What does a governing body do?

Our governing body helps the school to set high standards by planning for the school’s future and setting targets for school improvement. Our governors offer support and advice, while holding the school to account for its results and performance.

Our community governors and parent governors, as members of the local community, help the school to respond to the needs of the public and make us accountable to the public for what we do.

Governors are involved in setting the strategic direction of the school and exercises its responsibilities in partnership with the headteacher and the senior team. The governing body, while not intervening in the day to day running of the school, maintain a presence at key school events and take an active interest in our work.

Upcoming Meetings

Governing Body Meeting Dates 2018/19

Members of the Academy Trust

Mr Nick Chambers

Dr Neil Appleby

Mrs Heather Lee

Who are our governors?

Mr Nick Chambers – Chair of Governors

Nick has worked within the Social Housing Sector for 28 years, 20 of which as Chief Executive Officer. With a background in finance, Nick studied Leadership and Management with Nottingham Trent University and is now a member of the Chartered Institute of Management. Nick has been involved in education for over 16 years during which he has served as Chair of a local Church of England Primary School before becoming a member of the Governing Body at the Sir Robert Pattinson Academy. Now in his 9th year, Nick has been appointed Chair of Governors.

Dr Neil Appleby – Vice Chair

Dr. Neil Appleby is a local dentist. He became a governor of SRPA in January 2010 and became Chair of the governing body in April 2013. He completed the NCTL Chair of Governors course in 2013 and is the Safeguarding lead on the governing body.  He has run his own small business for 18 years and brings knowledge of working in a highly regulated industry.

Mr Dale Hardy – Headteacher

Dale started as Head Teacher at SRPA in September. He works closely with other Headteachers to ensure the Trust’s strategies are realised and in particular with the Head of North Kesteven School where the Academy works in a collaborative arrangement for sixth form provision.

Mrs Heather Lee – Commmunity Governor

Heather is a senior Human resources professional, with membership of the Chartered Institute of Personnel & Development (MCIPD) and has worked across a variety of sectors including retail, manufacturing and utilities.  Heather attended Robert Pattinson School as a student through to 6^th form, going on to gain a BA (Hons.) in Economics from the University of York.  Heather has an MBA attained in 2000.  She has wide ranging experience of governance and community involvement, is a local charity Trustee and a member of both the Lincoln International Business School Advisory Board and the Greater Lincolnshire employment & Skills Board.

Mr Pete Ward – Staff Governor

Pete is an Assistant Head Teacher at SRPA and has worked at the academy for over ten years. He joined the governors in November 2017.

Mrs Karen Merchant – Parent Governor

Karen has been a parent governor since 2011, Her son has recently left the joint sixth form to attend university.
Karen works as a Lunchtime Supervisor at a local primary academy and as a volunteer in the classroom.
For the past ten years, she has worked as a volunteer for her local church, working with children of all ages.
Karen completed a Level 3 Teaching Assistant qualification in 2010.
She is also a qualified makeup artist and beauty therapist.

Mrs Tracey Gibson – Staff Governor

Started employment at SRPA in January 1994 as science laboratory technician, was promoted to senior laboratory technician in 2001 and now Lead DLO in Science. Tracey was a staff governor for 7 years but had to step down due to personal circumstances, she has now re-joined the governing body.

Mrs Paula Robinson – Community Governor

Paula works as a Community Champion at Asda.  Within her role she does a lot of volunteering in the local community as well as do a lot of fund-raising and liaise with local charities and good causes.  Paula has had ties with SRPA since 2011.  She believes the school plays a big part in our local community and that her role of Community Governor will help to maintain the high standards of the Academy.

Mrs Natalie Thomas – Co-opted Governor

Natalie Thomas is a Partner at the local solicitors firm Bridge McFarland.  Natalie is the Risk Partner and is responsible for ensuring that the Firm is compliant and risk free.  This offers a skill set useful to the Governing Body.  Natalie became a Governor in March 2016 after having developed strong links with the Academy and in particular its work related learning skills program.

Rev Canon Alan Robson – Community Governor

Alan has previously been a Chair of Governors at Wooton CE Primary, Spilsby Primary, Toynton All Saints Primary and De Aston Academy. He is a Methodist Minister, as well as a Canon of Honour at Linoln Cathedral. Alan is Lincolnshire’s Agricultural Chaplain and a board member at Hill Holt Wood, Green Synergy, Lincolnshire Rural Support Network and the Education Committee of Lincolnshire Agricultural Society. 

Mrs Alison Braithwaite – Parent Governor

Alison is a Project Manager at Bishop Grosseteste University, supporting  unemployed adults back into work/learning. Before starting this role, she spent 25 years working in the Careers  Service. Alison is also a Volunteer Community Ambassador for the Children’ Society.

Ms Toni O’Brien – Parent Governor

Toni is a Business Growth Adviser with over 20 years’ experience of working with businesses in Lincolnshire to realise their growth plans. She previously worked as an Investors in People Adviser and Assessor working with Schools throughout the East Midlands to implement and assess their people strategies, policies and processes. Toni is an accredited Business Coach and Mentor who is also a qualified Children’s and Adult Counsellor and member of the BACP ( British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy).

Prof Paul Fenton – Parent Governor

Paul is a Principal Lecturer, Professor and Consultant at Nottingham Trent University. Previously he has been Principal and CEO at Oasis College of Higher Education and Senior Lecturer at Bishop Grosseteste University. Paul brings experience of working across the education and community sectors. In addition to an academic profile of HE teaching and research related to the field of Youth Studies, he works as an advisor on national policy and practice concerning young people. Paul has also held the role of Chair of Governors for a secondary school in Hampshire. 

Governors Attendance & Business Interest Information 2017-2018