The Board of Trustees.
Phil
Jones OBE
Chair of Trustees
Phil Jones OBE
Phil is the President and Chief Executive of Northern Powergrid and has been in the electricity distribution sector since 1993. He is a chartered electrical engineer and progressed through a number of technical and managerial roles in Yorkshire Electricity prior to the merger with Northern Electric in 2001. He joined the board of the combined companies in 2002 and became President in 2006.
Phil is an active representative on the Smart Grids Forum and Sustainable Development Advisory Group and he provided technical advice to the Government and Ofgem on the development of distributed generation. Phil was President of the Energy Networks Association between 2008 and 2010 and, in 2007, was awarded the OBE for his services to the industry.
Julian
Appleyard OBE
Chief Executive Officer
Julian Appleyard OBE
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.
Andy
Clarke
Vice Chair
Andy Clarke
Andy has extensive experience of working in financial services, with the majority of his career spent in risk management. He worked for Lloyds Banking Group for over 25 years, during which time he sponsored the bank’s Education Programme in the Yorkshire region. It was this activity, that was aimed at improving school performance through strong governance, which brought Andy to join the Board of Pontefract Academies Trust in 2017.
Since leaving Lloyds, Andy has established his own risk consultancy and through this is currently working at the Financial Conduct Authority. He lives locally with his wife and son.
David
Wilkin
Trustee
David Wilkin
David has lived in the area for over 20 years. He is currently a Non-Executive Chair of Real Life Options a company limited by guarantee with Charitable status that operates in the social care sector. Prior to this David was a Sales Director with Board responsibility at Melett a manufacturing SME in the international automotive aftermarket. David enjoyed board responsibility for developing, driving and delivering on the worldwide sales & marketing strategy. David also serves on the Finance Committee of the Trust and previously was the Chair of Carleton Park J&I School.
Reuben
Moore
Trustee
Reuben Moore
Reuben is the National Institute of Teaching founding Chief Programmes Officer. He was previously the executive director of programme development for Teach First. He was also a member of the government advisory groups that created the Core Content Framework, the Early Career Framework and the National Professional Qualifications.
John
Gough
Trustee
John Gough
John is a retired chartered quantity surveyor. His most recent role was as Chair of the LIFT Board for Barnsley PCT. The board was responsible for ensuring joined up services in new, bespoke facilities in local communities, working with the NHS, Local Authorities and private sector developers. John has had successful experience of change management, most recently in a leadership role within a local authority setting. Until recently, John chaired the corporation of New College Pontefract, a sixth form college. John is now a member of the recently formed New Collaborative Learning Trust.
John is also Chair and a Trustee of the King’s Foundation. The foundation provides financial assistance to pupils in Pontefract, with a focus on raising aspiration for disadvantaged young people.
Martyn
Wormald
Trustee
Martyn Wormald
Martyn joined the Trust Board in June 2025. A Chartered Accountant, he brings experience from both professional advisory roles and senior in-house finance positions. He currently serves as Group Financial Controller at Progeny. Although based in Harrogate, Martyn has family ties to our community, giving him a strong personal drive to support and contribute to the local education system within the Trust’s area.
Executive Leadership team.
Julian
Appleyard OBE
Chief Executive Officer
James
Hardy
Chief Financial Officer
Pam
Hewitt
Chief Operating Officer
James
Parkinson
Executive Headteacher
Ian Shuttleworth
Executive Headteacher
Central team.
Claire Hughes
Director of Inclusion and Safeguarding
Martyn Liddle
Capital Projects and Estates Manager
Philippa Dykes
Trust Executive Assistant and Project Lead
