Nicola joined the Trust finance team in November 2023 providing further support to our Trust family of schools. Before joining the Trust, she worked for a variety of private and public sector organisations in manufacturing and the airline industries as well as local government and education. Nicola’s most recent role was as a school Business Manager so she understands firsthand the pressures on school teams to provide an excellent service with time constraints, and often, with limited resources.

Nicola has joined the Trust at an exciting time where new processes in the finance team are being implemented to drive system improvements and efficiencies. She firmly believes that a great educational environment is key to providing great opportunities for young people and their futures.

Melanie began her career in 2001 as the Finance Officer. Melanie is a key member of the Trust finance team and provides support and training to colleagues across the Trust family of schools, as well as assisting the Trust Finance Manager and Chief Financial Officer. 

Before joining the education sector, Melanie worked for NatWest Bank for 19 years undertaking a wide variety of roles including working in branches, training and productivity. The skills learnt at the bank have been very useful in her current role.​​​

Jenny joined our family of schools in 2000 and is our Safeguarding Coordinator. Jenny works closely with our Trust Strategic Safeguarding Lead, Asif Lorgat. 

Personal and professional development are important to Jenny, and as an experienced safeguarding expert, the safety and wellbeing of the young people who attend our family of schools is at the core of our safeguarding work. 

Our approach truly is child-centred, working closely with our families and community to ensure that all young people receive the very best education, coupled with high-quality care, guidance and support.

Sandeep moved into the education sector in 2018 and is part of the Trust central HR (People and Talent) team. She is keen to help people reach their potential through training and guidance, and ensuring that wellbeing is at the heart of everything we do. 

As the Trust’s Senior People and Talent Advisor, Sandeep provides an effective, professional and responsive service to our family of schools. Sandeep has a degree in Business Studies, and as a qualified teacher she gained considerable experience and insight into the profession. 

Prior to this, Sandeep worked in the retail sector working in various management roles, including HR gaining many transferable skills such as the importance of collaboration, effective communication and good time management.

Sandeep is passionate about the role education plays in improving young people’s lives and is keen to ensure that our young people have a great learning experience so they can fulfil their potential and be the best version of themselves.​​​​​​

Asif is the Trust’s Strategic Safeguarding Leader and the Deputy Headteacher of one of our Trust primary schools. Asif’s leadership role has included mentoring trainee teachers, leading maths and computing across the whole school, and leading the attendance strategy. Asif’s Trust wide leadership role is for strategically overseeing safeguarding across our family of schools and ensuring all our young people receive the first-class education, coupled with high-quality care, guidance and support that they deserve. 

As a local resident, Asif is passionate about helping the community and in particular wants to raise aspirations of all the young people in Batley to ensure they feel safe and secure.

Prior to working in schools, Asif worked at Batley Bulldogs for a number of years as the Education Coordinator. This role involved working with young people and using sport as a way of engaging young people.​​​​​​

Elaine supports the local governing boards at four of our Trust schools. Her role involves the organisation of meetings, hearings and appeals, providing advice and guidance on procedural and compliance matters and maintaining administrative and statutory records for the boards.

On retirement from a teaching role in a primary school, where she led the Early Years team, Elaine initially held the position of clerk to one of our school governing boards on a casual basis. Elaine was keen to build and develop the role to create a professional, efficient service for governors, and became a permanent member of the wider central team as a Governance Professional in February 2023.

Elaine’s insight into education has been of great benefit to the boards that she supports. She is passionate about education and learning for all, and believes effective communication is key. Prior to teaching Elaine held other professional roles and from these she brings a wealth of additional expertise such as transferable skills from retail management and banking roles. Elaine uses these skills to ensure the boards can carry out their duties effectively.

Sarah supports two of our Trust schools to meet their governance needs. As a Governance Professional, Sarah is required to keep up to date with all key governance requirements and trends, and she plays a key role in ensuring good governance is practised in all areas. 

Before joining the education sector, Sarah had worked in a number of administration roles in banks, estate agents and for smaller family-run companies helping them with their accounts and administration commitments. Sarah's very varied administration knowledge is a great benefit in her role as Governance Professional. Sarah has also held the position of school Admissions and Administration Officer, where she played a key role developing the school’s admissions processes, having had experience of clerking independent appeal panels prior to joining the Trust. 
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Christina transitioned to the education sector in September 2019, initially working with one of our schools. She then broadened her role to work across all schools in our Trust family. She is responsible for leading on the marketing and communication for the Trust and supporting individual schools with their needs, including but not exclusively; branding, website development and maintenance, social media and PR.

A marketing professional, Christina worked in branding and marketing agencies in the private sector for 17 years and brings with her a wealth of experience alongside a passion for the value of branding and good communication. Christina is a skilled writer, with a strategic approach, and finds working in education truly rewarding; showcasing our good news stories to our families and local community.

Stephen joined our Trust central team as the Trust Data Analyst having worked as a Mathematics teacher since 2012, most recently as a Head of Mathematics in a highly successful maths department.

Before moving into education, Stephen worked in policy, research and administration in government and higher education. Stephen has a love of learning and holds master’s degrees in Political Theory, Psychology and Educational Leadership.

Stephen enjoys data and working strategically with data to improve outcomes efficiently. He is a Specialised Leader of Education and has supported staff in schools across both primary and secondary phases to use data effectively to maximise the progress of our young people. 

Stephen has also trained staff on numeracy, growth mindsets and improving pace and progression in lessons. Stephen is passionate about the role of high quality education in providing opportunities for all young people to have the very best start in life.

Rajinder joined our Trust family of schools as the SEND Leader. She was previously Deputy Principal at a non-maintained special school for children and young people aged 7-19 years and has also worked for the Specialist Inclusion Team in a Local Education Authority.   

Rajinder holds a Childhood Studies BA Hons degree, a Postgraduate Diploma in Leadership & Management and a National Professional Qualification for Senior Leaders. She began her Teaching career as a Maths and ICT teacher, working in SEND and challenging mainstream schools in Bradford and Halifax. During her teaching career she has also worked as Specialist Leader of Education in Calderdale, overseeing a SEND sixth form and SEND Specialist College. 

She is passionate about inclusive schools, making sure every child and young person matters and no one is left behind. She is committed to ensuring that everyone feels valued and works to achieve effective change, so that our children and young people are successful.

Emma leads the Yorkshire Rose Teaching Partnership and works strategically with a range of partners including universities, Apprentice providers, Exceed SCITT and Calderdale and Kirklees Teaching School Hub to ensure that the young people in our region are taught by high quality staff, teachers and leaders who can alter their and their families lives. Emma has a PGCE in English and History, and has been teaching in secondary schools for over 20 years, and is an Assistant Headteacher.

Emma believes passionately in staff development and works across the primary and secondary phase. Emma also holds a Masters in Education from the University of Leeds, and believes in developing evidence-informed practice and works closely with Ambition Institute. As well as delivering Ambition training to others, Emma has completed an NPQ in Leading Teacher Development. 

Kate joined the Trust central following a career in finance for over 30 years, bringing experience from the private sector, local government and schools. Her role with C&K Careers linked education with financial management – giving her insight into both, which is

invaluable in her role in our developing Trust family of schools. 

Kate plays an integral part in the financial management and reporting for the Trust – ensuring the integrity and accuracy of the statutory reports produced and adding value to financial decision making in the schools. This helps the Trust to ensure it can deliver school improvement at scale. 

Kate has a keen eye for detail and enjoys looking for efficiency – supporting our Trust family of schools to always provide a high quality of education, ensuring no child is ever left behind.

Jemma joined the Trust family of schools having worked as a graphic designer in the private sector for 6 years. Her role involves developing concepts and creating visuals for brand communications and interior design projects across our Trust family of schools. Jemma also trained as a teacher in 2020/21, which provides her with a unique insight into teaching and learning practices and young people engagement. This allows her to create effective communications that support our young people, our staff and other stakeholders associated with the Trust.

Jemma is an advocate for school learning environments that are designed to nurture and adapt, and she works closely with a range of colleagues to create places and spaces that celebrate differences and embrace individualities to ensure every young person gains the very best from their school experience.