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Governance

Spring School is governed by a local governing body (LGB) that has the skills, competencies, and perspectives needed to govern the school. 

If you are interested in becoming a governor at Spring School, then please get in touch.

Register of Business Interests 2023-24

For further information about our governance please visit Ambitious about Autism Schools Trust. 

 

Siobhán Lowe
Chair of Governors

Date: 01 January 2023-01 January 2029, appointed by Trustees

Siobhán has been involved in teaching for the last 39 years and has worked within a number of settings. Siobhán was a SENCo, Head of Inclusion and has a number of post graduate qualifications in SEN as well as leadership and management. Siobhán is an advocate for children and young people with mental issues and although retired from headship is still very active within education. Siobhán is a mother and a grandmother and spends her down time enjoying her retirement.    
 

Laura Greene
Community Governor

Date: 01 February 2023 – 01 February 2029

Laura is a Community Governor for the Spring School, joining the governing body in January 2023. Laura’s career spans the charity and voluntary sector in advocacy and service management roles, a brief interlude as founder/director of a Pilates Studio and has enjoyed a deeply fulfilling career over the last decade as a senior service manager in the NHS. Laura’s academic background is to postgraduate level, with qualifications in history, psychotherapy, and community arts. Laura is mum to two SEN children, girls, who are curious, ambitious, brave, and full of potential. She lives locally to the Spring School with her husband and two children. 

Ashraf Ali
Community Governor

Date: 01 February 2023 – 01 February 2029

Ash started his career in 2003 as a History, Politics, and Advanced Skills teacher at Coombe Girls’ School in New Malden. He joined Grey Court School in 2008, moving from Assistant Headteacher to Deputy Headteacher, part of the leadership team that took Grey Court from ‘satisfactory’ to ‘Outstanding’ in 2013. He then became the Sixth Form Development Manager for the London Borough of Richmond Upon Thames leading the successful and collaborative development of Post 16 provision at school level across Richmond. 

In 2015, Ash became the Headteacher of Chessington School, with a much-needed financial turnaround the school moved from a small number of first choices (and only 51 students in Year 7), for Year 7 places full on 1st choices for an expanded year group of 155. Student progress outcomes changed significantly from below to above national averages and quickly Chessington became the school of choice for the community. Ash became CEO of the Every Child Every Day Academy Trust in 2020, leading three schools in Richmond & Kingston with Good or Outstanding Ofsted inspections. Ash is also the Chair of the Kingston Schools Forum.

Alison Stewart
Associate Governor

Date: 01 February 2023 – 01 February 2029

Andy Nowak
Executive Head

Executive Head appointed by Trust

Michael Davis
Staff Governor

Date: 20 October 2023 - 20 October 2029, appointed by Chair

Michael is the Caretaker of Spring School. He wanted to become a staff governor as it gives him more inside information of what is going on at Ambitious about Autism. He has two grown-up daughters and a granddaughter as well, and in his spare time, he enjoys watching sports, and going to National Trust and English Heritage sites. He also enjoys collecting vinyl records and building Lego sets as well.

Richard Jones
Vice-Chair of Governors

Date: 01 January 2024 – 01 January 2030

Richard has been involved with Ambitious for a number of years and is committed to inclusion and improving neurodiverse employment opportunities. He jumped at the opportunity to help with overseeing the set up of the new school locally and is learning lots of new things to go alongside his other board work in Finance.  He hopes to bring some learnings the other way too!

Nicola Rossington
Parent Governor

Date: 01 February 2024-01 February 2030, appointed by Chair

Nicola sees her role as Parent Governor as a huge privilege. After owning and managing an optical business for almost twenty years, she decided it was time to stay at home with her two young children. The most rewarding aspect of running her business was helping her team be the best they could be - something that transferred beautifully to raising and supporting children. Nicola and her family also fostered a ten-year-old child throughout 2023. This was a huge learning curve and although quite possibly the hardest thing they have ever done, was one of the most rewarding. 

Nicola is a Parent Governor at both her children’s schools. She has worked as a school librarian and music administrator, as well as helping on school trips and with marketing, which has allowed her to further her knowledge about school life.  She hopes to support our children and families in the new and exciting opportunity that Spring School offers and impact positive change.

Melissa Harris
Parent Governor

Date: 01 February 2024-01 February 2030, appointed by Chair

Melissa is a parent of a child at Spring School.  She has two autistic children and one with ADHD and anxiety.  She believes that the system for helping families with children within the SEN sector is broken and she is passionate about giving autistic children a voice and the opportunities they are entitled to, in order to achieve their full potential.  She also feels that there is a massive lack of information in the neurotypical world and educating people about autism is one of the best first steps we can do.

Paul Van Walwyk
Governor – Director of Education

Paul is the Director of Education for Ambitious about Autism, supporting the work of our schools and colleges. Before joining the organisation in 2024, Paul was Director of Education for a Multi Academy Trust of special schools and has also been Head of a Residential Special School, achieving Outstanding Ofsted ratings for both education and care. 

Throughout his career, Paul has worked within a variety of SEND settings in education and care, and before retraining as teacher, was a senior social worker for children and families. Paul completed his Doctorate in Education through the University of Reading and is also a Trustee of The Elliot Foundation Academy Trust.