About us
Senior Leadership Team
Alexandra Fuller
Principal
Principal
I am very proud to be Principal at The Mirfield Free Grammar. Prior to joining The MFG, I was at Lightcliffe Academy in Calderdale for a number of years undertaking various Senior Leadership roles; this included being Head of 6th form. I am very passionate
about developing all aspects of our students to ensure that they all reach their personal, social and academic potential, as well as being happy. Away from The MFG I enjoy spending time with my family and watching and playing lots of sport, which I thoroughly
love as a PE teacher.
Clare Murphy
Deputy Principal – Character Curriculum
Deputy Principal – Character Curriculum
I have been in education for over 30 years, with the last 15 years as a senior leader within several schools in West Yorkshire. I joined the senior leadership team at The MFG in 2020 initially with responsibility for leading the quality of education, focussing on improving progress and attainment, ensuring our students get the very best education and outcomes. For the last 3 years I have had the great pleasure of being Deputy Principal leading The MFG Character – this encompasses behaviour, attitudes, personal development, attendance, safeguarding and the character curriculum. I often say to our students that their academic qualifications are just the key to get to the next stage, once there, it is their soft skills and character that will make them successful in their chosen destination. This explains my passion in supporting our students to develop and embody the school values in their actions – tenacity, health, equity, morality, flourish and generosity so they can flourish as individuals in their future.
Ange Robinson
Vice Principal – Safeguarding & Attendance
Vice Principal – Safeguarding & Attendance
I have worked in education for over 30 years, most of that time as a middle and senior leader. I am Vice Principal responsible for safeguarding and attendance. I have always worked in a pastoral role, including behaviour. I am dedicated and passionate and strive to support our students and their families to ensure positive outcomes wherever possible.
Vicky Chambers
Vice Principal – Inclusion & Personal Development
Vice Principal – Inclusion & Personal Development
Having joined The Mirfield Free Grammar as Newly Qualified Teacher, I am proud to have been the part of so many local students’ and families lives over the last 20 years. I’ve always enjoyed pastoral roles alongside teaching, so after successful main school roles as Head of Year/Achievement Coordinator, I led our post-16 provision on the Senior Team. As Head of College for 15 years I aimed to ensure all our students’ next steps gave them excellent future life opportunities, outstanding destinations and social mobility. Coordinating events and engaging with young people in our community alongside employers, industry and education was essential to the role and aspects I’ve taken forward to my new role as Vice Principal – Inclusion and Personal Development.
My passion for The MFG and commitment to embedding our shared community values is evident in the personalised Tutorial Programmes, enrichment opportunities, wide variety of careers advice/guidance events and tailored personalised learning initiatives that we continue to build to support all students and those with more complex needs. I enjoy collaborating with our Deputy Principal to build our students’ character, while working alongside our pastoral, special educational needs and teaching & learning teams to help our students to be strong independent citizens, who can make their own informed decisions. Life will present our students with positive and more difficult times (academically, personally and physically), and so teaching, modelling and challenging our students everyday to work with Tenacity and Morality is significantly important and underpins all our other MFG values (Health, Equity, Flourish and Generosity).
Paul Cheetham
Assistant Principal – Behaviour
Assistant Principal – Behaviour
I joined The MFG in April 2024 after previously working in Bradford and York. I am responsible for the conduct and morality of students and to ensure that we have a purposeful learning environment. I love to see young people make the right choices in school and develop into adults that have a positive impact on others. My main subject is PE and I love taking part in a range of sports, including Triathlons and half marathons. I am very competitive and hate to lose!
Andrew Stanton
Deputy Principal – Quality of Education
Deputy Principal – Quality of Education
I’m Andrew Stanton, Deputy Principal with responsibility for the Quality of Education from Year 7 to Year 13. My role is to make sure that student learning is as good as it can be. My role involves leading on staff training, recruitment, teaching quality, quality assurance, curriculum development, outcomes data and curriculum structure. Joining The MFG in June 2021, it was my second appointment to a senior leadership team, having previously been an Assistant Head at a school in North Yorkshire for 5 years.
Neal Packard
Vice Principal – Quality of Education
Vice Principal – Quality of Education
I joined The Mirfield Free Grammar in September 1997 as a teacher of mathematics. I took on responsibility in the department for assessment before becoming a Deputy and Acting Achievement Co-ordinator. In 2003 I became Head of Mathematics, and held that post for 6 years. I joined the Senior Leadership Team initially being responsible for E-Learning and Engagement. During this time, I spoke at national conferences on e-learning and brought in the use of iPads to support teaching and learning. I am currently responsible for outcomes within the Quality of Education team. I am Sheffield Wednesday supporter, coach for a local Junior cricket team, and am the Quality of Education Governor at a local Primary Academy.
Kate Walker
Assistant Principal – Head of College, Post-16 Provision
Assistant Principal – Head of College, Post-16 Provision
I am incredibly proud to be Head of College at The Mirfield Free Grammar. I qualified as a teacher in 2010 and since then I have specialised in Post-16 provision, teaching both A Level and vocational qualifications, as well as undertaking roles in safeguarding and pastoral support. My passion lies in supporting students to achieve their full potential and breaking down barriers to success. I am also an avid Criminology and Law teacher and still enjoy the opportunity to teach my subjects as well as ensure the smooth running of the college.
Ross Wick
Associate Assistant Principal – Teaching & Learning
I’m Ross Wick, Associate Assistant Principal, responsible for implementing our whole school teaching and learning strategies. I lead on whole school literacy, oracy, and the professional development of our teachers (CPD), with the aim of delivering the highest quality of education for our students. Since joining The MFG in 2019, I have proudly contributed to the success of our students through various leadership roles, including Deputy Achievement Coordinator and Head of History. I still love my role as a History teacher and in my spare time I am an avid reader, runner and fan of rugby. Our students are at the centre of my role, and I cherish the opportunity to empower them to be the very best that they can be.
Emma Dyson
Associate Assistant Principal – Quality of Education, SENCO
Associate Assistant Principal – Quality of Education, SENCO
I am Associate Assistant Principal for the Quality of Education for Adaptive and Responsive teaching and the SENCO. I lead on monitoring and improving the quality of education for children with Special Educational Needs alongside being responsible for students who are in care (looked after). I am also an English teacher and have been Head of Department and a Lead Teacher of English in previous settings and one of my favourite parts of the day is still exploring a novel or a play with a class. I have the Masters SEN qualification and have completed a Masters module in dyslexia, so am able to complete dyslexia screening and access arrangements testing, as well as use my experience of being a member of SLT in previous schools to support the role at The MFG. I am dedicated and passionate in ensuring all children reach their potential and that everyone works together to ensure we have high aspirations of all.
