ST BRENDAN'S PRIMARY - Key Persons


Andrew Waterhouse - Secretary

Job Titles:
  • Company Secretary
Andrew comes from a background in professional education and operations management. He provided support for the Bedford Catholic Schools' governing body in achieving its strategic aims and acted as company secretary and clerk to the governors. Andrew, based in Bedford, is now Company Secretary for the OLICAT Schools

Anthony Bishop

Job Titles:
  • Strategic Executive Lead / None
Tony has worked in schools for nearly 30 years. He started his career as a teacher of Science and worked in middle and senior management in a range of schools before becoming Headteacher of a Catholic secondary school in South Yorkshire. Tony worked as Executive Principal of the Bedford Catholic Schools before taking up the position of the Strategic Executive Lead for the OLICAT Schools. His aim is to ensure that all students have access to an outstanding curriculum in the tradition of the Catholic Church and in an environment that fully supports their emotional and social needs.

Bill Nelson

Job Titles:
  • Advisor / Mentor to Zero Carbon Construction Ltd / Chairman MBAngels Ltd / Business Support to Tetheringstones Ltd
Bill benefited immensely from what many regard as a somewhat unconventional Catholic Grammar School education, which blended, seamlessly, language based academic studies with his enduring love of metalwork and engineering. "Informs the mind and builds the character" is a phrase he remembers that was offered then as a definition of education. Besides having his own businesses for over 50 years, Bill has held senior posts and qualified in a number of industries and sectors, always underpinned by a belief in learning new subjects and methodologies and sharing that knowledge with others. Thus, by stint of private study, he achieved a PGCE just a few years before undertaking an Executive MBA. These days Bill's main focus is on training and coaching and mentoring individuals of all ages and transforming business performance. Retirement is a totally alien concept. He feels honoured and privileged to be connected with the highly motivated and dedicated Team that Divine Providence has assembled in OLICAT and with the difference we can all and together make to the chances and prospects our children deserve.

Catherine Leong

Catherine originally trained and qualified as a radiographer. After 12 years Catherine moved into the commercial industry of medical radiography for the next eight years. After studying law Catherine then trained as a solicitor.

Christopher Donnellan

Job Titles:
  • Chairman of Governors
Christopher is a Barrister who practices mainly in Criminal Law. He became a Governor of St Thomas More over 20 years ago, and has continued as a Governor and Director as the Bedford Catholic Schools came together as the Federation of Bedford Catholic Schools and converted to St Francis of Assisi Academies Trust in 2013. "I am a Governor because I believe that a good education is essential for every child. Through the best education that we can provide in our schools we give to each and every child the opportunity to achieve of their best and to have aspiration for their future."

Fr Christopher Perry - Chairman

Job Titles:
  • Chairman

Lucia Debertol

Job Titles:
  • Managing Director DALM Management & Strategy Ltd
After a career as an in-house court interpreter in Italy, Lucia moved to the UK and worked as a manager and senior manager in the Higher Education sector for twelve years . She is currently a Higher Education consultant to both UK and European universities. Her passions lie in empowering young people to reach their potential and in spreading cross-cultural knowledge and tolerance. As a Director at OLICAT she wants to ensure the best academic and pastoral support our Catholic schools can give to enable our students to grow in knowledge, skill, faith and empathy and become valued members of our society.

Miss E Cushen

Job Titles:
  • HLTA

Miss G Ludlow

Job Titles:
  • Y1 / 2 Class Teacher

Miss H O'Neill

Job Titles:
  • Y3 Class Teacher

Miss J McAuley

Job Titles:
  • Year 2 Class Teacher / Deputy DSL

Miss J Rose

Job Titles:
  • Inclusion Manager / Deputy DSL / First Aider

Miss J Singlehurst

Job Titles:
  • EYFS Class Teacher

Miss K Campbell

Job Titles:
  • Y4 Class Teacher

Miss K Connelly

Job Titles:
  • Office Manager / First Aider

Miss K Garscadden

Job Titles:
  • Teaching Assistant

Miss K Nelson

Job Titles:
  • Teaching Assistant

Miss K Tunkeviciute

Job Titles:
  • SEND Teaching Assistant / First Aider

Miss L Sharkey

Job Titles:
  • Yr5 Class Teacher

Miss P Bell

Job Titles:
  • SENCO / Y3 / 4 Class Teacher / Deputy DSL

Miss R Kandia

Job Titles:
  • Teaching Assistant

Miss R MacKay

Job Titles:
  • Head of School / DSL

Miss R Mullen

Job Titles:
  • Lunchtime Supervisor

Mr C J Donnellan - Chairman

Job Titles:
  • Chairman

Mr E Irwin

Job Titles:
  • Site Maintenance Officer

Mr J Burns

Job Titles:
  • Chairman Our Ladys Catholic Primary School, Wellingborough
A lifelong Catholic and parishioner of St Edward's, Kettering, Joe has been involved in school governance in a number of schools, primary and secondary, including supporting schools in challenging circumstances, since 1993. Most recently, and prior to joining the Board of Directors for OLICAT, he was a governor at St Thomas More Catholic Primary School in Kettering and is currently also providing governor support to Our Lady's Catholic Primary School in Wellingborough. Joe is a retired Headteacher, with 35 years' experience of (mostly) secondary education roles in schools around England and Wales, having spent a substantial amount of that period working in Catholic schools at Senior and Headship level. As a schoolboy, Joe attended a junior seminary for five years, run by the Salesians of Don Bosco, before deciding that he was better suited to secular life. His time with the Salesians heavily influenced Joe in his choice of career, however, and in specific areas of focus as a teacher, working to improve the life chances of the young people who came within the remit of his care. With that in mind, Joe undertook a number of pastoral and lead safeguarding roles in schools over the span of his career. His role as Safeguarding Director for OLICAT allows Joe to provide support for the Trust in the fulfilment of its Mission.

Mrs A Cottingham

Job Titles:
  • Teaching Assistant

Mrs A Greaves

Job Titles:
  • Year 3 / 4 Class Teacher

Mrs A Wildsmith

Job Titles:
  • HLTA / Forest School Leader / First Aider

Mrs C Kelly

Job Titles:
  • Teaching Assistant / Lunchtime Supervisor / First Aider

Mrs D McAuley

Job Titles:
  • Admin Assistant / First Aider / Dep. DSL

Mrs D Trotter

Job Titles:
  • Teaching Assistant / Paediatric First Aider

Mrs E King

Job Titles:
  • Year 1 Class Teacher

Mrs E MacDonald

Job Titles:
  • Lunchtime Supervisor

Mrs J Ngwerume

Job Titles:
  • Y5 / 6 Class Teacher

Mrs J Rutherford

Job Titles:
  • Teaching Assistant

Mrs K Pringle

Job Titles:
  • Teaching Assistant

Mrs L Barron-Edgley

Job Titles:
  • Y6 Class Teacher / Deputy DSL

Mrs L Brydon

Job Titles:
  • Executive Lead / Deputy DSL / Pupil Premium Champion

Mrs M Revie

Job Titles:
  • Lunchtime Supervisor / First Aider

Mrs R Jenkins

Job Titles:
  • SEND Teaching Assistant

Mrs S Dickens

Job Titles:
  • EYFS Class Teacher

Mrs S Ward

Job Titles:
  • Lunchtime Supervisor / After School Club Assistant / First Aider

Mrs T Smith

Job Titles:
  • Teaching Assistant / Lunchtime Supervisor / First Aider

Mrs Y Forbes

Job Titles:
  • Lunchtime Supervisor