Meet our Team of Associates
Here at ECM, we live by our mantra of ‘Getting a Job Done.’ We are individually purposefully driven to ensure all children receive a high-quality education; working alongside you to identify specific points where systems, practices and procedures can be enhanced. All our ECM associates are knowledgeable about current educational policy and are committed to remaining relevant and professional in their fields of expertise.
Our Team
Our team consists of highly qualified and motivated professionals, who are all experts in their field with many years of experience in the industry. You can find out more about our associates in our brochure below.
Paul Ackers
Paul is an experienced senior leader within primary schools.
Tony Birch
Tony is the Founding Director of Birch Education.
Cassie Blackwood
Cassie Blackwood has a wealth of experience specialising in leading Early Years education.
Laura Brown
Laura has been a consultant with First4Maths since 2019.
Paul Buckland
Paul was headteacher at Queen Elizabeth Grammar School.
Julie Cheung
Julie is currently the headteacher at Brownlow Primary School in Bolton.
Cath Cooke
Cath has taught students across the entire primary age range.
Ben Cox
Ben has been a successful headteacher in two primary schools in Cheshire East.
Belinda Crowhurst
Belinda has worked in senior leadership roles for the past five years.
Mike Dixon
Mike is headteacher at Acresfield Academy, as well as an associate for ECM.
Simon Dyson
Simon was the headteacher at Highfields Academy in Nantwich for 14 years.
Lesley Else
Lesley has extensive quality assurance experience in schools.
John Evans
John has 13 years of headship experience in two contrasting primary schools.
Michael Gaskill
Michael has significant strengths and experience, including 22 years in headship.
Daniel Gauld
Daniel is a serving headteacher with experience of leading schools at all grades of the OFSTED framework.
Vicki Guest
Vicki is the Director of Primary Education for the Leverhulme Multi Academy Trust.
Katie Hague
Katie is currently the headteacher of All Saints CE Primary School in Bolton.
David Harker
David is an education consultant and accredited School Improvement Partner (SIP).
Donna Harris
Donna has been identified as a lead practitioner and an integral member of several senior leadership teams.
Lisa Hesmondhalgh
Lisa is the Director of English for the Aspire Educational Trust and has recent experience as a headteacher.
Nichola Hill
Nichola Hill is the headteacher of a single-form entry primary school in Wigan with a maintained nursery.
Kate Hurley
A former assistant headteacher, Kate taught at an IAPS Preparatory School in Devon for 13 years.
Julie Hurst
Julie is a passionate positive psychologist and coach, dedicated to cultivating effective leadership.
Steve Lowe
Steve has over 30 years’ experience in education leadership. Steve is now an Independent Education Consultant.
James Marsh
James has gained extensive leadership experience working as a senior leader and headteacher.
Jim McGrath
With over 20 years reviewing schools and leading reviews, Jim specialises in the quality assurance of schools.
Collette Mather
Collette's leadership at Ashdene Primary School has been marked by significant accomplishments.
Mylene McGuire
Working for 35 years in challenging urban contexts, Mylene is a National Leader of Education (NLE) and executive headteacher.
Oliver McPhail
Oliver has been working in education since 2011 and is currently the headteacher at Broughton CE Primary School in Preston.
Shaun Miles
Shaun Miles has been a senior leader within the primary sector since 1997.
Karen Morris
Karen is a very experienced primary headteacher. She has led schools in areas of significant disadvantage.
Mark Mullin
Mark has extensive and current working experience as a Primary School Improvement Partner and Adviser.
Kevan Naughton
Kevan is a serving headteacher with 20 years' headship experience across different large, urban primary schools.
Tim Nelson
Tim Nelson is a former primary headteacher and now works as a consultant and author.
Kathy Nichol
After 13 years as headteacher at Puss Bank School & Nursery, Kathy became executive headteacher in the Aspire Educational Trust.
Nicky Parkinson
Nicky has 30 years of experience in education, 20 of those within senior leadership.
Nikki Patel
Nikki Patel is the deputy CEO and School Improvement Director at Archbishop Temple Trust in Bolton.
Halina Sikabofori
Halina is an experienced educational professional who has been working with ECM since 2018.
Gillian Talbot
Gillian has been a headteacher since 2007, with experience as an executive headteacher of two primary schools.
Allan Torr
Allan has had an extensive and wide-ranging teaching career, becoming a deputy headteacher and a headteacher.
Liam Trippier
Liam has excellent knowledge of inspection matters, including the 2019 Education Inspection Framework.
Alan Taylor-Bennett
Alan has wide-ranging and extensive experience of education. He was one of His Majesty’s Inspectors in for nearly nine years.
Colin Watson
Colin leads a strong team of committed and driven staff. His leadership style is democratic and consultative.
Jeanette Westhead
Jeanette is the Headteacher of Lowton West Primary School (a large two-form entry school in Wigan).
Wendy Wheldon
Wendy has been teaching for over 30 years and has experience in a wide range of settings.
Sue Whitfield
Sue is an LLE and holds NPQH. She is a Level 7 Executive Coach. She was a headteacher for 18 years.
Antony Witheyman
Antony was CEO of Innovate Multi Academy Trust in Northamptonshire from 2014 to 2023.
Our Team's Values
Integrity
Our team embodies honesty, ethical practices, and a commitment to delivering on promises, ensuring trust in every partnership.
Collaboration
We believe in the power of teamwork, valuing each other’s strengths and fostering open communication to achieve shared goals.
Innovation
We are always looking for new and creative approaches to challenges, ensuring that our solutions are forward-thinking and impactful.
Excellence
With a relentless focus on quality, we deliver top-tier services and ensure the best outcomes for the schools and organisations we work with.
“I have been the Headteacher of Lostock Primary School for ten years. We have always had a close relationship with ECM and have accessed their training packages throughout this time. ECM training has supported the school in writing succinct, evaluative self-evaluation summaries and in developing the school impact plans. ECM training courses for all staff, both in person and online, have been strategically planned to ensure maximum impact on staff knowledge and expertise, resulting in strong pupil outcomes and success in achieving school priorities and objectives year after year.“
Vicki Guest | Headteacher at Lostock Primary School
