Kathy Tracey

Kathy is a Londoner born and bred, and was educated in Ealing. After leaving school Kathy went to the Guildhall School of Music & Drama to study drama.

After a couple of years in Repertory Theatre, she realised the acting life was not for her. It was fate that she should marry Richard Tracey from Stratford-Upon-Avon – Shakespeare country!

After working with Erin Pizzey at the first Battered Wives home for two years, she became a full-time mum to her four children.

While Kathy’s children were all at local state schools, Kathy became a councillor for the Inner London Education Authority, determined to improve London’s schools.

She successfully campaigned to have education devolved to the boroughs, and when in 1990 Wandsworth took over control of education she became a Wandsworth Councillor.

Kathy has served on most of the Council’s committees. In Leisure & Amenities she was responsible for introducing the orange bag recycling system, privatising the Council’s leisure centres, and introducing the Wandsworth Arts Festival.

During her time as Chairman of Regeneration she was responsible for the development of Wandsworth Town Centre.

As Lead Member for Children in the Borough, Kathy is now responsible for all the borough’s schools and is very proud of their continuing improved performance.

Kathy was delighted last year when Government inspectors awarded Wandsworth an Excellent Authority category, and said the Council’s “safeguarding arrangements were judged to be outstanding along with provision for looked- after children and those with learning difficulties and/or disabilities”.

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