Governing Body – The Gainsborough Academy

Governing Body

The Gainsborough Academy Governing Body

Shaun Flynn

Chair of Governors

I spent 27 years in my chosen profession, raising and qualifying from trainee, through branch, area and regional management to MD and CEO.

With no challenge left, and 20 years left to work I wanted a new goal and 5 years ago joined the motor trade, I am currently a sales manager for new cars at a Ford dealership. I am very much a family man, I have 4 children and 2 grandchildren.

I joined the board of governors at TGA (my third school governorship) nearly 6 years ago and have had the absolute privilege to be chairman for the last 3.5 years. Over the years I have been involved in many groups and organisations but my connection to TGA is the one I enjoy and am proud of the most. We have come a long way at TGA in recent years and now belong to a fantastic “family” in Wickersley. I have been lucky enough to work with three terrific head teachers, all of whom brought individual talents and skills to their role. We are far further ahead now than we have ever been, we must continue this trajectory, all of you are part of this.
Just like my business career we need challenges. Every student here at TGA is an important part of these challenges. My challenge to you students here at TGA is to do your best, be part of our present and our future but above all let’s all work together to make this school the best we can, a school that puts out great town firmly on the map and a school we are all proud of.

Sara Bowers

I’ve worked at The Gainsborough Academy since it opened back in 2009. Within that time I’ve worked in a variety of roles. I am currently supporting staff, students and their families through my work in the school office. This year I’ve done a lot of work towards children’s reading, using the Three Book Challenge, which is a great passion of mine.

I am keen to support the academy on its journey to become an outstanding school. Working with students every day has given me an insight into the ways they can be motivated, so they can aim high and achieve their dreams.

Claire Poulter

Parent Governor

I am employed as a Pharmacy Advisor in a very busy Pharmacy in Gainsborough town.

I wanted to become a Parent Governor so that I could help support the school to develop and move forward in the future.

John Bingham

Co-Opted

Having left secondary school and moving straight into a 10 year career in the military at 16 I was forced to grow up very quickly, I was married at 18 which in hindsight was a poor decision and had a child at 21 who along with my partners two children are all students at TGA. I restarted my life in my mid-20s, leaving the military and going through a divorce, I moved to gainsborough and started a slow career move into Information Governance and Data Protection, a career move that is serving me well.

My life to date has been extremely turbulent with a considerable amount of trials and tribulation which only in the past couple of years have really settled down and allowed me to get a handle on life.

I consider every child irrespective of background or ability deserves the best start in life, access to a safe learning environment and support with life’s stresses and struggles be they within the academy or extended home. I hope to support in what ever way I can around support with this. I also have a passion for creative writing and its ability to aid with mental health issues, something that I believe could help the younger generations express themselves and feel more able to talk.

John Green

Teaching Staff Governor

I started work as a Science teacher at a small school in Barnsley in September 1993. I arrived at Rawmarsh Community School in 2001 and have been a member of staff at the school ever since. I currently serve on the Governing Body at both Rawmarsh Community School and The Gainsborough Academy.

I care deeply about young people and the wider communities they come from and I hope that being appointed to the Governing body at The Gainsborough Academy will allow me to support the Leadership Team and other members of staff in moving the school forward over the coming years. I hope this will help to develop the students and give them the best possible chances whilst they are in school and after their school life is over.

David Miller

Staff Governor

I started teaching as a Spanish Co-ordinator in 1995 at a school on the outskirts of Nottingham. After having a number of roles at that school, I moved to a school in Chesterfield as Deputy Headteacher in 2005 and then moved to Newark Academy as a Vice Principal for Teaching and Learning in 2013. After a short tenure as a Principal at Gainsborough, I worked at Rawmarsh Community School in Rotherham for a year teaching Spanish and French both in the school itself and in its partner primaries. I returned to Gainsborough as Head of MFL in 2018 and again have taught French and Spanish in school and out in our local community.

I am committed to the process of constant review and improvement and believe that all students deserve a modern, relevant curriculum which sets them up for the next step. I believe strongly in developing student resilience so that they can go out into the world able and qualified. As staff governor, for me it is vital that all colleagues are supported to be at the top of their game to bring about the best outcomes for our students.

Lydia Richardson

Co-Opted

I work in social care and have experience supporting young people in many ways from having a chat to sitting and supporting them in there complex issues inc mental health.

I decided to apply to be a governor to be able to support the school to develop and to be part of a positive change in the community, I’m hoping my experience will be valuable and be able to support staff and students.

Stacey Woods

Co-Opted

Aimee Owen

Co-Opted

I moved to Gainsborough in 2018 with my three children, two of whom immediately started to attend The Gainsborough Academy. I still have one child attending the school and know the levels of support and understanding the school offered us; therefore I felt becoming a governor was the best way to ‘give back’ to the school and, in turn, the wider community.

My own life and experiences have varied widely. I was a qualified and registered dental nurse after secondary school; however, I left the profession in my mid-20s when my eldest child was diagnosed with autism and ADHD. Since then I have studied a wide range of subjects, completing many ‘one day’ and online courses.

I also helped in the startup of two small businesses, a cake supply and a courier company.

This included being a ‘rep’, book-keeping, sales/marketing, fundraising, and day-to-day running of both companies.

I currently volunteer at CLIP college on the FLARE programme, helping with the learners education and in a pastoral capacity. This has given me a wide and varied range of experience, skills and knowledge, not just in business management but other areas such as SEND, physical health, and mental health.

I hope to draw upon my experiences in these areas to assist the school to continue in their support of the children and families in our town.

Georgia Cartwright

Co-Opted

After a successful teacher training placement at the school, I started working as a class teacher at White’s Wood Academy in Gainsborough six years ago. Since then, I have predominantly taught in Year 6 and Year 3. As a junior school, these are our key transitional year groups and so I have become very invested in the transition process. Two years ago, I joined the Senior Leadership Team and became responsible for transitions. Through this role, I was able to build positive, professional relationships with the staff at The Gainsborough Academy (the school that the vast majority of our pupils transitioned to) as well as the other secondary schools in the surrounding area. Through my work on Year 6 to Year 7 transitions, I became very invested in The Gainsborough Academy and I was keen to get involved further, so I approached Mrs Skelton about joining the governing body. I am really looking forward to getting stuck into my new role as a governor and to giving my support and relevant expertise to the school during the 2023-2024 academic year.

Contact the Chair of Governors

To get in touch with Shaun Flynn, Chair of Governors, please email sflynn-gov@wickersleypt.org.

What does the Governing Body do?

The work of the Governing Body is carried out for one purpose only: to give the children the best possible start in their school life, by providing the finest in terms of the education they receive. The Governing Body is made up of the Headteacher, and members of the school community and wider Wickersley Partnership Trust where possible.

The Governors work closely with the Headteacher and meet regularly. Decisions are democratic, with all governors being given as much information as possible to aid them in that decision-making process, ensuring lively often lengthy and healthy discussions prior to decision making. Their work is focused around teaching and learning and in ensuring the school is offering the best possible values for its pupils. The position of school governor is a voluntary one, but it demands a high level of commitment, both in time and responsibility, as the decisions made directly affect the children.

The Governors have legal duties, powers and responsibilities, they can only act together, they cannot act as individuals.

Governors are appointed to help:

Decide what is
Set standards of
Agree targets for continual school
Interview and select
Monitor and engage with teaching and learning

School Governors can be:

Parents
WPT members
Community

Become a School Governor

INSPIRE. CHANGE. DEVELOP.

Wickersley Partnership Trust encompasses 13 schools across Rotherham and Gainsborough. It exists to further the interests of the young people it serves.

Becoming a School Governor can have a positive impact on the young people in your local community and help to drive school improvement. A Local Governing Body plays an integral role in a school’s success; working together with senior school leadership and guiding their strategic direction.

Why not give back and help give children and young people the best start in life, whilst developing your own skills in a way which can benefit your career. We like to think of it as a win-win situation!