Governing Body
Kathryn Mort, Chair of Governors
Committees: Kathryn sits on the Education Committee and is the Governor responsible for Safeguarding.
Academic: BA (Hons)
Professional: NNEB / MA in Education
Kathryn is a Headteacher 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.
Correspondence address for Mrs K Mort is c/o Clerk to Governors, Bridgewater School, Drywood Hall, Worsley Road, Worsley M28 2WQ.
Paula Byrne, Vice-Chair
Committees: Paula is Chair of the Personnel / Disciplinary Committee
Academic: LLb (Hons), University of Birmingham
Paula has retired from legal practice where she was previously a solicitor specialising in Employment law.
Dr 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 architect for the Co-op group, with 20+ years’ experience in retail IT strategy. Prior to that, he worked in Science Research. Martin’s daughter attended Bridgewater School from the age of 3 through to completing her A Levels and has just graduated as a medical doctor.
Ian Bamford
Committees: Ian sits on the Education Committee
Professional: Diploma in Music Creation and Production / Instrumental Music Facilitator (Access to Music)
A former pupil of Bridgewater School, Ian is a freelance musician and music teacher. Formally a manager with Bolton Music Service, Ian trained as a Music Facilitator and has twenty five years’ teaching experience in all settings. In addition to teaching, Ian is also a gigging musician, as a vocalist, guitarist and percussionist in several contemporary bands. He also writes, records and produces original music for the education and commercial sectors.
Simon Harrison
Committees: Simon sits on the Finance 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 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 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, Master Practitioner Break Up and Divorce Coach
Amanda is the owner of a Marketing Communications Consultancy, Director of a Divorce Coaching business that takes HNW and UHNW individuals through the emotional process of separation and divorce, and a Business Consultant and Mentor in a variety of sectors. She is consulting specifically at present with a top 10 global advisory and wealth management business focusing on strategic development for their Private Client business and a new focus on HNW women. She has one son, who attended Bridgewater.
Chris Haighton
Committees: Chris sits on the Finance and Personnel / Disciplinary Committees
Academic: BSc in Mathematics
Now working as a freelance Logistics consultant, Chris has a background in Supply Chain and Project Management. He has three children, one of whom attended Bridgewater School.
Carol Smith
Committees: Carol sits on the Education and Compliance Committees, and is the Governor responsible for Health & Safety
Academic: BA (Hons) Key Stage 2/3 Education with QTS
Carol is a Chief Operation Officer of a Software Business and specialises in Auditing and Compliance. Prior to that, Carol taught in secondary schools with over ten years’ experience of leadership and management in both a curriculum and pastoral. She has a daughter at Bridgewater School and lives in the local area.
Karen O’Brien
Committees: Karen sits on the Compliance Committee and is the Deputy Governor responsible for Safeguarding
Academic: MBE. BSc (Hons). MPhil. FRPharm
Karen is the Regional Chief Pharmacist for the North West with 50 years involved with Pharmacy and has a number of degrees including a Master of Philosophy. Karen was awarded an MBE in 2021 for services to pharmacy and the NHS during the COVID pandemic. She has been responsible for medicine budgets of circa £200million and is an active fundraiser for her local sports club. Karen’s grandson attends Bridgewater School.
Dr John Fleming
Committees: John sits on the Compliance Committee
Academic: Bachelor of Dental Surgery / Member of the Joint Dental Faculties Royal College of Surgeons
John is the clinical lead and deputy safeguarding lead for a mixed NHS and private dental practice and has three children at Bridgewater School. He previously worked for the British Dental Association as a Good Practice Assessor and has 25 years’ experience working in the NHS and private sector.
Danielle McIvor
Committees: Danielle sits on the Finance Committee
Academic: BA (Hons) Interior Design
Danielle is a Commercial Interior Designer with over 12 years’ experience in a commercial business environment and Director of a family business. She has two children in the Prep Department at Bridgewater School.
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.
