Primary School Improvement Pen Portraits

Andy Hunt – Headteacher

Andy has over 20 years’ experience working in a range of primary schools, across the North West of England and Yorkshire. He has extensive knowledge of all aspects of primary school improvement and has taken on extra roles such as a Lead Headteacher for the Leigh Lowton and Golborne (LLG) Consortia, as well as delivering leadership coaching to school leaders, in Bradford.

Andy has successfully led on many roles, in four different schools; both maintained and academy. He is able to specifically adapt his support, to the requirements of all settings, to ensure improvements are sustained and tailored to each school. He has a particular interest in developing leaders at all levels and has a proven track record of this. Andy’s impact has been significant across all of the schools in which he has been a senior leader; moving a school from Good to Outstanding and as a Deputy Headteacher, Satisfactory to Good.

As Headteacher of Golborne Community Primary School for over 10 years now; Andy successfully led the school through four inspections within his first two years and turned one of the lowest performing schools in Wigan, to now being one of the highest achieving.

Annually, he delivers a wide range of training at Edge Hill University, to both the Early Years and KS1/KS2 trainees. Andy is also a lead inspector for Ofsted which brings invaluable experience to his roles.

Rachel Baxter – Principal Deputy Headteacher

Rachel has over 18 years’ experience working in primary schools, across the North West of England. She has successfully led on many roles, in two different schools; both maintained and academy.  Rachel has extensive knowledge of all aspects of primary school and her current roles and responsibilities are: Early Years and KS1 Phase Leader, Assessment Co-ordinator, Curriculum Co-ordinator, Pupil Premium Co-ordinator, EY and KS1 Behaviour and Attitudes (which has been judged as Outstanding at our most recent inspection), Maths Co-ordinator and Middle Leadership Team Leader.

Rachel has taught in Year 6 at Golborne Community Primary School since 2015 and has previously taught across the full age ranges in primary. 

She has contributed to the school’s sustainable improvements including curriculum redesign and developments in teaching, learning and assessment which have led to a year-on-year increase in the percentage of children achieving or exceeding the expected standard. Rachel has a proven track record of improving standards across school.

Rachel is also an ECT Tutor and she is able to specifically adapt her support, to the requirements of all new teachers, to ensure improvements are sustained and tailored to each member of staff.

As part of her leadership journey, Rachel successfully completed her NPQH in March 2022, which involved a placement supporting a contrasting school, working with the school’s SLT, teaching staff and governors.

Rachel is currently embarking on achieving her NPQEYL, to bring invaluable experience to her roles.

Andrea Munro – Deputy Headteacher

Andrea is an experienced primary school teacher and senior leader.  Andrea teaches in Year 6 and has extensive KS2 experience and primary knowledge. She has expertise in the teaching and implementation of the English National Curriculum and a real passion for improving children’s ability to read and write effectively. Andrea has a degree specialising in English Language; she has undertaken the Excellent English Teacher Programme and she has been an English Co-ordinator for over 10 years where she has had a significant impact, raising standards across schools.

Andrea provides schools with support designing and delivering their curriculums, including the implementation of their SSP programme, and provides high-quality training across a range of areas such as reading fluency instruction. She is also an STA approved LA writing moderator.

Andrea has successfully completed her NPQSL and is currently embarking on her NPQH. She has a keen interest in keeping up-to-date with educational research and evidence-informed teaching techniques and practice. Andrea also effectively holds other leadership roles, where she can offer support, such as Personal Development Co-ordinator (which has been judged as Outstanding at our most recent inspection), KS2 Curriculum Co-ordinator and Behaviour and Attitudes Co-ordinator.