Directors

Bishop David Court : Chair of Directors / Member

Bishop David Court

Chair of Directors / Member

Bishop David joined the diocese in September 2014 following his consecration as Bishop of Grimsby at St Paul's Cathedral in July of that year. Born in Norwich, and spending the first eighteen years of his life there he then studied Chemistry at Southampton, where he also completed his doctorate on the ‘Electrochemistry of Sugar’. Four years teaching in a rural 13-18 Comprehensive School in Northamptonshire followed, before finally being ordained at Peterborough Cathedral, following three years of theological training at Oak Hill Theological College.
He subsequently served his curacy at Barton Seagrave, on the edge of Kettering, then lead a new Church plant at Kinson on the Poole/Bournemouth border, before returning to his native Norfolk to serve first in an urban church, St Catherine’s Mile Cross in his home town of Norwich, and then for eleven years as Vicar of Cromer on the North Norfolk Coast. In all of those settings he has been fortunate to lead churches which have grown numerically, spiritually and in their service to their communities.
Delighted to have been offered the opportunity to become Bishop of Grimsby, within the diocese Bishop David now has strategic responsibility, amongst other things, for working with churches and leaders to see if that same growth can be seen here in Greater Lincolnshire.
Married to Ann and with three children, Jonathan, Matthew and Naomi, he enjoys walking, reading, music (he has introduced the Bishop’s Staff to the joys of Bruce Springsteen), and playing squash.

David Esmond : Vice Chair of Directors

David Esmond

Vice Chair of Directors

I have been a director from the formation of this trust, and prior to that was a trustee at The St Lawrence Academy for several years. I am a semi-retired Maths teacher, having taught In Secondary Schools in Surrey for 10 years and moved to Cleethorpes in 1983, where I continued my teaching career.  I am currently working as a one-to-one tutor for one day a week.  I am married and have two children, both involved in education.  My daughter is the subject leader for Drama at a High School in New Zealand and my son works in a Secondary School in London as a Year Head.  I enjoy gardening, reading, walking, and musical theatre.

Mark Fowle : Director

Mark Fowle

Director

I have 15 years experience as a Headteacher and I have held Senior Leadership positions in 5 different schools working in both Lancashire and Lincolnshire. Having taken the Interim Associate Headteacher role at William Lovell (Stickney) in 2018/19 I was jointly named as the winner of the LAAT Headteacher of the Year. My most recent work for the Diocese was as the Interim CEO at the West Grantham Academies Trust leading Bluecoat Meres Primary and Secondary Academies from November 2019 until January 2021. I have experience of leading schools in challenging circumstances and helping them to improve their outcomes. As part of SLA Trust I look forward to supporting schools in their journey to become a partner Academy.

June Richardson : Director

June Richardson

Director

June has worked in primary education for over 30 years. She has experience of senior leadership including being a head teacher of two primary schools. She has experience of both the maintained and academy sector. She holds the NPQH and NASENCO awards and has worked as a school effectiveness advisor for a multi academy trust. June now works as a school effectiveness advisor for the Diocese of Lincoln. June has a particular interest in curriculum, inclusion and the early years.

Hannah Loft : Director

Hannah Loft

Director

I am North Lincolnshire native, having been born in Scunthorpe and brought up and educated in the area surrounding Scunthorpe. I previously attended Vale of Ancholme School (now Vale Academy) in Brigg, before studying A-Levels at John Leggott College in Scunthorpe.  I graduated from the University of Birmingham in 2015 with an upper 2:1 LLB Hons (Law degree). In the same year, I returned to North Lincolnshire and commenced employment at Wilkin Chapman LLP, where I was a paralegal in the Commercial Property team for over 3 years. I have worked within a range of departments at the firm, including Dispute Resolution, Employment, Regulatory, Domestic Property and Commercial Property prior to qualifying as a Dispute Resolution Solicitor in October 2020 specialising in commercial and property litigation.  Outside of work, I held the position as the Vice President of the Lincolnshire Junior Lawyers Division until late 2021 and my hobbies includes walking with my two dogs, swimming, and travelling.

Richard Hailstones : Director

Richard Hailstones

Director

Richard has recently joined the Board in March 2023. He is a Director on the Full Board and the Finance and Audit Committee (FAC)

Helen Parker : Director

Helen Parker

Director

I have joined as a director of this trust mid 2023. My education and early career began in Kent. I subsequently moved to Cambridgeshire where I first began working in the Primary sector of Education. A further move to North Lincolnshire eventually afforded me a career with the Local Authority. I have held a few different roles but all of them had children; their learning & development as central to my care. For the past number of years, I have supported all educational establishments with their child protection and safeguarding duties and it is this expertise that I bring to the board. When not working I enjoy solo long-distance walking, gardening, reading, musical theatre and singing

Members

Bishop David Court : Chair of Directors / Member

Bishop David Court

Chair of Directors / Member

Bishop David joined the diocese in September 2014 following his consecration as Bishop of Grimsby at St Paul's Cathedral in July of that year. Born in Norwich, and spending the first eighteen years of his life there he then studied Chemistry at Southampton, where he also completed his doctorate on the ‘Electrochemistry of Sugar’. Four years teaching in a rural 13-18 Comprehensive School in Northamptonshire followed, before finally being ordained at Peterborough Cathedral, following three years of theological training at Oak Hill Theological College.
He subsequently served his curacy at Barton Seagrave, on the edge of Kettering, then lead a new Church plant at Kinson on the Poole/Bournemouth border, before returning to his native Norfolk to serve first in an urban church, St Catherine’s Mile Cross in his home town of Norwich, and then for eleven years as Vicar of Cromer on the North Norfolk Coast. In all of those settings he has been fortunate to lead churches which have grown numerically, spiritually and in their service to their communities.
Delighted to have been offered the opportunity to become Bishop of Grimsby, within the diocese Bishop David now has strategic responsibility, amongst other things, for working with churches and leaders to see if that same growth can be seen here in Greater Lincolnshire.
Married to Ann and with three children, Jonathan, Matthew and Naomi, he enjoys walking, reading, music (he has introduced the Bishop’s Staff to the joys of Bruce Springsteen), and playing squash.

Paul Thompson : Member

Paul Thompson

Member

I am Paul and was appointed Director of Education for the Diocese of Lincoln in September 2021. Having been a Deputy Director of Education since 2010, I have an excellent knowledge of the 141 schools in the diocese. My career in education spans 27 years with the majority of that time in senior leadership positions. I holds the NPQH qualification and have been a successful headteacher achieving a good OfSTED and Outstanding SIAMs inspection during this time. I am also a SIAMs manager and oversee the training and support for church school inspections. I use my wealth of experience to lead the school effectiveness advisers and ensure the school improvement strategies bring about sustained development in schools and academies. In my leisure time, I enjoy spending time with family, travelling and playing the odd game of golf.

Lynsey Norris : Member

Lynsey Norris

Member

I was appointed at Assistant Director of Education for the Diocese of Lincoln in September 2021, having worked for the Diocese as the Education Development Officer for 3 years. Prior to working for the Diocese I was a secondary teacher in RE, having also been an Assistant Headteacher, Head of Faculty and Head of Department. My role within the Diocese is varied, I develop the professional development offer to schools and academies and lead the SLA visit programme to support leaders to develop the distinctiveness and effectiveness of church schools. I also develop parish and church links through Time to Change Together and Growing Faith. I also Lynsey also support schools with Collective Worship, Mental Health and Wellbeing training and resources. Outside of work I am actively involved in my church and enjoy spending time with my family and friends.

 

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Please note that some minutes are classed as confidential and therefore will not be available to view.