Pen portraits
Committee A:
Ian Whitehead
Representing: Oldham Baptist Churches
Relevant Experience: Deacon
Peter Butler
Organisation: Free Church
Representing: Congregationalism
Relevant Experience: I am currently Vice-Chair of Oldham S.A.C.R.E. and have served on the panel for several years. I have sat on sub-groups such as the development plan and RE Agreed Syllabus. I have attended several training days.
Committee B:
The Reverend Canon Jean Hurlston B.Ed (Hons) MA
Organisation: Diocese of Manchester
Representing: Oldham Parish Church
Relevant Experience: Teacher trained/RE specialist, Associate Vicar Oldham Parish Church, Borough Dean of Oldham, Member - Oldham Inter Faith Forum, Vice Chair - Faiths United Tameside, Member – GMCA Women & Girls Equality Panel, Lead Chaplain - Ashton Sixth Form College, Assistant Chaplain - Tameside General Hospital, Chaplain to the Mayor of Oldham, Governor - Shadow Board for Brian Clarke Academy, Founder/volunteer - Oldham Street Angels, Member - Oldham SACRE and Tameside SACRE
Graham McRuffie
Organisation: Church of England
Representing: Church of England
Relevant Experience: A representative of the Church of England’s Manchester diocese. He is also a school governor and trustee at Harmony Trust.
Reverend Dr. Paul Monk
Relevant Experience: I left the MMU in 2007 when I was ordained a deacon in the church of England. I was ordained a priest in 2008. I was a curate in Oldham 2007–9 and was licenced as the Vicar of Clarksfield (St Barnabas) and Waterhead (Holy Trinity) in 2009.
I was a governor in St Thomas CoE Primary in Leesfield 2007–2010 and at Littlemoor Primary 2010–present.
Committee C:
Sue Callaghan
Organisation: Christ Church Primary School, Denshaw
Representing: Primary Schools
Relevant Experience: I have been a teacher in Oldham for 35 years and Head teacher at Christ Church Primary School in Denshaw for the last 16 years. Within my teaching career I have taught in a range of schools both large and small, in the centre of Oldham and up in Saddleworth.
I currently lead the Primary RE network group, organising meetings and I was part of the working party to create the latest Oldham Agreed Syllabus. I also represent Oldham Primary teachers within the Manchester Diocese.
Clare Mitchell
Organisation: Head of St Patrick’s RC Primary School
Representing: Catholic schools in Oldham
Committee D:
Claire Harewood
Organisation: The Hathershaw College
Representing: Secondary Schools
Relevant Experience: I am currently the lead teacher of RE and Citizenship at Hathershaw College and have been teaching RE across schools in Oldham and North Manchester for over 10 years. I have worked closely and contributed to the current Oldham Agreed Syllabus and am an active member of the Oldham and Tameside Secondary RE network group.
I am a gold UK Parliament teacher ambassador and currently completing a NPQLT with a focus on assessment in RE.
I have links within the local community to local faith and non- faith community organisations and sit on the board for a local charity Keeping Our Girls Safe.
Mary Butt
Organisation: Ground breakers (Manchester City Mission)
Relevant Experience: Ground breakers is a Manchester City Mission primary Schools Project visiting primary schools across the ten boroughs of Manchester offering assemblies, Lunch Clubs, RE lessons, workshops, support with Ethos days etc. I was a primary school teacher for 30 years and an RE and Collective Worship coordinator for the majority of those. I have served on SACRE for many years and am now taking a particular interest in Collective Worship in Oldham schools as part of the work of SACRE
Tony Shepherd
Organisation: Oldham Council
Representing: Local Authority
Relevant Experience: Assistant Director of Education & Early Years with responsibility for school support and improvement, admissions, governance, virtual School for children looked after, music service and study support. Prior experience in school leadership and an NGO. I have supported both Tameside and Oldham SACRE.
Adviser to SACRE
Alastair Ross
Director of Pennine Learning Associates, a small specialist team supporting schools and local authorities in RE, SMSC, equality and school governance.
Over the past ten years he has focused on RE advisory work, forming Pennine Learning Associates to support schools and local authorities. The team supports RE in several local authority areas across the north of England, including training, advising and producing resources.