OUR GOVERNORS
A warm welcome from the Governing Body of The Lakes School. Here, you will find details about our work to ensure that The Lakes School builds on its reputation as an outstanding place for learning and care. Our most recent Annual Statement can be found below and this demonstrates our commitment to supporting our students, parents, staff and the local community. Below, you can also meet all of the members of our Governing Body; a highly experienced and dedicated team.
Mr B Smith, Chair of Governors, can be contacted by telephoning the school reception on 015394 40810
Governing Body Membership
| Name of Governor | Governor Role | Appointed | End of Term | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bill Smith | Chair of Governors | 26th March 2019 | 25th March 2023 | Co-opted - appointed by the governing body |
| Hannah Irwin | Vice Chair of Governors Safeguarding Governor | 9th November 2021 | 8th November 2025 | Parent – Elected by the parents |
| Sharon Rainey | Acting Headteacher | 1st September 2022 | - | Ex-officio |
| Sarah McGraw | SEND Governor | 26th March 2019 | 25th March 2023 | Co-opted - appointed by the governing body |
| Alan Katz | 26th March 2019 | 25th March 2023 | Co-opted - appointed by the governing body | |
| Catherine Greenall | 8th February 2022 | 7th February 2026 | Co-opted - appointed by the governing body | |
| Laurie Dickinson | 1st September 2019 | 1st September 2023 | Staff – elected by staff | |
| Liz Alderson | 12th February 2021 | 11th February 2025 | Parent – elected by the parents | |
| Jacqui Douglas | Disadvantaged Pupils Governor | 12th February 2021 | 11th February 2025 | Parent – elected by the parents |
| Gareth O'Rourke | 13th July 2021 | 12th July 2025 | Co-opted - appointed by the governing body | |
| Sian Taylor | Clerk | Clerk - appointed by the governing body | ||
| Nigel Coppin | 12th December 2022 | 11th December 2026 | Parent – Elected by the parents | |
| Helen Osborne | 12th December 2022 | 11th December 2026 | Parent – Elected by the parents |
Bill Smith
Bill became a Co-opted Governor in March 2015. He is the chair of the Full Governing Body and the Community, Communications and Marketing Committee. Bill is a director of two local companies, is actively involved in three local charities and, until November 2016, represented the Applethwaite Ward on Windermere Town Council. Bill is a recognised expert in the provision of bespoke business support focused on identifying opportunities to revitalise retail activity in towns and villages across the UK.
Sharon Rainey
EX OFFICIO
Hannah Irwin
Hannah joined the governing body in December 2017. She is an experienced marketer working for a large local employer. Hannah is a former Lakes School student and is passionate about the role the school has in our local community and its reputation as an outstanding place for learning and care.
For the past 10 years Hannah has been involved with a number of different committees at primary schools and a local charity.
Hannah is the Governor with responsibility for safeguarding and also sits on two committees; Community, Communications and Marketing and Staffing, Teaching and Learning.
Sarah McGraw
Sarah joined the governing body in December 2013. She is a chartered management accountant and has worked for some large household names. Sarah currently works for a large local employer. She is a former Lakes School student and lives in Bowness, with her husband and two children. Both Sarah’s children attend the Lakes School. Sarah has been an active member of the PTA at her children’s primary school for many years.
Catherine Greenall
Catherine joined the governing body in December 2017. She is a Primary school teacher working at a local Windermere school and a former pupil herself at the Lakes School. Catherine’s two children attend the Lakes School and she is eager to support the journey children take from the primary setting right through to KS4 and beyond.
Catherine lives in Bowness and has previously run her own business; she continues to enjoy all aspects of being part of a thriving community which has The Lakes School at its heart. She is very proud of the outstanding teaching and learning that takes place at the school and the care each individual child receives.
Catherine sits on the Staffing, Teaching and Learning committee.
Alan Katz
Alan is a chartered accountant, retired from practice in corporate recovery and insolvency work, and continues to be involved with professional examinations and service on insolvency technical committees. He is a Rotarian and is involved with a number of local and international charitable causes.
Jacqui Douglas
Jacqui Douglas is a parent to two children at the Lakes School. She has run a small recruitment business based in Bowness for over 20 years which recruits lawyers for multinational businesses.
Jacqui has previously worked as a parent governor for St Martin & St Marys School. As a result, she brings over 20 years business and staff management and recruitment experience as well as prior experience of working as a parent governor and understanding of how she can best support a local school.
Liz Alderson
I have a varied background of life experience through bringing up three children, work and volunteering roles and can currently offer more generalist experience. I was a nurse for the NHS for 20 years, moving to general management, project management and Head of Recruitment and Retention (job share with an HR manager). Whilst looking after my children and moving area, I then worked in a Grammar School as a learning support assistant, helping and supporting those with a variety of behavioural, medical and mental health needs. Recently I’ve worked as a home carer and a volunteer for Age UK. When my children were small I was a parent Governor at a Sure Start Centre in Lancaster. I was also Chair of the PTA at my children’s Primary School. I’m currently thinking about joining St John’s Ambulance to help with the provision of Vaccines for Covid 19.
Gareth O'Rourke
Gareth became a co-opted Governor in 2021. He holds several volunteer roles which include as NED for Carlisle Cathedral Enterprises and as a Mentor for Tech Manchester, helping tech start-ups. Originally from Ambleside and a former student at The Lakes School, Gareth currently runs a digital marketing agency “We Are Digital” in the area and is a director of several other ecommerce businesses which include Zleepy and The Lake District Hub a platform set up to help local tourism businesses during the Covid pandemic. Gareth is recognised as one of the leading digital marketing experts within the North West region and is passionate about all things digital and giving young people the opportunities to build careers.
Dr Laurie Dickinson
Details soon
Helen Osborne
Nigel Coppin
My family and I relocated to Windermere in June 2021 from Hampshire and both my children attend the Lakes School. I have previous experience as both a parent and foundation governor at my children’s former primary school in Wiltshire. During my time as governor, I acted as the chair of Finance and Resourcing Committees in addition to being the Vice Chair of the full governing body. I completed nearly 20 years service as an Officer in the Royal Navy and on retiring from the Service, I moved to the Ministry of Defence as a Senior Project Manager/Business Change Manager and more recently have moved to a role in the NHS as a major projects manager. I hope to bring a wide range of varying skills and experiences from my previous careers to the Governing Body and hope to be an active and productive member.
Having joined the governing body in Jan 23, I look forward to supporting the school and investing my time in any way that I can to ensure that it continues to be a thriving and successful school for my children, pupils, staff, and the community as a whole.