Our Academy Councillors
Knowle DGE Academy Council
Kate Lee-Wells Head Teacher, Knowle DGE Academy
Julie Atherton Interim Chair of Knowle DGE Academy Council
Michael King Parent Representative/Academy Councillor
Aga Kowalska Academy Councillor
Jenny Hughes Teaching staff representative
Vacancy Support staff representative
Lucia Thompson Academy Councillor
Stephen Bradshaw Interim CEO, Learn@ MAT
Sophie Smith Parent Representative
Caroline Down Academy Councillor
Knowle DGE Academy Link Councillor Roles
| Knowle DGE Academy Link Councillor Roles | |
| Role | Name |
| Chair | Julie Atherton |
| Vice Chair | Vacancy |
| Children in Care / Young Carers Councillor | Vacancy |
| Finance Councillor | Julie Atherton |
| Health & Safety Councillor | Vacancy |
| MAT Trustee | Julie Atherton |
| Parent Representative | Michael King |
| Sophie Smith | |
| Pupil Premium Councillor | Vacancy |
| Residential Care Councillor | Vacancy |
| Safeguarding Councillor | Lucia Thompson |
| Special Educational Needs & Disability Councillor | Vacancy |
| Support Staff Representative | Vacancy |
| Teaching Staff Representative | Jenny Martyn |
To contact the Clerk to the Governing Body, please telephone 0117 456 6513 x 2224, 07458 102 618 or email using louise.shepherd@learnmat.uk
The Chair of the Academy Council, Julie Atherton can be contacted using
MEET THE ACADEMY COUNCIL
Kate-Lee Wells, Headteacher
Kate is newly appointed (September 2021) Acting Headteacher at Knowle DGE.
She studied Psychology and then Teaching in Bristol and Devon and has worked in Special Education for the last 15 years. Kate lives in South Bristol with her husband, toddler and cat. Kate is passionate about ensuring that pupils coming to Knowle DGE have a positive experience and make progress socially, emotionally and academically and that staff are happy and healthy.
When not at school, Kate enjoys family time, walking, reading and visiting nice cafés for tea and cake.
Julie Atherton,
Chair of Knowle DGE Academy Council
Academy Councillor with responsibility for Health and Safety
Founder and Managing Director of Small Wonder a marketing consultancy specialising in the education sector. After over 20 years’ working at a Board level in commercial businesses and agencies, Julie has a breadth of strategic experience delivering leadership, business transformation, integrated marketing, and brand development. A digital and social media expert, Julie currently works with many organisations, schools and universities, in content marketing, brand development, recruitment, fundraising, CRM, digital and data, and social media. An industry leader and trainer, Julie creates and delivers digital and direct marketing training for the IDM and universities, regularly judges awards, and chairs the DMA Social Media Council. .Julie is a co-opted member of the University of Gloucestershire Council sitting on Finance and General Purposes committee and a Trustee of Learn@ MAT.
Michael King, Knowle DGE Academy Councillor
(Parent/Carer Representative)
Academy Councillor with responsibility for Safeguarding
I was not expelled, but asked to leave school and sent on extended work experience on my 16th birthday. So, I started work on a croft in the Hebrides, and stayed in Agriculture for the next 15 years, 10 of them in the Congo running an agricultural project / refugee relief programme and training school. Returning home after their civil war brought the country to a crashing halt I talked my way into Bristol University to do a history degree, became a Secondary School teacher (teaching RE !) at Patchway High School. There I stayed for another 15 years, becoming a teacher of those with behavioural difficulties and acting SENCO. Towards the end of this time I went part time, taking over as lay Pastor at Dundry Baptist, which later I combined with youth work in the Yeo Valley. When this came to an end I was an ASDA delivery driver until my wife’s disability meant I had to become a full time carer, and part time funeral celebrant. Over the last 6 months we have added foster care of two young children to a rather strange life path ! Along the way I have become husband to Sue and father to 7
Agnieszka (Aga) Kowalska,
Knowle DGE Academy Councillor
Academy Councillor with responsibility for SEN
Aga is a passionate educationalist who wants to make a difference, SEN/ Autism theorist and specialist, a supporter of inclusive and restorative approaches in bridging the gaps in legislation, theory and practice in educational field(s).
Currently working at University of the west of England as Associate Lecturer in Psychology, Sociology and Criminology. Research interests and completions in the fields of: restorative approaches, homelessness, Autism and SEN, sexual harassment and exploration, Inclusion versus Integration in the Education (UK), domestic violence and behavioural strategies/ interventions: challenging behaviour. Aga is also a PhD student at UWE exploring the challenges and the realties behind the implementation of restorative approaches in educational settings (UK) in relation to embeddedness of ‘behaviour for learning policies’ in secondary schools.
She is also a Director responsible for training and education at Autism Independence Organisation supporting the individuals from ethnic minorities in accessing the information, knowledge exchange and services for those who are diagnosed with Autism.
Aga was invited to contribute to the MSc Program at University of Bristol; School of Education where I am supporting the final year dissertation project students as their research supervisor.
Aga has an extensive knowledge of Special Educational Needs, and within this terrain, Autism and other hidden disorders, and have maintained my expertise through a platform of ongoing engagement with the field. Her own son has been undergoing a diagnosis of Autism, which has opened up opportunities for her to further her understanding of the complexities of Autism’s management across educational and medical settings.
Jenny Hughes,
Knowle DGE Academy Councillor
(Teaching Staff Representative)
Having trained at York St John University, Jenny moved to Bristol where she was head of PE. Having taught there for a few years, she then moved to Qatar where she was Head of Year 3. Jenny returned to the UK to train as a children’s counsellor before working at Knowle DGE. When Jenny is not teaching, she enjoys playing hockey and golf as well as travelling
Lucia Thompson,
Knowle DGE Academy Councillor
Academy Councillor with responsibility for Safeguarding and Residential
Lucia has been working with young people with social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) support needs for 6 years in a variety of settings. She has been an Emotions Coach at Bristol Gateway SEMH school, a programme leader for NCS' The Challenge, a Pastoral Support Worker at Knowle DGE and is currently a Team Home Manager at Ruskin Mill College for young people and adults with special needs and behaviour that challenges. Her focus is on emotional well-being and her approach to this is holistic, person-centred and trauma informed. Through building positive relationships and being a trusted adult, she supports children and young people to ask for help when they need it and to learn to self-regulate.
Sophie Smith
Knowle DGE Academy Councillor
Parent/Carer Representative
Sophie have over 15 years experience of working in schools ranging from private sector to specialist provisions in both a front line and managerial roles.
Whilst having to take a career break she is currently studying a Law Degree.
Caroline Down
Caroline has 30 years experience as a teacher. Most of her career was served in East Bristol where she also opened an Alternative Provision Free School. For the last three years she was head of an SEMH school in Swindon, before taking early retirement.
She has a passion for children who struggle with mainstream settings and an in depth knowledge of trauma and SEN.
Caroline is also a trained therapeutic foster carer and enjoyed the challenge of fostering teenagers.
She now works for the NHS on the COVID vaccination programme and enjoys travel, reading and playing tennis in her spare time.
Stephen Bradshaw (MSc in Education; BPhil in Autism)
Interim Chief Executive Officer
Married with five children and nine grandchildren, Stephen has dedicated his life to education and opened the first specialist College for Asperger's Syndrome at Farleigh Hungerford in September 1996. He followed this with the first specialist post 16 FE College in 2000. Stephen has since been the Director of Schools Development for the Priory, where his success led to him being offered a seat on the Board of Priory as Director of Education and Development and later Managing Director of Priory Education Services. He went on to lead them in opening special schools around the World, including Boston, USA, and Singapore. After being the Managing Director of the Cambian Schools between 2013 -15, he was a co-founder of 'The Aurora Group', which he built up to 13 provisions by 2018. He has since stepped down from this demanding work and offers coaching to school leaders. His book, 'Asperger's Syndrome, That Explains Everything', was published in 2012 and highlights his model of successfully running schools for young people with Autism.