Pleckgate High School and the Education Partnership Trust (EPT) are celebrating a milestone ten years of shared growth, stability, and exceptional achievement.
The Blackburn school joined the Trust a decade ago, beginning a partnership that has seen both institutions go from strength to strength. Founded in 2012, the Education Partnership Trust (EPT) was established with a mission to improve life chances for young people through strong collaboration, high expectations, and a commitment to excellence.
Over the past 14 years, the Trust has grown steadily while remaining rooted in its core values. Today, it encompasses a family of schools including Pleckgate High School, The Heights Blackburn, The Heights Burnley, Burnley High School, Eden School, Coal Clough Academy, Atherton High School, Carr Hill High School and Parklee Primary School.
Since becoming part of the Trust, Pleckgate has secured two consecutive Outstanding Ofsted judgements-—an accomplishment that reflects a decade of hard work by all staff, sustained excellence and a culture where ambition and high standards are the norm.
A cornerstone of this success has been the Trust’s deliberate and forward thinking approach to leadership development and succession planning.
In January 2016, Mark Cocker became Pleckgate’s first Headteacher under EPT, guiding the school to its first Outstanding Ofsted grade. His leadership laid strong foundations for continuity and further improvement. When he moved into the role of Trust Director of Education, Deputy Headteacher Aishling McGinty seamlessly stepped into the Headteacher position.
Under Mrs McGinty’s leadership, Pleckgate continued its upward trajectory, culminating in a second consecutive Outstanding Ofsted judgement in 2024. This smooth transition exemplifies a hallmark of the EPT model: nurturing talent from within and ensuring long term stability for pupils, staff, and the wider community.
That continuity will continue into the next chapter. From April 2026, Mark Cocker will become the new CEO of the Trust, succeeding founder and current CEO Sharon Roscoe, who will retire after fifteen years of dedicated leadership.
Mrs Roscoe said: “It has been my privilege to lead the Trust over the past decade. When Pleckgate joined EPT, we were at the start of an exciting journey.
“Today, its success, alongside the growth of the Trust to nine thriving schools, reflects the dedication of staff, the ambition of pupils, and the values that guide our work. As I retire, I do so with immense pride in what we have built together, gratitude to everyone who has been part of the journey and confidence that Pleckgate and the Trust will continue to make a lasting difference for generations to come.’’
Reflecting on the milestone, Mark Cocker said: “It has been an exceptional ten years for Pleckgate and the Trust, showing what can be achieved through high expectations and strong partnership. I am proud to be the new CEO and lead our Trust into the next ten years of improvement and achievements.”
Mrs McGinty said: “Over the past ten years, our partnership with the EPT has allowed us to thrive as a school community. Our success is due to the dedication and hard work of our committed staff in teaching, guiding and advising pupils alongside the support of our parents and families. Together, we have been able to create an environment in which all children can flourish and I am very proud of all we have achieved.”
