Ann-Marie Spry

Ann Marie is a health science graduate with 40 years of experience in further education in Leeds and West Yorkshire and over 30 years in leadership roles.  As a qualified teacher, she has been involved in curriculum leadership, design and planning across a range of sectors and funding types, and in response to a variety of education initiatives and reforms.

She was an Executive Leader throughout the mergers in Leeds that formed the Leeds City College Group the precursor to Luminate with significant experience of change management, developing new campuses, inclusive learning and stakeholder and community engagement and piloting vocational education in schools. Throughout her career she has led a number of collaborative initiatives and projects in Leeds and West Yorkshire with Local Authorities, public sector, colleges and voluntary sector organisations working predominantly on basic skills, ESOL, community development and NEET actions always championing the inclusion and disadvantage agendas and the vital role of adult learning. Wider past experiences include working part time for an awarding body, as an EU education consultant for a pan European initiative ‘second chance schools’, past roles as trustee for Shantona Women’s Centre and Brigshaw Cooperative Trust, governor for two primary schools and Director of a Multi Academy Trust. Current roles include governor at a Leeds based Primary school, Member of Brigshaw Multi Academy Trust,  Governor of Northern College and chair of the Association of Colleges Adult Reference Group. 

She is currently a Group Vice Principal at Luminate Education Group with responsibility for adult learning and Science Technology Engineering, Arts and Maths(STEAM) across the organisation.  She is a fierce advocate for adult learning, inclusion and social mobility having years of experience of working with disadvantaged young people and adults. 

Ann Marie says that her career in education has been incredibly rewarding, and humbling and she has seen the power of learning to change lives.