Our Trustees (ID 1397)

• Steve Williams
  Chair of Trustees
  Steve Williams

  Steve is chairperson of our trustee board and was previously Chair of Governors at Marland Fold School before it amalgamated with Park Dean and Hilltop School to form New Bridge School.

  Steve has a wealth of experience with the Fire Service and is the spokesperson for Oldham on the Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Board.

  “Being chair of trustees for the New Bridge Multi-Academy Trust is by far the greatest and most fulfilling part of my professional life.

  At New Bridge, we have a can-do attitude to everything that we do and work at a fast and exciting pace to ensure that our children and young people havethe very best opportunities.

  None of what we do is about egos or a need for recognition. Our passion drives ourambition. Our driving principle of ensuring the very, very best educational offer for every one of our children and young people remains at the heart of what we do.”

  Steve Williams

• Clare John
  CEO of the New Bridge Group & Multi Academy Trust
  Clare John

  "My journey in the field of education has been both rewarding and enlightening. Witnessing the transformative power of education first hand has strengthened my resolve to create an environment where each and every student can thrive, regardless of their abilities or challenges.

  I am full of energy and enthusiasm for this role, fully aware of the responsibility that comes with it.

  Together with our remarkable team across our many sites, I am committed to a continuation of the exceptional standards set by Graham and working collaboratively to Create Meaningful Futures for All.

  It is my strong belief that every individual, regardless of their circumstances, deserves the opportunity to reach their full potential and I will strive to foster an inclusive and supportive environment where all students are empowered to develop academically, socially and emotionally."

  Clare John

• Alison Nield
  Alison Nield

  "I grew up in Chadderton, attending first Yew Tree Primary School and then the Hulme Grammar School for Girls. I worked for the NHS for many years before taking the decision to give up work to focus on my family. This also gave me the time to become a school governor, initially as a parent governor at New Bridge School, where my son was a student from 2007 to 2015.

  During my time as a New Bridge governor I was involved in many exciting changes, including its conversion to an academy and subsequently a multi-academy trust, the development of Hollinwood Academy and the evolution of the New Bridge Group.

  I am now delighted to be a member of the board of trustees of New Bridge Group. Being able to be involved at this level to help to enable all of our amazing young people achieve the very best they can is a genuine privilege. I am the Personnel Trustee and I sit on the Appeals Committee.

  In my spare time I enjoy reading, cooking, walking and spending time with my family and our dog. I live in Chadderton with my husband and two children."

  Alison Nield

• Margaret Ramsbottom
  Margaret Ramsbottom

  "I became a governor at New Bridge School following the amalgamation of Park Dean, Hilltop, and Marland Fold Schools. I was also Chair of Governors at Spring Brook School for over 15 years. I am now a Trustee of the MAT, a Safeguarding Trustee and I sit on the Pay Committee and the Disciplinary Committee.

  For most of my working life I have been in Adult Education in Oldham where I taught young people with additional needs from time to time. I was Curriculum Manager for the Food, Fashion, Arts and Crafts curriculum. I also have been an assessor and moderator for an Awarding Body and in that capacity visited many schools, colleges and training centres.

  Since retirement I have many hobbies, most of which are craft based and I love to learn new skills. I think I am a perpetual student!

  My aim is that children are given every opportunity to reach their full potential whilst at school and at college, no matter what their starting point is and that they become valued citizens. I love to see the achievements of the young people from New Bridge Multi Academy Trust and take great pride in them."

  Margaret Ramsbottom

• Valerie Shaw
  Valerie Shaw

  "I first became a governor over 20 years ago when my grandson’s teacher encouraged me to apply. I have worked with children and young people with severe behavioural problems and also fostered children, including one young lady who was with me for 12 years from being a little girl.

  I ran my own catering business, ‘Something Special’, for 15 years and used to take in students to train them and assess them. After selling my business I was then asked to join Oldham College to continue this work, and I have qualifications in catering, business management, and teaching and assessing adults.

  I am a leader in governance and was previously Vice Chair and then Chair of Governors at Hardman Fold School before it later became Spring Brook School. In 2016 the school joined the New Bridge MAT where I am now a Safeguarding Trustee.

  I enjoy my role as Trustee; I have a lot of time for young people with more challenging needs after my personal experiences and I believe that they can reach their potential with the right support and understanding."

  Valerie Shaw

• Toby Colbourne
  Toby Colbourne

  "I moved from Hampshire to Greater Manchester with my family.

  I am a local businessman (electrical contractors) based in Denton.

  I first became aware of the Trust when I started a Mixed Ability Rugby at Glossop RUFC.

  I initially hosted a festival and had 40 young people from various New Bridge schools attend and this went from strength to strength. I then started a weekly session at Glossop RUFC.

  I have only recently been appointed a trustee and I couldn't be prouder.

  I look forward to being an important part of the New Bridge Group."

  Toby Colbourne

• Graham Quinn
  (Resigned September 2023)
  Graham Quinn

  Graham was the CEO of the New BridgeGroup until September 2023.

  Graham fervently believes that our young people should be given the skills and attributes to enable them to contribute and participate in their communities and society as a whole, and we work together to create appropriate and high quality individual pathways for all our young people.

  Graham has spent over 25 years in the SEN field – he has previously been a headteacher, deputy and senior teacher in five other schools and this is his third headship. Graham is the chair of the Special Schools Academies Trust (SSAT)SEN headteachers’ steering group, a network representing the views of 450 special schools across the country. He is a National Leader of Education and plays a key roleas chair ofSpecial Schools’ Voice, a national organisation representing the views of special schools and working to influence educational thinking and policyat national level. He also advocated for young people with disabilities on the 2012 Olympic group.

  Graham has experience of presenting at local, regional and national levels, particularly on raising aspirations, electronic solutions and 21st century schools. He has a passion that all young people should be able to progress and achieve within excellent, 21st century schools. From opening New Bridge School in 2005, Graham has been the driving force behind our vision to improve the outcomes and life chances for young people with additional needs in Oldham and beyond.

  Graham has also previously held the position of the Accounting Officer for our Trust and a Business Trustee.

• Dr Janet Lord
  Dr Janet Lord

  Dr Janet Lord is Director of Education for the faculty of Health and Education at Manchester Metropolitan University.

  After starting her career in finance and consultancy, she worked as a social sciences teacher and a lecturer in higher education for many years, specialising in education studies, teacher education and social sciences.

  In 2016 she completed her doctorate in education at the University of Manchester. also has considerable experience in school governance and educational consultancy.

  She sits on the Greater Manchester Combined Authority’s Education and Employment Board and she chairs the Halton Priority Education Investment Area Board.

  Janet’s research and writing concern educational disadvantage, teacher identity and agency, communities of practice, digital pedagogies and initial teacher education.

• Colin McKenzie
  Colin McKenzie

  I have worked in and around education for 28 years, firstly as a qualified accountant in a general FE college and then in education and social care finance in a local authority.

  Over the last 12 years I have worked as a professional interim at Assistant Director level for local authorities and ISB’s (formerly CCG’s) across the country, supporting commissioning arrangements and service improvements across children’s services pre and post inspections.

  My primary focus is Special Educational Needs and Disabilities. I have worked with the DfE commissioning mainstream and special free schools and with Schools and LA’s submitting bids for free schools. I also worked with Public Health and Heath colleagues to develop new models of Health Visitor services and schools-based therapy services.

  I was previously Chair of Trustees for Watergrove Trust (until January 2024) a mainstream Trust in Rochdale where my association stretches back to 2009, firstly as a Governor at Wardle and then as a Trustee.

  I also volunteer as a Governor at Redwood Special School in Rochdale and as a voluntary school improvement partner at an outstanding independent special school in Birmingham (Oscott Academy).

  I have three children and one grandchild, my youngest child, Erin, is 10 years old. She has cerebral palsy, dyspraxia and a learning disability.

  My passion is to support my daughter and as many other children as possible to be the very best they can be.