At Castleford Trust, we are proud of the people who lead, support and govern our academies. Our Trust Leadership Team, Trustees and Members work together to provide strong leadership, clear direction and effective governance across our academies.
United by our vision of working together to achieve excellence for all, and guided by our values of Care, Aspire and Succeed, they are committed to ensuring our academies continue to thrive and deliver the very best education for the communities we serve.
Chief Executive Officer
George Panayiotou, CEO, Castleford Trust
George Panayiotou is the Chief Executive Officer of Castleford Trust, with nine academies united by a shared commitment to transforming life chances through an exceptional education. Having dedicated more than 20 years to the Trust, George has played a pivotal role in its journey from a small partnership of schools to a thriving multi academy trust, serving pupils, families and communities across the region. Under his leadership, the Trust has remained steadfast in its belief that every child deserves the opportunity to flourish, succeed and achieve their full potential.
Since becoming CEO in 2014, George has led a period of significant growth and improvement, driven by a clear moral purpose and an unwavering focus on children and young people. His leadership is rooted in the Trust's ethos of "One Trust, One Team", fostering a culture of collaboration, professional excellence and shared responsibility of ‘working together to achieve excellence for all’. By bringing staff, pupils, families and communities together around a common vision, George has helped create schools where ambition is high, relationships are strong and every individual is valued.
A recognised National Leader of Education, George is passionate about improving outcomes and expanding opportunities for all children. Under his leadership, schools across the Trust have achieved strong inspection outcomes, improved attendance, strengthened inclusion and delivered consistently high quality education. He is particularly proud of the Trust's reputation for championing disadvantaged pupils and developing sector-leading support for children with special educational needs and disabilities, ensuring that every learner can access the opportunities they deserve.
Beyond Castleford Trust, George is an influential voice in educational improvement, working collaboratively with schools, trusts and partners locally, regionally and nationally. Through his contributions to Department for Education initiatives, school improvement programmes and strategic partnerships, he remains committed to strengthening the wider education system and creating lasting impact for young people beyond the Trust.
Known for his values driven and people centred leadership style, George believes that a great Trust is built on strong relationships, high expectations, integrity and an unwavering commitment to pupils. He is a passionate advocate for inclusive education and firmly believes that schools should never have to choose between excellence and inclusion. For George, exceptional outcomes and strong inclusion go hand in hand. He believes every child, regardless of background, need or starting point, deserves both the highest aspirations and the support needed to achieve them. His mission is simple yet ambitious: to transform life chances through exceptional education, creating communities where every child is known, valued, inspired and empowered to thrive.
Chief Finance and Operating Officer
Sam Stevens has been Chief Finance & Operations Officer at Castleford Academy Trust since 2013 and is a member of the Executive Leadership Team. With extensive experience in strategic finance, operational leadership and organisational development, she plays a pivotal role in ensuring the Trust delivers high quality education through strong financial stewardship, effective resource management and operational excellence.
Sam provides strategic leadership across finance, estates, compliance, governance, health and safety, information technology and support services. Working closely with the CEO, Trustees, Trust and school leaders, she leads the development and implementation of the Trust's long term financial and operational strategy, ensuring sustainability, resilience and value for money across all areas of the organisation.
As CFOO, Sam is responsible for overseeing significant public resources and ensuring robust financial governance, risk management and regulatory compliance. She has a proven track record of securing efficiencies, maximising income opportunities and delivering investment strategies that enhance educational provision and improve outcomes for pupils. Her work ensures that school leaders are supported by strong operational foundations, enabling them to focus on teaching, learning and pupil achievement.
A highly respected and influential leader, Sam is recognised for her ability to build strong relationships, develop high performing teams and drive continuous improvement. Through a collaborative and solutions focused approach, she works with colleagues across the Trust to strengthen organisational capacity, improve effectiveness and support long term growth.
Having worked across the private, charitable and education sectors, Sam brings a blend of commercial acumen, strategic insight and public sector accountability. Her commitment to excellence, innovation and service ensures that Castleford Academy Trust remains well positioned to meet future challenges while continuing to provide exceptional opportunities for the children and communities it serves.
Director of Secondary Education
Daniella Cook is a highly experienced education leader who has dedicated more than 25 years of her career to serving the young people, families and communities of Castleford. Having spent her entire professional career within the Castleford Trust, she has played a significant role in shaping educational provision, developing strong leadership teams and improving outcomes for pupils across the Trust.
As Director of Secondary Education, Daniella is recognised for her strategic leadership and deep belief in the transformative power of education. She is particularly passionate about social mobility and ensuring that every pupil, regardless of their background or circumstances, has the opportunity to achieve success and fulfil their potential.
Daniella understands first-hand the life-changing opportunities that education can provide. This has shaped her values, her leadership and her determination to create schools where ambition, aspiration and opportunity are available to all. She is a strong advocate for removing barriers to learning and creating environments where every pupil feels valued, supported and empowered to succeed.
Throughout her career, Daniella has championed high expectations, inclusive practice and a relentless focus on improvement. She believes that exceptional schools are built through strong relationships, a culture of belonging and an unwavering commitment to helping every pupil thrive. Her leadership has consistently focused on developing people and supporting colleagues to grow professionally so that pupils receive the very best educational experience.
Known for her calm, thoughtful and measured approach, Daniella is a highly respected leader who brings clarity and reassurance during both periods of challenge and times of success. Her ability to build trust, listen carefully and maintain focus on what matters most has earned her the respect of colleagues and the wider community.
Daniella remains committed to ensuring that the Castleford Trust continues to provide outstanding opportunities for every pupil. Her work is driven by a simple but powerful belief that education has the ability to transform lives, strengthen communities and open doors to a brighter future for all.
Director of Primary Education
Director of Primary Education, Castleford Trust
Becki Lewis is the Director of Primary Education at Castleford Academy Trust, a role she has held for the past five years. With more than 30 years of experience in primary education, leadership and school improvement, Becki has built an outstanding reputation for supporting schools to achieve excellence and improve outcomes for children.
A highly respected and values-driven leader, Becki is passionate about ensuring that every child receives the very best education, regardless of their background or circumstances. Her work is driven by a deep commitment to improving life chances, particularly for children from disadvantaged communities, and she is unwavering in her belief that all pupils deserve the opportunity to thrive and succeed.
Throughout her career, Becki has demonstrated a strong track record of leading school improvement and developing high-performing educational environments. She is recognised for her expertise in school improvement, leadership development, curriculum design and implementation, and the enhancement of teaching quality. Central to her leadership approach is the importance of building strong relationships and fostering trust, enabling colleagues and school leaders to work collaboratively towards shared goals.
Prior to joining Castleford Academy Trust, Becki served as Senior Improvement Adviser for East Riding Council, where she led and oversaw school improvement and educational standards across the authority's primary schools. Before this, she was Executive Headteacher of a large primary academy in Hull, successfully leading sustained improvements in educational outcomes and organisational effectiveness.
Becki is widely regarded as an inspirational leader whose knowledge, experience and dedication continue to make a significant difference to schools, staff and, most importantly, the children and communities they serve.
Director of Secondary School Improvement
Jo has built a career leading schools and developing leaders where the challenge is greatest. Bringing clarity when situations are complex and a "whatever it takes" attitude to school improvement, Jo never loses sight of what matters most: improving the life chances of young people.
Known for leading with pace and high expectations, Jo believes sustainable school improvement starts and ends with people. Honest, authentic and unafraid to tackle the toughest challenges, Jo is passionate about developing leaders and creating improvement that lasts.
Jo's career began at Castleford Academy, the founding school of Castleford Trust, where Jo spent 14 years progressing from Science teacher into senior leadership. Those years instilled a deep understanding of the communities the Trust serves and reinforced a lasting belief that exceptional schools have the power to transform lives, particularly for the children who need them most.
Building on this experience, Jo was appointed Headteacher at Carleton High School. Within the first year of headship, the school moved from Special Measures to Good in just 11 months before becoming recognised as the most improved secondary school in the North of England for pupil outcomes. Jo later became Director of School Improvement, leading improvement across both primary and secondary schools. During this time, the Trust secured multiple Outstanding Ofsted judgements, while its primary schools achieved the highest Key Stage 2 outcomes in the North of England.
Growing up in a working-class family and becoming the first person in the family to attend university shaped Jo's belief that education is the greatest driver of social mobility. That belief has remained the constant throughout a career dedicated to improving schools and creating opportunities for children, particularly those who need them most.
Returning to Castleford Trust felt like coming home. Having started a career in the Trust's founding school, Jo is proud to have returned as Director of Secondary School Improvement, working alongside talented colleagues to build on the Trust's success, share expertise and help shape the next chapter of its journey, because Jo believes every child deserves the opportunity to succeed, regardless of where they start in life.
Deputy Director of Primary Education
Kathryn Law is Deputy Director of Primary Education and SEND Strategic Lead for Castleford Trust. She is proud to have worked within the Castleford community for more than ten years, an area where she has deep family roots and connections.
Building her career from teacher to Advanced Skills Teacher and then to Headteacher of Castleford Park Junior Academy, Kathryn is invested in creating school communities where high expectations and ambition prevail – leading to strong outcomes. She believes in securing learning resilience and independence, helping each pupil strive to achieve the best that they can and to recognise the power they have within them.
Kathryn focuses relentlessly on securing high quality teaching techniques within each classroom of the academies she works with, knowing the transformational power of every teacher and support assistant. She works collaboratively to support and develop all staff so that they understand each pupil, barriers to learning and how to motivate each child to achieve every day. She delights in watching the pupils in the communities she serves achieve excellence and recognise the strength and talent within themselves, as she knows that this will lead to strong self-belief and an exceptional future. As SEND Strategic Lead she is also passionate about listening to and understanding the families in the communities that she serves, working hard to remove barriers that they might face and remaining focused on what is possible in the future.
Valuing empathy, relational trust and honest challenge, Kathryn is proud to have empowered many leaders to secure and implement their own vision across areas of school leadership, knowing that the collective power of a talented team can positively and sustainably change the future of a community.
Kathryn feels privileged to work with such passionate and committed teams in each academy, and values deeply the opportunity to provide learning experiences that change lives – both for the pupils she works with each day, their families and the wider community.
(Chair of Trustees)
With an extensive, successful career in the Law Sector, Adam’s knowledge and expertise affords the Castleford Academy Trust Board a vast and unparalleled range of challenge and judgement.
Adam qualified as a Solicitor in 2003, having trained with Hartley & Worstenholme at the Castleford and Pontefract offices. Specialising in Property and Practice Management, Adam is currently the Managing Director of Ridley & Hall Legal Limited, a multi-award winning law firm based in Huddersfield.
Adam is also a Trustee of Kirklees Active Leisure (KAL), a charitable trust which manages 13 leisure facilities and swimming pools on behalf of Kirklees council. Further to this, Adam created Kirklees Dementia Action Alliance (KDAA) in 2014 and was honoured to be appointed Chair. Adam is invited to speak at various events about the promotion of the Alliance, to raise awareness of those living with dementia and also, to establish a greater understanding of the efforts undertaken by their carers.
Adam has also become a keen supporter of Huddersfield University, specifically the Law Department and Law Clinic, and has been invited to assist with regular training sessions for the students and the Law Clinic concerning client care and practice management.
Adam became a Community Governor at Castleford Academy in July 2015, later being appointed as a Trustee of Castleford Trust in January 2016.
If you wish to contact Mr Fletcher, please direct mail to:
c/o Castleford Academy,
Ferrybridge Road,
Castleford,
WF10 4JQ,
United Kingdom,
Email: admin@castlefordacademy.com
(Vice Chair of Trustees)
With primary experience in the Emergency Service Sector, and a specific focus on health and safety, John brings a plethora of established challenge and guidance to the Castleford Academy Trust board.
John has been a Trustee at Castleford Trust since April 2016, following fifteen years as a governor at Three Lane Ends Academy, of which eight years were spent as Chair of Governors. During that time, John was part of the Standards Committee, Health & Safety Committee and Finance & Personnel Committee. As Chair of Governors, John was profoundly involved in the conversion of Three Lane Ends becoming an Academy.
John has had a long and successful career in the Emergency Service Sector, beginning as a firefighter, before becoming a Crew Commander with West Yorkshire Fire Service. John was also the Brigade Organiser for the Fire Brigade Union in West Yorkshire. During this time, John was responsible for the health and safety of his team which comprised involvement in numerous grievances, disciplinary action and the development of HR policies. John retired from this position in 2016. Both of these roles afforded John the opportunity to manage an assortment of challenges, awarding him a specialised skillset which he brings to the role of Trustee. As a father of two sons, John has a keen interest in the standard of education offered to future generations, and not just academically, with the teaching of life and social skills being equally important before students take their next steps into the adult world.
Chief Executive Officer and Trustee
George is the CEO of Castleford Trust. George started his teaching career at Castleford Academy in 2003 as a Teacher of PE and has developed and gained a vast amount of leadership experience from there. George is a National Leader of Education which has seen him support numerous schools nationally on school improvement including pupil premium and school reviews. George contributes to a number of local and regional working groups, including the West Yorkshire Strategic Partnership group.
George is committed to raising standards and to providing all pupils, staff and trainee teachers with opportunities to excel. In October 2019, George led Castleford Academy to become the first secondary school in the country to gain an Outstanding Ofsted rating under the newly introduced framework.
George is experienced in delivering training both locally and nationally including leading and hosting a range of CPD and training for NPQEL and NPQSL. His extensive coaching skills and experience are used to improve teaching, develop leadership, accountability and improve the performance of key members of staff.
(Chair of Members)
John is the founding member and, currently, a Member and Trustee for Castleford Trust. Outside of trust governance, John is Vice Chair of the local Labour party ward and Delegate to the Labour constituency party and district Labour party. John’s vast experience on local governing boards, coupled with his lengthy career within the Trade Union Sector, afford John substantial awareness which provides instruction and challenge to the Castleford Academy governing board.
John retired in April 2016, following a notable career where John spent 37 years as a Trade Union Representative and 12 years as a full-time HR Specialist Trade Union Official for Unison (representing members in schools and children’s services). Other duties John carried out during his career include performing restructures in schools, TUPE transfers of staff and individual cases of disciplinary action and grievances, along with school mergers.
In his role, John was able to observe how schools and services evolved over the years and used this information to construct lessons for his own schools.
To remain updated, John attends numerous training courses each year and reads information distributed by DfE, NGA and other governor websites.
John has been a delegate to Wakefield District School Forum for the past 13 years, initially from his union, Unison, and more recently as an Academy School Governor. John has found this role useful for sharing best practice across the district and ensuring that the Castleford Trust are adhering to this guidance.
(Chair of Education and Standards Committee)
With broad and comprehensive experience in the Education sector, both in a teaching and leadership capacity, Marie’s accomplishments and understanding provide inestimable benefit and service to the Castleford Academy Trust.
Marie started her career as an English teacher but enjoyed wider experiences as Coordinator of SEND, Careers and as a Pastoral leader, before becoming Co-Headteacher of Wakefield City High School. In March 2013, Marie co-led Wakefield City Academy through its third consecutive ‘Outstanding’ Ofsted Inspection (Grade 1 in all categories). Following this, Marie gained accreditations as a National Leader of Education.
As part of her NLE work, Marie coordinated and brokered support from external providers for 9 primary schools and 7 secondary schools in the East Riding of Yorkshire. Working with their school improvement team and a primary consultant, Marie monitored the action plans and the work of the support teams against specific budgets, timescales and outcome targets.
Upon conversion to an Academy, and formation of a Trust, Marie continued to co-lead the Academy but also became a Senior Director of the Trust, seconded to work two days each week mentoring new head teachers, and working with secondary school head teachers and leadership teams to improve education and raise standards within a positive and caring ethos.
In addition to this, Marie was formerly a facilitator for NPQSL and NPQML, organising and delivering inset and training courses. Marie also led training and hosted events for the SSAT, Whole Education and The National Leading Edge Partnership, as well as presenting at local and national conferences for these organisations. As a Leading Edge Coordinator, Marie led a team, working with two local secondary schools and two from Country Durham to organise joined CPD, training and immersion visits to share best practice. Marie is also a trained Pupil Premium Reviewer.
Marie was also the Co-Chair of the Wakefield Learning Community; a collaborative group providing CPD, network meetings and school improvement conferences for the Wakefield District. Although retired, Marie still retains a passion for education, believing that all students should receive the best education possible and feels privileged to be part of the Castleford Academy Trust.
Chair of Finance, Audit and Risk Committee
John is a strong believer in the need for increasing investment in, and the support of, educational environments that seek to maximise the motivation, aspiration, attainment, and life chances of local children, having previously been a School Governor at St Wilfrid’s High School and Sixth Form College and prior to this, The Sacred Heart School, Hemsworth, where John was a Governor for eighteen years, with the role of Chair for eight years.
John is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (FCMA) and a Chartered Global Management Accountant (CGMA). In addition, John has a Honours Degree in Financial Management and a Masters Degree in Finance.
John was the Resources Director at WDH (Wakefield District Housing), having held responsibilities for Treasury, Finance, Accounting, Legal, Procurement, Business Strategy and Performance, Risk Management and Information Technology Additionally, John was also a Director of Bridges Homes (Yorkshire) LLP, a joint venture with Wakefield Council.
Prior to John’s Twelve years working in the Housing Sector with WDH, John held the posts of Finance Director, Company Secretary and Pension Trustee in the Mining, Engineering, Civil Construction and Insurance sectors. Having held senior posts in both the private and public sectors for some Forty years, John has a wealth of knowledge and experience of Financial and Strategic Planning, Financial Management and Control; Risk Analysis and Mitigation; and Corporate Governance, Quality Management and Social Responsibility Accounting.
John is also a Director and Treasurer of Castleford Heritage Trust and has additional significant experience in the voluntary sector as a former Independent Member of Wakefield Council’s Audit Committee and as President, Director and Treasurer of the local White Rose Credit Union.
Trustee
Joe has worked in education for the whole of her career holding posts in a number of local authorities. She has worked in five contrasting secondary schools, enjoying a senior position in four of them. She is a serving CEO for a Trust in Leeds consisting of four primary schools and one secondary with a Sixth Form, of which she was both Deputy and Principal for eleven years.
Joe’s degree is in Music, and that was the main subject that she taught in secondary schools. She also has a Master’s degree, the National Professional Qualification for Headship (NPQH) and is committed to continuous professional development for all.
Joe has held both curriculum and pastoral leadership posts. She has also led HR and estate development. She has held governor roles at both primary and secondary levels. This variety and range of experience has allowed her to develop the knowledge and skills required for her role as a Trustee.
Joe is passionate about serving the needs of a community through the provision of a first-class education for all, both in and beyond the classroom.
Trustee
Gemma has a law degree from Leeds University and following graduation, went on to train as an accountant at Deloitte, specialising in restructuring and insolvency.
She has 16 years of commercial and accounting experience specialising in the retail, telecoms and manufacturing sectors. She currently works at Magnet Kitchens as their Finance Director, with roles previously at Communisis and KCOM.
Her focus has been on ensuring business growth and profitability through investment, increasing sales, efficiencies and continuous improvement. Gemma gained a lot personally and professionally from the dedication of the teaching staff at the various schools she attended and feels it is now important to give back to the local community.
Trustee
With over 12 years of successful teaching experience across the primary phase, Steve is an experienced school leader dedicated to ensuring the highest quality education for all children. He has held senior leadership roles, including headteacher and now executive headteacher within a multi-academy trust (MAT) in Barnsley. These roles have provided him with extensive experience in leading school improvement, curriculum development, strategic planning and professional learning.
He has successfully led MAT-wide initiatives to enhance curriculum coherence, assessment strategies and the strategic management of safeguarding, attendance and behaviour. As an experienced system leader and facilitator of National Professional Qualifications (NPQH), Steve is committed to developing future leaders and fostering a culture of professional excellence across the sector. Steve’s passion lies in ensuring that every decision is made with the best interests of children at heart, driving continuous improvement across schools to create environments where all pupils can thrive. This knowledge and experience contributes to the skillset which he brings to the role of Trustee.
Chair of Trustees and Member
With an extensive, successful career in the Law Sector, Adam’s knowledge and expertise affords the Castleford Academy Trust Board a vast and unparalleled range of challenge and judgement.
Adam qualified as a Solicitor in 2003, having trained with Hartley & Worstenholme at the Castleford and Pontefract offices. Specialising in Property and Practice Management, Adam is currently the Managing Director of Ridley & Hall Legal Limited, a multi-award winning law firm based in Huddersfield.
Adam is also a Trustee of Kirklees Active Leisure (KAL), a charitable trust which manages 13 leisure facilities and swimming pools on behalf of Kirklees council. Further to this, Adam created Kirklees Dementia Action Alliance (KDAA) in 2014 and was honoured to be appointed Chair. Adam is invited to speak at various events about the promotion of the Alliance, to raise awareness of those living with dementia and also, to establish a greater understanding of the efforts undertaken by their carers.
Adam has also become a keen supporter of Huddersfield University, specifically the Law Department and Law Clinic, and has been invited to assist with regular training sessions for the students and the Law Clinic concerning client care and practice management.
Adam became a Community Governor at Castleford Academy in July 2015, later being appointed as a Trustee of Castleford Trust in January 2016.
If you wish to contact Mr Fletcher, please direct mail to:
c/o Castleford Academy,
Ferrybridge Road,
Castleford,
WF10 4JQ,
United Kingdom,
Email: admin@castlefordacademy.com
Member
Angela Pool is a highly valued Member of the Trust, educated to degree-level, with a Bachelor of Science degree. Upon receiving her degree, Angela proceeded to gain 20 years of marketing experience within Retail and Financial industries.
Currently, Angela works with a Global Bank with a turnover of £11 million in which I lead a team who deploy a variety of projects across Marketing Channels (both digital, print and point of sale). The role constitutes a combination of leadership, innovation, problem-solving, relationship-building, Human Resources and financial acumen. Another key aspect of her role involves mentoring and leading training sessions and educational days for clients.
Member
Gary is the Chief Executive Officer at Leeds Rhinos Rugby Club and a former rugby league footballer and coach. In 1996, Gary joined Paul Caddick to take over the ailing Leeds CF&A Co Ltd, owners and operators of Headingley Stadium and Leeds Rugby League Club. Under Gary’s leadership, the Rhinos turned from perennial underachievers to World Champions in less than ten years and won their first Championship for 32 years in 2004. He has promoted a policy of nurturing local talent that has seen the Rhinos become the envy of world rugby league with a squad of young, talented British players, the majority of which are play for their home town club.
Off the field, Gary has been the driving force behind Leeds Rugby’s ground breaking partnership with Leeds Metropolitan University. The partnership was strengthened further when Leeds Met took control of the Tykes and renamed the club Leeds Carnegie for their return to the Premiership in 2007. In 1989, Gary was awarded the Rugby League Writers Association Order of Merit for his outstanding contribution to the sport and in 2004 had the honour of being President of the Rugby Football League. Gary is passionate about supporting the local community and ensuring children have the best start in life with the very best education.
Member
Kathryn has a long history of community engagement. Her paid employment saw her working for the probation service, a trade union, local government and in parliament. All these roles were public facing; supporting and encouraging individuals and helping to build stronger communities.
She has previously served as a school governor in several local schools. Kathryn was instrumental in setting up Trinity Mission Foodbank at her local Methodist church in Castleford, where one of her current roles is Safeguarding Officer. As Secretary to the Friends of Castleford Valley Gardens, Kathryn has worked with others to bring life back to this much-loved local park. Her role as Vice Chair of WDH Communities Together Forum, sees her actively involved in encouraging community groups to develop and become sustainable. She has organised several Corporate Social Responsibility events in the area and is a member of Castleford Civic Trust where she is working on delivering the first blue plaque in Castleford for a woman.