Academy Leadership
Andrew Whitaker
CEO - 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...
Principals
Richard Chattoe
Principal - Leeds City Academy
Prior to commencing his role as Principal at Leeds City Academy in March 2019, Richard worked as Vice Principal at Leeds West Academy, with responsibility for the improvement in the quality of Teaching, Learning and Assessment across the school. Richard was delighted to have played such a significant role in establishing a range of innovative and highly impactful strategies...
Christian Wilcocks
Principal - Leeds West Academy
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...
Sarah Carrie
Principal - Leeds East Academy
Sarah Carrie’s ambition from a young age was to become a professional dancer. She achieved this ambition after training at the highly acclaimed Northern School of Contemporary Dance in Leeds, graduating with a Bachelor of Performing Arts Degree in Dance. During her career as a dancer she was fortunate enough to work with ...
Vice Principals
Chris Reynolds
Vice Principal - The White Rose Academies Trust
Chris Reynolds graduated from York St John’s University in Sports Studies and Physical Education, before going on to complete his Masters in Physical Education at Leeds Metropolitan University. Chris completed his teacher training...
Toby Cale
Vice Principal - The White Rose Academies Trust
Toby graduated in Fine Art at Nottingham Trent University in 2000 where he specialised in Installation Art. Inspired by the work of Joseph Cornell and the land art of Chris Drury, he stills takes time to further his artistic development...
Rachel Smith
Vice Principal - Executive Director of Professional and Organisational Development
From September 2019, Rachel will lead the strategic action plan for staff retention and development.
Rachel Smith graduated from the University of Leeds with a BA (Hons) in Geography before going on to complete her PGCE in Secondary Geography Teaching...
Associate Assistant Principal
Lee Garner
Associate Assistant Principal - The White Rose Academies Trust
Lee is a former Police Officer and joined the British Transport Police in 2009. He worked in a variety of uniformed roles, including a period of time as an Acting Sergeant responsible for raising standards within Territorial Policing...
Nicola Widnall
Assistant Principal Principal - Acting Director for Professional and Organisational Development
Hailing originally from the Brecon Beacons in South Wales, Nicola Widnall graduated from Leeds University in 2005 with a BA Hons in Spanish Language and Literature. It was during her year studying in Granada in the south of Spain as part of her degree that she realised she wanted to pursue a career in education...