Andy retired from full time work in July 2023, having been a Service Director since January 2019 and was part of the Directorate Management Team for Children’s Services in Wakefield. Andy managed a team of 600 individuals and a budget of £46m across a diverse educational landscape. Together the team built on their 2021 ‘Good’ ILACS inspection and developed an integrated system (Wakefield Families Together) with colleagues in health, police, education, voluntary sector and social care to effectively support young people and their families. As part of this approach, Andy co-produced with education leaders, a more inclusive system which reduced permanent exclusions and supported vulnerable young people remaining in mainstream education.

Since retiring Andy has become the Chair of the Barnsley Schools Alliance, the Independent Chair of Rochdale’s Fair Access Panel and a Trustee with Lingfield Academy Trust, Accord Academy Trust (Wakefield) and Leeds Diocesan Academy Trust.

Andy qualified as a Reception Teacher in 1984 with his first post in London and has taught all primary age groups as well as holding senior leadership positions across several Local Authorities; including being a Primary Headteacher for 12 years. Andy has worked in school improvement since 2005; first as a school adviser and latterly as Head of School Improvement for North Yorkshire County Council.

In his spare time, Andy plays guitar, follows Salford Red Devils RLFC and is an avid reader of various genres of literature from Grayson Perry to Bernard Cornwell.