Amanda Corcoran

Amanda has been Director of Education in Manchester for the last 9 years. Prior to working in the Local Authority she was a primary teacher working in mainstream, a SENCO, specialist SEND teacher. She has also been Head of Local Authority SEND and Inclusion services. During her time as Director of Education, Special Educational Needs provision within Manchester had a successful OFSTED/CQC inspection in 2021 and Children and Education Services was judged to be outstanding by OFSTED in October 2025 – the first authority in the North West. Amanda has successfully ensured that there is a coherent and collaborative education system including settings, schools, MATS and colleges in the City working as a ‘family’ of providers with shared values and priorities with clear expectations from the Local Authority. Under her leadership Manchester has developed an Inclusion Strategy for the City, first launched in 2018 and now on its 3rd refresh. Manchester has adopted a 3 tier approach to inclusion.