Ian Yapp
Chief Executive Officer

Proud to be Chief Education Officer of our thriving Multi-Academy Trust.

I originally moved up to Leeds University to complete my first degree as a research scientist, but quickly found myself immersed in youthwork in Armley ranging from 3-15 years and went on to do a PGCE in Primary Education, choosing to remain in Leeds to embark on my career. 

I began teaching in 1988, working firstly in Leeds schools for 12 years, before moving to North Yorkshire in 2000 as a Deputy Headteacher and then a Headteacher, with my first headship at Husthwaite CE School. 

I became Headteacher at Riverside School in 2008, one of the founder STAR schools, and CEO of STAR in September 2020. In September 2025 I became CEO of Yorkshire Learning Trust following the merger of STAR and SYMAT. 

I am extremely proud to lead Yorkshire Learning Trust – a highly inclusive and ambitious Multi-Academy Trust rooted in Yorkshire and committed to delivering excellence and equity for every child. YLT brings together 17 schools, over 1,000 staff, and around 7,000 children and young people aged 3–18, working in genuine collaboration to achieve more together than we could alone. 

Outside of work I am married with three grown up children, my youngest studying education at university. At times, I can be found ‘running’, in the allotment or trying to tame our wonderful, ridiculous, massive goldendoodle ‘puppy.’ 

You can find me on LinkedIn at: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/ian-yapp-7665492b