Our Leadership Team
Here at Edstart we pride ourselves on finding and hiring the best team possible to deliver the best results. Check out our leadership team below.
The quality of a leader is reflected in the standards they set for themselves.
Proprietor and Governors
James Lowe
Proprietor
After teaching sport, public services and social policy in different sectors across Manchester, James registered the school alongside Chris Irwin and a small team. From there he has been responsible for the growth of the school from its original site, to the several centres across Greater Manchester. Having led the school to successive 'Good' Ofsted inspections his aim is to further strengthen the offer to the region's young people. James has supported several local authorities in developing the landscape of alternative provision, most recently working on the successful DfE 'Alternative Provision Innovation Fund' bid for Salford City Council.
james@edstartschools.com
0300 303 4414 (option 1 then option 6 for Head Office)
5 Gerald Road, Salford, M6 6DW
Find James on Linkedin
Kathryn Verycken
Chair Governor
Kathryn Vereycken is a qualified Social Worker who worked for 28 years for Wigan Council in Children's Services. During her career with Wigan she worked in Residential Care, After Care, as an Independent Reviewing Officer, going on to manage the Independent Reviewing Officers Service including Child Protection Conference Chairs. Prior to retiring from Wigan Council, I worked in Safeguarding managing the Safeguarding Board, also taking the lead in Serious Case Reviews, managing allegations in the role of the Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO). Since retiring four years ago from Wigan Council she has gone on to work in Fostering, Chairing a number of Fostering Panels. In addition, she delivers training and Safeguarding consultancy work to a number of other organisations including, Schools and the Rugby Football League.
Chair of Governors:
Kathryn Vereycken
5 Gerald Road, Salford, M6 6DW
Kathrynvereycken@gmail.com
03003034414 option 1 and option 1
Peter Irwin
Governor
As a retired Senior Leader and Headteacher, Peter is still heavily involved in Education. He was a Chair of Governors in Manchester and is currently a Governor of a Salford Primary School. Peter supports the EdStart leadership team with his knowledge and experience around pastoral support in schools. Pete has been with the school from the start of the school and has advised throughout its growth to ensure the quality and standards have been maintained.
Leadership team
Kevin Buchanan
Headteacher
Kevin is an experienced mainstream and specialist school senior leader within safeguarding, welfare and inclusion education. Through age range qualified teacher, youth worker and health worker. Experience of leading service change and building multiagency partnership work in Third Sector, NHS, CAMHS and School Inclusion and Alternative Provision Pathways. Leader within mainstream provider overseeing development of specialist provision, SEND, family and outreach work to vulnerable students and families. Safeguarding, LAC, Alternative Provision, SMSC, PSHE, Careers Leader.
Marc Thomas
Quality Assurance Lead
Marc has been working with EdStart for over five years having previously spent 20 years in a management role in the media industry. Marc successfully managed the Bolton centre when it opened and has led by example in setting high standards for teachers and managers alike. He is responsible for the quality of teaching and learning at EdStart and regularly feeds back to the management and Governors.
Zoe McCall
SENco
Zoe recently joined Edstart in 2019 and has an extensive career within Special Needs, both in the Social Care and Education Sector. Zoe holds an English PGCE has been a SENCO since 2013 (with NASENCO) and has further specialist professional qualifications associated with Additional Needs. Zoe has worked with young people in residential settings (Registered CQC Home Manager), therapeutic environments (CBT practitioner), alongside teaching in Special and Mainstream Education (Secondary and Post 16 Provision). Zoe has managed departments/teams of staff and assisted to raise standards in various settings recognised by CQC and Ofsted. A most recent post was Head of Additional Needs in the Bolton Borough. Zoe is extremely passionate about inclusion and ensuring young people with Additional Needs are quickly identified, positively recognised and provided with the support they need/are entitled to; alongside ensuring they have a personal pathway and achieve their potential. Zoe works closely with students, families and the LA.
