Leadership Team

David Lord
CEO Together Learning Trust

David draws on his extensive experience in leadership and school improvement, along with his work ethic, powerful vision and compelling communication skills to build the positive relationships that make Together Learning Trust Schools truly remarkable places to work and study. By insisting that everyone lives by our deep rooted values of integrity, creativity, excellence his passion to lead systems that develop staff and students, ensuring they are front and centre of all we do.

David is an LLE, NPQH lead facilitator,  Member of the Calderdale Children's Safeguarding Board, Calderdale and Kirklees Teaching Hub Governing Board member and was proud to showcase the fruits of 7 years of outstanding headship in the BBC ‘Our School’ Series 6.

Darren Atkinson
Head of School

I have the great pleasure in being part of the leadership team, supporting The Brooksbank School in its drive towards sustained progress. As part of my role, I have the privilege to lead on outcomes across the school, reviewing and supporting students across curriculum and pastoral, and refining the processes towards greater performance and progress for all.

My focus is on student achievement across all key stages and year groups, working with our amazing teachers and support staff to review progress and attainment, implement strategies to support all students and provide the platform needed for students to achieve their targets in year and before they leave the school.

To be a success, students need to focus on their studies, work hard on their areas for improvement and engage positively with all staff so that the relationships they build provide them with the support they need to achieve. My door is always open to parents and students who wish to discuss their education, and who need help with anything school related

Nathan Bowker
Deputy Headteacher

It is an absolute privilege to be able to lead on inclusion at Brooksbank School. By endeavouring to create a safe, and inclusive environment, students will flourish, realise their potential and be their best self.  

My commitment to providing outstanding pastoral care will impact on every single student. I am committed to help educate and transform the lives and opportunities of all students I serve; underpinned by a relentless commitment to do the right thing! 

Students will want to be the best they can be, understand and respect their peers, be happy and confident individuals. 

Zandra Puddephatt
Deputy Headteacher

My role is to provide opportunities for students to develop as strong, independent and resilient people through a strong focus of Personal Development. Encouraging students to develop character and values that will prepare them for their futures and to be the best version of themselves is a key element of my role. It is important we listen to our students and Student Voice will play a key part in meeting the needs of all our students.
The transition from Primary to Secondary is vital and I have developed strong links with our feeder primary schools to enable a smooth transition to take place.
 
Wellbeing is important too and I co-ordinate a strong team of staff who provide appropriate well-being support for our students. It is important in these roles that I liaise closely with parents and outside agencies in order to enable all students, in our inclusive school, to achieve their potential and be happy and confident individuals when they leave Brooksbank. 

Dave Puddephatt
Director of Sixth Form / Assistant Headteacher

My main area of responsibility is the strategic leadership and management of Post-16 education (Sixth Form). With nearly 300 students, studying more than 35 different Level 2 and Level 3 qualifications, ensuring students are given the correct information, advice and guidance to get them onto the right courses is a key part of my role. Monitoring the academic performance of students as they progress through the Sixth Form is also very important, as is their personal development. Equipping all our students with the skills, personal qualities and confidence to be successful in the next phase of their lives, whether that is university, employment or further training, is another crucial part of my role.

Noel Watkins
Assistant Headteacher

I am responsible for the generation and strategic use of assessment data across the school. I work with Faculty Leaders to ensure assessments meet the needs of the curriculum and inform teaching and learning to drive up standards, improving outcomes for all. I also have responsibility for reporting student performance information to key stakeholders (including families), providing a starting point for conversations with teachers about next steps, enabling students to access their full potential. 
I am also responsible for the provision of examinations across the school, both internal and external and have oversight of the many vocational qualifications the school offers at Key Stages Four and Five. 

Damian Ball
Assistant Headteacher

My role as Assistant Headteacher is to work within the behaviour and inclusion team to ensure that students maximise their potential. It is important that we create a culture where students can flourish.  Therefore, I lead on every aspect of personal development.  Supporting, motivating, and encouraging all our young people to build their character enabling them to thrive.  This gives students the skills and fortitude to overcome any issues that may affect their learning experience.  Inspiring happy, confident, successful young people who have a real zest for life is at the heart of everything we do. I also lead on a range of other key elements of school life that are crucial to setting and upholding the incredibly high expectations and standards (both academic and extra-curricular) we have for students.  These include assembly and form time themes and activities, intervention strategies for those students in need particular motivation and having direct line management of the PE department with the aim of placing Brooksbank back at the top for sporting opportunity and excellence.

Donna Clarke
Assistant Headteacher

I am responsible for behaviour and standards at The Brooksbank School, working closely with the wider pastoral, attendance, safeguarding and inclusion teams to proactively support students' wellbeing and, in turn, their academic attainment. I am passionate about ensuring the high expectations we have of our students are upheld both within and outside the classroom, thus promoting a positive culture that permeates through every aspect of school life and ensures students are safe, learning, happy and thriving.

Jo Nutter
Assistant Headteacher

As part of the Quality of Education team, I am responsible for the school timetable as well as contributing to the improvement of teaching and learning across the school. I work alongside the team in supporting middle leaders and their faculties in creating exciting curriculum areas that deliver progress in terms of knowledge, qualities and skills of students. In addition, I also assist in the delivery of CPD opportunities for staff through whole staff training, workshops and teach meets.

Laura Farley
Assistant Headteacher

My role as part of the Quality of Education team is to support staff with their everyday teaching to enable every student to reach their potential.  I have responsibility for initial teacher trainees and as such coordinate and liaise their placements with our various providers.  I also manage the early careers framework at Brooksbank, supporting and managing the training for teachers in their first and second year of teaching.  I am also involved in ensuring we have a curriculum that will be the most effective for all our students.