Karen Stock, extended schools coordinator, Shoeburyness High School, Essex

Stock attended Shoeburyness High School as a student, before heading to London to be a secretary, then a commercial manager for an export company, then an office manager for a media company. When she became a parent governor at Shoeburyness, she discovered her passion for education, which prompted her to apply for this position when it cropped up.

“There are so many backgrounds and experiences that would help you with this role," she says. "It’s more about the sort of person you are. You need to be driven. I’ve found my business experience to be very valuable when doing things like creating a three year business plan and carrying out consultancy with the local community."

Stock’s job is to develop services in the local community, through a network of schools, based on residents’ feedback and needs. She says that her job has become increasingly high profile as extended schools have risen up the political agenda, meaning that she is taken more and more seriously by colleagues.

Her role involves constant meetings with local teachers to gather their ideas for future services and feedback on previous activities.

“The best bit is when something works and you see members of the community enjoying an activity that you organised,” she says. The image of grannies playing with young people, a thank you card from a young girl and the sound of the newly formed “Shoebury Shakers” cheer-leading team all make the hard work worth it for Stock.