About us

Our Staff

Lisa Fathers

Deputy Chief Executive Officer of Bright Futures Educational Trust

Lisa is the Deputy Chief Executive Officer at Bright Futures Educational Trust. She has over 25 years’ experience in education and has held a number of Executive Leadership Director-level roles. Lisa is a National Leader of Education (NLE) designated by the DfE and she is also an effective School Improvement Partner (SIP) for other schools/MATS.

As an executive leader, Lisa works closely with our schools, providing leadership of our Trust School Improvement Strategy, providing support and challenge to our Headteachers. Lisa also leads on Risk and Assurance across the Trust and leads our Partnership and Communications Strategy.  She also provides oversight of the Bright Futures Professional Development Institute, which is central to the Trust’s People Strategy and includes two large scale Teaching School Hubs, a Maths Hub, a SCITT (School Centred Initial Teacher Training), a SEND Outreach service, an Early Years Stronger Practice Hub and Bright Futures Training. Lisa oversees improvement work/professional development in over 600 schools making a huge impact on teacher development across the region. Lisa leads school improvement work for the Trust, leads our SEND/Inclusion strategy as well as leading on Communications, Marketing and PR.

Lisa’s particular areas of expertise and passion are school transformation/school turnaround, school improvement, teacher development, change leadership, wellbeing and partnership working. Lisa has coached and supported Executive Headteachers and Headteachers and leads on partnership working and Growth for the Trust, working alongside other MATs and schools and organisations such as Teach First, Ambition Institute, the Youth Sport Trust, the Chartered College, and Mental Health First Aid England.

Lisa has had a number of Non-Executive Governance roles having been a MAT Trustee, a Trustee of a national charity and was on the executive level Strategic Health and Wellbeing Board. Lisa enjoys contributing to the wider system such as her Co-Chair role for Greater Manchester’s Mental Health in Education Board and the Chair for a national multidisciplinary Wellbeing Board. Lisa was a National Mental Health First Aid trainer and led the successful and ground-breaking cross sector Greater Manchester Mentally Healthy Schools Programme and is a Fellow at the Chartered College of Teaching. Lisa is a champion of collaboration and whole system working across Greater Manchester, the wider Northwest region and nationally, and currently sits on the GMLP Executive Team and on the Mayoral Reform Board in Greater Manchester.

Rachel Redmond

Assistant Director: Commercial

Rachel has worked within education for over 15 years, predominately working with groups of schools across the country.  Rachel has recently moved from the children’s Charity, The Youth Sport Trust where she was National Development Manager working with managers across the country to improve educational outcomes for children and young people through PE, School Sport and Physical Activity.

As the Assistant Director of the Professional Development Institute, Rachel plays a role in identifying, cultivating and securing new business, as well as managing existing work streams. Rachel’s role is to lead the business and commercial services.

Claire Critchley

Operations & Engagement Manager

Claire is the Operations and Engagement Manager across the Professional Development Institute responsible for brand growth and maximising operational excellence.

As a seasoned professional, Claire has over 20 years diverse experience in marketing & communications, event management and operational logistics within the commercial and education sectors.

Claire has a key role both strategically and operationally developing and maintaining relationships with stakeholders, developing and implementing processes and procedures to improve and execute operational efficiency.

Rachel Potts

CPD Coordinator

Rachel has worked within education for over 10 years in teaching positions and joined Bright Futures in 2021 as our CPD Coordinator. She is responsible for the Bright Futures Training courses and bookings and prior to working with us, Rachel was a primary school teacher in various schools across Greater Manchester.

Rachel’s role is pivotal to the growth and development of Bright Futures Training by providing an excellent customer journey to all stakeholders.

Bright Futures Training
Cavendish Road, Bowdon
Altrincham WA14 2NL
Proud to part of the Bright Futures Education Trust