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
Andy Cunningham	Headteacher	1st January 2014	-	Ex-officio
Bill Smith	Chair of Governors	26th March 2019	25th March 2023	Co-opted- appointed by the governing body
Mark Scaife	Vice Chair of Governors	14th July 2020	13th July 2024	Co-opted- appointed by the governing body
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
Hannah Irwin	Safeguarding Governor	5th January 2018	4th January 2022	Parent – Elected by the parents
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
Chris Cianchi	Pupil Premium Governor	23rd March 2020	22nd March 2024	Co-opted- appointed by the governing body
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		12th February 2021	11th February 2025	Parent– elected by the parents
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 –

TLS Annual Governors Statement 2015-2016

TLS Annual Governors Statement 2014-2015

Governor Attendance

The Lakes School Governor Attendance 2019-2020

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.

Mr Andy Cunningham

EX OFFICIO

is Headteacher at The Lakes School.

Mark Scaife

Mark is Vice-chair of governors and became a parent governor in April 2016. His older children were pupils at the school and his youngest daughter and son are now at The Lakes School. He is an Engineering Manager, providing project, financial and people management within major engineering programmes, and seeks to use the skills that he applies in his day-to-day work for the benefit of the school. He has previously been a Parent Governor and has chaired a governing body and committees. From this he has gained an understanding of how a governing body can support the school yet hold it accountable for the education and opportunities it provides our children. His aims are to promote high standards of education and achievement and to provide the best possible support for our children as they grow into young, independent adults.

Catherine Greenall

Details to follow.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Paul Taylor

Paul became a parent Governor in October 2013 and is the Chair of the Finance and Resources Committee.

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.

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.

+44 (0)15394 40810

enquiries

The Lakes School
Troutbeck Bridge
Windermere
Cumbria
LA23 1HW

Get In Touch

We would love to hear from you!

The Lakes School in the heart of the lakes