Lionheart School
Pupil referral unit school in Newport (Isle of Wight).
Location
iSchool location from Get Information about Schools. Nearby schools are coloured by phase. Open Map+ for a full-screen map with neighbourhood deprivation (England only).About
We are thrilled to welcome you to Lionheart School, a Local Authority Maintained Pupil Referral Unit on the Isle of Wight. Lionheart School is a nurturing and supportive environment designed with one purpose in mind: to provide Safe, Supportive, Nurturing provision for every student who walks through our doors.
At Lionheart, we believe that every child has the potential to thrive — no matter their past challenges or experiences. As a trauma-informed school, we recognise that many of our students have faced difficult and sometimes overwhelming experiences.
We approach education with deep empathy, understanding, and a commitment to creating a safe space where students can thrive and learn at their own pace. We focus not only on academic achievement but also on the emotional well-being of each student, because we know that true learning happens when children feel safe, supported, and valued.
We believe that learning happens best when students feel seen, heard, and understood. We are proud to offer a trauma-sensitive approach that helps students build resilience, cope with challenges, and develop the skills they need to succeed academically and socially.
In the school’s own words, from the school website.
Key facts
- URN
- 133744
- Type
- Pupil referral unit
- Phase
- Not applicable
- Ages
- 11 to 16
- Gender
- Mixed
- Local authority
- Isle of Wight
- Constituency
- Isle of Wight West
- Setting
- Urban: Further from a major town or city
- Opened
- 2002
Governing body (8 current, 3 former)
Maintained school governing body.
Leadership
| Name | Role | How appointed | Term |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mrs Joanna Anderson | Chair of Governors | Appointed by GB/board | since 2024 · until 2028 |
Full governing body
| Name | Role | How appointed | Term |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ms Lucy Newnham | Governor | Appointed by GB/board | since 2025 · until 2029 |
| Ms Ruth Hayles | Governor | Appointed by GB/board | since 2025 · until 2029 |
| Ms Julie Lambert | Governor | Appointed by GB/board | since 2025 · until 2029 |
| Mr Andrew Hatherley | Governor | Ex-officio by virtue of office as headteacher/principal | since 2024 |
| Ms Samantha Geurinni | Governor | Appointed by GB/board | since 2024 · until 2028 |
| Ms Alison Sheen | Governor | Appointed by GB/board | since 2024 · until 2028 |
| Ms Emma Meek | Governor | Appointed by GB/board | since 2024 · until 2028 |
| Mrs Steff Gleeson Former | Governor | Appointed by GB/board | since 2023 · term ended 2026 |
| Mr Matthew Powell Former | Governor | Appointed by GB/board | since 2022 · term ended 2026 |
| Mrs Rachael Wright Former | Governor | Appointed by GB/board | since 2022 · term ended 2026 |
Source: Department for Education, Get Information about Schools (governance records, as at 25 October 2026). Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Names are shown as published; there are no addresses or contact details. Current and former are worked out from term end dates when the page loads. Object or ask for removal · Report an issue with this record