Pen Portraits
Memners and Trustees
Members
1. Ruth Rule-Mullen – Chair
Ruth is a legal partner and has extensive experience in Employment and HR matters with a particular specialism within the education sector representing schools, academies and FE providers. She has also worked with a number of businesses including those within the manufacturing and hospitality industries.
Ruth considers herself a "people" person and believes that her pragmatic approach and straightforward style coupled with her experience gives clients confidence in dealing with their employees.
She has regularly represented clients successfully at Employment Tribunal and also enjoys providing bespoke and interactive training sessions to clients.
2. Neil Bailey
Neil played football professionally for Burnley, Newport County, Stockport County and Blackpool before joining Stockport as a Youth Team Coach.
His career then took him to Blackpool, Manchester United as Youth Team Coach and onto Sunderland where he worked with the first team.
He has worked with the England U19 Team in UEFA Finals.
Neil Bailey joined the PFA as a Regional Coach Educator in the North West in 2010 and can deliver the L2 CCF, UEFA B, A Licence and Youth Awards Module 1-2.
Neil has been a school governor/trustee and member at different points over the past twelve years. He is committed to improving educational chances for pupils within disadvantaged areas and is an active and respected member of the community.
3. Sarah Greer
[to follow]
4. Rose Crompton
Rose is currently employed as Finance Director at the Together Learning Trust, Wigan overseeing academy finance, school improvement, building projects etc. for over 20 years. For many years Rose has also served as a Governor in a primary school where she brought positive challenge in support of robust governance and strong financial management inline with the nolan principles of public life.
5. vACANCY
[to follow]
Trustees
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Ruth is a legal partner and has extensive experience in Employment and HR matters with a particular specialism within the education sector representing schools, academies and FE providers. She has also worked with a number of businesses including those within the manufacturing and hospitality industries.
Ruth considers herself a "people" person and believes that her pragmatic approach and straightforward style coupled with her experience gives clients confidence in dealing with their employees.
She has regularly represented clients successfully at Employment Tribunal and also enjoys providing bespoke and interactive training sessions to clients.
2. Jane Chambers – Vice Chair
Jane Chambers is a National Leader of Education with 28 years working in education, 12 years as Headteacher. Prior to becoming Headteacher Jane held a wide range of roles (SENCO, Expressive Arts leader, Parent Partnership development officer) that developed a sound understanding of what excellent quality education provision should both involve and lead to.
In 2006 Jane became Headteacher of Orrell Lamberhead Green Primary and childresn centre / nursery which was a school with many challenges, not least of which was that attainment was grade E* in the old style RAISE (PANDA). In 2015 the school was judged to be outstanding by Ofsted due to Jane’s determined raising of aspirations and outcomes. Outcomes have continued to improve. In the 2016 and 2017, KS2 tests attainment was above national and progress in reading and maths was in the top 10% of schools nationally. Jane is described by Ofsted as “an inspiring leader” and “relentless in her drive” (Ofsted 2008); “providing a strong sense of purpose” and “instrumental in leading improvements” (Ofsted 2012); “demonstrating exceptional leadership” having “tenacity and unrelenting drive leaving nothing to chance in making the school the best it can be” (Ofsted 2015).
Jane achieved NLE status in 2016 which recognised her role in supporting other schools to improve. All Janes work is undertaken by a clear and determined passion to ensure every child gets the most form their one chance in life to be at school and the belief that collaboration, not competition, makes us stronger.
3. Sue Darbyshire
Sue Darbyshire is CEO at Community First Academy Trust. Sue is also a National Leader of Education and supports school improvement nationwide. She started teaching in 1992 and has been in leadership positions for over twenty years, seventeen of these have been as Headteacher or Executive Headteacher.
Sue is the founder of Westbridge Teaching School Alliance and CEO of Kingsbridge EIP SCITT; an outstanding provider of initial teacher training for both primary and secondary trainees. Sue is totally committed to raising standards and to providing all pupils, staff and trainee teachers with opportunities to excel.
Sue successfully amalgamated two failing schools into a new primary school and took it to ‘Good’ in 12 months and ‘Outstanding’ in its next inspection. She specialises in schools within disadvantaged areas.
Sue delivers middle and senior leadership training locally, nationally and internationally to both primary and secondary colleagues. She is a qualified coach and NLP practitioner. Sue has completed the UCL MAT Leaders programme and The Future Leaders Trust’s Executive Educators Programme. She has a Master qualification in Educational Studies.
Sue continues to work with her Local Authority at a strategic advisory level, serving on the Wigan Education Partnership Board, the System Leadership Group and as a School Improvement Lead on the School Improvement Board.
In 2018 Sue served as an Interim Executive Board member for a school that was placed in special measures focusing on strategic direction, school improvement and providing a sustainable future for the pupils at the school. The school made exceptional progress and HMI praised the school for a series of rapid improvements
4. Jack Pugh
Jack has over 35 years’ service in the education sector, serving as a school governor in one capacity or another. For 10 years Jack has served as a Chair of Governors / Chair of an Academy Trust Board.
Jack was recruited as a Chair when two failing local schools amalgamated and began a journey of improvement. Jack appointed a new Headteacher and they both quickly developed a new senior leadership team that in turn supported the school in achieving an Outstanding Ofsted judgement.
As an established expert for raising achievements, in both primary and secondary settings Jack supports all schools within our trust to achieve and in particular schools in challenging circumstances.
Jack is adept at providing both challenge and support as the need arises.
5. Carl Sweeney
Carl has worked for the Environment Agency for over 16 years within a variety of regulatory roles. Carl is currently an elected member of Wigan Council and has been for over 14 years. In the last 2 years Carl has operated as the Chair of the council’s Audit and Governance Committee. Carl was heavily involved in the shaping of the implementation of Wigan's 0-5 Start Well services (childrens centres). Children’s centres provide support and activities to help parents, carers and childcare providers give children under five the 'best start in life'
Carl is also currently vice chair of St Mary’s CE Primary School, Platt Bridge (a two form entry primary school with a private nursery) and has served as a school governor in one capacity or another for over 15 years including a chair role.
Carl is passionate about helping young people achieve their potential through education and ensuring children have the best opportunities to succeed whilst growing into responsible and caring individuals. I am really looking forward to working with the children, staff and families within the school community.
6. Mark Rowlands
Mark was initially a parent governor at Platt Bridge Community School and has always been proactive and dedicated to the local community that our schools serve.
Mark has worked for over 15 years within the public sector with various project management and health & safety high profile positions.
7. Lynne Hamnett
Lynne is currently employed as Lead Officer at Embrace Wigan and Leigh. Embrace is a user-led charity dedicated to supporting disabled people and their families. They have a range of projects that aim to enhance the lives of the people they support. Lynne's passion is about helping pupils to achieve their potential and provide children with the best education possible whilst removing any S.E.N.D barriers.
| 8. Michelle Frost |  |
Michelle Frost was previously Finance Director and Accounting Officer at a Academy Trust. Michelle worked in school administration for over 25 years. In Michelle’s early career she worked in a small Catholic primary school, being the sole administrative member of staff, before moving on to a new large community school with responsibility for leading a team of 5 admin members and 3 premises support staff. Having worked in both fields, this has provided her with an excellent background and insight into the challenges that can face both types of settings. I take the strategic lead role in financial administration, personnel, site management, and health and safety issues.
Michelle secured the qualification of CSBM through the National College in 2008 and has undertaken the role of Clerk to Governors in both schools for 20 years. Michelle has taken the lead role in academisation conversions within both a primary and secondary settings and have has supported many other schools going through this transition.
Michelle’s key responsibility is to support the long term financial viability of the academy trust and in achieving this she has successfully raised £2 million in balances to support the trust support of schools causing concern and the academy trust growth
co-opted Member
John McDonald - Strategic Finance Manager
John is a professional Accountant with many years of experience and leads a large finance team within the North West of England. He also oversees financial advisory services across the region which comprises Corporate Finance, Valuations, Debt Advisory, Transaction Services (Due Diligence), Infrastructure Advisory and also involves tax and Consulting Services.