James joined the College Governing Body in November 2025.
James is the CEO of a specialist college providing support to young people across Yorkshire with complex needs, focusing on empowering those students to pursue an independent and aspirational life.
Prior to this, he worked at senior levels in SEND education and care, as well as related fields, including supporting children and adults to rebuild their lives after gang and domestic violence across the world, as well as leading national initiatives on NEET (Not in Education, Employment or Training) support. This has included working with disengaged and traumatised young people, developing national policy to support them to reject a path that leads to crime, prison and addiction and demonstrating the impact of initiatives so that government departments can evolve their approaches.
James is a qualified educator (PGCE in Secondary Maths and PGDE in SEND), a Level 3 Safeguarding Instructor, and a qualified Project Manager.