Mrs Lynne Goodhand, Principal of Oasis Academy Watermead in Shirecliffe, is the new Executive Principal of Oasis’s three schools in the city providing strategic leadership and oversight of primaries Oasis Academy Fir Vale and Watermead, and of all-through Oasis Academy Don Valley.
Mrs Goodhand is an experienced educationalist who has dedicated her career to supporting children raise their aspirations and achieve their full potential, regardless of their background or starting point.
Beginning her career as an NQT in Sheffield, she quickly progressed to Deputy Head after five years of teaching, before promotion to Headteacher. Twenty-five years since that first headship, she has now led six different primary schools across a range of local authorities as well as having experience as a School Improvement Partner, a Local Leader of Education, and an additional inspector. 
In 2014 Mrs Goodhand joined the Oasis family of academies to become Principal of a new academy in the North of Sheffield. Oasis Academy Watermead opened in September 2014 and last year was named ‘Outstanding’ by Ofsted, only the third school in the city to receive the accolade in the last two and half years. In July 2017 the Academy was awarded the School of Sanctuary Award.
Having been Executive Principal since the turn of 2018, Mrs Goodhand is already providing additional support to Oasis Academy Fir Vale and Oasis Academy Don Valley’s principals Helen Round and James Pape, and encouraging closer sharing of best practice and partnership between the three Oasis academies.
Commenting on her appointment as Executive Principal, Mrs Goodhand said: “When I first applied to lead an Oasis academy in 2014 I was attracted by their vision to provide exceptional education at the heart of the community.”
“Four years on it is still Oasis’s ethos around building healthy communities, the ongoing comittment to inclusion, and our belief that every young person can achieve at the highest level that is integral to all that I do as a leader. Being Principal of Oasis Academy Watermead is a true priviledge, working with so many wonderful children and families, many of whom are newly arrived including asylum seekers or refugees.”
“In my new position as Executive Principal, I am passionate about us seizing this opportunity for Fir Vale, Don Valley and Watermead to work in close partnership together, sharing expertise and creating something special within and across our communities.”
Philip Beaumont, Oasis’s Regional Director for the North said: “Oasis are very fortunate to have excellent school leaders all across the country, not least here in Sheffield.”
“We are excited about the possibilities of our three academies working more closely together than ever, and the opportunities this will provide our for children. Lynne is a talented, experienced and inspirational school leader and we are delighted she is to become an Executive Principal.”