"Frequent and effective communication between the college and head office ensures excellent governance, with close monitoring and wholehearted support provided by the proprietors' management board and senior management team. A strong focus on rigorous self-evaluation is exemplified by the strategic development plan and by the continuing evolution of the academic curriculum. Dynamic leadership and efficient management are determining factors in the high quality of education provided".

Independent Schools Inspection Report (ISI, February 2011)

Liz Elam
Principal

Liz has been the Principal of Abbey College Manchester for a year and has already led the college to an excellent inspection report and increased our student numbers.

She joined the college in 1999 and before becoming Principal held the post of Head of Sixth Form and Pastoral, Head of Geography and latterly Vice-Principal.

Liz studied Geography at the University of Manchester. She is an examiner for a major examination board and author of an AS revision guide.

In her spare time Liz enjoys travelling; she sings in a choral society and is lead singer in a rock band.

Nigel Walker
Head of GCE Advanced Level One Year Programmes and Director of Humanities Faculty

Nigel is the Head of GCE Advanced Level One Year Programmes and the Director of our Humanities Faculty; he teaches A level History and Politics. He has a PhD in Political Sociology and Development in Southern Africa, from the University of Leeds, and he is currently studying to obtain a Diploma in Leadership. His publications include a study of development, based on his research in the townships.

Nigel has taught at Abbey College Manchester since 1999 after lecturing at the University of Leeds. He has wide experience of helping students get into university and is especially expert at helping one year students improve past A level grades and successfully find places on courses such as Medicine and Dentistry.

Nigel is married and has a son aged sixteen and a daughter aged eight.

Pat McQuade
Director of Students

Pat came to Abbey College Manchester in 2007 and is Director of Students and Head of the Sixth Form. She also teaches English and Sociology.

Pat has a degree in History from the University of Reading and a Diploma in Careers Guidance. She has   wide experience in sixteen to nineteen education and staff and curriculum design and development. She has published teacher education and teaching materials and designed and assessed qualifications for both students and teachers and been an examiner for a large examination board.

Pat is an avid tennis fan and Manchester United supporter. She lived in France for ten years and has one daughter.

Francisco Bustos
Director of International Admissions

Francisco joined Abbey College Manchester in October 2009 as Director of International Admissions. He works with the international students to ensure they settle into college life and provides a strong link between the college and the students' families and agents. As part of his role, Francisco travels frequently to Russia, China, Kazakhstan, Bulgaria, and Poland.

He read English as Foreign Language, German and Italian, with comparative British and Latin American Politics for his first degree at Ealing College of Higher Education. Later Francisco went to the University of Manchester to train as a Secondary School teacher, Modern Foreign Languages and ESOL.

Before joining the college he worked for very prestigious and reputable education providers in the UK, helping prospective international students choose the right course for their age, and academic background.

Francisco is married with two young children.

Iain Stewart
Director of College Operations and Marketing

Iain has been at Abbey College since August 2007 during which time he has presided in a strong growth of student numbers. His responsibilities cover the managing of domestic marketing strategy and activities and administrative matters.

As well as a degree in Economics and an MBA, Iain brought to the college over 20 years top marketing management experience, acquired most recently with Manchester Enterprises (now Manchester Solutions), and previously with blue chip brand organisations Guinness, Dawson International Plc (home of high end designer brands Pringle and Edina Ronay) and ConocoPhillipsUK.