Governing Body
Chris Haighton – Chair of Governors
Committees: Chris sits on the Education and Pupil Welfare Committee and is Chair of the Personnel / Disciplinary Committee.
Academic: BSc in Mathematics
Head of Logistics for a major retailer, Chris has a background in Supply Chain and Project Management. He has three children, one of which attended Bridgewater School.
Correspondence address for Mr C Haighton is c/o Clerk to Governors, Bridgewater School, Drywood Hall, Worsley Road, Worsley M28 2WQ.
Kathryn Mort, Vice-Chair
Committees: Kathryn sits on the Education and Pupil Welfare Committee and is the Governor responsible for Child Protection and Health & Safety.
Academic: BA (Hons)
Professional: NNEB / MA in Education
Kathryn is a Head Teacher at a state primary school, with over ten years’ experience in EYFS and Key Stages 1 and 2. She has a son and is a former pupil of Bridgewater School.
Martin Moss
Committees: Martin is Chair of the Finance Committee
Academic: BSC (Hons) in Computer Science and Physics Manchester Polytechnic / MSc in Instrumentation and Analytic Science, UMIST / PhD in Optical Physics and Microbiology, University of Liverpool
Martin is an IT Manager for a home shopping retailer, with twenty years’ experience in the IT Industry. Prior to that, he worked in Science Research. Martin has a daughter who attended Bridgewater School.
Ian Bamford
Committees: Ian sits on the Education and Pupil Welfare Committee.
Professional: Diploma in Music Creation and Production
Ian is a freelance musician, teacher and songwriter / producer. He writes and records music for the education and commercial sectors and plays in several contemporary bands. Formally a manager with Bolton Music Service, Ian trained as a Music Facilitator and has twenty years’ teaching experience. He is also a former pupil of Bridgewater School.
Simon Harrison
Committees: Simon sits on the Compliance Committee.
Academic: BSC (Hons) in Building Surveying / MSc in Construction Management / 3 years completed on PhD in Mergers and Acquisitions
Professional: Full member of the Chartered Institute of Building (MCIOB)
Simon is Managing Director of a principal building contractor and is responsible for the day to day performance of a £40m turnover business with 230 employees. He has one child, in the Prep Department at Bridgewater School.
Kirstie Simpson
Committees: Kirstie is Chair of the Education and Pupil Welfare Committee
Academic: BSc in Sport Science / MA in Leisure and Tourism Management / Doctorate of Education (D.Ed.)
Kirstie is Head of Department, Sport & Community Engagement at the University of Chester. She has two children, but is not a parent at Bridgewater School.
Nicholas Beesley
Committees: Nicholas is Chair of the Compliance and Governance Committee
Academic: MA (Oxon) in Physics
Nicholas is a retired Head Teacher. He has two children, both of whom attended Bridgewater School.
Amanda Dagg
Committees: Amanda is a Governor who sits on the Finance and Personnel / Disciplinary Committees
Academic: BSc (Hons) in Information Technology
Professional: Institute of Direct Marketing Diploma
Amanda is the owner of a Marketing Communications Consultancy, Director of a business that takes individuals through the financial process of high net worth divorce and is a Business Consultant and Mentor in a variety of sectors. She has one son, who attended Bridgewater.
Paula Byrne
Committees: Paula sits on the Pension and Personnel / Disciplinary Committees
Academic: LLb (Hons), University of Birmingham
Paula is a Solicitor specialising in Employment Law and is a Partner in a national law firm. She has one daughter in the Senior School at Bridgewater.
Senior Leadership Team
Judy Nairn – Head Teacher
Committees: Judy sits on the Finance, Education, Compliance and Personnel & Disciplinary Committees and is the school’s Designated Safeguarding Lead
Academic: Cert.Ed (Distinction)
Professional: Judy is the school’s member of the ISA (Independent Schools Association) and Chair of the regional Association
Judy has been the Head Teacher of Bridgewater School since March 2010. Prior to that she was the sole deputy of the whole school and Head of the Preparatory Department.
From a personal background she captained Great Britain, Wales, the North and Lancashire in the sport of lacrosse, touring the USA and Canada several times. She went on to coach the Welsh national team and was the Royal Bank of Scotland female team coach of the year in 1994.
Her son and daughter attended Bridgewater, both going on to university reading Psychology and Fine Art respectively following completion of their A-levels.
Matt Barker, Academic Deputy Head
Committees: Matt sits on the Education and Compliance Committees and is Deputy Safeguarding Lead.
Academic: BA (Hons) Oxford Brookes – Physical Sciences and Music. PGCE at St. Martin’s College, Lancaster. PGDip Careers Education & Guidance, Edge Hill.
Professional: Team Leader Examiner AQA A-level Physics. 10 years’ experience as a Governor at Thornleigh Salesian College (Bolton)
Academic Deputy Head at Bridgewater, Matt has worked in a number of maintained schools before joining the school in 2006. He teaches GCSE and A-level Physics in school and has worked for AQA as an examiner for 22 years.
Matt has two adult children, one of whom is an Engineer and one working in the HE sector with Salford University.
Phil Lyons, Pastoral Deputy Head
Committees: Phil sits on the Education and Compliance Committees and is Deputy Safeguarding Lead.
Academic: BA (Hons) Oxon – Ancient and Modern History. PGCE at Manchester Metropolitan University.
Professional: Principal Examiner for several A-level History units.
Phil is the Pastoral Deputy Head and the Head of History. He is also a senior examiner for A-level History and has been involved in the production of A-level podcasts and produced GCSE revision resources for the BBC. He has moderated and examined for 20 years and advises on all aspects of A-level marking.
Phil has two children.
Matt Rooney, Head of the Preparatory Department
Committees: Matt sits on the Education Committee and is Deputy Safeguarding Lead.
Academic: BEd (Hons) & Diploma of Higher Education reading History and Physical Education at Manchester Metropolitan University.
Matt is the Head of the Preparatory Department being responsible for classes between the age of 3 and 11. He is a member of the Senior Leadership Team as Deputy Head of the whole school.
Matt is married with five children and three granddaughters.
Karen Booth, Senior Teacher
Academic: BEd (Hons) reading Historical and Geographical studies at Liverpool John Moores University.
Karen is a senior teacher in the Preparatory Department teaching the Prep IV class. She is also a member of the Senior Leadership Team and History Coordinator for the department.
Karen is married with twin girls, both of whom attended Bridgewater School from the age of 3 to 18 before leaving for university at the end of their A-level studies. Following completion of their degree courses in Philosophy and Business & Management, they both went on to further study, reading for Masters degrees in International Law and Journalism.
Fay Davenport-Thomas, Bursar
Committees: Fay sits on the Finance, Personnel & Disciplinary, Compliance and Health & Safety Committees.
Fay joined Bridgewater in September 2009 as the Bursar, Company Secretary and Clerk to the Governors. Prior to joining the school she had 19 years of broad business management experience within the aviation industry. Her particular focus was on Financial Management, Change Management, Procurement and Project Management.
Fay’s two daughters attended Bridgewater, both going on to university to read Law and Psychology respectively following the completion of their A-levels.
