Central Education Team
Sarah Bagshaw
Chief Executive Officer
Worked within the education sector nationally at a strategic level for over fifteen years. Upholds the Christian ethos of the Trust. Manages the overall operations of the organisation. Develops and approves strategies to meet ‘Members’, parents, children, educational agencies and employee needs. Communicates with people inside and outside the organisation to discover what policies, operational and marketing strategies will help the Trust move forward. Underpinned by a background as a Chartered Accountant with over 30 years’ experience driving successful business operations in a variety of sectors, dealing with growth and change management at a strategic and operational level
Sarah Rostron
Chief Operation Officer
Previously Head of School at St. Bede. Received the TES 'Headteacher of the Year' award in 2021. Successfully led whole school initiatives at a number of schools to raise standards in curriculum and education. As COO, strives to provide all pupils in the Trust with engaging educational experiences, giving them the best the best start to life. Co-ordinates staff collaboration opportunities within the Trust and beyond, providing professional development that enables staff to feel empowered in their roles. Researches new educational initiatives and works with school leaders to evaluate and refine strategies to best suit the needs of local school communities and the pupils they serve.
Anna Black
Head Teacher
Over nineteen years’ experience in education. Headteacher at St. Bede Primary Academy, a three-form entry primary school in Bolton, and is committed to providing educational excellence. A Specialist Leader of Education with particular expertise in the Quality of Education. Has been successfully deployed to support a number of schools resulting in significant impact on standards. A recent external review report stated, “The Headteacher leads with energy and vision.”
Nicola Whittaker
Head Teacher
Headteacher since September 2019. Within three years of headship, including during the global pandemic, has ensured sustainable whole school improvement at Tonge Moor Primary Academy from an OFSTED judgement of ‘Inadequate’ to ‘Good’. Has almost twenty-seven years’ experience in five primary schools and senior leadership experience in four schools. Held a variety of leadership roles including whole school responsibility for Special Educational Needs, Safeguarding, Teaching and Learning and Assessment. As a senior leader, responsible for ensuring the highest standards of teaching and learning, developing positive school and pupil culture as well as the strategic planning and monitoring of continual school improvement.
Keeley King
Deputy Head Teacher
Worked in education for sixteen years and at St Bede CE Primary Academy for two years as Deputy Head and Curriculum Lead. Supports subject leads in developing, monitoring and continually improving subject areas in the curriculum. Responsible for driving forward whole curriculum concepts, reviewing areas of the curriculum and researching new initiatives.
Natalie Kelleher
Deputy Head Teacher
Zoe Ashton
SENDCO
SENDCO with over five years’ experience; having worked at both St Bede Primary Academy and most recently as the SENDCO at Tonge Moor Primary Academy. Has a passion for inclusive practise and for supporting teachers and special needs assistants to ensure all SEND children flourish.
Jemma Harper
Special Needs Assistant
Has a passion for raising awareness of SEN in all areas and ensuring that all children feel safe, happy and valued within the school community. Takes a lead role in ensuring that provision maps are of a high quality and works alongside other special needs assistants providing support in the delivery of high-quality interventions and group work with children.
Alex Etchells
Special Needs Assistant
Worked in current role at St Bede for three years and previously worked at Morris Green ‘Out Of School Club’ as Deputy Manager. Currently oversees the school's medical register and has undertaken relevant medical training. Demonstrates expertise within 'Social and Emotional Mental Health'. Embraces an inclusive approach for all children ‘If the children are happy in themselves, they will be happy in school and be ready to learn'.
Jenna Philburn
Assistant HeadTeacher
An experienced and outstanding Early Years Leader. Has previous experience in PVI settings, has taught in the Early Years at both St Bede Primary and Tonge Moor. Specialises in ‘Teaching and Learning’ and has an incredibly creative approach especially to outdoor play. Has led the Early Years phase at Tonge Moor taking it from Ofsted ‘Inadequate’ to Ofsted ‘Good’ in 2023. Currently Early Years Lead across the Trust.
Lauren Hirst
Deputy HeadTeacher
Danielle Livesey
Assistant HeadTeacher
An experienced Safeguarding lead, who is driven to provide quality learning experiences and inclusive, creative and dynamic teaching, to enable pupils to engage and access learning effectively. Leads with a focus on the well-being of the staff and children, building relationships, nurturing and supporting both staff and children to flourish and grow.
Rochelle Connor
Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead
Employed at St Bede for over sixteen years. During that time, experienced a variety of roles such as Learning Mentor, Pastoral Support and continues to be the LAC (Looked After Child) lead for the last six years which is an integral part of the safeguarding team. Currently, Deputy Safeguarding Lead and Year Six class teacher. Is a safeguarding source of support, advice and expertise across the school. Acts with integrity, maintaining confidentiality at all times.
Naseem PATEL
Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead & Assistant HeadTeacher
Assistant Head Teacher, class teacher and Deputy Safeguarding Lead at St Bede Primary Academy with over sixteen years' experience in education. As Deputy Safeguarding Lead, liaises with staff, pastoral support staff, school nurses, IT technicians, and the SENDCO on matters of safety, safeguarding and welfare (including online and digital safety). Dedicated to keep children safe and happy at all times.
Claire Woods
Admin Manager & Clerk
Office Manager at St. Bede C.E. Primary Academy and has been with the Academy for almost ten years. Clerk to the Directors of ‘The Quill CofE Trust’ and Staff Governor on the Local Governing Board. Previously, worked at The Co-op for eighteen years, mainly specialising in internal communications and colleague engagement. As a lead administrator with key knowledge and expertise in communication and public relations, continually provides support to the Senior Leadership Teams across the Trust in promoting the vision, values and mission.
Rebecca O’brien
Attendance Officer & Pastoral Leader
Experienced many roles within the Trust during seventeen years of service. As Attendance and Pastoral Officer at Tonge Moor Academy, monitors attendance, removing the barriers to learning and engaging closely with families and external agencies. Delivers weekly nurture sessions for children on the Child Protection Register to support emotional wellbeing. Making pupil wellbeing a focus, enables our young people to make well informed, positive choices to support their journey and to ensure they have the tools they need to flourish and thrive.
Dawn Bonney
Attendance Officer & Behaviour Mentor
Over sixteen years’ experience in primary education with vast knowledge and experience of working with children and families dealing with barriers to education. Focused on ensuring that everyone understands what young children need to thrive, to be happy and healthy. In order to gain the best outcome possible, works proactively and collaboratively to offer support to make sure every child receives the education that they deserve.
Sarah Hobson
Learning Mentor
As a Learning Mentor, supports pupils through offering sessions on mindfulness, children’s well-being and safeguarding as well as offering pupils support relating to issues of anti- bullying, bereavement and pupil anxieties. Attends safeguarding core and conference meetings and leads on Early Help support for families. Supports staff to ensure that they follow the wave systems in pupil support and intervention.
Leah Jennings
Assistant HeadTeacher
Started as a Newly Qualified Teacher at St. Bede CE Primary in 2014 and later, in 2020, secured the position of Assistant Head at Tonge Moor Primary Academy. Experienced in teaching across key stage two with seven years’ experience in Year Six. Held a number of curriculum leadership responsibilities in Maths, Science, RE and Geography. Works within the assessment team and has a secure understanding of the different statutory assessment requirements at the end of each key stage.
Debbie Hardman
Human Recoures & Staff Attendence Lead
Began journey with St Bede twenty years ago. During that time, has worked in various roles within the Childcare Charity and within the Central Services Team. Currently, working with staff and the senior team to promote and support attendance and wellbeing has become a core role within the Trust
Joanne Ainsworth
Systems & Admin Officer
Over twenty years’ experience working in an admin environment within the education sector. Plays a crucial role in the day-to-day life of school by providing a wide range of administrative support to keep everything running as smoothly as possible. Maintains the school’s data system and processes and submits all relevant reports in accordance with DfE and Local Authority requirements. Maintains and builds good relationships between school, parents/carers and the wider community by providing home-school and general communications.
Robina Durani
Assistant HeadTeacher
Assistant Head and Phase Lead for Year Three and Four at Tonge Moor Primary Academy with a broad wealth of teaching experience covering over twenty eight years’, across eight primary schools. An experienced subject lead in the following areas: Science, English, RE, DT and PSHRE. Completed the NPQSL (National Professional Qualifications in Senior Leadership) in 2021. Demonstrates a passion for providing children with goals and aspirations. Wide experience of applying for grants with success, gained funding from a variety of government/ charitable agencies to enhance different areas of the curriculum including funding for staff CPD and trips.
Louise Greenwood
Assistant HeadTeacher
Employed at St Bede at St Bede CE Primary Academy for twenty years, initially as a Teaching Assistant and Special Needs Assistant before becoming a qualified teacher. Currently Assistant Head for Key Stage One, having taken on this role in 2019. Teaching for over sixteen years and has a wealth of teaching experience in both Key Stage One and Key Stage Two. English Lead with a real passion for this subject, having led whole school improvement and delivered training across the Trust in this area. Instrumental in supporting and ‘growing others’ through role as Senior Lead Mentor for SCITT/ITT trainees, as well as supporting whole school staff development.
Yvonne Trimble
Assistant HeadTeacher
Over twenty five years’ experience in primary education. Currently Assistant Head Teacher, with responsibility for Years Five and Six, and class teacher in Year Six. Mathematics Lead at St Bede and has completed the NCETM Primary Mathematics Specialist with PD Lead Training, which supports the development of the Mastery approach in Mathematics. Part of this role has involved leading TRGs – Teacher Research Groups – to support Mathematics Leads and practitioners to develop the Teaching for Mastery approach in their schools.