David Ross Education Trust (DRET) has appointed a new CEO to take up post from 2026.
Julian Appleyard, currently chief executive of nine-school Pontefract Academies Trust, will take the helm at the 36-school trust, which is based in Loughborough.
DRET announced earlier this year that current CEO Stuart Burns would be standing down after five years leading it.
Mr Appleyard said: “I am incredibly proud of what we have achieved at Pontefract Academies Trust, and I’m so pleased to be joining a trust which shares the same high expectations and ambitions for pupils.
“From getting to know the DRET team, it’s clear that there are very strong foundations in place and from which we can build further in this next chapter.”
‘Next chapter’ for David Ross Education Trust
DRET said Mr Appleyard led a transformation at both primary and secondary at Pontefract Academies Trust after joining in 2018.
Before this, he was the founding executive principal of Rochdale Sixth Form College and a member of the Department for Education’s advisory board for Lancashire and West Yorkshire before the current regions system was developed.
Mr Appleyard was also previously a National Leader of Education and has led Ofsted inspections.
He is currently a member of the Exchange Partnership Committee, a sub-committee of Delta Academies Trust’s board of trustees, which oversees the quality and outcomes of the Exchange portfolio of professional development and partnership work, including two teaching school hubs, an initial teacher training provider and research school.
David Ross, chair of DRET, said Mr Appleyard has an impressive track record from his time at Pontefract Academies Trust.
“Our trust is now in a strong position, with nearly all schools now rated ‘good’ or better, and our strongest Sats results in our primaries this year, and with strong financial resilience,” he said.
“Julian is extremely well placed to build on this platform to deliver excellence across the board. We are confident that under his leadership the trust will continue to go from strength to strength.”
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