Amanda joined Nelson and Colne College as Principal and Chief Executive in 2012, moving from being Assistant Principal at Trafford College. She is Chair of the Lancashire LEP Skills and Employment Board and also a Director of both Growth Lancashire Ltd and East Lancashire Chamber of Commerce.

Following a modern languages degree in London, Amanda’s career began in private industry in the biotechnology sector. With the arrival of her children, she then moved into Further Education with roles in teaching and subsequently leadership roles in marketing, employer engagement, learner services and also 16-18 learning. While at Trafford College, her experience in quality systems and performance management helped the College to achieve its two Outstanding Ofsted results, and Beacon Status.

Amanda is a Director of Pendle Education Trust, which she helped establish – a multi-academy trust currently responsible for four academies, two secondary and two primary. The Trust has a strong emphasis on building capacity to support schools in difficulty. It has so far supported a primary academy in special measures to improve to Good – grade 2 – at re-inspection, and a secondary Academy has moved from inadequate to Requires Improvement – Grade 3 – with Good – grade 2 – Leadership and Management.