Leadership
![]() |
Andrew Whitaker Andrew Whitaker enjoyed a ten-year career in the University sector, including working as an Associate Senior Lecturer, before moving into the 3-18 education sector as a Senior Leader. As Senior Vice Principal of the UK’s largest all-aged special school based in Barnsley, South Yorkshire, Andrew led all operational areas of the school including Post 16 provision. Throughout a transformative eight years he project managed a £25m BSF building programme, created a highly successful school improvement consultancy and played a key role in leading... |
Senior Leadership Group
![]() |
Dan Whieldon - Acting Principal |
![]() |
Lorna Bradford - Vice Principal Behaviour & Attitudes |
![]() |
Sam Pocock - Vice Principal Quality of Education Sam Pocock graduated from Leeds Metropolitan University with a BA (Hons) Secondary Physical Education, leading to QTS with placements at Roundhay, Royds, Carr Manor and Ermysted's Grammar School... |
![]() |
Janie Jennings - Assistant Principal Personal Development Janie Jennings qualified as a Design & Technology teacher specialising in Fashion & Textiles after a 16-year career working in the Textiles Industry. She began teaching at Intake High School in 2002 and on completing her NQT year, she became Assistant Area Leader, primarily focussing on the work-related learning subjects... Read more >> |
![]() |
Trevor Lester - Assistant Principal Trevor has taught Mathematics at three schools over the past nineteen years. After graduating with a degree in Mathematics and Statistics at Hull University, he completed his PGCE and spent his first four years teaching at Brighouse High School. He then moved to Royds School, where he gained responsibility for coordinating the Gifted and Talented provision at the school... Read more >> |
![]() |
Aimee Hanson - Assistant Principal Aimee Hanson joined Leeds West Academy in June 2017 as Director of English within the Senior Leadership Team after a 17-year career at Colne Valley High School, where she was a highly successful Curriculum Leader for English. |
![]() |
Anna Simons - Associate Assistant Principal Anna graduated from Leeds University with a BA Hons degree in History. Following this, she worked for a year as a residential Social Worker with autistic adults before returning to education to study for the Diploma in Career Guidance, in Kent at the College of Guidance Studies... |
![]() |
Ben Lyons - Associate Assistant Principal Ben Lyons graduated in 2013 with a BA Joint Honours Degree in Economics and French from the University of Leeds. Fresh out of University, Ben applied to be part of the TeachFirst Maths cohort for the Yorkshire and Humber region 2013... |
![]() |
Bethany Hall- Associate Assistant Principal and Designated Safeguarding Lead Bethany Hall began working with young people in 2008, supporting a number of children across the city of Leeds. Bethany has experience in neighbouring schools, she started working in Early Years specialising in Child Protection and students with Special Educational Needs (SEN)... |
![]() |
Sam Bradley - Business Manager Sam Bradley graduated from Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge, with a First Class BA Hons degree in History and Sociology, and completed further post-graduate study at the University of East Anglia. |
For White Rose Academies Trust Leadership and Deployments please click here.