Senior Leadership Team

I am enormously proud to serve as Principal of a school that sits at the heart of its community, and I am ambitious about what we can achieve together. Whether you are a current student or parent, considering The Farnley Academy for your child, interested in joining our staff, or simply wanting to learn more about us, I hope our website gives you a strong sense of the academy we are determined to be.

At The Farnley Academy, our ambition is simple: every child should receive an exceptional education, regardless of their background, starting point or individual need.

Scott Cosgrove graduated from Leeds University in 2000 after completing a BSc in Environmental Science: Energy Option. He completed his PGCE in Mathematics at Leeds Trinity University in 2001. Scott spent the first 10 years of his teaching career at Crofton High School in Wakefield where he quickly established himself as a Head of Department which achieved the highest progress for mathematics in the Local Authority.

In 2011 Scott moved to The Farnley Academy as a Director of Mathematics, in his first year in charge, mathematics results improved by over 15% and have since been consistently one of the highest in the local authority. Scott joined the Senior Leadership Team in 2012 and has been Vice Principal from 2015. In addition, he is a Specialist Leader of Education and has worked his school leaders to transform Mathematics Departments across the region.

His responsibilities have included CIAG (Careers Information Advice and Guidance), Student Outcomes and Director of Teaching School and his current role is Head of Key Stage 4. As a member of the local community, Scott is driven by his desire to see students from the area gaining the best qualifications possible to allow them access to the best possible opportunities.

Scott has great admiration for The GORSE Academies Trust and knows the transformational work of the Trust is vital in improving lives for young people in the West of the City.

Lyndsey Naden joined the The Farnley Academy in 2009 after graduating from Leeds Becketts University with a degree in Physical Education. Lyndsey joined the academy in post as a Teaching Assistant and within a year progressed to become a Cover Supervisor, alongside delivering PE lessons to the feeder primary schools. With key contacts developed, Lyndsey was given the role of Head of Year 7 in 2012, delivering The Farnley Academy’s transition programme. In 2013 she gained her teaching qualification through the assessment only route at the University of Cumbria and received Certificate of Excellence from the Pearson Teaching Awards for her studies during this time. Lyndsey was Head of Year 7 for four years leading a team of enthusiastic form tutors, ensuring they effectively supported and monitored the progress of their students both academically and socially, encouraging high standards of work and behaviour. In 2016 Lyndsey was promoted to Strategic Leader of Key Stage 4, supporting Year 10 and following them through to Year 11 to study for their final GCSE examinations. The core values of The GORSE Academies Trust are a true reflection of her own values and ethos, showing that Positive Discipline, passion and dedication ensure that every child reaches their true potential. Lyndsey widened her experience and skills by becoming an Academic Progress Leader in 2018, helping to provide support and drive in Year 11 outcomes and to ensure every student left The Farnley Academy with the gift of choice. Lyndsey firstly became appointed to Assistant Principal in charge of Student Experience, within a year Lyndsey moved to Assistant Principal in charge of Behaviour. which reflects her core belief in building student's self regulated behaviour, alongside developing positive relationships with students and the community that she has built over her time at The Farnley Academy.

Chelsey Loveday graduated from the University of Lincoln in 2012 with a degree in Performing Arts. Whilst completing her degree, Chelsey gained valuable work experience within the education field as she volunteered at several primary and secondary academies.

Following her degree Chelsey was employed at The Farnley Academy as a cover supervisor where she was able to develop her pedagogy. In 2013 Chelsey then trained within the GORSE School Centred Initial Teaching Training Programme and specialised in Drama. She then began her teaching career as a Newly Qualified Teacher, in 2014, as the Lead Teacher of Drama at The Ruth Gorse Academy. In 2015 Chelsey was then appointed the role of Head of Year at The Ruth Gorse Academy. Since then, she has progressed her knowledge and experience and specialises in pastoral work and student experience.
In March 2020 Chelsey was appointed as the Assistant Principal responsible attendance, behaviour, and safeguarding at The Ruth Gorse Academy and then Bruntcliffe Academy where she was responsible for Attendance and Student Experience. Chelsey joined The Farnley Academy with responsibility for attendance in 2021, and in December 2023 became the Assistant Principal responsible for Inclusion and Safeguarding, as this is an area of education she is extremely passionate about.

Tim van der Gucht graduated from the University of Nottingham in 2013 with a BSci (Hons) degree in Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine. Upon graduating, Tim joined The Farnley Academy as a Science Technician before quickly deciding to pursue a career in teaching and completing the School Direct ITT programme with what is now the Gorse SCITT; achieving Qualified Teacher Status in 2015.

In 2017, Tim became Deputy Leader of Science, responsible for teaching and learning, staff CPD, and year 9 curriculum and progress. During this time, Tim also played an integral role in preparing Science departments across The GORSE Academies Trust for the reform GCSE specifications by assisting in the design and implementation of a new curriculum and assessment model at KS3 and KS4. Following this position, Tim assumed the role of Curriculum Leader of Science in 2020 and oversaw continued improvement in the progress scores for Combined Science and Separate Science, including results for GCSE Separate Science in the top 1% of the country.

Tim has also held responsibilities in other areas of the academy including as a Duke of Edinburgh Supervisor, Teaching & Learning Leader supporting the academy's quality assurance professional development programmes and Academic Progress Leader for Year 9. In addition, Tim has worked as a marker for the AQA exam board for the last 5 years.

Since joining The GORSE Academies Trust, Tim has seen the critical part it plays in transforming the educational outcomes of young people in Leeds and strives to provide a significant contribution to this.

Hilary graduated from the University of Cambridge in 2007 with an undergraduate degree in History. She was accepted onto the Deloitte graduate scheme in Management Consultancy and spent several years working on large-scale projects at public sector and charitable organisations, which brought her to Yorkshire. Unwilling to relinquish her love of History, she completed an MA part-time alongside her work in project management, and in 2012 received funding to undertake a PhD at the University of Sheffield. This gave her the experience of teaching in a Higher Education setting and she discovered her passion for educating young people. When she completed her PhD, Hilary trained as a secondary History teacher with Teach First and was placed in an academy in Bradford where she became Head of Year. She joined TFA as Head of Year 7 in 2023 , keen to work within the GORSE trust, whose values align so closely to her own - in particular the belief that education should give every young person the Gift of Choice. Through her role as a classroom teacher and pastoral leader, Hilary seeks every opportunity to support students to be motivated, empowered and resilient individuals who thrive in school. Her commitment to providing young people with exceptional pastoral support led her to be appointed as Assistant Principal responsible for Inclusion and Safeguarding from September 2024.

Paul Downes graduated from the University of Lancaster in 2011 with a BA (Hons) in German and Spanish Studies and then a year later from the University of Leeds, where he completed a Postgraduate Diploma in Conference Interpreting and Translation studies.

After two years working with his languages in the private sector, in 2014, Paul began training as a Modern Foreign Languages teacher with the Gorse School Centred Initial Teacher Training programme and secured a teaching position from September 2015 at The Farnley Academy. Paul was promoted to Assistant Leader of MFL after his first year of teaching and then two years later to the role of Curriculum Leader of MFL. Under Paul’s leadership and through his knowledge and implementation of engaging teaching and learning strategies, the MFL department has consistently secured outstanding outcomes in Spanish, French and German, the numbers of students studying MFL have significantly increased, and Mandarin has been successfully added to the curriculum and well-received by those who study it. Paul has also ensured that students who study MFL have the opportunity to visit these countries and enrich their cultural and linguistic experiences; something that he is passionate about.

In December 2022, Paul was appointed to the post of Assistant Principal and currently has responsibility for attendance within the Academy. Paul is passionate about ensuring that all students have access to an outstanding education and loves the fact that his role affords him every opportunity to work closely with students and families across our community, ensuring our young people achieve the very best they can.

Ben Harding graduated in 2014 from Leeds Metropolitan University with a BA (Hons) in Physical Education.
Upon completion of his degree, Ben worked at Fulneck school, where he enjoyed learning about the private sector and developing his teaching of both Primary and Secondary sectors. Ben began training as a Physical Education teacher with the Gorse School Centred Initial Teacher Training programme in 2015 and secured a teaching position from September 2016. During his teacher training Ben spent time training at both The Morley Academy and The Farnley Academy and thoroughly enjoyed them both for their diverse and passionate approach to teaching. Ben returned to The Farnley Academy in 2018 to take on the role of Physical Education Teacher and was subsequently promoted to Curriculum Leader in January 2021. During his time at The Farnley Academy Ben has held roles of Student Experience Leader and Assistant Curriculum Leader as well as Curriculum Leader of Health and Social care, a role that he did alongside his Leader of PE role.

Ben has played an pivotal role in ensuring that students studying BTEC Sport have secured positive outcomes and has always maintained a strong set of results, that has placed them in the top 3% in the country at times in his years of leading the department and has developed the course over the last few years, with it consistently being one of the most popular choices for KS4 students. Ben has also played a crucial role in providing opportunities for students. He has a passion for ensuring that students have a plethora of opportunities to do and therefore made it a pledge to have an extensive extra-curricular programme, that also involved representing the school in a wide range of sports. Over time this has meant that Ben has dedicated his time to exposing students to events and fixtures involving football, rugby, athletics, netball, cricket, volleyball, rowing, karate and table tennis to name a few.

Ben has also been an advocate for teacher training, having been an ECT mentor for many years as well as a SCITT mentor. These have been roles that he has enjoyed, meaning that he has had an impact on future teachers, providing them with the skillset and experience to allow them to thrive in their own careers.

In September 2024, Ben was appointed as an Assistant Principal for Student Experience. This is a role that Ben is extremely passionate about, where he can have an impact on the opportunities and experience that student have during their time at The Farnley Academy.

Joanna Booth graduated from the University of Leeds in 2005 with a BSc in Medical Science. Upon graduating she completed her PGCE in Biology at the University of Huddersfield and began teaching at Norton College in Malton, North Yorkshire. Within the first couple of years Joanna took on her first leadership role as Key Stage 4 Cooordinator for Science, responsible for the Key Stage 4 curriculum and assessments. Whilst teaching Joanna developed a passion for research and completed a MA in Education for Teaching and Learning. This provided Joanna with the opportunity to run CPD sessions to share good practice and improve the teaching of others. She also completed a Post Graduate Certificate in Chemistry Education giving her the knowledge and skills to teach both A Level Biology and Chemistry.

In 2012 Joanna began working at The Farnley Academy as Assistant Leader for Science and also became a marker for the exam board AQA. As a result of her curriculum and exam rubric expertise and excellent track record of student success behind her she was promoted to Deputy Leader in 2016 then shortly after to Curriculum Leader in 2017. Under her leadership the Science Department have developed an engaging and ambitious curriculum which has continued to produce outstanding results for our students.

Joanna became a member of the Senior Leadership Team in 2020, initially leading on Student Experience and Community Engagement. In her current role as Assistant Principal for SEND & Responsive Curriculum, she is dedicated to ensuring that all students receive the support they need to thrive. Joanna is passionate about removing barriers to learning and creating an inclusive environment where every student feels valued, confident and able to achieve their best.

Sam Vickers graduated from the University of Hull in 2012 with a BA (Hons) in History.

Sam began training as a History teacher with the Gorse School Centred Initial Teacher Training programme in 2014 and secured a teaching position from September 2015 at the Farnley Academy. Sam was promoted to Curriculum Leader of History during his second year of teaching at the academy. Under Sam’s leadership and through the creation of a relevant, rich and diverse History curriculum, the department has consistently achieved exceptional outcomes for all young people, including one History student achieving the highest mark in the country in 2019.

Sam has played an integral role across the Gorse Academies Trust in the creation of an inspiring and engaging curriculum for our young people. Since 2022, Sam has also undertaken the role of Subject Knowledge Lead for History within the Gorse School Centred Initial Teacher Training programme. As part of this role, Sam has shared his expertise with trainee History teachers to help prepare them as they embark upon their career within the profession.

In 2023, Sam took on a new role as Director of Humanities, in which he oversaw both the Geography and History departments. Both subjects recently celebrated excellent pupil outcomes in the 2024 examinations. Additionally, Sam has also worked as an exam marker for the OCR GCSE History B exam board during his time at the academy.
In September 2024, Sam was appointed to the post of Assistant Principal and will lead on the Pupil Premium experience within the academy. This is an area which Sam feels incredibly passionate about and he will be using his experiences to date to help provide the best outcomes for our young people.

Rosanna Carney graduated from Leeds Metropolitan University in 2010 with a BA honours degree in Contemporary Performance Practices then obtained her PGCE from the university of Huddersfield. Rosanna has always had a passion for Drama, Theatre and performance. As well as performing on the stage herself, before qualifying as a teacher Rosanna worked as a musical theatre practitioner, running her own theatre classes.

Rosanna’s first teaching post was at St Wilfrid's Catholic High School in Wakefield where she led the Performing Arts qualifications at both GCSE and A level; including enriching the extra-curricular offer and parental engagement with a plethora of Cabernet evenings, concerts, shows and presentation evenings.

In her second year of teaching, Rosanna became Head of Drama at St Thomas A Beckets Catholic High School, where she transformed the Drama and Performing Arts department. The community travelled far and wide to see Rosanna’s school productions with many students opting to go to the school for the Drama provision.

In 2019 Rosanna joined Bruntcliffe Academy as Curriculum Leader of Drama where she continued to have an impact within her subject specialism, creating an outstanding department and subsequently leading to her promotion to assistant principal. Rosanna has been an active member of the Teaching and Learning group, providing high quality training to staff and has effectively mentored and coached staff, both in their initial teacher training and first two years of teaching as an ECT. Rosanna has also been staff governor and a member of the local governing body for both Bruntcliffe and The Farnley Academy for the last 3 years, a role that she has taken great pride in.

Rosanna joins The Farnley Academy with a wealth of experience, committed to her role as assistant principal in leading Teaching and Learning, developing the new generation of teachers through the ITT and ECT programme, including being the SLT link to Year 10, facilitating excellent teaching and learning to all our young people.

Faye Brocksom graduated in 2016 with a BSC in Midwifery Studies from Sheffield Hallam University. Upon graduating Faye worked within the NHS as a registered midwife for 2 years, at Leeds Teaching Hospitals. Prior to this Faye worked in a variety of differing roles in the public sector such as immigration casework at the Home Office and project support to the team that implemented the Child Maintenance System. Faye joined The Farnley Academy in 2018 as PA to the Principal and within a year was promoted to Operations Manager, responsible for the management of the HR, PA and reception teams.

In September 2022, Faye was appointed to the post of Business Manager – a position where she is able to apply her broad range of experience in ensuring the operational activity of the academy runs smoothly and successfully. Faye is hugely passionate about the student experience and strives to ensure this is exceptional across the non-teaching areas of the school.