Our Central Team

Proud to be Chief Education Officer of our thriving Multi-Academy Trust.

I originally moved up to Leeds University to complete my first degree as a research scientist, but quickly found myself immersed in youthwork in Armley ranging from 3-15 years and went on to do a PGCE in Primary Education, choosing to remain in Leeds to embark on my career.

I began teaching in 1988, working firstly in Leeds schools for 12 years, before moving to North Yorkshire in 2000 as a Deputy Headteacher and then a Headteacher, with my first headship at Husthwaite CE School.

I became Headteacher at Riverside School in 2008, one of our founder STAR schools, and CEO in September 2020. I have been part of STAR through every step on its journey through an alliance, a Teaching School and now a Trust. The culture and community of our group of schools is something I am absolutely passionate about!

I am also Chair of the North Yorkshire Schools Forum and a governor at the Boroughbridge High/King James (secondary) Federation for more than 12 years in total.

Outside of work I am married with three grown up children, my youngest studying education at university. At times, I can be found ‘running’, in the allotment or trying to tame our wonderful, ridiculous, massive goldendoodle ‘puppy.’

You can find me on LinkedIn at: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/ian-yapp-7665492b

I was born and raised in the United States and I graduated with a degree in Financial Management in 1998.  I began working at General Electric shortly after in various roles in finance, risk , operations and project management.  I am a graduate of their Financial Management Program and I am Six Sigma Black Belt. 

In 2004 I had the opportunity to move to London to work as an Operation Leader in one of their offices.  It is London where I met my husband and in 2006 we moved to the Selby area.  After we were married, I left GE and began working for an insurance broker in Leeds as a project manager and worked across England, Scotland and Wales working in their mergers and acquisitions team. 

I took a short career break after my son, Matthew, was born in 2009 so that I could spend time with him and 2011 our daughter Emma was born.

I missed working with people and in 2014 I applied to work as an administrator at our village’s primary school.  I loved that job and it was here that I fell in love with working in education.  There is no other profession that is more rewarding than working in a school.

I have been with the Trust since 2017 as a school business manager, CFO and COO.  I was finally able to take my previous knowledge in the commercial world and apply it to what I love doing in education. 

I hold a certificate in Financial Reporting for Academies and a CIPFA Level 7 Qualification in Operational and Financial Leadership in Schools. 

My hobbies, other than baking, include reading, walking, gardening and spending time with my family and our small dog, Pippa.

After moving up to Yorkshire in December 2002, I joined Tadcaster Grammar School in February 2003 working in the Main School Office and then as PA to the Headteacher, before joining the MAT Central Team in September 2020 as Executive Assistant.  I have two sons who both attended TGS.

I have been lucky to be part of the STAR MAT since it was formed in 2018 and look forward to my continued involvement as it grows and develops further. 

The first 25 years of my professional career was spent as a British Army Officer, where I delivered strategic operational planning, defence engagement activities and intelligence functions across the global stage.  In 2017 I retired from military service and joined the corporate private sector where I worked for Amazon as a Regional Operations Manager and, thereafter, Unipart Rail as the Director of Logistics & Business Transformation.  Whilst I enjoyed these challenging roles and learned a huge amount during my time with these large organisations, I felt that I needed to be engaged at more of a local community level in my day to day work to be fulfilled.  

So, in 2023 I joined the STAR MAT as the Business Manager for Sherburn High School.  In January 2024 I moved across to the Central Team as the Head of Operations where I am now charged with process optimisation, digital transformation and contract service management across the Trust.  I love working in the Trust, I whole-heartedly believe in our vision and I continue to feel privileged to be able to contribute to the shaping of young peoples futures.

Academically, I hold a suite of postgraduate qualifications in operational planning, risk management, public health and leadership, and I'm currently studying for an MBA.  Outside of work, I am married with two grown up children, one grandson and one dog.  In my spare time I play cricket and am the Secretary for Sherburn Eversley Cricket Club.  You may also catch me out and about on my motorbike or partaking in extreme adventurous sporting activities - basically, anything fast or dangerous which gets the adrenaline going!

I am the Estates Director for the STAR MAT.  I have two young boys aged 7 and 10 and have a passion for cricket, all things food and getting outside and exploring!  I have worked for schools for over 10 years in various site management roles and before that have done a few things including being a bus driver and working in the mountains in Italy.  My job allows me to visit all the schools in our Trust and I enjoy seeing how they provide such wonderful learning experiences for the children.

As a qualified Chartered Management Accountant, I enjoyed a long and varied career in commercial finance before moving into education business management in 2016, enabling me to work closer to home.  I have been involved in the STAR Multi Academy Trust since its inception in various roles; joining the central finance team as the full-time Trust Finance Lead in January 2022. Both my sons have benefited from STAR MAT primary and secondary education – the eldest is now off to university and the youngest has just started in the sixth form. 

I started working in the education sector as my daughter began school. She attended one of the STAR MAT Primaries and is now studying at Tadcaster Grammar School. I am now working in the Finance Team at Rose Cottage and enjoying being part of the STAR MAT Team working with staff across the Trust.

I am a Mum of two young children who both attend one of our local STAR MAT Primary schools. I started my career within the Trust as a General Teaching Assistant in a primary school and have since progressed to my current role within the Central Team as HR & Payroll Coordinator. I am currently studying my CIPD Associate Level Diploma in People Management and love being a part of our fantastic Trust. 

I joined The STAR MAT as Head of Governance in January 2024. I have over 20 years of experience working with charitable companies and in governance, having previously been Executive Director of a national educational charity and Governance and GDPR Manager at a social care charity. I have over 10 years' experience in school governance, mainly as Chair of Governors for a federation of three primary schools in Yorkshire.

I am passionate about education and good governance, and supporting school leaders and our unsung heroes - our school governors and Trustees, who all work in a voluntary capacity - in ensuring the best possible all-round education for our children.  

I am an advocate of life-long learning and improvement, and following my secondary education at Tadcaster Grammar School and subsequent degree in Economics, I have undertaken further degree-level studies in Mathematics, and professional studies in governance. 

Outside of work, I am kept busy by providing a taxi service and listening ear to my two teenage children, and by my pampered Persian cat that thinks it's a dog. In quiet moments, you may find me in a swimming pool; playing one of over 100 strategy board games in my possession; or singing (badly) to cheesy music. 

I recently relocated to North Yorkshire and joined the STAR MAT in June 2022 as Executive Chef. I have previous experience of developing new business areas within catering and am honoured to be a part of the new STAR EATS’ team. In my spare time I enjoy going to gigs, DIY and walking.

A teacher for over thirty years, I studied English at University College of Wales, Aberystwyth, followed by a PGCE in Secondary Education from the University of London, Institute of Education. I began my career in London as an English teacher and have worked in a range of schools in the UK and overseas. I was appointed Head of English at Tadcaster Grammar School in 2005 and was most recently Deputy Headteacher and Designated Safeguarding Lead at the school, a post I held for over a decade. I am also a Chair of Governors for a local Pupil Referral Service.

Having worked at TGS for more than half of my career, I know our Trust's schools, our many partnership organisations and our communities well. I hope this understanding and experience will be invaluable in allowing me to support our schools and Trust.  A role I am excited and privileged to provide.

After working for myself as a painter and decorator for many years, I joined the STAR MAT in March 2021 as Maintenance Supervisor.  I enjoy the diverse and challenging role and hope to develop and grow with the Trust as it goes from strength to strength.  In my spare time, I enjoy walking, gardening and spending time with family and friends.  Most recently I have taken up cycling. 

I started working for North Yorkshire County Council in 2003 in the Library & Information Service and then moved to be a School Business Manager in a primary school. I joined Tadcaster Grammar School as the Operations Manager in September 2018 and then joined the Central Team in September 2020 as the Operations & Compliance Manager. I have found that all my previous experience helps in my current role, which is varied and interesting.

I was also a Girl Guide leader for nearly 10 years and a School Governor for a number of years; however, all my spare time is now spent bringing up my 2 little girls!

I grew up in North Wales, and only ever wanted to be like Miss Williams, my Y1 teacher. After completing my degree in York, I started my teaching career in Leeds. I spent around twenty years in a variety of roles, finally leaving classroom-based work to become a local authority adviser. As this role evolved, I wanted to find a different way to support and work with schools. I took on an interim Headship, then spent some time working for York Diocese as an adviser whilst developing my independent work across the sector, covering a wide range of contexts and supporting both Trusts and maintained schools. This is where my journey with STAR MAT began.

I have lived in North Yorkshire for over 30 years now, but love nothing more than going back to North Wales (despite the M62!). I love to walk, read and listen to music whilst navigating life with two young adult children who keep me on my toes as they work out their next life steps.

Visiting any school is an absolute privilege and I continue to be in awe of the dedication and commitment shown by everyone who works in these wonderful places.

I am currently an education consultant working with MATs on school improvement projects and also part time interim positions such as MAT CEO for Trusts in ‘challenging circumstances’.

I took early retirement in January 2024 from the position of National Director of Education for Ormiston Academies Trust. OAT is the third largest ‘system’ Trust of 43 Academies (31 secondary, seven primaries, four AP academies and a special school). I had overall responsibility for all aspects of education and training, provision and outcomes in all these diverse settings. I was a member of the Executive, contributing to the wider aspects of finance, HR and estates. This role is a ‘high profile’ role in and around academies, LAs, DfE, ESFA and regulators. 

I have inspected for Ofsted for 15 years and also worked as a Senior Her Majesty’s Inspector, leading inspections and reviews across the age range and different provisions.

My last headship post was as Executive Headteacher of St John Fisher Harrogate and Graham School Scarborough. St John Fisher is a highly successful 11 to 18 school with outstanding outcomes, and as NLE I was Executive Headteacher of three schools in special measures, leading them out of a category and academy sponsorship. This was my third substantive headship and sixth school.