Name: Joanna Beswick

Professional Title: Headteacher

Background:Born in Sheffield, Joanna completed a BA (HONS) Primary Education Degree in 2000 and then began teaching in Manchester as a Newly Qualified Teacher. In 2001, she became an Advanced Skills Teacher working with schools across the North West supporting teaching and learning and curriculum development. Joanna has been Headteacher of three primary mainstream schools in Manchester and Trafford and then moved to Hospital education as Deputy Headteacher in 2020. Since 2024, she has been Headteacher of Manchester Hospital School. Joanna has completed the National Professional Qualification for Headship (NPQH) and National Professional Qualification for Executive Leadership (NPQEL).

Name of Organisation: Manchester Hospital School

Status of organisation: LA Maintained Community Special School

Area of the country: Manchester / North West

Description of your organisation:

We teach in the largest single-site children’s hospital in the UK, The Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital. In addition we teach in four other hospital settings in Manchester, The Christie, Galaxy House (Tier 4 CAMHS inpatient unit), Wythenshawe Hospital and North Manchester General Hospital.
We also have a secondary day school for pupils who can not access their usual setting due to medical or mental health needs and we teach pupils in the home. We provide outreach support to Manchester schools through our advice and guidance service and provide additional CPD for schools through our ‘Bee Inspired’ work.