Alumni Stories
Every former student has a story to tell.
Alumni Stories
Every former student has a story to tell.
Alumni Stories
Every former student has a story to tell.
Our Alumni Stories celebrate the people who have passed through Fred Longworth High School and the different paths they have taken since leaving. From careers and further education to personal achievements, community involvement and unexpected journeys, our alumni demonstrate the many opportunities that life beyond school can bring.
These stories offer a chance to look back, reconnect with old memories and discover what former classmates and friends are achieving today. They can also inspire our current students by showing where a Fred Longworth education can lead.
If you are a former student we would love to hear from you. Share your Fred Longworth story and help us celebrate the achievements, experiences and memories of our alumni community.
Adam Boardman is a successful professional theatre and television actor who left Fred Longworth High School in 2010.
Adam Boardman
Actor
Adam Boardman
Actor
Adam Boardman is a successful professional theatre and television actor who left Fred Longworth High School in 2010.
Laura White is an internationally acclaimed, Grammy-nominated singer and songwriter who attended Fred Longworth High School.
Laura White
Singer / Songwriter
Laura White
Singer / Songwriter
Laura White is an internationally acclaimed, Grammy-nominated singer and songwriter who attended Fred Longworth High School.
As one of the most sought after composing talents of his generation, Paul Lovatt-Cooper’s musical works have been performed to sell-out audiences at London’s Royal Albert Hall, New York’s Carnegie Hall and Sydney Opera House.
Paul Lovatt-Cooper
COMPOSER & Musician
Paul Lovatt-Cooper
COMPOSER & Musician
As one of the most sought after composing talents of his generation, Paul Lovatt-Cooper’s musical works have been performed to sell-out audiences at London’s Royal Albert Hall, New York’s Carnegie Hall and Sydney Opera House.
Thom Rylance, lead singer, songwriter and founder of the chart-topping indie band The Lottery Winners is a former student at Fred Longworth High School. Thom has enjoyed remarkable success in the music industry, helping to lead the Leigh-based band to multiple Top 40 albums, including the UK Number One album Anxiety Replacement Therapy in 2023.
Thom Rylance
Singer / Songwriter
Thom Rylance
Singer / Songwriter
Thom Rylance, lead singer, songwriter and founder of the chart-topping indie band The Lottery Winners is a former student at Fred Longworth High School. Thom has enjoyed remarkable success in the music industry, helping to lead the Leigh-based band to multiple Top 40 albums, including the UK Number One album Anxiety Replacement Therapy in 2023.
Paddy Monaghan is a musician and tutor who attended Fred Longworth High School.
Paddy Monaghan
Musician
Paddy Monaghan
Musician
Paddy Monaghan is a musician and tutor who attended Fred Longworth High School.
Reece Cairns is a talented and dynamic professional musician who attended Fred Longworth High School. Deeply involved in the vibrant creative community at “Freddie’s” during his school years, Reece turned his early musical education and passion for performing into a successful career in the modern music industry. After finishing his studies at Fred Longworth, Reece went on to study contemporary music and artist development, honing his skills in music production, performance, and live gigging. Today, he works actively within the music industry as a recording artist and live performer. Committed to giving back to the community that launched him, Reece regularly visits Fred Longworth to perform for the students and run specialized workshops in music production, guitar, and Djing inspiring the next generation of Freddie’s musicians to follow their creative dreams.
Reece Cairns
Musician
Reece Cairns
Musician
Reece Cairns is a talented and dynamic professional musician who attended Fred Longworth High School. Deeply involved in the vibrant creative community at “Freddie’s” during his school years, Reece turned his early musical education and passion for performing into a successful career in the modern music industry. After finishing his studies at Fred Longworth, Reece went on to study contemporary music and artist development, honing his skills in music production, performance, and live gigging. Today, he works actively within the music industry as a recording artist and live performer. Committed to giving back to the community that launched him, Reece regularly visits Fred Longworth to perform for the students and run specialized workshops in music production, guitar, and Djing inspiring the next generation of Freddie’s musicians to follow their creative dreams.
Ross Baillie-Eames is an exceptionally talented composer, sound designer, and music lecturer who attended Fred Longworth High School between 2011 and 2016.
Ross Baillie-Eames
Composer & MUsician
Ross Baillie-Eames
Composer & MUsician
Ross Baillie-Eames is an exceptionally talented composer, sound designer, and music lecturer who attended Fred Longworth High School between 2011 and 2016.
I’d say the careers fairs, talks, and events I attended throughout high school had a big impact on me — particularly the introduction to the army during the fairs, which first sparked my interest in engineering. That initial inspiration led me to pursue an apprenticeship in civil engineering, where I specialised as a structural technician. Over time, this evolved into a full-time role as a packaging designer, where I get to bring both technical knowledge and creativity into my work every day.
Alongside my full-time job, I also manage and work as a mechanic for PowerDrive Racing — a motorsport team I helped to found. My role as Team Manager/Mechanic involves overseeing the preparation and running of our race cars, managing logistics, and supporting drivers trackside during race weekends. It’s a demanding but rewarding role that keeps me hands-on and constantly learning — and one that I wouldn’t have found without the early encouragement to explore engineering paths.
Freddies played a big part in nurturing the creative side of my career, and I genuinely appreciate the opportunities it opened up for me.
Libby Curran
Engineer & Motorsport Team Manager
Libby Curran
Engineer & Motorsport Team Manager
I’d say the careers fairs, talks, and events I attended throughout high school had a big impact on me — particularly the introduction to the army during the fairs, which first sparked my interest in engineering. That initial inspiration led me to pursue an apprenticeship in civil engineering, where I specialised as a structural technician. Over time, this evolved into a full-time role as a packaging designer, where I get to bring both technical knowledge and creativity into my work every day.
Alongside my full-time job, I also manage and work as a mechanic for PowerDrive Racing — a motorsport team I helped to found. My role as Team Manager/Mechanic involves overseeing the preparation and running of our race cars, managing logistics, and supporting drivers trackside during race weekends. It’s a demanding but rewarding role that keeps me hands-on and constantly learning — and one that I wouldn’t have found without the early encouragement to explore engineering paths.
Freddies played a big part in nurturing the creative side of my career, and I genuinely appreciate the opportunities it opened up for me.
When it came to choosing my options, I noticed all my friends were choosing P.E as their first choice. Outside of school I was playing for a football club/academy and I was very athletic in my youth. One day my mum said to me “What if the club don’t offer you a professional contract when you’re 16?” and that changed my thoughts. She basically scared me into thinking about my future, but she was right. I listened and weighed up my options. If I didn’t get a contract, what other subjects do I enjoy or what other subjects am I good at?
Andy Golpys
Co-Founder, Made by shape - A creative & digital agency
Andy Golpys
Co-Founder, Made by shape - A creative & digital agency
When it came to choosing my options, I noticed all my friends were choosing P.E as their first choice. Outside of school I was playing for a football club/academy and I was very athletic in my youth. One day my mum said to me “What if the club don’t offer you a professional contract when you’re 16?” and that changed my thoughts. She basically scared me into thinking about my future, but she was right. I listened and weighed up my options. If I didn’t get a contract, what other subjects do I enjoy or what other subjects am I good at?
I’m currently the Principal at Co-op Academy Belle Vue, a secondary school in Manchester that opened in 2021 and has quickly established itself as one of the most ambitious and values-driven schools in the region. In our recent Ofsted inspection, we were rated Outstanding in several key areas, including Leadership and Management, and we’re proud to be setting new standards for excellence, inclusion, and aspiration in our community.
My journey into education was shaped significantly by my time as a student at Fred Longworth High School. It was there that I first felt the impact that great teaching and strong school values can have. The commitment, care, and high expectations shown by the staff not only inspired me to go into teaching but also helped me develop the sense of purpose and resilience that still guide me today.
At Belle Vue, I strive to carry forward those same values I experienced at Fred Longworth and a belief in every child’s potential, a culture of respect and responsibility, and a relentless focus on doing the right thing, even when it’s hard. These principles are now at the heart of everything we do as we support students to achieve extraordinary things, both academically and personally.
Scott Fletcher
Headteacher Co-op Academy Belle Vue
Scott Fletcher
Headteacher Co-op Academy Belle Vue
I’m currently the Principal at Co-op Academy Belle Vue, a secondary school in Manchester that opened in 2021 and has quickly established itself as one of the most ambitious and values-driven schools in the region. In our recent Ofsted inspection, we were rated Outstanding in several key areas, including Leadership and Management, and we’re proud to be setting new standards for excellence, inclusion, and aspiration in our community.
My journey into education was shaped significantly by my time as a student at Fred Longworth High School. It was there that I first felt the impact that great teaching and strong school values can have. The commitment, care, and high expectations shown by the staff not only inspired me to go into teaching but also helped me develop the sense of purpose and resilience that still guide me today.
At Belle Vue, I strive to carry forward those same values I experienced at Fred Longworth and a belief in every child’s potential, a culture of respect and responsibility, and a relentless focus on doing the right thing, even when it’s hard. These principles are now at the heart of everything we do as we support students to achieve extraordinary things, both academically and personally.
I think Fred Longworth was a creative place, it encouraged a spirit of adventure, there was an artistic streak through the school, but it also kept me well grounded – the playground/classroom humour was brilliant.
Paul Crompton
Documentary Director / Executive producer
Paul Crompton
Documentary Director / Executive producer
I think Fred Longworth was a creative place, it encouraged a spirit of adventure, there was an artistic streak through the school, but it also kept me well grounded – the playground/classroom humour was brilliant.
The most challenging part of my job is that solving problems requires lots of patience. You might spend hours trying to figure out why some code you wrote isn’t working, only to find out it’s because you put a space in the wrong place!
Laura Howarth-Kirke
Software Engineer, BBC Television
Laura Howarth-Kirke
Software Engineer, BBC Television
The most challenging part of my job is that solving problems requires lots of patience. You might spend hours trying to figure out why some code you wrote isn’t working, only to find out it’s because you put a space in the wrong place!
