Leadership Team

The Link School Leadership Team

Donna Walker – Headteacher

Donna has been in teaching for over 28 years. She started her career working in a mainstream school where she was a Head of Science, and later a Vice Principal for Personal Development, Behaviour and Welfare. Throughout her time working in a mainstream school, Donna has spent a large majority of her time working to improve the life chances of vulnerable  young people leading to her recently embarking on a Master’s in Education for Special Needs, specialising in Social and Emotional Mental Health Needs. This change on educational focus has confirmed deepened her commitment, drive and determination to make a real difference in Alternative Education and helping young people gain the necessary care, love , support and skills to succeed throughout their school career and beyond.

 

Vicki Booth –  Head Of School Springwell Dene

Victoria has over 20 years of teaching experience, having begun her career in mainstream education after qualifying with a PGCE from Northumbria University. With a strong passion for sport, she quickly established herself as a collaborative and dedicated team player, gaining valuable experience across a range of roles within mainstream education. Her growing interest in leadership led her to complete an MSc in Leadership and Management at Durham University. By combining her enthusiasm for sport with her leadership expertise, Victoria developed a deep commitment to ensuring that all learners are supported to succeed, regardless of their starting points. This commitment ultimately guided her transition into alternative education, where she found her true vocation. Victoria initially joined the Link School teaching a variety of subjects, before specialising in mathematics. More recently, she has taken on a new and exciting challenge, having been appointed as Head of School at Springwell Dene.

 

Rob Giles – Head of School, Pallion

Rob has worked in education for over 30 years, supporting children and young people in a range of teaching and leadership roles. Throughout his career, he has been passionate about helping every child achieve their full potential, regardless of their background or starting point.

Having worked in schools with diverse communities, Rob understands that every child is unique and that success comes from providing the right support, encouragement and opportunities. He strongly believes that working closely with families, communities, and other partners is key to helping children thrive, raising aspirations, and building confidence.

For the past six years, Rob has worked in alternative education, where he has continued his commitment to ensuring that all children receive the education and support, they need to succeed. His focus is always on securing the best possible outcomes for young people, enabling them to make informed choices about their futures and celebrating every achievement along the way.

Rob is passionate about creating opportunities for all children and helping them develop the skills, knowledge and confidence they need to lead a happy and healthy life.

 

Lyndsay Reavley– Assistant Headteacher at the REACH Hub

Lyndsay has been in education for over 25 years and has spent the majority of her career in leadership roles within mainstream schools. She has held positions as Head of Science, Senior Teacher in charge of STEM and Assistant Headteacher for Curriculum and Timetabling. During this time, Lyndsay was awarded a national award for her work in the field of STEM Leadership. Lyndsay joined The Link School in 2023, after a deepening commitment to helping more vulnerable young people, particularly across the City of Sunderland, Having held a career focus primarily on achievement and curriculum for years, she decided to step into alternative education to try and use her skills, to make a real difference in helping learners, who have been excluded from mainstream settings and attempt to level up their life chances moving forward. Having held the position of AHT Behaviour and Attitudes at Pallion for three years, Lyndsay has recently accepted a new challenge within the organisation and is leading within the school’s new assessment hub provision.

 

Karl Richardson – Assistant Headteacher Pallion/ Year 11 Lead

Karl has been Assistant Headteacher at Pallion Link School since 2020 and has worked in education for over a decade. Prior to entering teaching, he coordinated sports camps and contributed to regional and national initiatives aimed at increasing participation in sport, physical activity and wellbeing for children and young people across the North East. After graduating from Northumbria University, Karl joined The Link School, where he developed extensive experience across a range of leadership roles. During his time at the school, he has led Physical Education, Science and STEM across the whole school, championing opportunities for pupils to engage in practical and enriching learning experiences. He has also overseen Achievement and Data, supporting the school’s drive to improve outcomes for all learners. In his current role, Karl leads on Behaviour across the school, working closely with staff, pupils and families to promote a positive, supportive, and inclusive learning environment. He is passionate about ensuring every young person feels valued, supported, and able to achieve their full potential, both academically and personally. Outside of school, Karl maintains a keen interest in sport, health and wellbeing and continues to advocate for opportunities that help young people develop confidence, resilience and lifelong skills.

 

Matt Cleminson – Assistant Headteacher – Springwell Dene

Matt has worked in education for over ten years, beginning his career as a teaching assistant in a specialist SEMH (Social, Emotional and Mental Health) school, where he developed a strong foundation in supporting learners with complex needs. He went on to complete a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) in Primary Education at Liverpool Hope University, a nationally recognised teaching qualification that enabled him to begin his teaching career. Following this, Matt taught in a specialist provision for learners with autism and a range of neurodivergent needs. In this role, he focused on delivering core subjects such as Maths and English, while embedding life skills and personal development into the curriculum to help prepare learners for adulthood. To further enhance his expertise in special educational needs, Matt completed the SENDCO qualification.

He then joined the Link School, where he has taught Personal, Social, Health and Economic (PSHE) education for over five years. During his time at the Link, Matt has held a range of responsibilities including Team Teach lead, SENDCO, and now serves as Assistant Head Teacher for SEND and KS3 Lead. He is driven by a commitment to inclusive education, and he works closely with staff, families, and external agencies to create supportive environments where all learners can thrive socially, emotionally, and academically.

 

Gina Nesbitt – Associate Senior Leader Careers Information Advice and Guidance

Gina has been a teacher for 29 years starting her career as a secondary PE teacher in a mainstream school and then moving into a middle school as a Leader of Learning for PE. After 15 years in PE, she took a change in direction, heading off the sports field and into the classroom as a SEND teacher for KS 2&3.  After 3 years, Gina took on the role of Leader of Learning for RE and PSHE before deciding upon a move into alternative provision. She joined the Link School in 2018 as part of the KS3 team and is now the KS4 Associate Senior Leader with a focus on Careers Education and Guidance across the school. Gina particularly enjoys working with young people who have found mainstream education is not suited to their needs and is keen to provide new and exciting opportunities for all of the learners at The Link School.

 

Michelle Avery – Associate Senior Leader for Primary Curriculum / KS2 Lead

Michelle is a passionate and dedicated teacher with over 20 years of experience across EYFS, KS1, and KS2. As an experienced Senior Leader, Michelle promotes nurturing and inclusive environments among her team, which prioritizes children’s well-being and achievement. Before her role as Associate Senior Leader, Michelle was an Assistant Head Teacher and Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead. This role allowed her to support vulnerable families, working towards ensuring positive outcomes for children. As part of Michelle’s professional development, she achieved a master’s in education from Sunderland University in 2023. This has enabled her to apply pedagogical principles to her teaching practice and support other practitioners to enhance their knowledge and teaching techniques.  Michelle is passionate about providing equal opportunities for all children to thrive and succeed. She believes that everyone, regardless of their circumstances, should be given opportunities to succeed. Michelle promotes the ideal of social mobility by encouraging children to discover their own special skills and talents, which build confidence and aspirations for the future.

 

Caroline Granton – Director of Resources

Caroline has worked as Business Manager and more recently Director of Resources, within the Link School since July 2013, prior to that she worked in the school office.  Earlier in her career Caroline worked for Sunderland City Council as a finance officer and local authority auditor.  Caroline has achieved both the Diploma in School Business Management and the Certificate in School Business Management.  She is also a member of the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators and the Association of Accountancy Technicians.  Caroline is responsible for the business function within school and manages a small administration and facilities team.  She is also a member of the Management Committee and is very interested in the strategic direction of the school.  Caroline strongly believes that our learners deserve the best and aims to ensure that by effective financial and resource management the school can ensure that learners have the best opportunities possible.

 

Glenn Robson – Head of Outreach and Behaviour Support Service 

Since leaving Durham University with a BA Hons in Education, Glenn Robson has spent his whole career working with children and young people. He began his career as a Primary School Teacher in County Durham before beginning work in Sunderland, where he worked within a multi-agency team, focused on supporting disadvantaged children and young people at risk of social and/or educational exclusions. During this period Glenn also completed a Postgraduate Degree in Social Emotional and Behavioural Difficulties as well as a Diploma in Advice and Guidance. He now leads the Behaviour Support Service, as well as being an accredited  Team Teach Trainer. He passionately believes in ensuring all schools, learners and parents he works with, receive the highest quality of support in order to achieve the best possible outcomes and he is committed to delivering this through a proactive approach with all stakeholders.

 

Lindsey Addison – Associate Senior Leader for Secondary Curriculum/ Year 10 Lead 

Lindsey has a diverse educational background, having first worked in customer service for over 10 years within call centre environments. She then pursued her passion for education by studying English and Education at university, followed by completing a Post-Compulsory Education and Training (PCET) qualification. After qualifying, Lindsey taught English Language resits and Functional Skills Maths and English at Springboard. Keen to further develop her expertise in mathematics education, she returned to university to complete a PGCE in Mathematics. During her PGCE training, Lindsey completed a placement at The Link School. Following qualification, she successfully applied for the role of Maths Teacher and completed her NQT induction year. She later became the school’s Induction Mentor, supporting newly appointed staff and university students during their placements. Lindsey subsequently progressed to the role of Maths Lead and now serves as an Associate Senior Leader for Curriculum Development across KS3 and KS4. In this role, she is responsible for supporting curriculum design, development, and implementation to ensure learners receive a high-quality educational experience. Lindsey is passionate about learning and is committed to helping every learner reach their full potential. She strongly believes in providing personalised support, removing barriers to learning, and creating opportunities for all students to succeed both academically and personally.