David was a pupil at Silcoates from 1982-1993, being Head Boy in his Upper Sixth year from 1992-1993. He joined the Board of Governors in 2007.
After leaving Silcoates, David read Economics at the University of Cambridge. From there, he spent 12 years at Deloitte qualifying as a Chartered Accountant with a focus on Financial Services companies. During this time, he spent three years on secondment in New York. More recently, he spent three years working as the Deputy CEO and CFO of a social enterprise microfinance business in Zambia, where he fell in love with Africa, its people, its wildlife and its cultures. Since February 2016, David has worked for Brewin Dolphin in London.
In his spare time, David is Governor of a state primary school in London and Director of a West London Credit Union. He is also a keen golfer and ballroom dancer.
As well as being Chair of Governors, David is also Chair of the Finance and General Purposes Committee, working closely with the Head and Bursar to ensure the long-term financial security of the School.
Euan is a Partner at KPMG, one of the Big 4 global accounting firms. He leads the firm’s regional business as Head of Private Enterprise across the UK and EMA, and is a member of the EMA Clients & Markets Exec. He has over twenty-five years’ experience in the professional services sector – increasingly focused on business development and client management roles. Both of Euan’s children attended Silcoates from Junior School through to Sixth Form, giving him an attachment and purpose in his role as Governor.
Euan joined KPMG’s Leeds office in 2002, where he worked across all disciplines to help establish an integrated ‘go to market’ strategy for KPMG’s regional business in the UK. He became a Partner in 2011, by which time he was leading the firm’s relationships with some of the largest regionally based clients, including listed, privately owned, and private equity-backed organisations.
Having worked across several different office locations, including Canary Wharf for four years, Euan was asked to lead the Liverpool office between 2017 and 2019, before returning to Yorkshire in 2019, when he became Office Senior Partner for one of the firm’s largest regional offices, Leeds. In 2024, he handed over the reins in Leeds as he took responsibility for KPMG’s network of 18 regional offices. Alongside his leadership responsibilities, Euan maintains a keen market focus and spends his time supporting clients through periods of transformation, strengthening risk, managing transactions, and embedded people strategies.
Euan lives on the outskirts of Wakefield with his family, and in his spare time, he is a keen golfer, skier, and follower of Rugby Union (although less playing these days and more watching) both at Silcoates and at Sandal RUFC. He has been a Governor at Silcoates since 2022.
Jason McCullagh currently serves as the Minister of both The Bridge Church Otley and Salem United Reformed Church in Burley-in-Wharfedale, where he plays a central role in supporting spiritual growth and community outreach.
Born in Cornwall while his father was serving in the Royal Air Force, Jason later moved to Southampton, his family’s hometown. He studied History and Theology at St Mary’s College, University of London, before being ordained in 2000 at Christ Church, Morecambe. Since then, he has remained in the North of England.
Outside of ministry, Jason has a wide and cherished circle of friends. He enjoys ballroom dancing, the theatre, and is a keen food enthusiast.
Jason brings a strong ethical foundation and a wealth of community-focused experience to his role as Governor at Silcoates School, supporting the School’s values and strategic direction.
Sarah is currently Vice Principal at a Church of England primary school in Brighouse. Teaching for over 20 years, she has experience of the full primary range in 4 different schools in 2 authorities, including holding the role of Deputy head for 7 years before a year of travelling, and then onto her previous role of raising standards lead and senior leader in a primary school in Wakefield.
During her time in education, Sarah has led almost all the subjects taught at primary school, phases, and key stages as well as areas such as curriculum and data and assessment. She was also approached to and carried out a secondment as a non-teaching deputy in Batley for 6 months, to support a school which required improvement. In this time, she worked alongside the governing body, upskilling them in the area of data, after a change she made to the whole school assessment system. She has been a school governor on more than one occasion as well as an observer in her capacity as Deputy head.
Having a degree in music and a PGCE, Sarah has continued her learning around her roles in education to gain the National Professional Qualification in Headship and to write workbooks for Harper Collins.
As a music specialist and keen linguist, Sarah likes to spend any spare time travelling-recently visiting China to see pandas and going to the theatre and believes all children should be afforded that opportunity in their school life. Due to this, she has organised school visits to take children from Year 3 to 6 to London on more than one occasion, to visit the House of Parliament and see ‘real life’ people on stage as the children accurately described their [amazing] experience.
Sarah likes to play tennis and is the captain of a tennis team at a small club who are always looking for new members!
Sarah’s background and specialist knowledge in education, particularly of Junior School aged children, make her a valuable asset to the Board of Governors at Silcoates.
Andrew Jeffery has been engaged in business all his life. He initially served in the family business, Barr & Wallace Arnold Trust. He trained as an Accountant and Chartered Engineer. Andrew learnt his customer service and teamwork skills from working in the hospitality sector during evenings and weekends.
His career has been in the automotive industry at National Operations Management Level, with Land Rover UK, Jaguar Cars, and Volkswagen UK. He has also headed up Volvo, Jaguar, Land Rover and Volkswagen Group dealerships with Hatfields and D M Keith, where he qualified in Sales and Marketing. He has a track record of transforming mediocre business results into top performers.
Andrew was a boarder at Silcoates from the age of ten to eighteen. He later ran the Alumni Association, before becoming a Governor of the School. Andrew serves on all the School committees and has been Vice Chair.
Andrew is now a Management Consultant, Mentor, Coach and Trainer, working with a range of clients. He is a published author on Management, Business and Leadership. He admits that he has made every mistake that can be made, and he delights in helping others avoid the same mistakes.
Andrew is also an artist with a permanent display at Gallery 367 in Denby Dale. His work has been exhibited and sold throughout the County.
In his spare time, he is a member of Rotary International, an amateur racing driver, and a restorer of classic cars. He is an accredited volunteer Business Adviser for The Princes Trust, Young Enterprise, and The Workwise Foundation through his privileged Membership of The Cutlers Company of Hallamshire.
Chris is a dedicated and experienced educational leader, currently serving as a Governor at Silcoates School. After graduating from St Martin’s College, Lancaster, Chris began his teaching career at Westfield Primary School, Cottingham, East Yorkshire, where he taught various year groups and held multiple leadership roles. His passion for education and leadership led him to Swanland Primary School in 2009, where he served as Deputy Head Teacher and later Head of School.
In 2014, Chris was appointed Executive Head Teacher of Edukos Trust, where he played a pivotal role in improving school standards and expanding the trust. By 2017, he became the full-time CEO of the trust, overseeing its growth and ensuring high-quality education across its schools. Chris is passionate about curriculum design, the use of IT in education, and fostering strong relationships within his organisation. His commitment to educational excellence and strategic leadership continues to drive positive outcomes for students and staff alike.
Outside of his professional life, Chris enjoys spending quality time with his family and friends. He loves taking his dogs out for walks and visiting his family home in Spain, where he can relax and recharge. Chris is also an avid cook, finding joy in preparing delicious meals for his loved ones.
Siddique Patel is a distinguished Legal Advisor specialising in matrimonial law, with a focus on complex private law children cases, matrimonial finance, and Islamic divorce matters. Currently serving as a Partner at gunnercooke, he has provided expert legal counsel to a diverse clientele both in the UK and internationally. Notably, Siddique is among a select few solicitors who have advised independent Shariah Councils and practiced Islamic family law at top-100 law firms.
Siddique’s journey in the legal profession began with a degree in Law from Northumbria University. With over 15 years of legal experience, he has held various roles at numerous prestigious law firms, honing his expertise and gaining recognition for his skills and dedication.
Beyond his legal practice, Siddique is a fervent advocate for legal change. He has worked with government bodies on issues related to unregistered faith and non-qualifying marriage ceremonies. As Deputy Director of the Register Our Marriage Campaign, he actively campaigns for legislative reform to ensure that marriage ceremonies of all faiths fall within the purview of the law, thus ensuring financial protection for divorcing parties, regardless of their faith or belief system.
Siddique is a frequent media commentator on Shariah law and Islamic family law, appearing on TV and BBC Radio. He is also an Advisory Group Member for the Nuffield Foundation Advisory Project titled “When is a wedding not a marriage?”
In the community, Siddique has provided legal advisory support to the Sharee Council and served as a fundraising board member for the West Yorkshire Police Support Unit.
Currently, Siddique is a Committee Member for Resolution West & North Yorkshire and serves as Safeguarding Governor at Silcoates, where his legal expertise contribute significantly to the school’s governance and development. Siddique Patel’s multifaceted career showcases his commitment to legal excellence, advocacy, and community engagement.
Currently, Siddique serves as a Committee Member for Resolution West & North Yorkshire and as Safeguarding Governor at Silcoates School. His specialist legal background and dedication to safeguarding provide invaluable support to the school’s governance and development, helping to shape a safe and inclusive learning environment.
Barbara retired as Headteacher of The King’s School, Pontefract, in 2017, after thirty-five years in education, principally at a secondary level, but also in further and adult education.
Born in Hemsworth, Barbara was educated at The Sacred Heart RC School, Hemsworth and St Wilfrid’s RC High School in Featherstone. She went on to study for a BSc in French and Mathematics at the University of Manchester, Institute of Science & Technology,
She has taught in a range of schools and across a range of subjects: Mathematics, French, Spanish and European Studies before moving into Computing and Information Technology.
A life-long learner, she has completed the National Professional Qualification for Headship and a Masters Diploma in Educational Leadership at Leeds Metropolitan University. She has also worked with the National College of School Leadership, where she was trained and practised as a Research Associate, jointly producing and publishing materials on ‘Learning-centred Leadership”, with a team led by Professors John West Burnham and Geoff Southworth.
Barbara continues to have a love of learning and of teaching and she is delighted to be a Governor of Silcoates School as it continues on its journey to excellence.
Mark became a Governor in 2015 after his youngest daughter left the school.
He has a long connection to Silcoates, being a former pupil (1977-87) and the son a former Governor. His two daughters were also educated at Silcoates.
Mark is a dental surgeon and has practices in Wakefield and Leeds. He focuses his time on treating complex cases requiring advanced rehabilitation using implants.
He is the sole Principal of Horbury Dental Care and is a partner at Dental Excellence, Harewood: he is therefore very experienced in running businesses which are highly regulated and have a large staff payroll.
After leaving Silcoates, Mark was educated at Guys Hospital in London and subsequently completed post graduate studies at the Royal College of Surgeons of England.
Mark spends his downtime (like many middle aged men of his age) out on his road bike and loves challenges such as crossing the Pyranees over the iconic Cols. He is also a keen rugby follower and can often be found at Twickenham, where he is a debenture holder.
Mark sits on the Finance and General Purposes Committee and takes a particular interest in how the school promotes and markets itself, bringing ideas from local business into the school setting. A strong supporter of sport, he has championed opportunities for pupils to go on tour and experience different cultures. Mark has provided sponsorship for Hockey and Rugby tours, and also contributed to the planning and development of the Tanzania project.
