Our Trust is built on the dedication, passion, and talent of our people. Across our schools and Central Team, every individual plays a vital role in shaping the future of our children and communities.

On this page, you’ll hear directly from the people who make our Trust what it is—their journeys, their experiences, and what drives them to make a difference every day. Whether they are inspiring young minds in the classroom, leading change behind the scenes, or supporting our schools to thrive, their stories reflect the values of hope, courage, and innovation that define us.

We invite you to explore their stories and discover what makes our Trust such a special place to work.

I joined the Trust in January 2024, bringing over 25 years of procurement experience. I’m a fully qualified MCIPS professional, with a strong focus on public sector procurement.

My career has included roles at the Department for Education (DfE), where I supported strategic procurement for schools, and 11 years with a Public Sector Buying Organisation (PSBO), specialising in education-related contracts and services.

I’ve developed a strong understanding of the challenges and opportunities in public sector procurement, particularly within education. At the Trust, I work closely with senior leaders to ensure our procurement processes are efficient, cost-effective, and transparent.

With my experience and knowledge of policy, regulation, and market trends, I’m proud to support the Trust in delivering the best value and services for our schools.

After over 12 years as a Level 3 Teaching Assistant in primary schools—working mostly in KS2 but across all phases—I was ready for a new challenge. My experience covering lessons and teaching RWI Phonics groups gave me a deep understanding of school life, which I now bring to my role in the Central Team.

Working in the admin team at STOC has been a fantastic experience. No two days are ever the same, and I love the variety in my role. I’m part of a friendly, supportive team where everyone works together to make a real difference. It’s been a great transition, and I feel proud to continue supporting our schools in a new way.

I started at St Mary’s working as a class teacher in Year 1. I have led different subjects such as Music, Art and History. I love working in Early Years but like doing activities with groups of children in KS2 such as Caritas/ Saldete/ Cleaning. I support families with attendance as I know how it is important that children are in school as often as possible so they can learn and develop good friendships. The best thing about being in EYFS is meeting new pupils and families and seeing what the children achieve by the time they leave in Year 6.  I am really proud to work at our school.

I have worked at St Joseph and St Bede since 2000. I started my career in teaching here and doing almost every job along the way to becoming headteacher in 2017. I have never left because it is a very special school family which have always allowed me to pursue further career opportunities such as LA moderator and CSI inspector.

The three main reasons why I love working here are:

1. The school family go above and beyond for each other and are always there when you need them.
2. We offer CPD to give all staff further knowledge and experiences and allow their careers to grow,
3. We are a forward facing school and keep abreast of changes to the curriculum – ensuring we have an exciting and relevant curriculum offer.

I started at St. Mary’s on a placement from Bury College in the nursery. After taking two years away from education to work in Asda on the checkouts, I was ready for a new challenge. I remember reading my first story to a class. It was the Gruffalo and my hand was shaking! Whilst doing my degree I was employed as a TA in year 2. I was a TA from 2009-2016 when I left to do my PGCE. Mrs Gerrard (Assistant Headteacher at St Mary’s) inspired me to do my teaching and encouraged me to take the next steps.

After completing my PGCE, I was lucky to be offered a maternity leave cover job in Year 2 before being offered a permanent contract the following year. I love Year 2 because I can see children’s personalities grow throughout the year and prepare them for KS2.  I love seeing how the children in my previous classes have grown up, some still come back to visit me for a hug and to reminisce when they are off school.  I feel part of the school family and church community, attending first communions and sharing the special moments with the families.