Spa Education Trust
Holly McAlpine
Chair of Trustees
Holly joined the Spa Trust in 2018 as a Co-opted Trustee and chairs the education committee. Holly is a Head of HR who has a particular interest in diversity and inclusion, particularly in the tech industry. Holly holds a Masters in Human Resource Management and postgraduate qualifications in both Management and Employment Law, and is a member of the Australian Human Resources Institute and the CIPD. Holly is a volunteer facilitator with Diversity Role Models, a charity committed to ending homophobic, biphobic, and transphobic bullying in schools, and is also a volunteer mentor with CIPD Steps Ahead, working with young jobseekers to improve their confidence and employability.
Joseph Wood
Chair of Members Board - Finance
Joseph became a Member of the Trust as part of the Spa School Conversion. Joseph had previously been a Governor at Spa School and at an Academy Trust in the London Borough of Bexley. In his professional capacity as a Lead Associate at the Financial Conduct Authority, and prior experience in auditing and investigations, Joseph is well positioned to perform the oversight role that is expected of members.
Steph Lea - Executive Headteacher
Trustee
Steph has worked in special needs education for more than 25 years and has extensive leadership experience. Steph was the Headteacher at Spa Camberwell which she opened in September 2020. She was the Deputy Headteacher at Spa Bermondsey from 2011 to 2018 and the Deputy Head at the Bethlem and Maudsley Hospital School before that. She previously worked as a link advisor for the General Teaching Council, as an Inclusion Manager in a Lambeth community primary school and as a learning support leader at The United Nations International School. Steph has Bachelor of Education degree in Primary Teaching, the National Professional Qualification for Headship and an MA degree in the Psychology and Education of Children with Special Needs.
Georgina Quigley
Head of School - Spa Bermondsey
Georgina has worked in Special Education for all of her teaching career. She joined Spa Bermondsey as an Assistant Headteacher in 2014, becoming Deputy Headteacher in 2019 and Head of School in Sept 2022. Previously Georgina was EAL Coordinator and Deputy SENCo at The Grey Coat Hospital School and was a SENCo at Pupil Referral Unit. Georgina has always had an interest in working with pupils with Special Needs and trained as Special Needs teacher in the US before returning to the UK. Georgina has a Masters of Arts in Teaching Special Needs and has completed the National Professional Qualification for Headship.
Ricardo Hylton
Head of School - Spa Camberwell
Ricardo Hylton has worked as a leader in education for over a decade, in both special education needs and mainstream settings. In that time, he has advanced an unswerving and impassioned commitment to inclusivity and high expectations for all. Prior to joining Spa Education Trust, Ricardo was head of school in a SEMH school in Surrey as well as a Senior head of education in a SEND school in London. He also worked with the United Nations Gender Education Initiative as a researcher before working in a London Mainstream school as the head of English. Ricardo has a Masters degree in the economics of education from UCL and is the process of completing his NPQH.
Bridget Gilchrist
Member
Bridget has been a parent governor for over 15 years at 3 different schools in 2 London local authorities. These include both mainstream and special schools. Bridget has 3 children, 2 of whom have a diagnosis of autism. In 2012 Bridget received her MEd in Special Education (Autism) from Birmingham University. Since 2005 Bridget has worked at a community primary school in Southwark as Assistant Inclusion Manager and Autism lead. She is very proud to be Chair of the newly formed Spa Education Trust and is excited to be able to work alongside the outstanding leadership team at Spa, to make the school a happy experience for young people with autism and to provide support for their families and carers. Bridget was the Chair of Governors at Spa School for several years before the creation of the Trust in 2018.
Rachel Landau
Member
Rachel is a lawyer currently working at the Department for Education. Rachel has significant expertise in educational matters and was a member of the governing body at Spa School for several years before the creation of the Trust.
Dr Lipi Begum
Trustee And Governor
Lipi Begum PhD is an educator with over 15 years’ global experience in Higher Education and Further Education. She is passionate about inclusive Fashion, Design and Enterprise education; creating change and committed to developing diverse leaders. She is a member of the Young Governors Network, Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts. Lipi joined the governing body of Spa School in 2018and is looking forward to her first tenure as a Trustee to ensure outstanding provision for learners.
William Page
Trustee
Bill is a retired postal worker and is married with two grown up children. Bill’s son has Asperger’s Syndrome who is coming up to 29 years old. Bill’s son was a student at Spa from September 2001 until July 2009. He really loved his time there where the education and life skills teaching, he received were absolutely first class. He still has very fond memories of this period in his life. In July 2008 Bill became a Parent Governor at Spa. He then became a Community Governor and is now a Trustee of the academy. Along with the excellent, hardworking teaching staff and teaching assistants that the academy has and also a superb group of trustees and members involved Bill looks forward to helping the academy in continuing excellent work in the education it provides for youngsters with varying levels of A.S.D.
