Central Team

KAREN BRAMWELL OBE

CEO/Executive Principal/Accounting Officer/Senior Partner Aspire Challenge Partners Hub

Karen Bramwell is our founding CEO and Executive Principal, working with our central team and our school leaders to provide the very best for our children and communities. Karen is passionate about the rights of our children to a fantastic education, developing strong leadership and system leadership – making more of a difference to more children. She became a National Leader of Education in 2011 and has supported significant improvements in a large number of schools across the Northwest and beyond. Karen regularly provides training to other headteachers and school leaders across the country and currently facilitates on the NPQEL. In 2019, Karen was awarded the Women in Leadership Award by She inspires. Most recently, Karen served on the Lancashire and West Yorkshire Advisory Board for 6 years for the DFE. She currently sits on the Greater Manchester Priority Area Partnership Board.

In June 2024, Karen was awarded an OBE for services to education in the King’s Birthday Honours list.

JANET CARTER - ACMA, CGMA

Chief Operating Officer/Chief Financial Officer

Janet is a Qualified Chartered Management Accountant/Chartered Global Management Accountant with over 20+ Industry Experience. She joined the Trust in 2018 having worked previously as a Finance Director in Lancashire. Janet has also had the opportunity to serve as a governor in a Lancashire Primary School. She has extensive knowledge of finance system/process development and implementation as well as Project Management.

ELLIOT COSTAS-WALKER - SLE

Director of Learning & Partnerships / Hub Manager Aspire Challenge Partners Hub

Elliot Costas-Walker is the Director of Learning and Partnerships with Forward As One CE Multi Academy Trust. He joined the Trust in 2018, when the Trust had 3 schools and has seen the growth in the Trust over the 5 years to 13 schools. Elliot previously worked in a Yorkshire based Multi Academy Trust for 2 years as a Teaching and Learning Lead. Elliot’s responsibilities are for School Improvement, Learning & Teaching, Professional Development and Partnerships. He has a proven-track record of supporting schools in various contexts, including special measures and outstanding schools. His passion is driving School Improvement work alongside quality first pedagogy within the classroom. Elliot prides himself on being an evidence-informed leader and works as an Evidence Lead in Education (ELE) - he enjoys mobilising the research from the EEF. Elliot is passionate about expertise through high quality professional development and leads the Trusts work with Ambition Institute. Mobilising Initial Teacher Training the Early Career Framework and suite of National Professional Qualifications across Greater Manchester. He is a Visiting Fellow with Ambition Institute and facilitates on a range of programmes. Elliot leads a Challenge Partners Hub, ‘Aspire Hub’ across the North West and sits on Challenge Partners, Education Advisory Group.

MICHELLE RIDSDALE - LLE

Director of Leadership

Michelle became Director of Leadership for Forward as One in September 2020, having previously worked for 12 years as a Headteacher in Wigan Local Authority and also for a Multi-Academy Trust where she undertook the role of Executive Headteacher across two schools, in very different contexts. Michelle is currently responsible for developing Strategic Leadership and School Improvement across all the Forward As One CE Schools. Michelle developed the Trusts Digital Strategy and the transformational work in the use of 1-1 Apple Ipad Devices across every KS2 phase. Michelle supports and develops all FA1 Headteachers, especially Headteachers who are new to their role. She has a proven-track record of supporting schools in various contexts, including schools in a category, and has been instrumental in the rapid improvement of attainment and progress outcomes in both KS1 and KS2. Michelle also led Primary Headteacher Forum in Wigan LA with a passion for driving School Improvement work and delivering on outcomes for children across all sectors. Michelle is an experienced Leadership Facilitator and currently leads the Trusts work with the Church of England and facilitates on the NPQHCE. Michelle also facilitates for OLEVI and shares this knowledge across the FA1 schools. Michelle is passionate about Inclusion and SEND, she ensures children remain at the core purpose of everything we do at FA1!

LAUREN GARDNER

Inclusion & Early Years Lead

Lauren joined the Trust in January 2023, having previously worked within Wigan and Salford Local Authorities, leading on SEND, Inclusion, Safeguarding and Behaviour. Lauren has a vast amount of Primary teaching and leading experience and is passionate about making a difference to the lives of children. Her responsibilities are for School Improvement, with a particular focus on Early Years. She is extremely passionate about working collaboratively with colleagues, to ensure that all children have access to an exciting and engaging curriculum, which ignites awe and wonder. Lauren has also taken up the role of Visiting Fellow for Ambition Institute, facilitating on both the NPQSL and NPQEYL courses, in her drive to support professional development.

JENNIFER MILLS

Governance & HR Manager/PA to Karen Bramwell

Jen joined the trust in September 2019 having previously worked as an office manager in the retail manufacturing industry. As Forward As One has grown, her role has also evolved. Jen's role as Company Secretary covers governance, compliance and administration. Jen leads on governance at Forward As One and works across different levels to support effective governance for the board of members, trustees and local advisory boards (LABs).
In her role as PA, Jen provides executive support to the CEO, and supports and develops key internal and external stakeholder relationships. She also works closely with the Leadership team and senior management.

IAN HAYDOCK

Programme Operations Co-ordinator

Ian joined Forward As One in 2021, taking up a new role as Programme Operations Coordinator overseeing the delivery of the Early Career Teacher Framework and National Professional Qualifications (NPQs) that the Trust deliver in Partnership with Ambition Institute. Ian has extensive Operational and Team Management experience in both Private and Public Sectors. His roles have encompassed the Financial Services, Property, Regulatory, Service, Sales and care industries. Ian has built and led numerous successful teams within competitive customer focussed organisations and is relishing the prospect of a new challenge within Education as part of a forward thinking and innovative Multi Academy Trust.

LYNDSEY KELL

School Operations Manager

Lyndsey has been working in Education since 2011 initially as a Teaching Assistant SEN and then as Office Administrator at Beacon Primary School.  Lyndsey was in this role when Beacon Primary joined the trust in November 2018.  In September 2022 Lyndsey moved to the central team to support the finance team and was recently appointed School Operations Manager.

SAM RUSH

NPQ Lead

Sam started working for our central team as NPQ lead in April 2022. She is responsible for overseeing the NPQs that we deliver as a trust in partnership with Ambition. Sam has previously been a teacher in different aspects, initially at St Paul's and then various schools within Forward as One, for 20 years. She is thoroughly enjoying the new challenge and working in education from a different angle.

PENDA GARNETT

Governance Professional/Central Team Support

FRANKIE MARSH

School Improvement & Data Manager

Frankie has worked in a range of inner city, multicultural schools across the UK, as a primary teacher, Deputy Headteacher and Head of School, leading the development of innovative and relevant programmes of study which reflect the experience and heritage of children in urban schools. In her role within a Multi Academy Trust central team, she has led the finance function in a Chief Financial Officer role and worked interdependently with trust schools developing their curriculum, data and intervention strategies to ensure the best possible outcomes for all pupils. Through the Sanctuary Learning Centre, Frankie has facilitated a range of pedagogy and curriculum content for ECTs and Schools Direct Students and also carried out Quality Assurance visits across Oldham schools. Frankie is a Visiting Fellow with Ambition Institute and facilitates on the NPQLTD. Outside of work, Frankie leads the First Holy Communion Programme at her local church, supporting young people on their sacramental journey.

LYNSEY COLEMAN

Trust Safeguarding Lead

Lynsey is the Trust Safeguarding Lead and works within the Forward As One central team, providing supervision and support to Heads and Designated Safeguarding Leads. She works strategically to ensure that there is a compliant and robust culture of safeguarding across the Multi Academy Trust. Lynsey previously worked as a Deputy Headteacher and Designated Safeguarding Lead in one of the Forward As One Trust schools. In recent years, she has successfully coached professionals to raise standards and establish and maintain leadership capacity within schools through her role as a Maths SLE. Facilitating the Early Careers Teacher training programme at The Sanctuary Learning Centre and also being an ECT and student mentor has enabled her to share pedagogy and continue to inspire the future generations of teachers and leaders. Lynsey has a degree in psychology and is currently continuing her professional development by studying counselling so that she is able to effectively support the mental health and wellbeing of children and staff.

CAROLINE GEENER

Payroll Clerk

Caroline joined the Central Team  as Payroll Clerk in January 2024 having previously worked at St. Chad's for six years as a School Office Administrator. Caroline earned accreditation as a School Business Manager in November 2022 . With a background in HR & Payroll, Caroline brings valuable experience to the team. Prior to working in Education, she worked for The Royal Bank of Scotland for 19 years in various roles.

MEGAN SULLIVAN

HR Administrator

Pen portrait coming soon!

SARAH OXLEY

Associate Headteacher

 As Associate Headteacher, Sarah works with schools within the trust to raise standards for our children. Sarah is an experienced school leader who has worked with schools across Salford and Manchester, leading significant improvements specifically in curriculum and teaching and learning. Sarah is committed to delivering the highest quality of education, care and experience for every child. She has a particular passion for Maths and has worked with a wide range of schools through local Maths Hubs.

KOMAL ASANI

Associate Headteacher

EMMA WARDLE

Pen portrait coming soon!

Sales & Purchase Ledger Clerk

STEPHANIE SMITH

HR Assistant

Steph joined the Central Team as a HR Assistant in January 2025 having previously worked at St Johns School for 2 years as an Office Assistant. Steph gained her Post Graduate Diploma in Human Resources Management in 2011 whilst studying part time at Salford University. Prior to working in Education Steph worked for the Co-operative Group for 11 years within HR and Recruitment and therefore brings valuable experience to the team.

LUCY JACKSON

Pen portrait & image coming soon!

Marketing & Partnerships Administrator

HOLLY ISHERWOOD

Pen portrait & image coming soon!

Sales & Purchase Ledger Supervisor