Academy Council

Dane Anderton

Chair of Academy Council; Link Councillor

Dr Dane Anderton PhD is a Senior Lecturer at the University of Liverpool Management School (ULMS) and has worked in higher education since 2011. He holds Fellowship status with the Higher Education Academy and a PGCert in Teaching in Higher Education. Dane has published peer reviewed articles in the areas of economic regeneration and management education. Outside his work in higher education, Dane is proud to represent the Leigh West Ward at Wigan Council and to be part of the Westleigh School Academy Council, a high school at the heart of the ward. Dane is also Trustee Director of Wigan and Leigh Citizens Advice and Governor at Newton Westpark Primary School and Nursery. Born and raised locally, Dane wants to see our area develop well for future generations and invests his time in education, ensuring young people get a good educational foundation to open opportunity.

Sue Foster

Vice-Chair of the Academy Council; Link Councillor

Sue has worked for the NHS for over 30 years and has developed a wealth of experience dealing with the general public, management and people from all walks of life. Experiencing the enormous strains on the NHS especially through COVID, Sue can fully appreciate the challenges thrown at both the NHS and the education system. Sue is very proud and privileged to have been a councillor for 16 years and shares the same passion for The Westleigh school as its staff and pupils do; she is very much at the heart of the school. To celebrate and support the students achievements is a strong favourite of Sue's and she is therefore a very ‘hands on’ councillor, making herself visible at the school's events including open evenings, presentation evenings, staff interviews, student leader interviews and school performances, thus fully embracing the schools ethos of Aspiring & Achieving together.

Berni Pearce

SET Representative

Berni began her career as an English teacher and has remained committed to making a difference to the life chances of all young people. During her career, Bernie has held the post of head of department and advanced skills’ teacher supporting a large number of teachers and leaders in schools locally and further afield. In addition, she has also been a senior leader responsible for whole-school teaching and learning, assessment, CPD and performance management and a Specialist Leader of Education. Following her successful career in school, Berni took on the role of Director of Blackfriars Teaching School responsible for the recruitment of trainee teachers, the training and support of NQTs and delivery of NPQs. This role involved supporting a significant number of schools completing a wide rage of reviews herself and recruiting, commissioning and overseeing the impact of a large team of Specialist Leaders of Education. Berni has been an integral part of the leadership of our Institute of Education, being appointed to the role of Director of the IoE in 2023, leading our work on the ECF, NPQs and ITT (secondary) in the North West.

Dawn Platt

Trust Appointed Councillor; Link Councillor

Dawn is a Director of Performance and Review and works alongside headteachers and Principals in leading and securing school improvement and quality assuring school processes and procedures. She is involved in school reviews and health checks as well as leading training for our schools as and when requested. She joined the trust from Ofsted where she was one of Her Majesty’s Inspectors. Dawn has extensive inspection experience of all phases and sectors. Prior to working for Ofsted, Dawn has held senior leadership positions as assistant headteacher and deputy headteacher as well as being an Advanced Skilled Teacher. Dawn’s particular areas of expertise are; science, leadership development, data and assessment, governance, safeguarding, careers education advice and guidance, sixth form and post 16 transition, initial teacher training. Dawn is also involved in delivering on national qualifications such as the NQPSL, NPQLBC, NPQLTD.

John Holland

Trust Appointed Councillor; Link Councillor

John has lived within the catchment area and local community of the school for over 25 years, and has gained a detailed understanding of its socio economic and educational background. John began his career in education in 1988 teaching Electrical Electronic and Communication Engineering in the Faculty of Engineering and Technology at Wigan and Leigh College. He became a Senior External Examiner for Pearson Edexcel in 2002 at both National and International levels carrying out Quality Development and Academic Management reviews worldwide, and also worked for 5 years as a visiting examiner for the University of Wales. His association with Westleigh began in 1995 and he has extensive schools governance experience across different phases, both being a long serving former Chair of Governors at Westleigh High School, and also at 2 primary schools. Across the schools, John's areas of responsibility have included Finance chair, staff interviews and appointments, Pupil Premium reviews, Behaviour and Welfare, and Link for Science, and more recently has included SEND education. He became a National Leader in Governance providing support to other schools governing bodies when requested, and he was for 15+ years a member of Wigan Councils Statutory Schools Forum.

Tracy Croft

Parent Academy Councillor

Tracy is currently a Teacher and Faculty Lead (Leadership Post) for Teaching Learning and Assessment in Post 16 Education. Her specialist subject is Business. Tracy has been a teacher for 25 Years and has a breadth of experience in 11-19 Education. Tracy has 21 years teaching in Secondary/Sixth form education and 4 years ago moved into FE. Tracy in her career has held various roles and Senior leadership posts. She has been in the post of Head of Sixth form, Assistant Headteacher for Teaching, Learning and Assessment and Head of Faculty for Business, ICT and Applied Learning. She has extensive experience of B-Tec Courses and has been an IV, Quality Nominee and B-Tec assessor. Tracy was also a Staff Governor at her previous school for 15 years. Tracy's particular interests lie in Business and Enterprise education. Her expertise lie in Improving Teaching, Learning Assessment, Curriculum development, data analysis and Staff development. She has also completed the Outstanding Teaching programme and is a qualified Mentor and Coach.

Andrew Gorton

Parent Academy Council

Andrew Gorton is a new Parent Councillor at The Westleigh School, bringing a wealth of experience in education as a previous school governor in a primary school setting for 6 years. With a passion for supporting the growth and development of young people, Andrew has previously worked closely with school leadership teams to help shape strategies that ensure the best possible learning environment. Outside of education, Andrew lives locally and attended schools in Atherton and Leigh and obtained a BSc (Hons) degree with the Open University, he has had a career in Information Technology and Management at Greater Manchester Police for 28 years, with over 10 years of experience in software engineering, 10 years in IT infrastructure and 8 years within IT Strategy and Governance. He is committed to fostering a collaborative, positive school culture where every student has the opportunity to thrive. When not volunteering, Andrew now enjoys working part time at Tesco Mobile, his hobbies include being a licenced Radio Amateur and Camping. Personal interests, include reading, traveling, watching sports e.g. Leigh Leopards, or spending time with family. Andrew is proud to be part of a team working to make The Westleigh School a place where excellence is not just expected but achieved and fully embraces the schools ethos of Aspiring & Achieving together.

Emma Fox

Co-opted Governor

Kate Critchley

Staff Academy Councillor

Kate is the Head of Key Stage 4 and a Science Teacher at The Westleigh School. Specialising in Chemistry, she has taught GCSE Science, A-Level Chemistry and Biology, and BTEC Applied Science, including experience at a specialist base for children with autistic spectrum conditions. With 11 years of teaching experience, Kate has held various leadership roles, including Second in Science, Head of Science, and Head of Year positions, such as Head of Transition. As a teacher, BTEC assessor, and GCSE Chemistry examiner, she has gained a strong understanding of academic and vocational pathways. Her curriculum roles have focused on using data to inform and enhance teaching practices, while her pastoral roles have reinforced her commitment to equality and community building as part of The Westleigh Family. Kate has also contributed to Initial Teacher Training programmes as a mentor and guest speaker with King's College London and Goldsmiths University. In 2023, she completed the NPQ in Leading Behaviour and Culture and completed Mental Health First Aid training in 2021. After 15 years in Central London, including 9 years in an inner-city boys' school, Kate returned to her roots in the northwest in 2022, where she continues her dedication to student success at The Westleigh School.