Meet our Executive Group

Steven Baker OBE

Trust Lead
(Chief Executive Officer)

The Principal of Everton Free School and Football College, Steven’s journey in education has seen him lead three schools to ‘outstanding’ Ofsted status.

A former Ofsted inspector, he was made a Founding Fellow of the Chartered College of Teaching in 2019 for his “significant and sustained” impact on teaching, and he has also worked with the Ministry of Justice to focus the efforts of youth and adult establishments nationwide on developing a culture of rehabilitation. Steven’s schools have won a range of national awards for their compassionate, trauma-informed approach, and the Department for Education cited them as an example of best practice in mental health due to their student and staff wellbeing focus.

Steven co-authored a critically acclaimed book about this approach (‘A School Without Sanctions’, Bloomsbury), which was published in October 2020. He currently sits on the advisory board for the Centre for Educational Leadership at Liverpool John Moores University and the Mental Health Stakeholder Forum for the Crown Prosecution Service.

A former war crimes investigator, Steven has received the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service in acknowledgement of his contribution to the Remembering Srebrenica Northwest Board and was awarded an OBE in the 2020 Queen’s Birthday Honours List for services to education and tackling hatred.

In 2024, Everton Football College and Free School received an ‘outstanding’ Ofsted rating – the third occasion Steven’s schools have been granted the body’s highest commendation. 

Linda McMullen

Chief Finance & Operating Officer (CFOO)

Linda serves as Chief Financial and Operations Officer for the Trust, providing strategic leadership across finance, operations, governance, HR, estates and organisational infrastructure. As part of the Trust’s executive leadership team, she works closely with the CEO and Board to ensure strong financial stewardship, effective operational delivery and the development of systems and capacity that enable the Trust to grow sustainably while maintaining high standards of accountability.

Linda’s role focuses on building the organisational foundations that support school improvement and long-term Trust development. She leads cross-functional services that underpin the work of the Trust’s schools, ensuring that finance, people, compliance and operational systems are aligned to deliver efficiency, resilience and strategic capacity.

Prior to joining the Trust, Linda was Director of Finance, Governance and Assets at Everton in the Community, the official charity of Everton Football Club. During her time there she played a key role in strengthening financial and operational stability, helping the organisation double its income while expanding its reach across the Liverpool City Region. She also contributed to sector-wide governance development through a Premier League working group established to develop and implement a governance framework for football-based charities.

Her achievements in the sector saw her named Not-for-Profit Finance Director of the Year at the 2017 Finance Director of the Year Awards.

Earlier in her career, Linda worked as a School Business Manager in a large secondary school after spending fifteen years in the private sector across financial, operational and administrative roles. This breadth of experience provides her with a strong understanding of how effective organisational leadership and infrastructure support front-line delivery in education.

Linda holds a Certificate in School Business Management, is an accredited coaching trainer, and recently completed a Master’s degree in Finance and Strategy.

Claire was appointed Principal of Everton Free School and Football College, having previously served the school for 12 years as Deputy Principal and Head of the Free School. Throughout her tenure, Claire has been instrumental in guiding the school’s remarkable journey, supporting both students and staff to achieve their best.

Passionate about helping every student realise their full potential, Claire has led the school through significant milestones, including a successful Ofsted inspection shortly after her appointment, where the school was judged Outstanding in all five categories. As the school joins The People’s Learning Trust, she remains committed to excellence in education, fostering a nurturing and ambitious environment.

Claire’s focus is on continuing to strengthen the school community, ensuring that every student develops into a confident, capable, and responsible young person. She is dedicated to building on the school’s successes and working collaboratively with staff, students, and families to make Everton Free School and Football College a truly inspiring place to learn and thrive.

Jason Webb

Headteacher, Waterside Academy

Jason Webb is the Headteacher of Waterside Academy in Sefton, where he leads a dedicated and compassionate team committed to inclusion, communication, aspiration and nurture. His leadership is rooted in the belief that every young person deserves to feel welcomed, respected and supported, particularly those who have experienced permanent exclusion or are at risk of exclusion.

Jason has led the school since July 2022, initially as Headteacher of Impact Sefton before the school became Waterside Academy. During this time, he has focused on creating a safe, caring and ambitious environment where pupils can rebuild confidence, develop positive relationships and overcome barriers to learning. He places great importance on honest communication with pupils, families, staff and partner schools, ensuring that support is joined up and centred on the needs of each child.

Jason brings significant experience across mainstream secondary education, alternative provision and specialist settings. Alongside his headship at Waterside Academy, he has held senior leadership roles, including interim Deputy Headteacher responsibilities, as well as over a decade as Assistant Headteacher at Kirkby High School. His earlier leadership experience also includes roles as Head of Year and Assistant Headteacher at Ruffwood School.

Across his career, Jason has remained committed to helping young people find the right pathway to success. At Waterside, this includes a personalised curriculum, access to GCSE subjects, foundation qualifications, alternative provision and work experience opportunities. His approach combines high expectations with strong pastoral care, helping pupils to manage their emotions and behaviours, prepare for their next steps and, where appropriate, reintegrate into mainstream education or move successfully into specialist provision.

Jason’s work reflects the Trust’s commitment to inclusion and early intervention, ensuring that pupils who need a different route are still given every opportunity to thrive.

Sarah Curtis

Headteacher, Meadow Primary School

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Sarah has been a teacher for over 30 years, and a headteacher at  Meadow Primary since September 2010.  She has taught at several primary schools in West Sussex, Cheshire East and Cheshire West which have included large two form entry schools to a small rural school with only two classes.

She has had extensive experience of school improvement, having moved Meadow Primary from an Ofsted judgement of Inadequate in September 2010, to Outstanding in May 2015.  Meadow has continued to flourish with a strong focus on continuous improvement. The curriculum has been completely overhauled and reflects her commitment to giving our pupils the best possible education. She is constantly looking for ways to improve and uses current research to ensure that changes are positive and have impact. 

As an Associate School Improvement Adviser (ASIA) for Cheshire West and Chester LA she has supported local schools. Several of Meadow’s teaching staff are also involved in school improvement for the LA as Subject Specialist Leaders, or the Maths Hub. Succession planning, distributed leadership and encouraging opportunities for professional growth is a key focus at Meadow. 

Her passion is supporting pupils with Special Educational Needs (SEND).  She led a Moderate Learning Difficulties Unit for 6 years and has been a SENCo for the majority of her career. She currently sits on the SEND panel making decisions about EHCPs and is part of the Local Authority SEND Strategy board.  She established and leads the Cheshire West and Chester SENCo network on behalf of the Local Authority. 

She is also the Vice Chair of Governors at Upton-by-Chester High School. 

Stuart Brady

Headteacher, Bidston Avenue Primary School

Stuart Brady has been Headteacher of Bidston Avenue Primary School since 2007, bringing extensive leadership experience and a strong commitment to improving outcomes for children and families. During this time, he has led the school through significant development, with a clear focus on high standards, inclusion, staff development and strong community relationships.

Stuart is a Founding Fellow of the Chartered College of Teaching (FCCT), recognising his sustained contribution to the teaching profession. He has also successfully completed the Senior Leader Level 7 Master’s Degree Apprenticeship, achieving a distinction, alongside the National Professional Qualification for Executive Leadership (NPQEL). These qualifications reflect his commitment to continuing to grow as a leader and to applying learning from education, leadership and wider organisational practice to his work in school and across the Trust.

As Headteacher, Stuart’s role extends well beyond the classroom. He leads on the strategic direction of the school while also overseeing key areas including finance, staffing, safeguarding, health and safety, curriculum, governance, premises and community engagement. His leadership combines a strong understanding of teaching and learning with the wider operational demands of running a large and complex primary school.

Stuart’s influence also extends beyond Bidston Avenue. Over a number of years, he has supported school improvement work across Wirral, including working alongside schools facing significant challenges. This work has included supporting leadership teams, strengthening teaching and learning, improving systems and helping schools build the confidence and capacity needed to move forward.

He has also played an active role in wider local education leadership. Stuart chaired the North Birkenhead Headteachers’ cluster for three years and continues to contribute to the Wirral Primary Headteachers’ Consultation Group. Through this work, he has helped strengthen collaboration between schools, share effective practice and support joined-up thinking across the local area.

Alongside his work in education, Stuart is committed to community and charitable work. He serves as a company director, governor and trustee across a range of organisations, including a local secondary academy, a special school, Tranmere Rovers in the Community and The Shaftes Youth Club. His voluntary work with The Shaftes, alongside the efforts of others, was recognised through the King’s Award for Voluntary Service (KAVS - the MBE for Charity volunteers) in November 2024. This commitment to service has been a long-standing part of his life, beginning with fundraising in his younger years for causes such as St John’s Hospice and the British Heart Foundation.

Before becoming a headteacher, Stuart held a range of teaching and leadership roles, including leading mathematics teacher, leading literacy teacher, and Wirral Local Authority advisory teacher for ICT and Design & Technology. This background gives him a strong understanding of classroom practice and the realities of school life. He remains passionate about staff development, evidence-informed practice and creating the conditions where teachers and support staff can do their best work.

At the heart of Stuart’s leadership is a commitment to inclusion and opportunity. He works closely with staff, governors, parents, carers and external partners to ensure that children are supported both academically and personally. He is particularly committed to meeting the needs of pupils who require additional support and to making sure that school feels safe, ambitious and welcoming for every child.

Through his leadership, Bidston Avenue Primary School continues to develop as a school rooted in its community, proud of its achievements and determined to give children the best possible start.

Laura brings over 12 years of experience in school business management, having served at Everton Free School & Football College where she successfully progressed through a series of promotions to lead the school business and finance function. In this role, she has overseen strategic and operational financial planning, delivered balanced budgets, and implemented efficiency measures that ensure strong financial stewardship without compromising educational outcomes.

Alongside her qualifications in Accounting and Degrees in School Business Leadership and Management , Laura has demonstrated expertise in preparing and analysing financial statements, reporting to stakeholders, and managing risk. She is recognised as a professional, approachable leader who builds strong working relationships, communicates effectively, and contributes to a positive organisational culture.

As Director of Finance at The People’s Learning Trust, Laura combines her financial acumen, leadership skills, and knowledge of the education sector to support the Trust’s growth and ensure its long-term sustainability.

Andrew is a highly experienced school leader with a strong track record of driving improvement and raising attainment. Currently serving as Director of School Improvement here at The People's Learning Trust, he has held senior roles including Assistant Head (Teaching and Learning), SENCO, and project coordinator for the DfE’s Alternative Provision Specialist Taskforce.

At Everton Free School, Andrew transformed literacy provision, expanded EHCP support from two to almost thirty students, and oversaw significant improvements in GCSE outcomes across English, Maths, Science, and PE. His leadership contributed to the school being graded Outstanding in every category by Ofsted in 2024, with inspectors highlighting its “inspirational offer” and “exceptional” SEND provision.

Andrew has also successfully led school improvement beyond his own setting, designing and implementing a 170-day improvement plan at Waterside Academy that has already delivered measurable progress in leadership, attendance, and teaching. His expertise has been sought nationally, with contributions to local authorities, the Government of Jersey, and the Ministry of Justice.

Recognised as NASEN Leader of the Year (2023), Andrew is passionate about ensuring that nothing but the best is good enough, for students, staff, and schools across the Trust.

Louise is an accomplished HR professional with over 30 years' experience spanning the education, public sector, and corporate worlds. A member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (MCIPD), she combines strong academic achievements - a BA (Hons) in Business Studies and an MA in Personnel & Development from John Moores University, with extensive hands-on experience in HR leadership.

Her career has taken her from early HR roles in government and financial services, through senior corporate posts supporting UK and EMEA operations, to over 15 years of leadership within the education sector. She has held key positions at King George V College, Southport College, and most recently as Senior Schools HR Business Partner at School Improvement Liverpool, where she supported 27 schools with expert guidance on people management, organisational change, and employee relations.

Louise is recognised for her pragmatic, solutions-focused approach and her ability to manage complex HR challenges, from large-scale organisational change and TUPE processes to sensitive employee relations and safeguarding matters. She has a proven track record of strengthening HR services, developing leaders, and creating positive, inclusive workplace cultures.

Resilient and people-centred, Louise is passionate about supporting staff to thrive. She brings not only deep HR expertise but also integrity, fairness, and a commitment to fostering environments where every individual feels valued and supported.

Steve Skupski

Director of Estates and Facilities

Steve has extensive multi-sector experience spanning senior leadership, facilities management, and technical operations across both public and private sectors. With a strong foundation in the construction industry, he has progressed through several technical roles at Norwest Holst Construction, including Site Agent and Site Engineer, before holding a Professional & Technical Officer role at the Property Services Agency in Liverpool. He was responsible for planned maintenance across the Government Estate, ensuring quality, cost-effectiveness, and statutory compliance.

Following this, Steve transitioned into the hospitality sector, working for a number of companies such as Whitbread, EI Group and latterly Stonegate Group Ltd as a Divisional Director, In this senior leadership capacity, he led a team of regional managers across a diverse estate of hospitality venues, delivering performance and profit targets, and leading strategic improvements in operational delivery, customer service, and regulatory compliance.

Steve has previously worked in a multi academy trust as head of estates, shaping policies and supporting facilities management across a school-focused client base. Duties included capital investment, ensuring health and safety compliance, statutory testing, maintenance, and maintaining the operational readiness of educational premises.

Mark Easdown

Director of Governance and Compliance

Mark is an experienced strategic leader with over a decade of senior management expertise across the charity, education, and corporate sectors. Prior to joining The People’s Learning Trust, he was Director of Corporate Services at Shakespeare North Trust, overseeing governance, risk, HR, finance, legal, IT, and estates, and serving as Company Secretary.

He previously served as CEO of Wirral Youth Zone (The Hive), leading on strategic planning, financial management of a £1.4 million budget, and compliance across safeguarding, health and safety, and charity law. Earlier roles at The Hive included Deputy Chief Executive and Head of Business Support, where he led cross-functional teams and strengthened internal systems and reporting.

Mark also brings corporate experience from the Trinity Mirror Newspaper Group, where he held roles in systems implementation and business change, and has served in a governance role at Co-op Academy Trust, supporting policy and compliance audits.

He offers a strong track record in leadership, governance, and operational performance, combined with a commitment to supporting young people, aligning closely with the mission of The People’s Learning Trust.