Lucy Conley, Chief Executive Officer of South Lincolnshire Academies Trust will be retiring in December 2025 after giving 35 years of outstanding service to education in Lincolnshire and Cambridgeshire. Even though she plans to retire in December 2025, the Trust will continue to benefit from her experience as part of a transitional succession plan providing stability for a bright future.
During her time as Chief Executive Officer of the Trust, Mrs Conley has grown the Trust in size and reputation by providing exceptional non-selective education to young people in Lincolnshire, with all schools now being significantly over-subscribed.
As well as ongoing high performing success seen in Sixth Form, the latest end of Key Stage 4 Progress 8 scores show the Trust schools now consistently outperforms the vast majority of Lincolnshire Grammar Schools with the South Lincolnshire Academies Trust now being the 12th highest performing Trust in the country, and number 1 in the East Midlands. The Trust’s first two schools, Bourne Academy and Spalding Academy are consistently the top two performing non-selective secondary schools in Lincolnshire, with the other two schools making rapid progress to reach a similar position.
This demonstrates her dedication to wanting to improve the life opportunities for young people and throughout the Trust’s success journey all her decisions have always focused on what is best and right for students, thus significantly improving the outcomes and opportunities for over 4,500 students’ year-on-year. Additionally, she can be proud of her work in supporting wider schools in Lincolnshire and Leicestershire, including in the primary and secondary sector. Mrs Conley has always demonstrated a passion for working in education and in challenging young people to be ambitious, aspire to be their best, to achieve and reach their full potential, a mindset reflected in the ‘Aspire, Challenge, Achieve’ ethos of the Trust.
As well as announcing Mrs Conley’s retirement, the Trust are pleased to announce that Jemma Curson will be the new Chief Executive Officer from January 2026. Mrs Curson is one of five Deputy Chief Executive Officers at the South Lincolnshire Academies Trust and is also currently Head of School at Bourne Academy, having also been the Head of School at Spalding Academy. This highly credible appointment will ensure the ongoing success for the South Lincolnshire Academies Trust, to ensure young people continue to be successful and have the best possible opportunities.
What makes the South Lincolnshire Trust schools so special is how visible and hands on Mrs Conley, the Chief Executive Officer has always been, as she lives and breathes every aspect of school life and it is this approach will certainly continue under Mrs Curson’s exceptional leadership, as she will apply the same determination, passion and drive to maintain the highest standards across the Trust.
As part of this transition, Mr James Hind, who is also one of the Deputy Chief Executive Officers will continue in this role, but will also take over Head of School responsibilities at Bourne Academy from Mrs Curson from September 2025. Mr Hind currently leads teaching and learning for the Trust, as well as the SLAT Sixth Form at Bourne Academy. He has been instrumental in both the Trust and the school’s success and will provide continuity at Bourne Academy during this period of change and transition.
As well as Mrs Curson taking up the new role of Chief Executive Officer full-time from January 2026, Mrs Conley will continue to offer transitional guidance on behalf of governors from January 2026 for the remainder of the next academic year.
Lucy Conley, Chief Executive Officer said: “I feel privileged to have enjoyed an amazing career in education over the past 35 years and I have loved every single minute of every day. In this time, I’ve seen thousands of students and staff flourish, which fills me with immense pride and it has been the most rewarding job imaginable. The success stories of others will always be the legacy I am most proud of, in being able to help shape a better future for everyone. Each of the schools in the Trust are in their best ever position, with all of them being high performing and now over-subscribed due to our strong reputation for high quality education and outstanding pastoral care. The success of the Trust can be attributed to amazing young people, that I feel hugely proud of and to the wider team of experienced leaders, teachers and support staff who are truly exceptional. It is down to knowing how incredible Mrs Curson and the staff in the Trust are, that I can be 100% positive about the future of the schools. My decision to retire has been an extremely difficult one and although I will miss immensely being immersed in the demanding role of leading the Trust, I am fortunate that retirement will provide me with opportunities to make the most of family life and charitable work outside of education.”
Will Hawkins, Chair of the Trust Board said “Ever since South Lincolnshire Academies Trust was formed in 2016, Mrs Conley has been a driving force to ensure that young people in South Lincolnshire have the best possible education. Across the Trust, we have exceptional leaders and I am delighted that Mrs Curson will be our new Chief Executive Officer from January 2026 and continue the outstanding contribution Mrs Conley has made in ensuring all the schools in our Trust has a successful future.”
