I set up Atherton Community School in 2012, opening with just 39 year 7 pupils. The following year we opened our sixth form and took our second cohort of year 7 pupils alongside year 12. Our recent Ofsted gave us a Good judgement across the board and recognised our journey ever upwars.I have also opened another Free School in Burnley, Burnley High School, in September 2014.Our schools are different as they use project based learning to deliver varying degrees on the curriculum, based on the High Tech High, California model. We also give every pupil a coach from the Easter before they start and have a unique programme of Developmental Assets to improve the life chances of every individual.

I prepared and opened this complex academy in a very short time scale. Two very contrasting schools becoming one academy, split 4 miles form each other and a new building to open 3 years hence!

I set up Salford City Academy, one of the first in the country, from a struggling predecessor school in Eccles, Salford. Results under my leadership rose from 18% 5A*-C including English and maths to 58% over the 5 years. I led the school to Training School status and High Performing Specialist School status as well as being in the top 25 most improved schools in the country in our second year of opening.