Jim studied Design at Nottingham Trent University, graduating with a first-class honours degree, before completing his PGCE at Manchester Metropolitan University. He later gained a Master’s degree in Design Education from Sheffield Hallam University and holds the National Professional Qualification for Headship (NPQH). Jim is also a Level 7 qualified professional leadership and executive coach, reflecting his commitment to developing leaders and building strong professional cultures in schools. 

Jim began teaching in 2004 at Tupton Hall School, before moving to Hope Valley College in 2007, where he became Head of Design & Technology, Head of House and Lead Coach. Over nine years, he developed innovative STEM curricula and introduced whole-school coaching to improve teaching practice. 

In 2015, Jim moved into senior leadership, working for the Nova Education Trust, first as Assistant Headteacher at Alfreton Grange School, then as Vice Principal at NUAST, where he helped establish a new specialist STEM school in Nottingham. He joined Meden School in 2018 as Deputy Headteacher and was appointed Headteacher a year later. 

As Headteacher of Meden School, Jim provided strategic leadership to ensure high academic standards and a thriving school community. Under his leadership, students consistently achieved above the national average at GCSE and A Level for student progress and value added. He set high expectations for learning and achievement, coached and developed staff to enhance their impact to support student achievement and personal development. During this time, Meden was recognised nationally as a Voice 21 Centre of Excellence for Oracy, showcasing its commitment to empowering students with the confidence and skills to communicate effectively. 

Alongside his school leadership roles, Jim is a trustee of EngineeringUK, a national not-for-profit organisation working with schools, industry, and government to inspire the next generation of engineers and increase diversity in engineering and technology careers. He has also contributed nationally as an exam developer for A-Level Engineering and as a Design & Technology curriculum consultant for the DfE, supporting high standards in design and engineering education. 

In 2023, Jim became Strategic Trust Lead for Culture & Coaching with Nova Education Trust, alongside his headteacher role at Meden, supporting leaders across 20 schools to develop strong cultures and effective leadership. 

Jim joined Silverdale School in 2025 as Headteacher, bringing his passion for coaching, culture, and high-quality teaching and learning to the school community. 

Richard studied History at the University of Huddersfield and undertook his PGCE at the University of Sheffield. Through this Richard developed a love of Early Modern British History, especially the Tudor period.

He began teaching in 2002 in Oxfordshire. He became Head of History in 2005 and then Faculty Leader for Humanities in 2007, where he led and managed the History, Geography, RE, Sociology, Psychology, Philosophy and Law departments. Following nearly 10 years in middle leadership Richard returned to the north of England as an Assistant Headteacher for Teaching and Learning at a school in Rotherham.

Richard joined Silverdale School to pursue his passion for post-16 education and became Head of Sixth Form in 2016. In 2017 Silverdale School recorded the best ever A-level results and this significantly contributed to the school being recognised as the best state secondary in the north by the Sunday Times.  After a successful year when Richard supported SLT as a Deputy Headteacher, he was successful in becoming a full-time, permanent Deputy Headteacher in 2018.

Samira joined Silverdale School in 2014, originally as Assistant Headteacher. She has worked at a number of local secondary schools and has taught abroad in Washington DC and Kashmir. She studied Economics and Accountancy at the University of Sheffield, before training as a teacher.

During her career she has been involved with London Challenge, a school improvement programme which originated in the capital and saw dramatic improvement in underperforming schools.

She is relentless in her drive to raise and maintain high standards in education, with a focus on achieving excellent student outcomes, particularly for those young people who are vulnerable and/or disadvantaged. She is passionate about ensuring that all students have the opportunity to achieve success and played an instrumental role in the ‘Outstanding’ Ofsted judgement in November 2014, leading on Pupil Progress and Assessment. She now also oversees the Strategic Co-ordination of the Sixth Form.

David began his career in education as a teaching assistant in 2012, having studied history at Newcastle University. He then trained to become an English teacher in Manchester with the Teach First Leadership Development Program, before achieving the NASENCo award and becoming deputy SENDCo (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Co-ordinator). Joining Silverdale in 2018, David spent five years as the SENDCo before becoming Assistant Head responsible for culture and personal development.

From the earliest moments of his career as a classroom teaching assistant, David has enjoyed working with students of all backgrounds and abilities. As SENDCo, his work has been focused on equity, diversity and inclusion, and now as assistant head, he plans to build on this to support the development of a representative and inclusive school community to which all feel they can belong.

David joined Silverdale as Head of Science in 2018 and has taken on the role of Assistant Headteacher from January 2020. Since becoming Assistant Headteacher, David has held a wide array of responsibilities but throughout all believes that education should be aimed at developing and supporting young people to be ready for their future.

David has been teaching science in schools across South Yorkshire since 2008. He grew up in South Wales and has a bachelor’s degree in physics from Swansea University, and completed his PGCE at Swansea Metropolitan University. He has held numerous middle leadership roles and has acted as an NQT and ITT mentor. He is passionate about providing training and support to all colleagues to help them be the best they can be.

David has a strong belief in developing students through wider school activities, effective teaching pedagogy and practical skills in the classroom. He is passionate about the need to collaborate between subject areas and the wider community to ensure that all students receive a high-quality learning experience.

Born and raised in and around Sheffield, Blake holds diplomas in management and strategic leadership from the Institute of Leadership & Management. After a career in the NHS, including 14 years as a Practice Manager, he joined Silverdale in 2023.

His ambition is to take the school's current support service from good to exemplary, and he is passionate about providing the support structures necessary for others to develop and flourish. After many years in the NHS, Blake appreciates the shared and unifying focus of the students’ education as the thing that ties everything we do together.

Away from work, he enjoys spending time with his family and watching science-fiction and fantasy.