Principal named to lead academy
Scartho Gateway Academy has appointed its first Principal.
Mel Portlock will welcome pupils and their families when the academy opens in September.
The school, on Scartho Top, behind Aldi, will be run by Lincolnshire Gateway Academies Trust.
Mrs Portlock visited the site with Chair of the Trust Philip Bond, Chief Executive Officer Martin Brown and Executive Principal Andrew Clark.
Mr Brown said: “It’s really exciting to see the buildings take shape and great to bring Mel to the site to see the progress being made.
“She is a really strong leader who will make a terrific success of her new role.”
He thanked partners North East Lincolnshire Council and its regeneration partner Equans for facilitating the visit.
Mr Clark was delighted by the appointments.
“Mel was a fantastic candidate,” he said. “She is fully committed, dedicated and invested in the project.
“From where we started two years ago, with the initial plans, to today has been quite a journey.
“Now, we’re looking forward to welcoming the academies’ first children in September.”
Mrs Portlock, currently Assistant Principal at the Trust’s Pilgrim Academy in Immingham, was “extremely proud”.
“I am looking forward to meeting our children and parents and I can’t wait to start work with our new team,” she said.
“It’s really exciting to see it coming together so quickly. Being part of this community on Scartho Top is going to be a great opportunity.
“Seeing the front entrance start to take form, you start to think about the children arriving on their first day.
“I’m honoured to be a Principal in the Trust. I’ve worked with them for 13 years and have built my way up. I’ve always been supported with my career progression.
“I have been part of the project from the very beginning, so seeing the schools now start to take shape is making it all feel very real.
“I’m really looking forward to building and leading a fabulous team, with a fully inclusive approach, to the benefit of the children who will attend Scartho Gateway.”
The mainstream academy will eventually have 210 pupils on roll plus a Resource Specialist Provision (RSP) for 12 children with Social, Emotional, Mental Health needs around communication and interaction. RSP partners include the council and Trauma Informed Schools UK.
Mr Bond welcomed an opportunity to see the builds.
“It’s been hard to visualize how big they actually are,” he said. "From a Trust perspective, it has been great to manage a school which started with a proposal on a presentation and will end with them welcoming pupils in September.
“Everything about the schools is new. For example, solar panels on the roof will help ensure they are run in a sustainable fashion.
“I’m just looking forward to seeing them opening and welcoming our children and their families.”
The build project is being managed by the council’s regeneration partners Equans and being built by Hobson & Porter.
Places are available from September for reception-age through to Year 4.
Parents / carers interested in their child or children attending the academy should email enquiries@scarthogatewayacademy.co.uk or go to scarthogatewayacademy.co.uk.
