Senior Leadership Team
Lee Richardson, Head
My Academic is economics, a subject that I have been teaching since 1993. I joined CHS in 2000 as a classroom teacher and spent 10 years as Head of Department, before joining the Senior Leadership Team in 2011. Since then I have been responsible for the Co-Curricular and Academic life of the School and, most recently, for overseeing day-to-day operations as Senior Deputy Head.
My Active is the outdoors – walking, cycling, kayaking and sailing whenever I get the chance. If I’m inside, I’m likely to be reading a book, but I also love cooking, film, live music, art, history and travel.
My Altruistic is volunteering, as a school governor for many years but now at the East Lancashire Railway. This involves getting up at a ridiculously early hour on the weekend to prepare, clean and fire steam locomotives, which does make me occasionally question my sanity, particularly in the middle of winter!
My CHS is welcoming, warm, caring & open-minded. It is a place where young people can find out who they really are, and who they really want to be for the rest of their lives.
Caroline Dunn, Senior Deputy Head
My Academic life has spanned over 20 years across the state and independent sector and in a senior leadership position for 10. I have loved every role I have fulfilled in education from my first year as a PE and Science teacher in Trafford to my most recent as Senior Deputy at CHS. Teaching is the best job in the world and working with young people is my greatest privilege. I am proud of achieving a distinction in my MBA in 2023 whilst working full time.
My Active CHS is active! I have a passion for the outdoors and particularly love being in the hills and swimming in the sea. And I love that I now play hockey and netball with my daughter (even though I have had to accept she may now well be a better player than me… ) I also love to travel and to explore new places and meet new people.
My Altruistic is the little things; being kind, doing the right thing, smiling, giving your time generously and without wanting anything in return. I am a governor at one of our local state partner primary schools and coach at a local netball club. I am particularly proud of the community work we do here at CHS through our many and varied outreach programmes engaging our students, staff and parents alike.
My CHS is kind, inclusive and creative; a place where every unique individual matters equally and is supported, valued and celebrated for who they are.
Susan James, Deputy Head – Pupil Welfare
My Academic is English, and I qualified as a teacher in 1998 and then I started my teaching career at CHS. Following three years of immersing myself in some of the opportunities CHS has to offer pupils including swimming, history and languages trips, and drama productions, I spent some time at another school where I became Head of Lower School. I returned to CHS in 2018 to take on the role of Deputy Head for Pupil Welfare and as the School’s Designated Safeguarding Lead; the roles I continue to undertake.
My Active largely relates to activities that support my wellbeing. I run with a friend once a week and jogging round the Manchester 10K is my annual goal. Walking and seeing the joy my dog derives from the pleasure of being outside in nature makes me happy. I also enjoy gardening- it’s an activity when I can see the direct benefit of my hard work. Indoors, good food, great reading and participation in a singing group keep me focused on and enjoying the ‘here and now’.
My Altruistic is volunteering, and I have been a governor at both primary and secondary schools. Now my dog is no longer a puppy (and much calmer), I have applied for him to be a Pet Therapy dog and following his assessment at the start of the summer, we are looking forward to volunteering to support the wellbeing of members of our local community.
My CHS is warm, kind and purposeful. It is a place where young people bring energy and enthusiasm and where they are cared for and supported to grow in confidence, to prepare for the next stages of their lives.
Nick Axon, Deputy Head – Academic
My Academic is a passion for History & Politics, subjects I have taught at CHS since 2005. I led the History & Politics departments here for a number of years, before becoming Head of Sixth Form and then Deputy Head (Academic) in 2020. I love the way our students respond to the changing debates in History & Politics, where current events may drastically change how we approach what we study. Now I am responsible for the broader academic life of the school, I am proud of our diverse, dynamic and purposeful curriculum, and am excited about how we keep it relevant to a changing world.
My Active is travel. I have been lucky enough to join trips to Washington DC, Moscow & St Petersburg, Rome, Krakow and the WWI Battlefields in my time at CHS, and seeing the impact of those visits on our students has been a privilege that has impacted me as much as any of our students. Outside of CHS, I have discovered the joys of running (relatively) late in life, and now can’t stop!
My Altruistic is about our everyday actions – giving time to others, trying to ensure all voices are heard and helping provide platforms for our students to give their time and expertise to others. I love seeing CHS students in our local community, working with children at local primary schools or bringing older members of our community into school for coffee and cake!
My CHS is best reflected by our Waconian Value of contribution – so much of day to day CHS life is preparing students to head out into the world to make it a better place. Whether it is a History lesson about the challenges to democracy in the twentieth century, a Year 8 project asking ‘How can my knowledge shape the future?’, mentoring younger students in Maths or debating at Model United Nations, they all lead to Waconians leaving us ready to contribute to the world.
Andy Nolan, Deputy Head – Pupil Experience
My Academic is Chemistry which I have been teaching since 1990. I taught in a London boarding school and a London day school before joining CHS in 2007. I work with a department of fantastic colleagues who are always on hand to help students and each other and we are proud of the students who pass through. In recent years I have been helping the school analyse student data to help them achieve the most positive outcomes.
My Active is walking my dog, usually around our local reservoir or along the canal. I enjoy the time it gives me to daydream and think things through, whilst knowing I’m getting my daily steps in. I also enjoy playing online chess and although I think my aptitude for the game may have peaked, I have always got half a dozen games on the go.
My Altruism comes from knowing that my actions at work are only small parts of something much bigger, that everything I do will contribute towards the success of the School and its students. I very much see myself as being in a position of service to the staff and students of CHS and take pleasure in finding ways to help the community improve and develop.
My CHS is the first-choice school for my own children to attend, a school that I have complete confidence in to do all that it can to engage them in everything they do, that will allow them the space to grow as individuals and to develop the confidence and skills they will need in adulthood. My CHS is a school that I can recommend, without hesitation, to my friends.
Vincent Weightman, Head of Junior School
My Academic is Primary Education, having completed a PGDE following a BA Hons degree in Marketing and most recently my NPQH. Having worked in Scottish state education and international education in Russia, I began working in independent education at CHS in 2020 as Head of the Junior School, having worked across roles ranging from form teacher in KS1 and KS2, leading all three key stages including EYFS, Assistant Head, Deputy Head and Head in previous roles.
My Active has changed significantly over the years from football, which took up most of my time growing up, to travelling over 70 countries, taking and publishing pictures of many adventures including skydiving, bungee jumping, ice swimming in Siberia, hot spring bathing on the Inca Trail and riding a bike down Death Road in Bolivia. More recently, my active has become slightly more reserved, featuring daily morning wild swims with my weekends spent chasing my twin boys around a park, field or ancient ruin somewhere, more than likely, in the rain.
My Altruistic is built around considering the needs of others and identifying where I can add value. In the past this has seen me travel to Tanzania solo and summit Mount Kilimanjaro for Blood Cancer UK, run a number of marathons and support local and national events. I currently work as a Governor, supporting the improvement of SEND Policy and Procedure in East Cheshire and am developing a Primary Education, Teaching & Learning module for UCL and the Institute for Education.
My CHS is a safe space where children and colleagues develop secure core skills, find their passion and begin to understand their purpose, in our highly supportive environment.
Jo Daniels, Director of Operations
Unusually for someone working in a school, my academic is Nursing in which I have a BSc (Hons) and an MSc in Health and Social Care Management and a 30 year career in the NHS. I started my nurse training in 1991 and qualified as a Registered General Nurse (adult) in 1994. For my first role, I was keen to work with older people so I got a post on a Care of the Elderly unit which also specialised in stroke rehabilitation. I really enjoyed helping people regain independence and from there I decided to specialise further caring for those with bladder and bowel problems. After a few years of hands-on nursing, I then completed my Masters degree and commenced managing all of the community services in North Manchester. This then led me to my most recent role, as Head of Operations for Health and Justice, managing health services in prisons and secure children’s homes, delivering care to over 8000 people. Now, in my new role, I am continuing my journey in operational management with a wealth of experience to draw upon.
My Active is walking my two sausage dogs, they may have little legs but they can certainly walk far! I have also recently started running and have joined a running club which is a great way to socialise and exercise with others. I enjoy travelling and visiting new places. At home, I love to sew and enjoy choosing fabrics and trimmings and making flowers and bunting.
My Altruistic has been my nursing career, I have had some amazingly positive experiences and unfortunately lots of sad ones but all of these have given me the strength and desire to continue to care for others. I have a special interest in positive mental health and a passion to listen and support anyone who needs help. I am a smiley, happy, enthusiastic person and love to meet new people to say hello. I am motivated by making improvements and making a difference.
My CHS is a warm and friendly place, with staff and pupils who display the Waconian values and care and look after each other. The heritage, the architecture and the beautiful estate are symbols of the school’s positive identity, values, and culture. The design and accessibility of the school grounds symbolises the school’s commitment to community and there are lots of open spaces to encourage social interaction, reflecting a welcoming and inclusive school environment.
Frances Kennedy, Director of Admissions and External Relations
My Academic is French which I studied alongside International Management at the University of Manchester. From there, I began my career in marketing in investment banking before joining a global fundraising consultancy and later a development role in higher education.
My Active is cooking, hosting or eating out with family and friends. It is exploring a city, parkrun and playing the piano.
My Altruistic is creating opportunities. At CHS it’s raising funds for bursaries to enable amazing young people to join the school. Outside of work it is connecting state school pupils with relatable role models through a not-for-profit organisation I set up.
My CHS is a busy, happy community. It is the Old Waconian who talks about the kindness they were shown when they first arrived as a boarder in the 1950s. It is the confident young people who leave this school today, imbued with a strong moral compass and a feeling that they should strive to make the world a better place.
