a solution focused approach, a sense of humour and the resilience to remain committed to long term aspirations and goals.

I am also a father of two and as a long standing cricket and football parent recognise the need to maintain a work life balance so that the positive qualities and characteristics I feel are important are not lost or diminished.

 

Ajibola Abolaji – Parent Governor - Lead Governor for Personal Development

I am proud to have been selected as a parent Governor at Prospect House and currently have one son who attends the school.

I was born in Nigeria and moved to England in 2012. I attended Manchester college and went to the University of Salford where I gained a BSC in Mental Health Nursing. I also have experience of working with CAMHS that I gained whilst undertaking this qualification.

I am currently working with Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Trust as a Forensic Mental Health Nurse.

My interests and hobbies consist of dancing, reading and listening to music.

As a parent governor I am looking forward to building a meaningful relationship based on trust and understanding whilst assisting in the decision making process, providing advice, support, care and empowering the children at Prospect House to strive to reach their full potential.