Miss Alison Coates 
Co-opted Governor
 

I joined the Governing Body in September 2025 and I'm very much looking forward to this new role. Having previously lived in Market Rasen and worked at the Primary School for over ten years, I have always taken an interest in the school and local area and look forward to re-establishing those links.

I work full time as a Programme Officer in the Food Education Team at Lincolnshire County Council. My main role is working with schools and nurseries to improve their school food education and provision. I love my job as it has a strong focus on children's health and wellbeing, which is very important to me. Seeing the impact a balanced diet can have on children's behaviour and education is very rewarding. I'm committed to helping improve the lives and education of the children, and supporting the great work that is already happening across the North Wolds Federation.  

Mr Geoff Barnes
Chair of Governors
06/10/2023 to 05/10/27

I have been on the Governing body since 2015 and currently have one child in Market Rasen School with two others being former pupils who benefited greatly from their time here.  

My day job is deputy director of public health in North East Lincolnshire where I lead of things such as health protection, immunisation and screening, disease prevention and health intelligence.  I am keen to use this knowledge and experience to help the federation maintain its focus on the health and wellbeing of all its children and staff and have provided advice to the school leaders over the years.

I am passionate that primary school should above all else be a safe and nurturing place which enables children to build the knowledge and emotional resilience that will provide a solid foundation for their future lives.  This is particularly important for children that might have additional learning needs so I am pleased to be the Governor with Special Education Needs and Disability as my lead area.

I have lived in Nettleton for 5 years and the surrounding area my entire life and truly value being part of such a close-knit and vibrant community. My connection to the North Wolds Federation is personal; my eldest daughter joined Nettleton Community Primary School in September 2024 and has thrived in its nurturing environment. With my younger daughter due to join the school in September 2027, I am fully committed to the long-term success and growth of the Federation.

I am passionate about ensuring that the Federation remains a safe, high-quality, and a forward-thinking environment where all our children can reach their full potential. I look forward to working alongside the dedicated staff and fellow governors to continue building on the school's excellent foundations for the benefit of all our students and the wider community.9

I have two children at Nettleton Community Primary School and they both continue to love their time at school. I am involved in the fundraising events that Friends of School offer in support of the children at the school and enjoy volunteering with swimming and other events. Being so involved has enabled me to get to know the school well and I have enjoyed developing relationships with staff, parents and students. I work within a Maths department of a local secondary school. I have been able to transfer my skills and experience from this setting into being a governor at the federation.

Mr Stephen Bunney 
Co-opted Governor

I moved to Market Rasen in 1994 to become Head of Boarding and a member of the Senior Management Team at De Aston School. I have taught Geography, Economics and Mathematics, with a particular focus on supporting students with learning and behavioural difficulties.

I believe schools should play a key role in their local communities. This view led me to serve as a Town Councillor and later as a District Councillor. After retiring, I continued to strengthen the link between education and the town by becoming a North Wolds Federation Governor. Since joining in early 2025 I have been overseeing the Health and Safety in the School.  I find my visits to the school to be both informative and enjoyable.  I am looking forward to discovering more about the achievements of the whole school population.

Mr Sam Briston

Head of school - Market Rasen  
Co-opted Governor

I began my teaching career in 2009 in Bassingham Primary School, Lincolnshire, and joined the North Wolds Federation over ten years ago as Maths Lead. During this time, I developed a strong passion for supporting high-quality teaching and learning across the school and helping children build confidence and success in Mathematics.

In 2020, I was proud to be promoted to Assistant Head, where I led Phonics and Key Stage One. This role gave me the opportunity to further develop whole-school systems, strengthen early reading provision and support colleagues across the Federation. In September 2025, I was delighted to be appointed Head of School.

I feel incredibly privileged to work within such a supportive and dedicated school community. I love our schools and the close relationships we have with families and I am excited about the future as we continue to grow, develop and ensure that every child thrives.

Vacancy 

Foundation Governor