Sophy Bellis is the new headteacher of Lakelands Academy in Ellesmere.

Mrs Bellis steps up from assistant headteacher.

Geoff Corfield, Lakelands Academy Chair of Governors said: “Lakelands Academy is delighted to announce the appointment of Mrs Sophy Bellis as headteacher from the start of the summer term. Mrs Bellis will bring a wealth of experience to the post and a deep knowledge of the Academy. She is committed to further raising standards and levels of expectation.

"One of her important aims is to strengthen and enrich existing links with the community and ensure that Lakelands grows from strength to strength.”

When asked for her reaction to being appointed, Sophy Bellis commented: “Becoming headteacher of Lakelands Academy is the most amazing privilege of my life. I am honoured, humbled and determined, with every fibre of my being, to take the school to new heights.”

Mrs Bellis was initially encouraged to join Lakelands School whilst on a career break in 1996, by the then head teacher, Ryan Jervis. She initially took up the post of part time teacher of RE, in 2005 was promoted to assistant headteacher and will be taking up the post of head teacher at the beginning of this summer term.

She added: “It’s a culmination of a dream. Working my way up through the school, getting to know Lakelands and the wider community, always striving to create the very best futures for all of our students - a very serious purpose but with lots of fun along the way. Lakelands has always had a family feel, where we experience good, bad, happy and sad times, but always within a framework of mutual support, respect and care.

“I’m really excited about our future. I was at the school when Lakelands was judged as ‘Outstanding’ and I’m committed to ‘Team Lakelands’ achieving that again. There are bound to be huge challenges ahead, but there are so many possibilities too.”