Management Team
Mr Jason Slack, Head of Foundation
Born into a Yorkshire mining family, Jason was a talented academic and athlete at Batley Grammar School before attending Durham University, where he got an upper second in Physics and then a PGCE. His first teaching appointment was as a Physics teacher at King Henry VIII School in Coventry, after which he joined The Grange in Northwich, first as Head of Physics and then as Head of Science. He then became Deputy Head of Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School in Wakefield. In 2010, Jason was appointed Headmaster of the innovative, coeducational King Henry VIII School.
Jason joined King's in September 2020. A skilled musician, Jason played violin in the Warwickshire Symphony Orchestra. He has a wife and two daughters, is an outdoor pursuits enthusiast and a Leeds United fan.
Mr Richard Griffiths, Deputy Head (Academic)
Mr Griffiths has a First Class Honours degree in English from Pembroke College, Cambridge and a PGCE in English with Drama from the University of Manchester.
He is a Principal Examiner for an Exam Board (for English Literature) and is also a Parent Governor at his children’s primary school.
Mr Paul Cooper, Deputy Head (Operations)
Mr Cooper graduated from The University of Liverpool in Astrophysics in 2001 and completed a Masters degree in Advanced Educational Practice in 2014. He joined King's in 2017, after 10 years at Merchant Taylors' Boys' School as Head of Student Progress & Head of Physics.
Previously he worked in the state sector in Merseyside. He has been recognised with an award in 2017 by the Institute of Physics for his contribution to Physics education in the UK. Both of his sons attend King's.
Mrs Anna Cohen, Director of Finance
Anna took up post as Director of Finance, on 1 September 2024. She joined King’s from Withington Girls School in Manchester, where she was the Bursar and Clerk to Governors from September 2021 and was previously Academy Business Director and Operations Manager for the Laurus Trust in Stockport. Both roles saw Anna play a key role on the Senior Leadership Teams, with responsibility for operations, strategic direction, support staff, capital projects, financial and risk management, IT, governance and other areas.
Anna grew up and went to school in the High Peak, going on to study a Law degree (LLB) at the University of Liverpool before completing a postgraduate certificate in Strategic Financial and Operational Leadership with the Institute of School Leaders.
Outside of work, Anna loves to spend time with her young family and walk in the beautiful surroundings of the High Peak.
Mrs Caroline Johnson, Director of External Relations
Caroline graduated with a BSc in Geography from the University of Birmingham and also holds a postgraduate Diploma in Marketing from the Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM).
Previously she worked for the United Nations as part of a children’s education project to celebrate the UN’s 50th anniversary. Following this, she worked for MERLIN, the international aid agency in London, before joining a marketing and PR agency in the North West managing a range of client accounts. After this, she worked in PR and communications in the NHS. Caroline has three children, all of whom attend King's.
Mrs Rachel Cookson, Principal, Infant & Junior Division
Mrs Cookson graduated with a BA Hons degree in Modern Foreign Languages with Economics & Law from the University of South Bank, London. She gained a PGCE in Primary Teaching from the University of Bristol.
Rachel joined The King’s School in 1997 when the Infant Division first opened before progressing her career in a range of independent schools including the appointment of Headmistress of The Queen’s Lower School, Chester, in 2014, before returning to King’s in 2018 as Principal of the Infant & Junior Division. Rachel's son attends King's.
Mrs Helen Broadley, Principal, Senior Division
Mrs Broadley graduated from the University of Nottingham with a degree in Zoology and gained a PGCE in Science from Worcester College of Higher Education. She has taught at King's for 21 years.
Helen was appointed Principal of the Girls’ Division in July 2015. Prior to joining King’s, Helen was Head of Biology at St Hilary’s (now Alderley Edge School for Girls). Helen has two children, both of whom attend King's.
Miss Donna-Marie Jestin, Principal of Sixth Form
Miss Jestin graduated from the University of Manchester with a degree in Business Management & IT and gained a PGCE from the University of Bolton. She also gained a post-graduate qualification in Leadership & Management from Leeds Beckett University. She offers a wide range of sixth form teaching experience in the private and state sectors and has taught in both the UK and Bermuda.
Miss Jestin has also worked closely with the Open University Business School for 10+ years, and with a UK-based exam board for over 15 years, with senior roles including Principal Examiner, Curriculum Developer and Teacher Trainer.
As a qualified Yoga teacher, Miss Jestin teaches Yoga to both students and staff at King's.
Mr Richard Davies, Assistant Head (Staff Development)
Mr Davies read Modern History and completed his PGCE at Jesus College, Oxford University. He has a wide range of teaching experience in the state and private sector in the UK and in New Zealand.
Richard was involved in establishing a new Sixth Form College as an Assistant Principal, and then Vice Principal, in Salisbury. His career has included spells as a Deputy Head, Head of History, Humanities Co-ordinator and Director of Examinations and Testing. He has also been an examination team leader for A Level History and was a member of the AMiE Council between 2016 and 2018. Richard joined King's in 2018 as Principal of Sixth Form, and is now Assistant Head (Staff Development).
The Governing Body
The School is governed by a Board of Governors, which consists of nominated and appointed Governors.