Meet Our Academy Head Teachers

 

Mrs McLaughlin

Fir Bank Primary School

I am currently the Headteacher of Fir Bank Primary School and I have been lucky enough to have worked at the same school since qualifying in 1998.

During my career I have gained leadership experience both as a middle leader and senior leader with responsibility for school improvement to achieve the best outcomes of the children at our school.

Throughout my career I have been involved in mentoring newly qualified teachers, leading KS2 colleagues, leading maths and a science network across the Oldham Authority and making strategic decisions as part of the senior leadership team.   

Since becoming Headteacher I am passionate that we ensure that all children are provided with the best educational opportunities both in the classroom and within the community.  Staff development is key in ensuring that we become experts in delivery an outstanding curriculum but also being mindful of promoting positive mental health and wellbeing for the children, families and staff.

Having been educated in Oldham myself, I am passionate about giving back to the local community and that all children receive the best opportunities and education to thrive and become successful adults.

Working within the Oak Trust has provided a wealth of expertise and support in further cementing the visions and values at Fir Bank ‘where everyone matters’ but also to ensure that strong leadership is at the heart of the educational outcomes for our children.

 

Mrs Graham

Thorp Primary School

As a dedicated educational leader with years of experience in senior leadership roles, I have had the privilege of working across various aspects of school improvement. My journey in education has been driven by a deep passion for ensuring that every child is provided with the opportunities and support they need to thrive. I believe that learning should be an experience that challenges, excites, and motivates all students, helping them to reach their full potential in a supportive environment. 

At the heart of my vision is a commitment to inclusivity, where every learner, regardless of their starting point, feels valued and has access to high-quality education. I am driven by the belief that every child has the right to succeed, and it is our role as educators to remove barriers and open doors for all learners. 

I am excited about the journey ahead and the opportunity to work with the entire school community—governors, leaders, staff, parents, and pupils alike. Together, we will continue to move our school forward, making it the best it can be for all our children, creating a vibrant, inclusive, and forward-thinking place to learn and grow. 

My goal is that we at Thorp, foster an open, transparent and welcoming ethos, with a commitment to having an open-door policy where you will have the chance to engage even more with the school’s progress; continuing to build our vision of ‘Shaping lives for future success’. 

 

Miss Westhead

North Chadderton School - Co-Headteacher

I am proud to be one of the Acting Co-Headteachers at North Chadderton school and along with my colleague, am the strategic lead for the school, working closely with our senior team.

I have been extremely fortunate to have worked at North Chadderton School since 2004 and have held a wide range of teaching and leadership roles. I trained initially as a science teacher and took my first steps into leadership within the science team. As a non-specialist, I was asked to take on the subject leadership of languages and drove the improvement of outcomes. I have also had extensive pastoral experience as a former head of year. My current strategic leadership is focussed on the development of middle leadership capacity, improving pupil outcomes, quality assurance of curriculum, external examinations, behaviour and as a DSL, supporting the safeguarding team.

I am a passionate believer in continuing professional development and I have supported and coached various members of staff to complete National Professional Qualifications. I am also dedicated to my own professional learning and have achieved the NPQH qualification and completed a master’s degree in educational leadership and management. 

As an educational leader I am committed to improving the life changes of all young people by delivering a high standard of inclusive education.

 

Mr Angus

North Chadderton School - Co-Headteacher

I have been a proud teacher at North Chadderton School for 17 years. In my 17 years I have undertaken many different roles, including Head of English, Executive Director in Charge of Quality Education and more recently, Acting Co-headteacher. In my Quality of Education role I built positive, collaborative working relationships with teachers and leaders from a wide range of subjects across the school, as well as extending that work to the primary schools in the Oak Trust.  

I am passionate about supporting aspiring leaders to develop their leadership skills and expand their capacity to become effective leaders of the future. I have been the strategic lead for leaders in a variety of roles, including English, Maths, Science and Humanities. It has been a pleasure to work alongside such aspirational leaders in raising achievement for all students. 

I am an English Specialist Leader of Education (SLE) and have worked with under-performing schools in the North West to improve their English GCSE outcomes. Furthermore, I have been a facilitator for the National Professional Qualification and enjoyed working with a range teachers and leaders to make improvements in leading teaching and learning. In 2019 I gained my NPQSL and this year I am working towards my NPQH.