The Pennine Alliance Learning Trust (PALT)
We are a small Academy Trust in West Yorkshire currently made up of 5 schools, Burnley Road Academy, The Calder Learning Trust, Midgley Primary School, Old Town Primary School and Wainstalls School. With a shared vision to continue to raise local aspiration within our communities, our MAT provides an outstanding all-through academic and personal development pathway for West Calderdale’s children and young people.
It is our shared ambition to encourage our young people to aim high, to support them in developing their knowledge, skills and opportunities and to provide a range of pathways to fulfil their potential and realise their ambitions. Our strong trust provides an outstanding curriculum and personal development offer for our children and in doing will secure successful school communities for many years to come. We foster strong governance at a local level to provide a rigorous foundation for effective strategic Trust leadership. We value local governors’ connections with the communities they serve and their knowledge of where their schools’ strengths and areas for development are.
PALT is state-funded and the Trust is directly accountable to the Department for Education (DfE). The Trust has a highly skilled and experienced Board of Trustees that oversees and monitors the performance and success of the Trust.
Our long-term goal
To be the leading cross-phase MAT in Calderdale, synonymous with outstanding provision across all settings.
Our shared purpose
To provide excellence in education and a commitment to serve our communities.
Our shared mission
Combining our collective strength and valuing our unique differences, to provide excellence in education through collaboration, support and challenge. To develop staff efficacy and agency by investing in opportunities for professional growth and development, enabling success for all.
Our shared vision
To raise aspiration within our communities by providing an outstanding all-through academic and personal development pathway for West Calderdale’s children and young people from 4 to 16 and beyond…from Reception through to their launch into further education or training.
Our shared values
To ensure that all schools within our Trust share, promote and instil our core values of Opportunity, Integrity and Equity.
Board of Trustees
A short biography for each of our Trustees can be found below.
Linda Waugh
Trustee – Interim CEO
Linda brings over 30 years of experience in education to her role as Interim Chief Executive Officer. She has spent 28 years as a member of Senior Leadership Teams, including 12 years as a highly successful Headteacher, giving her extensive expertise in strategic leadership, school improvement and the delivery of high-quality education for all pupils.
In addition to her work in mainstream schools, Linda has also worked within alternative provision. This includes supporting primary-aged pupils at a Pupil Referral Unit in Calderdale and working at the North Halifax Learning Support Unit, which was established to support pupils at risk of exclusion transition successfully back into mainstream education. These experiences have further strengthened her commitment to inclusion and meeting the needs of vulnerable learners.
Linda has a strong track record of leading schools through periods of change, raising standards and developing positive, inclusive cultures where both pupils and staff can thrive. She has mentored new Headteachers and is passionate about developing leadership capacity at all levels.
As Interim CEO, Linda is committed to working collaboratively with Trustees, leaders and staff across the Trust to build on existing strengths, ensure stability and drive sustained improvement, with pupils’ learning, wellbeing and outcomes at the heart of all decision-making.
Andy Bridger
Chair of PALT
Andrew’s skill set and strengths lie in Health and Safety and Estates management. Andrew has twenty-five years’ experience in working on public sector estates projects within the health care sector.
Andrew is a school governor at Calder High School and has proven skills in finance management. He is experienced in dealing with construction contracts and will bring an invaluable skillset that complements and balances the Board.
Rob Freeth
Trustee
Rob has led primary schools in Calderdale, Bradford and internationally.
From 1999 to 2005 he led an international school in Uganda serving the diplomatic and expatriate community, delivering a British curriculum in a 3-16 through school. From 2005 to 2016 Rob led a Bradford school out of Fresh Start to become a successful three-form entry primary school in a disadvantaged inner-city area.
Rob was previously a Trustee and Chair of the Curriculum, Outcome and Accountability committee for Nurture Academy Trust and Vice- Chair of Governors at Old Town Primary school. He is currently Branch Secretary of the Calderdale branch of The National Association of Headteachers and has served as a member of Hebden Royd Town Council and as Mayor in 2021/22.
Rob brings a wealth of experience in senior leadership and education. He is deeply immersed in service to the local community. He has the passion and drive to improve standards for the young people of Calderdale.
Ashley Reed
Trustee
Ashley Reed is a seasoned financial expert with a wealth of experience in the education sector. Since 2012, he has served as the Chief Financial Officer, initially at Belle Vue Girls Academy and later with the Bradford Diocesan Academies Trust (BDAT). Under his financial stewardship, BDAT has expanded significantly, growing from just 4 academies to an impressive 21 academies.
Before his tenure at BDAT, Ashley honed his expertise in the school funding team at Bradford Local Authority. His career began in commercial accounting, where he developed a strong foundation in financial management and strategic planning.
In addition to his role at BDAT, Ashley is an advisor to the New Collaborative Learning Trust, where he supports the Risk and Audit Committee. He also chairs the Bradford School Forum, collaborating with the Local Authority and representatives from academies and schools to make crucial funding decisions for the Bradford area.
Outside of his professional life, Ashley is deeply committed to the sport of badminton. As the Junior Chair of Yorkshire Badminton, he supports over 200 players across the county, helping them achieve their athletic dreams. His dedication to both his professional and personal pursuits highlights his passion for fostering growth and excellence in every endeavour he undertakes.
Jonathan Beale
Member
Jonathan is currently a trustee for iTrust. He is also a trustee for a Bradford based charity with assets over £7m. Jonathan works for a wealth management and financial advice firm as a Chartered Financial Planner. He has a degree in Business Studies and a wealth of other qualifications including an advanced diploma in financial planning.
Jonathan’s commitment to Wainstall’s governors and his subsequent move to being a trustee of iTrust gives him the experience and oversight need for the Members' Board.
Jon Hairsine
Member
Jon worked for thirty years in commercial businesses, including roles as Chief Operating Officer at Fox Hayes LLP and director of Process and Technology at DLA Direct. Jon led change and transformational programmes in the legal, insurance, financial and technology service sectors. Jon also spent ten years working full time in both professional and voluntary capacities in the education sector.
Jon is currently Chair of Governors at Colden and Todmorden High Schools and is a governor at Calder High School. He is also a founding trustee of a Leeds based MAT.
Jon was a National Leader of Governance and was governor representative on the West Yorkshire Teaching Schools’ Council. Jon is now a member of IGOVS.
Jon has completed the ‘Tomorrow’s Heads’ and NPQH programmes and also has a Masters degree in Education.
Jon will bring his combination of years of commercial experience in large institutions, his implicit knowledge of education and his drive for improving standards through learning and teaching to the board.
Julia Gibson
Member
