The Collective Community Trust Local Governing Committees are:

It gives me great pleasure to welcome you to The Collective Community Trust website, where I amexceptionally proud to be the CEO. The Collective Community Trust is a Trust consisting of six community primary schools, who have worked together collaboratively for over six years within a wider group of schools, known as The Beacon Alliance, which is made up of both faith and community schools. We are an innovative and forward looking Trust, who very much believes in celebrating uniqueness and individuality. We are proud of the fact that our schools are all different and are able to flourish within their own unique context. Our Trust is committed to providing life-long learning opportunities for our school communities within an inclusive, nurturing environment. Thank you for taking the time to look at our website and find out more about us.

Chairs of Governors:

My name is Elizabeth FitzGerald and I am the Chair of the Local Governing Board at Whitefield Community Primary School. I am proud to have been a Governor at the School for over 10 years. I am a Bury Councillor and Chair of Bury's Health Scrutiny Committee.

After leaving university, I trained on a Finance Graduate Scheme and have since worked for Asda, TUI, the LTE Group (includes Manchester College) and Manchester University, along with other roles.

I am believe education is one of the best ways to improve life chances and this is what drives me to be a governor at the School. At a school like Whitefield this is one of our responsibilities - to aspire for the very best for all our children.

Outside of politics and the school, I volunteer with a culture group, enjoy walking, the arts and supporting Manchester City.

Aileen Birrell

I joined the governing board at Woodbank as a co-opted governor in 2022 and became chair of the local governing committee on the formation of the Trust in 2024. Originally from Edinburgh I have lived in Bury for 30 years, bringing up my family here. I worked in HR for several years after leaving university before changing career and training as a primary teacher. I taught across Key Stage 2 and have lots of experience with mixed age classes and Year 6. I was a primary Head Teacher for over 10 years until I retired in 2022. I am highly experienced in ensuring pupils are safe, happy and learn well despite the challenges posed by high levels of safeguarding, deprivation and SEND. A governor for nearly 20 years at 3 different schools in Greater Manchester I bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to this role. As such, I am absolutely committed to supporting and ensuring the best possible educational experiences and outcomes for the children at Woodbank.

Elaine Sexton/Anne Beagan

Elaine Sexton

I am currently Co-Chair of Governors at Cams Lane Primary School.

I have been a governor for over 25 years, joining first as a parent governor whilst the youngest of my 3 children still attended the school. Little did I think I would be still be a member of the governing body all these years later!

Professionally, I am not an educationalist. Until this year I worked in Higher Education Administration, and now do not see myself as "retired", more that I no longer have paid employment! My interests are varied but I love the arts; theatre, cinema, live music, exhibitions, and volunteer in these areas. I enjoy history and travel, visiting European cities, learning about different cultures. I am attempting to learn French and I love Shakespeare!

My passion for all children to be given the opportunity to develop and fulfil their potential, whatever level that maybe, is why I am still involved as a school governor. I strongly believe the best way to achieve happy children, who want to learn, is by creating a caring, supportive and enjoyable environment that means they want to go to school. I also believe children's education is a 3 way partnership between school, parents and children and that all have their part to play in laying the groundwork to ensure happy, confident and respectful children have the best possible start on their education road.

I have always been grateful that my children's education started at Cams Lane, where learning was, and still is, fun and children were, and are, nurtured and respected, giving them an enjoyment for learning that led to them all graduating University. The first in my family to do so. My own degree, in Sociology and Social Policy, came 10 years ago via the Open University. Better late than never!

So, to summarise, I am Mum, and now a Grandma, who just wants all children to love to learn and go on to achieve their ambitions whatever they may be!

Anne Beagan

Hello my name is Anne Beagan, I joined Cams Lane Primary school as a governor in 2022, I am co-Chair with Elaine Sexton. Primary school is a place, which helps children with the foundations for learning and I am optimistic to be a part of this development within our school. My background is counselling/psychology, and I am passionate about psychoeducation and wellbeing. I worked for over 12 years in higher education and more recently I work in education settings providing staff training and workshops in mental health & wellbeing.

Personally, I got so much from primary education and I am proud to now be a part of that for other children, their families, the school staff and the community.

Lindsay Tibbs

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Matt Taylor

My name is Matthew Taylor and I am the Chair of Governors at Ribble Drive Primary School. I have been working in education for 15 years, with 5 years of Senior Leadership experience and I am currently a Vice Principal working for a large Multi Academy Trust. My main area of responsibility is inclusion, as part of my role this encompasses attendance, behaviour and safeguarding. In addition to my day to day school role I also facilitate for the National Institute of Teaching delivering the NPQ for leading behaviour and culture. I joined Ribble Drive as a governor in September 2023 and became the Chair in December. I am passionate about improving the life chances of young people and raising standards in education.

Heather Walton

I have been a parent governor at Butterstile since 2021 and was elected as the chair in 2025. I have worked in a youth and community setting for over 20 years and have been based within Children's Services in a local authority since 2006. My work focuses on youth voice and ensuring that policy and practice across a number of sectors is shaped by children and young people. My work takes me into many education settings including primary schools, secondary schools and alternative provisions so I have a lot of insight that helps me as a governor. I am incredibly passionate about inclusion and believe that children thrive from being in a mixed learning environment. I believe that children should be at the centre of all decisions and that trauma informed approaches offer the best outcomes for all children. I chose to be a governor at Butterstile because the school's ethos resonates with me and I want to do all I can to ensure that all the children in our school have positive experiences, feel valued and achieve all that they can.

Outside of work and school my passions are music and theatre so you will often find me singing or in a performance space of some description either watching or if I'm lucky enough participating! I also believe the arts offer children and young people wonderful experiences which is why I help out each week at the school drama club!

The Collective Community Trust