Sioned Bowen

Personal biography
As a first language Welsh speaker, I would have benefitted from Catch Up^® intervention at the age of five when I attended a school in Wales where the medium of instruction was English. I remember the bewilderment. I spent the next sixty years in education.

I was a teacher, Head of Department in primary and secondary schools in Brixton and Brent, and saw this bewilderment many times as children grappled with language acquisition. In Wales, as a Headteacher, children, when supported well, achieved dual literacy skills with ease. A decade as one of Her Majesty’s Inspector of Schools followed, where I appreciated the efforts of all in supporting literacy and numeracy skills from an early age through to Further Education College.

As a Corporate Director in 2001, I established Catch Up^® in the authority. I now act as an External Mentor for the new, innovative Masters in Education Practice.

Professional/voluntary biography
Giving back something that has given me a rich and happy life after my initial sense of bewilderment on my first days in school, has led to my involvement over the last ten years in the Youth Justice Committee, Board member of a Further Education College, Deacon in a Welsh Congregational Chapel, Trustee of the London Welsh School, Board member of Mid Wales Opera, Stiwt Theatre Rhos, Wexham, and Chair of CaST Cymru (Communities and Schools Together). I indulge my lifelong passion for music through playing the harp with different orchestras – music – the universal language that needs no words.

Why I am a Trustee
The evidence-based approach and high quality bilingual resources of Catch Up^® came to my notice in 2001. I saw for myself the superb impact of Catch Up^® with children. The passion of all who work with Catch Up^® is infectious. I was spurred on to do the training!