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 | 5th January 2018 | 4th January 2022 | Parent – Elected by the parents |
Andy Cunningham | Headteacher | 1st January 2014 | - | 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 | 5th January 2018 | 4th January 2022 | Co-opted- appointed by the governing body | |
Paul Taylor | 10th February 2021 | 9th February 2025 | Co-opted- appointed by the governing body | |
Margaret Lewis | 10th February 2021 | 9th February 2025 | LA - appointed by the Local Authority | |
Nick Barnes | 9th July 2019 | 8th July 2023 | 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 | |
Odette Tyson | 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 |
Governors Annual Statement
Please click on the links below to view our Annual Statement and other important information about the Governing Body of The Lakes School.
Our most recent Annual Governors Statement is about to appear…please check back soon.
Historic Annual Statements –

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.

Andy Cunningham
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.

Margaret Lewis
Margaret is Chair of the Staffing, Teaching and Learning Committee, is a Co-opted Governor who has worked in education for over thirty years. She has held a variety of posts in both schools and local authorities and from 1996 until her retirement in 2008 worked as a Team Registered, Accredited Inspector and Trainer for Ofsted.

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.

Nick Barnes
Nick joined the governing body in July 2019 after moving to the area from Milton Keynes. Nick has extensive experience in a variety of commercial leadership roles and now works for one of the area’s largest and most prestigious employers. He is passionate about helping young people maximise their potential through academic achievement and developing the right creative, emotional and collaborative skills-critical to thrive in an increasingly competitive, dynamic workplace. Nick also is a member of the Staff, Teaching and Learning Sub-committee. Both Nick’s children attend the Lakes School.

Odette Tyson
I am a parent of 4 children, 2 have been through The Lakes School and gone on to university, I have a daughter in Year 12 and a son in Year 5 at Ambleside Primary. I have worked as administrator at Ambleside Primary for 11 years, where I am also clerk to the LGB and I am a qualified teaching assistant.

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
Details soon

+44 (0)15394 40810
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The Lakes School
Troutbeck Bridge
Windermere
Cumbria
LA23 1HW
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