Springwell Lincolnshire Governing Body
Springwell Lincolnshire joined Wellspring Academy Trust in April 2017 and is proud to be part of a wider community of schools serving local communities and their interests. There is a single governing body for all four schools within the Springwell Lincolnshire partnership, covering the alternative provision sites at Spalding, Grantham, Mablethorpe and Lincoln.
Our governing body has three key roles:
Details of our current governors are set out below. Our governors have a wide range of background, skills and experience which they bring to the governing body and work closely with the Executive Principal and senior leaders, who are responsible for the running of the Academy. The Executive Principal is accountable to governors for how she does this and frequently reports and consults with governors about this.
Governors meet several times a year to look at all aspects of the life and work of the school. All of our governors are linked to one of our sites and visit regularly to ensure that things are working as they should and your child will recognise our governors from school celebrations. In addition, many of the governors are linked with specific aspects of school life and make regular reports to the rest of the governors.
If you are interested in finding out more about becoming a governor, please contact our Governance Professional, Melanie Gibbons, on 07729 105871 or by emailing her at m.gibbons@wellspringacademies.org.uk. We currently have vacancies for a parent governor and Trust-appointed governors.
Our Chair of Governors is David Reed and he can be contacted via the Governance Professional as above or by writing to:
David Reed
℅ Springwell Alternative Academy Lincoln
Macauley Drive
Lincoln LN2 4EL
Meet the Governors
Chair of Governors Trust-Appointed Governor Term of office 21/05/2020 – 20/05/2028
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I have had a varied career before arriving at Springwell. I studied English at University before joining the Army (in the Royal Engineers). I then spent nearly 30 years in the Metropolitan Police in various operational roles. I finished by leading several change programmes aimed at modernising policing in London. In 2019, I moved to Lincoln and started work as a project manager for the NHS (supporting Palliative & End of Life care) and then with the Kisimul group (supporting Adults with complex learning disabilities and Autism). I am married to Louise with two grown up children and two dachshunds (who passionately believe that they are really in charge.) I am a Link Governor for Leadership and Management. |
![]() Vice Chair Trust-Appointed Governor Term of office 28/02/2023 – 28/02/2027
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I am married to Pam, our son Sam lives in Sheffield, we also have a Jack Russell, Jessie and a Ferret, Daphne. I am an Engineering Services Manager for BOC based in Lincolnshire. My role encompasses; project management and execution, Capex management, engineering standards with best practice, and interfacing with external regulatory bodies e.g. HSE. My interests are; fishing, archery (coaching), running (slowly) and playing the ukulele (badly). My interest and involvement with schools started when I became a parent governor for a Lincolnshire grammar. I was the chair of the finance and estates committee for several years before becoming the chair of the governing body for 3 years. I am still a member of this Trust. I am also a Governor at Coomb Briggs Primary Academy in Immingham, which is another school within Wellspring Academy Trust. At Springwell Lincolnshire, I am a Link Governor for Finance, Standards and Quality of Curriculum.
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![]() Staff Governor Term of office 08/07/2021 – 08/07/2025
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I have over 10 years experience working with SEMH needs within the education sector and I am an intervention learning practitioner at Springwell Alternative Academy in Lincoln. I am passionate about finding the right interventions and sensory needs to help the pupils I work with and strive to make a difference with the team I work with. I am a Link Governor for SEND, Behaviour and Attendance. |
![]() Trust-Appointed Governor Term of office 08/10/2024 – 08/10/2028
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I am now retired after a career that started with working as a fire-fighter. However, following an injury on duty with West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service, it took me via academia to the oil industry. After the Fire service I got a BSc in Geological Sciences (University of Leeds), an MSc in micropalaeontology (University of Sheffield) and a PhD in geological processes (University of Leeds). After briefly working in the civil service between my undergraduate and postgraduate degrees, I also taught at the University of Leeds, before moving into geological consultancy in the oil industry. I then worked as a principal geologist for a number of international oil companies in the U.K., North America and the Middle East. I retired from hydrocarbon exploration as a consequence of a prolonged medical condition that led to cancer and culminated in an organ transplant.
I have always had an interest in education, firstly as a parent to two sons but also because it provided me with the opportunity to have another chance of a career following my injury (in the fire service). It is because of this that I applied to become a governor with a view to giving something back into a system that gave so much me. I am a Link Governor for Careers. |
![]() Trust-Appointed Governor Term of office 08/10/2024 – 08/10/2028 |
I am a data scientist working in a human resources department and I have degrees in mathematics and statistics. My career has involved various data-related projects and change management initiatives. Although I don’t have a personal connection to Springwell Lincolnshire, I am passionate about education and looking forward to using my expertise to support the school’s mission and continuing success as a governor. I am a Link Governor for Finance. |
![]() Staff Governor Term of office 08/10/2024-08/10/2028
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Married with 3 daughters, served in the British Army for over 23 years in varying roles, left in 2012, I have been employed in various sectors…including teaching in Further Education, and managing the National Citizen Service across the East of England. Hobbies include playing Cricket and reading, I studied at the University of Salford, gaining a Masters in Terrorism and Security.
I am a Link Governor for Safeguarding.
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![]() Ex Officio governor Trust Representative |
I am a Regional Operations Manager for Wellspring Academy Trust and contribute to Springwell Lincolnshire’s Governing Body in an ex-officio capacity.
I have worked for the Trust since 2017, and feel lucky to have been involved in the growth, and in being able to contribute to the exemplary work that happens across all our Academies each and everyday. My career is in office leadership, previously working for Leeds Local Authority within Children’s Social Work Services, before moving on to working in an Office Manager capacity at an SEMH setting in Leeds, and more recently gaining a role as Regional Operations Manager within the West and North Regions. I have volunteered in charitable sectors over the years, and feel passionate about making a positive difference in whatever project I am tasked with, with the ultimate aim, to use my skills to contribute effectively to positive change. During the time I spent working at an SEMH setting, I witnessed and experienced first hand how the work that goes in through Unconditional Positive Regard and Relational Practice truly makes a positive impact on the Young People and Families within our Communities and settings. I worked alongside some wonderful human beings during this period, who offered care and empathy to our young people in the most difficult circumstances. In my current role, I lead on Health and Safety areas within my region, working closely with Academy Leaders and Leaders within our Estates and Facilities Teams around system development and to ensure all training, policy and risk assessment needs are met, to continuously build on a positive safety culture across our settings. Health and Safety is a passion of mine and I have enjoyed seeing the difference from the hard work that has been put into this recently. Another strand of my role is around Office Development, assisting Academy Leaders with Office Function reviews, and offering advice and support to ensure our office teams function effectively. I live on the East Yorkshire Coast. Outside professional and voluntary work, I enjoy spending time outdoors with my husband and two dogs, on walks and trips away in my campervan.
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Executive Principal Ex Officio governor |
I completed my teaching qualification at Loughborough University in 2002 and became an Advanced Skills Teacher within my first 2 years of teaching. I moved from subject leadership to become Head of KS4 in a large secondary school where I was responsible for pastoral care as well as pupil outcomes. Being passionate about supporting pupils to overcome barriers to learning, I completed my National SENDCo Award through Northampton University. Having gained my SENDCo qualification I was promoted to a senior leadership role to develop inclusive practice across the school. I made the move from mainstream to work in AP as Executive Vice Principal in 2016 and have gained valuable experience of working with vulnerable children and young people with SEMH needs. I led the opening of two new AP Free Schools in Lincoln and Mablethorpe and have worked closely with Lincolnshire Local Authority to deliver the AP strand of the Lincolnshire Ladder of Behaviour Intervention. In January 2021, I became Executive Principal across all four Springwell Lincolnshire schools and since that time, three of the four schools have welcomed Ofsted in for their first official Inspections, securing two Good ratings, and one Outstanding. I sit on the Governing Body in an ex-officio capacity. |
Governing Body Meetings 2024-25
This year’s meetings will be held virtually on the following dates at 4.30pm:
Minutes of Governing Body meetings are available on request from the Governance Professional, Melanie Gibbons: m.gibbons@wellspringacademies.org.uk
Please click on the links below for a summary of attendance at meetings for 2022-23 and 2023-24 and details of governors’ pecuniary and business interests for the last two years.
Springwell Lincs LGB Attendance Summary 2022-23
Springwell Lincs LGB Attendance Summary 2023-24
Summary of Springwell Lincolnshire LGB Declarations of Interest 2022-23
Summary of Springwell Lincolnshire LGB Declarations of Interest 2023-24