Meet Our People

Julian Appleyard OBE is the Chief Executive Officer of the Trust and a National Leader in Education (NLE). Prior to taking up appointment in Pontefract in March 2018, he was the founding Executive Principal of Rochdale Sixth Form College and The Altus Education Partnership. Under Julian’s leadership, the College was the first sixth form college nationally to gain outstanding status by Ofsted at its first inspection. Additionally, the College gained national acclaim through topping the Department for Education Performance Tables for an unprecedented four consecutive years.

Julian began his career as a teacher and has worked in a range of senior leadership roles in 11-18 schools and the sixth form college sector. He has been a regular deliverer of in service training to Headteachers, Directors of Children’s Services, school improvement teams and whole school staff across the country. Julian has been a previous member of the Headteacher Board for Lancashire and West Yorkshire that is responsible for advising and challenging regional schools commissioners on academy related decisions. Julian was awarded the OBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List in 2016 for services to education.