Our Central Team (ID 1176)

• Andrew Dawson
  CEO
  Andrew Dawson

  Before I was appointed CEO, I was Headteacher at St Mary's Catholic High School, Wigan. I began teaching at Alsager School in Cheshire, was promoted to Head of Politics after a year and after a further two years became Head of History at Henbury High School in Macclesfield. I joined St Mary’s Catholic High School in Leigh in 1997.

  The school serves around 1600 students, making it the biggest school in Wigan Local Authority and the Archdiocese of Liverpool. I started as Head of History and was headteacher since 2012. I have a Masters Degree in Leadership and Management.

  I have completed the NPQH and became an SLE for curriculum organisation. I have led a cluster of schools to form a Catholic Schools Direct programme and was the chair of the Local Authority Heads’ Association for 3 years.

• Dennis Jones
  Lead for Catholic Life (secondment)
  Dennis Jones

  I have been a Lay Chaplain since 2002, working across four different High Schools in two different dioceses. I am currently at Christ the King Catholic High School in Southport and seconded to the Pope Francis CMAT to lead on Chaplaincy across the Trust. I am part of the co-ordinating team for Chaplains across the Archdiocese and have previously been part of the national Chaplains’ representation at the Bishop’s Conference of England and Wales. Chaplaincy is a vital part of Catholic education, bringing opportunities for all in our communities to experience life to the full.

  A vital part of Chaplaincy is the training of staff and the formation of pupils. I support primary and secondary schools with Collective Worship, leading INSET on Catholic education and life, assembly provision, and preparation for Catholic School Inspections (CSI) as well as working with primary schools on their transition programmes and supporting and leading liturgical events.

  Alongside my Chaplaincy role, I am currently in formation for the Permanent Diaconate for the Archdiocese of Liverpool. I lead the Lourdes Youth Pilgrimage and have a lot of experience organizing and leading retreats and pilgrimages locally and internationally. I am passionate about Catholic education and Chaplaincy and the opportunities that we have to make a positive and lasting impact on people and communities.

• Lisa Corrigan
  Director of Secondary
  Lisa Corrigan

  I began my career in 1996, working as a teacher of Science. In my first 10 years, I worked in good and outstanding schools, including one of the largest schools in the country which moved from required improvement to outstanding over a 5-year period.

  I have held posts as Head of Year, Second in Science and led the highest performing Science team in Yorkshire as Head of Department. I was an Assistant Headteacher for Key Stage 4 and Deputy Head of two different challenging schools.

  I have worked extensively in both teacher training, formerly holding a post as Senior University Lecturer in Education and in school improvement.

• Jeremy Barnes
  Director of Primary (secondment)
  Jeremy Barnes

  After eleven years as a teacher and deputy headteacher in a primary school in St Helens, I served for four years as headteacher of a small semi-rural school in Lancashire which went from serious weaknesses to good in three years.

  I then became the headteacher of All Saints Catholic Primary School in Anfield where I have now been for 17 years, serving pupils and families in one of England’s most deprived communities. I oversaw the amalgamation of junior and infant schools, after which the school’s rapid improvements saw it graded outstanding by Ofsted in 2015. The school is a mainstream school but with a very high proportion of pupils with special educational needs and disabilities, now over 30% of all pupils.

  This includes a provision for 36 pupils with severe learning difficulties. I am also the Centre Head of the Anfield Children’s Centre, serving families throughout the local area. From 2015 – 2017, I was executive headteacher at another primary school in Liverpool, helping to improve the school from special measures to good in quick time.

  I am a consultant for the Education Development Trust and have inspected and supported schools across the world, including in UAE, Qatar, Thailand and Morocco. I also worked for Ofsted as a lead and team inspector from 2011 until 2022. In 2018, as part of a six-month sabbatical, I set up a community interest company which supported the education of sighted and visually impaired pupils in Sierra Leone, highlighting my ongoing interest in education around the world.

• Daniel Hennessy
  CFO
  Daniel Hennessy

  Daniel Hennessy is an accomplished CFO with over 25 years of leadership experience in both the public and private sectors. Throughout his career, he has provided consultancy services to a range of clients, including Multi Academy Trusts, Central Government Bodies such as the Department for Education (DfE) and Local Authorities Barnsley MBC and Halton MBC.

  Notably, Dan has played a pivotal role in establishing two large Multi Academy Trusts: the David Ross Education Trust (DRET) and the STAR Trust, recognised as one of the top MATs in the country. Within these roles, he has successfully led various support services, including school improvement initiatives, attendance management, literacy strategies, teaching and learning programmes, budget management, admissions processes and high-value capital programs.

  Dan’s expertise extends to complex project management, including procurement activities such as Private Finance Initiatives (PFI). He has successfully overseen the mobilisation and operational delivery of large-scale projects, including those requiring approval from HM Treasury. His experience includes serving as Non-executive Director to the Mersey Gateway Project, a prestigious £600 million development of the Mersey bridge, which stands as the largest infrastructure scheme in the UK.

  With his extensive background in consultancy, leadership, and senior executive roles, Dan Hennessy brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to his current position as CFO. He is a driven and accomplished professional, dedicated to delivering strategic financial management and driving organisational success.

• Dawn Johnson
  Head of Data and Information Systems
  Dawn Johnson

  Prior to joining Pope Francis Catholic Trust, I have spent twenty years working as a teacher, Head of Science and Vice Principal with responsibility for quality of education and leading rapid improvement in pupil outcomes from -1.12 to -0.03 over 2 years. This was done by leading the introduction of the intelligent use of pupil progress and pastoral data to drive targeted and effective interventions within a secondary school. This role allowed me to develop a passion for data and the importance of data and information systems within education.

  I am highly skilled with MIS systems, analysis systems such as 4 Matrix and SISRA and have developed the ability to leverage the power of business intelligence software to inform strategic leadership of schools. I have also experienced teaching across key stages from EYS to KS5 with recent experience of primary teaching that has enabled me to understand the data and assessment needs not only within a secondary context but also a primary setting.

  I have also successfully established my own tutoring business to ensure I can maintain my ability to impact outcomes with students with extra needs outside the classroom. This provides me with the ability to understand and see the story behind the numbers and anticipate the needs of school leaders and classroom teachers to impact pupil outcomes.

• Danielle Moran
  Director of SEND
  Danielle Moran

  Danielle is a dedicated and compassionate SEN professional with a passion for supporting students with diverse learning needs. With over 10 years’ experience in the field of special education, Danielle has demonstrated her commitment to fostering an inclusive and supportive learning environment across both primary and secondary provision.

• Christina Derbyshire
  Director of Governance, Communications and Business Development
  Christina Derbyshire

  As a CMI Chartered Manager with 10 years’ experience in the education sector and an MBA in Senior Leadership, Christina has a wealth of governance and business development expertise, previously deployed in running a Liverpool education centre and as a Chair of Governors, then Director of Business Development, within a regional Multi Academy Trust. Christina is a trained coach, Mental Health First Aider, trainer, Visiting Business Fellow at the University of Bolton and a Girls Network Mentor who is passionate about stakeholder engagement.

• Michelle Cashen
  Head of Finance
  Michelle Cashen

  I am a member of the Chartered Institute of Management accountants and have over 20 years in operational leadership and strategic finance experience gained within private and public sector organisations.

  I am a very grounded and approachable Leader, who takes pride in the ability to form and maintain professional relationships. I am proud to work in the education sector and thrive on transforming perceptions of finance and promote the benefits of good financial management.

  I have extensive experience in all areas of Finance having started my career as an apprentice at the age of 17, progressing to FC and Head of Finance roles.

  My key aim is to develop a teamwork ethos across the trust to deliver the most efficient finance function which maximises the Trust’s financial resources to ensure that pupils have the best possible education.

• Louise Jones
  Executive Assistant
  Louise Jones

  My first job at 17 was for the Inland Revenue Head Office Typing Pool which was copy and audio typing letters and documents for tax inspectors. After taking a career break to bring up two young children I then went to work for RNID TypeTalk which is a BT telephone relay service for customers with communication difficulties. It was whilst working here in 2000 that I was suddenly widowed with three young children aged under 10. Due to the long shifts at TypeTalk I decided the best way forward for myself and my children was to obtain employment in a school so that I did not have to rely on childcare too much.

  In 2001 I began employment as a part-time receptionist in Savio High School as it was called then. I stayed at the school until November 2022. Over the years at the school I worked on reception and completed administrative work as required. I was the school Attendance Officer for a few years and I also dealt with the administration for school admissions.

  In 2013 became a volunteer for the Motor Neurone Disease Association Merseyside Branch when my mother was diagnosed. In 2015 I became the branch secretary and have helped to organise various fundraising events which have raised over £100,000 for people on Merseyside living with MND.

  During the months before the school joined Pope Francis CMAT I started to complete some administrative work for the Trust alongside working for the school. The position of Executive Assistant at Pope Francis CMAT was made permanent as the partnership works well.

• Oskar Filoda
  Junior Data Analyst
  Oskar Filoda

  "With a Bachelor's degree in Performing Arts, I bring a unique perspective to my current role as a Junior Data Analyst. My creative background enhances my ability to approach problem-solving from diverse angles, while my analytical skills help drive data-driven decision-making. I am passionate about improving systems for delivering information and transforming complex data into actionable insights that support informed decisions. I continuously strive to optimize educational frameworks by leveraging data, ensuring impactful and efficient outcomes in the field of education. My open-minded approach and dedication to learning fuel my drive for innovation and system improvement."