Term of Office: 01.07.2021 – 30.06.2025
Catherine Marie Garside CBE (Services to Education), NLE, DLE, FRSA: Marie’s lifelong career has been spent promoting excellence in comprehensive education, initially as a geography teacher, Head of Department and Deputy, later as Head and Executive Head of an Outstanding School.
During the Greater Manchester Challenge, Marie was appointed Operational Programme Lead for all ten Families of Secondary Schools within Greater Manchester, coordinating a diverse range of collaborative learning activities to raise pupil achievement. As part of this initiative, Marie became both a National Leader of Education and a Diocesan Leader of Education supporting a number of schools and leaders in challenging circumstances.
Her school was awarded National Teaching School status which allowed the institution to train new teachers, appoint and deploy Specialist Leaders of Education, provide training and develop future leaders. The school community was awarded a great many accolades but Marie was particularly proud of being acknowledged nationally and internationally for its work as a National School of Creativity. She was asked to speak alongside the Chancellor to the creative industries at 11 Downing Street. Professor Bill Lucas from Winchester University asked the school to become the northern hub of its Expansive Education network, recognising the strength of research and development carried out by its teaching school members.
Marie believes it is a great privilege to work with young people, supporting them in discovering their talents and widening their aspirations, through the provision of a high quality and engaging curriculum. This care and concern was recognised in its award, “Flagship School for Inclusion”, acknowledging the range of interventions and support offered to all pupils.
Marie has been a member of SSAT national steering groups for Technology College and Applied Learning status; has presented at local, national and international level on topics such as raising achievement, and creative curriculum; and has been asked to write ‘think pieces’ for the DfE which have been used as case studies.
Since retiring Marie works as a consultant, has been Chair of Governors at a primary school, Vice Chair at a Creative Studio School, Trustee of the David Nieper Academy and is now the Chair of Directors of St Teresa of Calcutta Roman Catholic Academy Trust.