DES Recommended External Advisors for the Performance Management of Headteachers 

The DES recommends the following Head Teachers to act as External Advisors to Governors when carrying out the Appraisal of Head teachers. Governors are asked to make direct contact with these Headteachers when they have chosen their advisor. More information on each advisor can be found on their school websites. 
Mr Ian Beardmore
Principal of Our Lady of Grace Academy. Biddulph, Stoke-on-Trent, 01782 512644
St Mary’s Catholic Academy, Norton-le-Moors, Stoke-on-Trent, 01782-234820 ibeardmore@stmarysnewman.co.uk 

Mrs Karen Bennett 
​Headteacher of St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School, Hednesford, Staffordshire, 01543 512230; headteacher@st-josephs-hednesford.staffs.sch.uk

Mrs Marie Conway
Headteacher of St Anne’s Catholic Primary School, Chelmsley Wood, Solihull, 0121 7798060
​s83mconway2@st-annes.solihull.sch.uk

Miss Helena Cusack
Headteacher of St Mary’s Catholic Primary School, Harborne, Birmingham, 0121 464 2141; h.cusack@stmaryrc.bham.sch.uk

Mrs Christine Finnegan 
Headteacher of Our Lady and St Kenelm Catholic Primary School, Halesowen, Birmingham, 01384 816880
​cfinnegan@our-lady.dudley.sch.uk

Ms Miranda Gibbs 
Headteacher of St Modwen’s Catholic Primary School, Burton on Trent, Staffordshire, 01283 247560
headteacher@st-modwens.staffs.sch.uk

​Mrs Stephanie Hewitt 
Headteacher of St Thomas More Catholic Primary School, Great Wyrley, Staffordshire, 01922 666335 ​
headteacher@st-thomasmore.staffs.sch.uk

Mr Mark Hinton
Principal of St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School, Dudley, West Midlands, 01384 818925; mhinton@st-jo-dud.dudley.sch.uk


​Ms Katherine Marston
Head of School at Saint John Wall Catholic School, Handsworth, Birmingham, 0121 554 1825; kmarston@sjw.bham.sch.uk


Mr Dominic McBride
Headteacher of St Marie’s Catholic Primary School, Rugby, Warwickshire, 01788 543636; head3598@welearn365.com


Mrs Sinead Smith
Senior Executive Principal of The Holy Spirit MAC, 02476 642400​
​sinead.smith@holyspiritmac.co.uk


​Mr Ben Taylor
Headteacher of Our Lady of Wayside Catholic Primary School, Shirley, Solihull, 0121 744 6852; 
​s79btaylor@ol-wayside.solihull.sch.uk,

​Mrs Alison Treadwell
Headteacher of St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School, Nechells, Birmingham, 0121 464 8140; alison.treadwell@stjosb7.bham.sch.uk


Mrs Sue Tomkys
Headteacher of St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School, Headington, Oxford, 01865 763357; 
​head.3838@st-josephs-pri.oxon.sch.uk
Mrs Margaret Yates
Executive Head of St Gregory’s Catholic Academy, Longton, Stoke-on-Tent, 01782 235340
St Augustine’s Catholic Academy, Meir, Stoke-on-Trent, 01384 816880;
​myates@stgca.org.uk