Governance

Katharine Saywell

Name: Katharine Saywell

Governor type: Principal
Term of office: N/A

Attendance at Full Governing Body Meetings for 2023/2024: 5 out of 5

Specific area of responsibility: Effectiveness of leadership & management

Relevant interests: None

Background information: I feel privileged to be a member of the governing board at GHA and look forward to working with the other governors to continue to ensure that your child learns in a happy, engaging and inspiring environment. I trained as a teacher almost 20 years ago and have taught throughout the Foundation Stage, Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2, in mainstream and specialist schools. I was Key Stage 2 leader and then Vice Principal at GHA, where I worked for 7 years before spending time gaining further experience in supporting families and children, by training and working as a Teacher of the Deaf. I am delighted to have returned to GHA as the Principal and feel very lucky to be able to work with the wonderful children, families and staff.

Hopes and aspirations for the GB/School: I will work hard alongside the governing body, the staff and the rest of the school community to ensure that every child at GHA is celebrated as an individual with unique strengths, interests and skills.

John Boor

Name: John Boor

Governor type: Chair of Governors

Term of office from: 08/21 for 4 years

Appointed by Trustboard

Attendance at Full Governing Body Meetings for 2023/2024: – 5 out of 5

Specific area of responsibility:
Safeguarding
Personal Development, Behaviour and Welfare
Health & Safety Governor CPD
Pupil Discipline Committee & Appeals Committee (Chair)

Relevant interests:
Relevant business interests – Married to a local Primary Headteacher
Governor at other educational establishments – No
Any relationship with school staff – A work colleague is married to a staff member of the school

Background information: I am Chair of Governors at Gosberton House Academy.  I believe this school provides the very best for all of our pupils which makes my role so valuable in supporting the Principal, teachers and support staff to ensure they are able to focus on their roles of getting it right for all pupils in their care. I work and live locally with my family. My son attended GHA and is proof of the commitment of all staff in enabling him to achieve his best but above all by being happy, confident and secure. I spend time in school when I can as I work for a local furniture making company. I am always happy to liaise with parents in my role as Chair of Governors and may be contacted through the school office.

Hopes and aspirations for the GB/School: As Chair of Governors my role is about supporting and challenging ways to enable the school to consistently demonstrate their high quality work, evidenced by the different strengths from members of the governing body with the range of skills we bring to the team. The governing body is part of the leadership and management and so part of my role is also about ensuring that the good work of the school is understood and shared through being able to explain it through first-hand experience.

Louise Stanton

Name: Louise Stanton

Governor type: Trust Governor

Term of office from: 01/23 for 4 years

Appointed by Trustboard

Attendance at Full Governing Body Meetings for 2023/2024: – 5 out of 5

Specific area of responsibility: Special Educational Needs provision & Pupil Premium

Relevant interests:

Relevant Business Interests:
Strategic Lead for LCC Commissioned Service – Autism and Learning Difficulties Outreach
National Autistic Society Accreditation Panel Chair
Governing Bodies: University Academy Holbeach
Relationship to school staff: None

Background information: I am delighted to be a member of the governing body at GHA. I am a qualified teacher and a former Executive Principal. I am now an Educational Consultant. During my time in education, I have taught across KS 1-4 and in the Early Years and pre-school sector. I have also worked as an outreach teacher, working in a multi-agency capacity to support schools, young people and their families across Lincolnshire.

Hopes and aspirations for the GB/School: I will strive to ‘live’ the GHA ethos of Working Together, Learning Together…to ensure that our youngsters, our families, our staff and our community have access to the best levels of provision and support so that we may all lead healthy, happy and fulfilling lives.

Vicky Edwards - Staff Governor

Name: Vicky Edwards

Governor type: Staff Governor

Term of office from: 09/2021 for 4 years

Appointed by Trustboard

Attendance at Full Governing Body Meetings for 2023/2024: – 3 out of 5

Specific area of responsibility: Quality of teaching, learning & assessment

Relevant interests:
Relevant business interests – None
Governor at other educational establishments – No
Any relationship with school staff – None

Background information: I became a qualified teacher in 1996 and began my teaching career in a small rural primary school; after a year I decided to that I needed more experience in different environments. The next year I spent gaining experience in a busy town school; in a special school (yes here!) and in a very large reception class in a deprived part of a busy town. I then spent 3 years in a mainstream school becoming more and more frustrated with the state of special needs provision in the school and wanting to do more. Therefore, I rejoined the school in 2000.I began my school life at GHA in upper school, primarily in Class 6. As the years passed unlike the children, I went down school ! Teaching in all areas of the school before landing in Key Stage 1, including becoming the Key Stage 1 lead. I have enjoyed working here but 2 years ago I received a fresh start in Key Stage 2 and have enjoyed the different challenges, experiences and joys that building relationships and teaching the older children bring. After 20+ years being the  subject leader for ICT and having the responsibility of introducing and overseeing the computer science curriculum, I am now the maths lead – which is bringing fresh challenges and experiences.

Hopes and aspirations for the GB/School: To continue to work to support SLT, the children and the families of GHA. To continue my own professional development by learning more and promoting the maths mastery approach in a way that our wonderfully unique children can access. To continue to coach and oversee the numerous apprentices, volunteers and work placement students. It is also a fabulous feeling to see these young (and sometimes mature) people learn and grow and know that our school has played a major role in shaping their career and given them a wonderful, solid foundation that they can take away with them and use – living and breathing our ‘working together, learning together’ ethos.

Dr Lesley Allinson - Co-Opted

Governor type: Co-Opted

Term of office from: 09/2021 for 4 years

Appointed by Trustboard

Attendance at Full Governing Body Meetings for 2023/2024: – 5 out of 5

Specific area of responsibility: Governing Board

Relevant interests:
Relevant business interests – None
Governor at other educational establishments – No
Any relationship with school staff – None

Background information: Previously employed by the University of Lincoln as a Senior Lecturer in Psychology with both research and teaching interests in autism.  My expertise is in the personal differences in cognitive and perceptual processing, as well as the use of technology in assisting individuals in their educational, behavioural and social development.

Hopes and aspirations for the GB/School: I hope I can contribute in promoting best practice across the school’s activities and widen its already impressive reputation; together with offering advice on prospective external research collaborations.

Rebecca Daw

Name: Rebecca Daw

Governor type: Co-Opted

Term of office from: 09/2021 for 4 years

Appointed by Trustboard

Attendance at Full Governing Body Meetings for 2023/2024: – 5 out of 5

Specific area of responsibility:
Local Authority Parent Governor
Quality of Teaching, Learning and Assessment
Hearings Committee

Relevant interests:
Relevant business interests – None
Governor at other educational establishment – No
Any relationship with school staff – None

Background information: I began my career as a teaching assistant. After completing an Open University degree in Molecular science I trained to become a qualified teacher. I am currently studying with the University of Birmingham to gain a Post Graduate degree in Language, Literacy and Dyslexia. I also have a special interest in Performing Arts, having trained at a full time ballet school when I was younger and have performed in a wide variety of settings across the globe.Having been a science teacher for the past 7 years I love finding out about new areas of science and have recently become interested in Special Educational Needs and the areas of development in this area for students and their families.

Hopes and aspirations for the GB/School:

As a governor at GHA, I aim to support the academy to ensure all students reach their full potential. As an experienced mainstream teacher, I understand how important it is to have the support of a dedicated governing body to allow the school to achieve their best through supporting staff and students in the school.

As a Governor my role is about supporting and challenging in ways to enable the school to consistently demonstrate their high quality work evidenced by the different strengths from members of the Governing Body with the range of skills we bring to the team.  The Governing Body are part of Leadership and Management and so part of my role is also ensuring that the good work of the school is understood and shared through being able to explain it through first-hand experience.

Sue Boor

Name: Sue Boor

Governor type: Trustee Appointment

Term of office from: 01/2025 for 4 years

Specific area of responsibility : Director of Primary Education – UoLAT

Appointed by Trustboard

Attendance at Full Governing Body Meetings for 2023/2024: – N/A

Claire Palmer

Name: Mrs Claire Palmer

Governor type: Parent

Term of office from: 09/2024 for 4 years

Appointed by Parents

Attendance at Full Governing Body Meetings for 2023/2024: – N/A Not yet in role

Specific area of responsibility: Literacy & Phonics
Relevant interests: Relevant business interests – None
Governor at other educational establishment – No
Any relationship with school staff – None

Background information & aspirations for the GB/School:

I’ve been a parent at Gosberton for over 3 years now. I’m very proud of my son’s education at Gosberton and I wanted to give back to the school as they have helped him so much since he started there. What better way than to become a Governor, and see what running the school is all about.

I have a background as a Primary school teacher and I have also worked as a Parental Link Coordinator and Head of Literacy. I look forward to helping as the Governor Phonics link and to be able to support the school in any way I can.

In my spare time I like hanging out with my family, gardening and running the PTFA at my daughter’s school.

Carl Tuck

Name: Mr Carl Tuck

Governor type: Parent

Term of office from: 09/2024 for 4 years

Appointed by Parents

Attendance at Full Governing Body Meetings for 2023/2024: – N/A Not yet in role

Specific area of  responsibility: Attendance

Relevant interests:
Relevant business interests – None
Governor at other educational establishment – No
Any relationship with school staff – None

Background  information: Our family saw how special Gosberton House Academy was from our first visit and I feel privileged to be part of the community. I am a Psychology student at the University of Lincoln, aspiring to work within education. My academic studies and involvement with the Autism Research and Innovation Centre, helps to enhance my understanding of Neurodiversity and the challenges our children face. Before returning to education, I ran my own business, gaining valuable real-world experience along the way.

Hopes and aspirations for the GB/School: I hope to bring a unique perspective to supporting the development of staff and students, offering thoughtful feedback and contributing to its vision of a caring, high-achieving environment for all students.