Scott Jacques
Executive Principal
Scott has experience of teaching and senior leadership in Primary, Secondary and Special education as well as ten years work in school improvement with Leeds City Council. He was seconded to work as a Primary Teacher Adviser for the LA and later as a Secondary Consultant within the National Strategies team, working with a wide range of schools on securing improvement and developing and implementing strategy. Scott worked for five years as an Adviser with the Local Authority in Leeds, creating, developing and implementing eLearning strategy and supporting school improvement. Scott also worked with DFE, QCA and National Strategies on the development of training and materials at a national level.
Scott was Head of School at an outstanding special school in Leeds, before joining the Wellspring Trust as an executive leader working at the Forest Academy in Barnsley. He spent two years as Executive Principal of Phoenix Park and Sevenhills Academies in Grimsby before moving to set up and open Springwell Leeds Academy in 2016.
Scott also works as an Executive Principal with Springwell Harrogate Academy, Forest Moor School, Green Meadows Academy and Penny Field School.
Mary Ruggles
Associate Principal
Springwell Leeds North
Mary trained and started her career as a teacher of special education needs in Boston, Massachusetts before moving to England in 2005. Since then, she has spent 13 years working in inclusive inner-city schools and pupil referral units in Leeds. Throughout her career she has specialised in developing provision of the highest quality for young people with complex additional needs both in specialised settings as well as in mainstream high schools.
Mary is inspired by seeing the impact of unconditional positive regard as a vehicle for developing relationships that transform young people and their engagement in education.
She is driven by a passion and understanding that all students, particularly those that are most vulnerable, deserve education experiences of the highest quality in highly nurturing learning environments to develop them into resilient and successful adults.
Mary also works closely with Springwell Harrogate Academy, providing leadership support to the team there.
Emma Dodsworth
Associate Principal
Emma started her career as a Religious Studies, Philosophy and Ethics teacher and, as both a teacher and a Subject Leader Emma secured outstanding outcomes for pupils.
Emma worked in an inner city mainstream school for 15 years. As a Senior Leader Emma has had varying responsibilities including leading on T&L and curriculum. She fundamentally believes that all children deserve a quality education and whilst working in mainstream education Emma led on initiatives and interventions to successfully raise the attainment and aspirations of the most disadvantaged pupils.
Emma’s passion for working with vulnerable and disadvantaged children led Emma to move into Special Education. She is passionate about trauma informed practice and providing a nurturing environment with the best possible learning experiences for children so that they can flourish..
Laura Reader
Associate Principal
Prior to joining Springwell in 2019 as Vice Principal, Laura led Behaviour, Inclusion and Outcomes in a growing secondary academy, and was responsible for forging links in the Trust in the areas of behaviour, SEN, English and Maths. Alongside school leadership, Laura spent time working as a PiXL Associate and a Specialist Leader of Education, supporting colleagues across the country to secure the best possible outcomes and opportunities for their children.
Laura is passionate about growing an expert workforce to enable Springwell Academy to provide world-class opportunities to the children in our care. She continues to develop a loving school, where children feel safe and know they are part of a wider family, and where they thrive in a warm, nurturing environment.
Laura’s career has been defined by her high aspirations for every student in her care; she truly believes all children are capable of great things with the right level of challenge and support, and advocates for the resources, people and opportunities to make this possible for every child at Springwell Leeds.
Our Extended Leadership Team
Click on the image below to see the extended leadership team.
