WAKEFIELD - Key Persons


Clare Allcock

Job Titles:
  • Group Executive Director
  • Chairman of the Youth Association Board of Trustees
Clare has worked in the further education sector for almost 25 years, spending the last decade at Wakefield College leading on Student Experience and Support. Clare is also the Chair of the Youth Association Board of Trustees and is a coach/mentor with the Yorkshire Accord coaching and mentoring scheme. Clare is responsible for: Student Experience Safeguarding & Prevent Student Engagement Student Support & Services Student Wellbeing Pastoral Curriculum CEIAG, Guidance & Support Enrolment Sustainability

Jason Pepper

Job Titles:
  • Group Executive Director
Jason has held senior finance positions at a range of further and higher education institutions over the past 25 years. He has been regional representative for colleges on both the Yorkshire & Humberside College Finance Directors' Group and the National FE Finance Directors' Group. Jason has also held a range of non-Executive roles, and has been instrumental in the creation of three multi-academy trusts. He has also led the successful completion of a variety of major capital projects, worth over £120m in total.

Karen Sykes

Job Titles:
  • Group Executive Director
Karen has worked in human resources and staff development for 30 years, spending the last two decades overseeing Human Resources at Wakefield College. Karen is responsible for: People Strategy & Culture Employee Relations Payroll & Benefits Workforce Development Employee Wellbeing Attraction and Retention Safeguarding of Staff (Employment & Vetting)

Lisa Macdonald

Job Titles:
  • Group Executive Director
Lisa has worked in the further education sector for more than 20 years. Students and teachers are at the heart of her strategic management. Lisa has strategic oversight of curriculum and quality standards across the Group, with responsibility for: Further Education Provision, including A levels, Vocational and Technical Education, Maths & English, Access Programmes and T Levels Higher Education Programmes Quality Assurance and Improvement Strategy SEND Learners and Additional Learning Support

Lorraine Cross

Job Titles:
  • Group Executive Director
Lorraine has worked in the further education sector for more than 20 years. Lorraine joined Wakefield College in 2021 to project manage the merger with Selby College to form the Heart of Yorkshire Education Group in 2022. Lorraine has strategic Group responsibility for: External Partnerships Marketing & Communications School Partnerships Admissions Employer Engagement & Partnerships Special Projects & Tendering Opportunities Adult Skills Strategy & Planning Distance Learning Provision Apprenticeships Strategy, Recruitment & Delivery

Sam Wright - CEO

Job Titles:
  • Chief Executive
  • Principal
Sam Wright became the Principal & Chief Executive of the Heart of Yorkshire Education Group following the merger between Selby and Wakefield Colleges on 1 st March 2022. Sam has worked in Further Education for 28 years. She became Principal and CEO at Wakefield College in February 2011 and took over as interim Principal and CEO at Selby College on 1 st January 2022, just prior to the merger. Sam started her career in Further Education as a lecturer and then worked as a middle and senior manager, with a focus on curriculum and quality. She is inspired by the opportunity to improve lives and help individuals to achieve their potential through learning, as well as further developing excellent relationships with key partners and employers to inform the Group's strategy, curriculum development and delivery.