Siraj is dedicated to helping young people to achieve the best in life. He believes education in Batley should be second-to-none. It's the place he grew up in and attended the very schools that are now part of the Trust. His 3 children have all been educated at the Trust schools.

Siraj went onto University and graduated with BA (Hons) in Economics and Public Policy. He has undertaken post graduate management qualifications and is qualified as an Executive Coach.

He has almost 20 years of governance experience within the education sector. This includes being a Governor at Primary and Secondary schools, a 6th Form College and currently as our Chair of Trustees.

Siraj has worked in employment, training, human resources and diversity profession within local government, often leading on innovative initiatives. His work has been highlighted internationally through the European Diversity Awards.

Ellen was a teacher in Batley for most of her career. She has a strong sense of commitment to its children and young people, wanting the best educational opportunities for all. She believes that the Trust is well placed to make sure this happens and feels privileged to be part of its work.

Ellen has wider community experience, chairing a local charity, and governance experience at primary and secondary levels.

With a social science background, she has a keen interest in social justice and issues of equality and diversity. She has continued to work as a magistrate, in Adult and Family courts and has a monitoring role for the prison service.

Trude is a very experienced education practitioner, who has been a secondary school senior leader for over 20 years. This experience has comprised Assistant Head and Deputy Head roles across several specialist areas including Standards and Student Outcomes, community cohesion, Curriculum and Timetabling. However, arguably her greatest experience and knowledge lies within Pastoral, Behaviour and Student Conduct, where she currently leads this area of provision across a Multi Academy Trust in Bradford. 

Trude was educated in Batley and is committed to ensuring the young people who attend schools in our Trust receive first class schooling, which will enable them to flourish as young adults in their chosen career.  

Mandy has spent all her working life in the manufacturing sector. In her role as a Senior Leader in industry, Mandy had a passion for improving diversity along with a drive to raise aspirations of children in the wider Kirklees area and encourage more girls to consider engineering and manufacturing. 

Mandy has a degree in Computer Aided Engineering along with a Master’s degree in Business. Mandy was also awarded an Honorary Degree in Science from the University of Huddersfield in 2004.

Mandy began her working career at Holset Turbo Chargers in Huddersfield in 1990 as a Quality Engineer, progressing to the Director of Quality and Improvement for the Turbo Division, and continued to progress within the field as the Manufacturing Quality Leader for the whole of Cummins, with plants worldwide.

Mandy is now retired from Cummins and spends her time supporting her family's property business, along with volunteer work, mostly in the education sector.

Jeremy is totally committed to equality of education for all, he believes this is a fundamental human right.  He has been involved with schools in the Trust since 1996, initially as a Governor and then Trustee from 2011. Both his daughters were educated at Batley Girls’ High School.

Jeremy has worked for over 37 years in Employment Law/Relations and Health and Safety at work. He spent 16 years as Senior Lecturer at the University of Hull and is currently visiting Lecturer at Ruskin College Cambridge and Leeds Beckett University. Jeremy has advised both private and public sector clients, from Manager to Board level and represented up to Employment Appeal Tribunal.

Jeremy also advises the World Bank on their publication Women, Business and the Law.

As a qualified teacher of 30 years, Lynn taught in both small and large Primary schools and has a Master’s Degree in Education, gained whilst a Headteacher of a large Primary and Nursery School in the local area.

Lynn has worked as an Advisory Teacher for Early Years visiting schools and planning and delivering in-service training. She trained as an Ofsted Primary Registered General Inspector and a SIAMS Inspector for Church of England schools. As a link tutor for Leeds University Primary PGCE Course for 14 years Lynn supported trainee primary teachers before and during school placements across different Local Authorities.

She has 14 years of experience as a school governor, most of this as Chair. Lynn’s wide experience in working across a variety of disciplines, linked to producing high quality educational outcomes for all young people, has led to a passionate belief that every opportunity is provided for all children to become happy, successful and resilient learners.

Helen is a very experienced education adviser who worked for the Local Authority for over 22 years. Her work involved providing educational guidance and mentorship to Headteachers and Senior Leaders, mainly in high schools and including some primary and special schools.
 

Helen is experienced in working in partnership with senior staff and is passionate about improving educational outcomes for all young people. She is also passionate about local leadership development and opportunities for leaders to work together and develop school led improvement. 

Helen has many years of experience as a Governor and for 5 years worked as a National Leader of Governance supporting schools across Kirklees. She has 12 years experience as a Chair of Governors in a special school and celebrated two outstanding judgements during her tenure.

Helen is passionate that education is both accessible to all and provides equal opportunity for all so that all young people achieve the very best.