Senior Leadership Team
Headteacher
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John Harrison was born in Liverpool, moving throughout his early years to various northern beauty spots such as Runcorn and Widnes before arriving and laying down roots in Crewe. Having attended St Thomas More Catholic High School, John went on to attend Malbank to complete his A Levels, unknowingly starting a relationship with the school that would see him return some years down the line to ultimately lead the school in 2020. John completed his degree in English and History in Sheffield, his PGCE at Keele and then taught in Rotherham prior to leaving teaching for a year to travel the world. (Click photo for more details)
Deputy Headteacher
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Janine Edwards was born in Dorset and moved to Northwich whilst she was in Primary School. She attended Hartford High School and then studied for her A-Levels at Sir John Deane’s College. Janine completed her degree in Biological Sciences at The University of Sheffield, her PGCE at Manchester Metropolitan University and completed her National Professional Qualification for Headship (NPQH) whilst at Malbank through Edgehill University. Janine is also a Senior Leader in Education (SLE)(Click Photo for more details)
Assistant Headteacher
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Craig Batty was born in Crewe and is an ex-pupil of Malbank School, his lifelong association with the school beginning when he joined Year 7 in 1992. The first member of his family to go to university, he left the Sixth Form in 1999, initially studying Politics at Sheffield University. Craig is a qualified chef, and changes in family circumstances led to him postponing his degree to work in the catering industry. For a time, Craig combined his work in the kitchen with a part-time role as a Learning Support Assistant at King’s Grove High School (now the Oaks Academy). (Click photo for more details)
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Samantha Coppenhall was born in Sandbach and attended Sandbach High School and Sixth Form College until leaving to take up her university place at the University of Birmingham. At university Samantha studied Economics and Mathematics before undertaking her PGCE at Keele University. Much of her teaching career has been spent in Stoke-on-Trent where she has been both a Head of Mathematics, working across the city with the Maths Excellence Partnership and an Assistant Principal with responsibility for Teaching and Learning. Her teaching career has seen her visit schools as far away as Singapore, exploring the most effective teaching strategies to support students. (Click photo for more details)
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Julie Machin lived in West Yorkshire before heading to London to complete her joint honours degree in English Language and linguistics and Drama and theatre studies at the University of Surrey. Her formative teaching years were spent in West Yorkshire as both an English and Media teacher and Assistant Head of Sixth form before moving to Cheshire and starting at Malbank 15 years ago. Before her appointment as Assistant Head Teacher, she led the English Department and is currently leading improvement initiatives such as: attendance, teaching and learning and quality assurance.(Click photo for more details)
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David Shepherd was born in Manchester. Childhood holidays spent exploring the castles of Wales planted in him a strong interest in History. This passion for the past grew at Stretford Grammar School. Thanks to his inspirational History teachers and fondly remembered educational visits all over the industrial north, the choice to study History for his degree was an easy one. After graduating from Sheffield University, David first followed his other interest – writing. David spent the early years of his working life as a journalist, writing for the Weekly News, Sunday Post and Dundee Courier. However, a spell spent teaching English and Maths at night school soon propelled David along another career path – teaching (Click photo for more details)
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Chris Yew was born in Liverpool and then moved across the Mersey at a young age. Chris has always been a keen sportsman and at an early age dreamed of a career in football. A couple of serious injuries before the age of 16 put a halt to this dream and after contemplating a future in the armed services or as a fire fighter, Chris decided upon a career as a PE teacher and went on to study a degree in PE, Sport and Dance at John Moores university in Liverpool. Once qualified, Chris started his teaching career in a special school in Liverpool that catered for students with complex learning and behaviour difficulties. After a year, Chris then wanted to begin his career in mainstream education and after gaining experience in a couple of schools, took the job of PE teacher at Malbank in 2010. (Click photo for more details)
Strategic Business Manager
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Sarah Sproston was born and raised in Stoke on Trent and studied for a BA (hons) in Business Studies at Staffordshire University. Upon leaving university she embarked upon a graduate training scheme in the NHS where she also completed a Post Graduate Diploma in HR Management. Since leaving the NHS she has worked in education, firstly as a HR and Business Improvement consultant within the Early Years sector, then moving on to work for Cheshire East Council as a HR consultant for both primary and secondary schools before joining Malbank in 2022. (Click photo for more details)