Welcome to our School.

As the Chair of Governors at Springwell School, I am delighted that you would like to know more about our school.

Springwell School is an amazing school where everyone works together to ensure our children achieve to their full potential … and beyond!

Parents and carers are a very important part of that team effort and we need your support and cooperation to make this happen.  We operate an ‘open-door’ policy which encourages parents, carers and family to visit the school at anytime and play an active part in school life.  There are also countless activities and events throughout the year where parents and carers are more than welcome to attend, such as: Sports Day, Carol Concerts, Christmas Plays, Coffee Mornings and Fairs, Parents Evenings and fundraisers.

Our school is not just a place for education, it’s a thriving and welcoming community where a smile is the norm. Children will have the opportunity to take part in a wide range of additional activities such as cookery, trampoline, sports clubs, residentials and performing.  During their time at Springwell School, your child will grow in confidence, develop independence and enjoy learning in a school that goes that extra mile.

The school is blessed to have the most dedicated and passionate Senior Management, Teachers, Teaching Assistants and Support Staff who truly care about every single child within our school and who will exceed expectations to ensure that your child’s time at Springwell is loaded with memories and is an experience that they will thoroughly flourish.

We have an extremely diverse and active Governing Body at Springwell School who work closely with the Headteacher, and all the staff at the school. In broad terms, as a Governing Body we:

· Take a strategic role in the running of Springwell School.

· Act as a critical friend to the School.

Ensure accountability to the school community.

We work in partnership with Headteacher and the school staff, taking an active interest in the direction of travel and the improvement plans for the school, as well as financial monitoring. We do not get involved in the day-to-day operation of the school, as this is the responsibility of the teaching and management staff. It is our vision that Springwell School remains an ‘Outstanding’ provider of education to your children.

There are currently 11 governors at Springwell School who are appointed through various routes. There are parent governors, who are elected by the parents themselves, and co-opted governors who are people from our community that can bring skills to the Governing Body to contribute to the School.

We are always keen to hear from anyone who is interested in becoming a governor and of course, if you have and questions or feedback please contact the school office.

Finally, the children at Springwell School enjoy some fantastic facilities which have only been possible thanks to the very kind generosity of donors, parents local businesses and Playgroup.  We would of course be delighted to hear from any other organisations who may be able to support us in continuing to provide 1^st class education and facilities in Hartlepool.

Together wE Achieve More !

Kathryn Crowder

Chair of Springwell School Governing Body

Kathryn Crowder, Chair of Governors 

Until July 2025 I was the Principal Educational Psychologist for Hartlepool Borough Council and in the past I supported Springwell School as their link EP for some years.  As a registered Educational Psychologist, I have worked with children across the full age range, as well as their families, schools and fellow professionals, in order to promote all children’s access to learning, as well as their social, emotional, physical and cognitive development.   I am also passionate about supporting the wellbeing of children and staff.   Before qualifying as an Educational Psychologist I worked as a Primary school teacher for 15 years, and have been both a teacher and a parent governor in the past. 

Jim Murdoch, Co-opted Governor

I am still a registered Social Worker after a 42-year career in children’s social work in several local authorities and the NHS. I have been a senior manager for Looked After Children, Fostering and Adoption Services and latterly I was the Business manager of Hartlepool Safeguarding Children Board. I have been a member of the PRU Management Committee for several years, including 2 years as Chair. Since retiring I act as an Independent Visitor for 10 children’s homes in the region and undertake complaints investigations against local authorities.

Caroline Derbyshire, Staff Governor

I am an assistant headteacher at Springwell School and have worked here for 18 years. During my time at Springwell I have taught across all age groups and have had the pleasure of teaching children with a wide variety of needs. I am currently the lead for the team of children who are working on Glitter and Bronze Pathways. I also offer advice and assistance town wide to a number of schools with regard to SEND and specifically autism.

Fiona Stobbs, Vice Chair of Governors

I am Fiona Stobbs and I am Senior Advisor for Inclusive Learning & SEND for Hartlepool Borough Council. I started teaching in 2010 as a Teacher of SEND in a Mainstream Secondary school, where I was part of a team setting up an Additionally Resourced Provision for children with Autism. In 2016, I came to work at a secondary school in Hartlepool as a Senior Leader with responsibility of Inclusion, where I was also the SENDCo.  I am now in a position where I get to work with all schools across Hartlepool, championing Inclusion and developments in SEND.

I have previously been a Governor at Springwell and I am delighted to be back as part of the team.

Rona Pout, Parent Governor

Hello, my name is Rona, I am a parent governor and am a proud mother of twin boys: one of whom is autistic, nonverbal and a pupil of Springwell school.

 Outside motherhood, I work within the NHS as a physiotherapist, and I am currently the clinical lead for the community services within the Middlesbrough locality for both physiotherapists and occupational therapist.

Outside of work I am a long-term volunteer for the Autism Parents Together charity, which serves families within the Teesside area providing families with exclusive events such as soft play, swimming and cinema trips.

Kelly McLean, Staff Governor

I am a Higher Level Teaching Assistant (HLTA) working in team Asia and have worked here for 19 years. During this time, I have worked in many areas within the school supporting children of all age ranges and varying needs. I have also had the opportunity to do outreach to other schools within the town supporting a variety of children with additional needs within their own school.

Leanne Baister, Parent Governor

I am a mum of two beautiful boys, one who has a diagnosis of Down Syndrome. I am a qualified Learning Disability Nurse and worked in Learning Disability Nursing for many years. A short while ago I moved jobs to work at Daisy Chain supporting the Family Support Services and families who have children with neuro diverse needs. For quite sometime I have supported other charities such as Down Syndrome North East where I worked as a trustee and volunteered. I recently have moved across to work with a relatively new charity Little SENDsations working with families who have children with an array of SEND needs. I have an in-depth knowledge of SEND and have a great interest and passion in this area.

Our Clerk to the LGB is:

Andrew Dunn who can be contacted C/O Extol Trust, Eldon Grove Academy, Hartlepool, TS26 9LY.

Tel. 01429 272040.