Leadership

Andrew Whitaker
Executive Principal - The White Rose Academies Trust

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

	Christian Wilcocks - Academy Principal As a Deputy Headteacher, Mr Wilcocks worked closely with Executive Principal Mr Whitaker to transform learning and behaviour at Todmorden High School; taking the school from the bottom 5% of schools nationally, to the top 15% within a three-year period. From September 2014, Mr Wilcocks was Principal of Colne Valley High School, leading the school through a period of significant cultural change and improvement... Read more >>
	Dan Whieldon - Vice Principal Dan Whieldon began teaching at West Leeds High School in 2002 after a number of years working in television production at ITV in Manchester following his graduation from Staffordshire University in English, Media and Cultural Studies. After working as intervention lead and Head of Media Studies at West Leeds he left to start work as an... Read more >>
	Nick Collins - Vice Principal Nick Collins finished university in 1999, with a degree in French. Nick then traveled the world before joining the construction industry, working in Project Risk Management up to the elevated level of Senior Environmental Consultant. His work took him across the UK and Europe in partnership with diverse clients from the public, private, government and defence sectors of the national and international markets... Read more >>
	Janie Jennings - Assistant Principal 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 >>
	Sam Pocock - Assistant Principal 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... Read more >>
	Rachel Smith - Assistant Principal Rachel Smith graduated from the University of Leeds with a BA (Hons) in Geography before completing her PGCE in Secondary Geography Teaching. Once qualified, Rachel began her teaching career at Temple Moor High School in 2008.During her time at Temple Moor, Rachel worked for the Post 16 team, firstly as a Head of Year before taking on the role of Acting Head of Sixth Form... 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. Read more >>
	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. Read more >>

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