A new Chief Executive Officer has commenced her tenure in position of South Lincolnshire Academies Trust, following the retirement of her predecessor in December 2025.
The Lincolnshire-based academy trust, which operates Giles Academy in Old Leake and Cowley Academy in Donington, confirmed that Jemma Curson formally assumes the role after the retirement of Lucy Conley at the end of last year.
Mrs Curson brings significant leadership experience to the position, having previously served as one of five Deputy Chief Executive Officers within the trust. Alongside this role, she has been Head of School at Bourne Academy, and prior to that held the Head of School post at Spalding Academy.
Her appointment provides continuity and stability for South Lincolnshire Academies Trust, as she begins her first day in post overseeing the trust’s strategic direction and continued development across its academies.
Speaking of her introduction into position, Mrs Curson said: “As the new Chief Executive Officer of South Lincolnshire Academies Trust from January 2026, I would like to introduce myself and also wish you a very happy New Year.
“I am incredibly proud to work with our fantastic students, staff, and families. Our young people inspire me every day with their talents, individuality, and determination.
“Our Trust ethos of ‘Aspire, Challenge, Achieve’ guides everything we do. We set high expectations for every student, support them to grow in confidence and resilience, and celebrate their successes — both in and beyond the classroom.
“We are committed to inclusion, safety, and strong partnerships with families. You will see continued investment in our schools, including improved SEN provision, modern learning spaces, and reliable, up‑to‑date technology in every classroom.
“We are also developing clearer and more accessible communication for parents, with plans for a unified digital platform that will make key information such as attendance, homework, and updates easier to access.
“Your feedback matters. We will offer regular opportunities for parents, carers, and students to share their views, and we will keep you updated on how your input shapes our decisions.
“I am excited about the future of our Trust and all we can achieve together. Together, we will Aspire, Challenge, Achieve.”
Even though Mrs Conley retired 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 grew 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.
A statement issued by Mrs Conley announcing her retirement in 2025 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.”
In December 2025, it was announced that Mrs Conley would receive an MBE for Services to Eduction in the New Years Honours list.
