DSAT Members

Director of Education for the Diocese of Sheffield

• 25 years in primary education as teacher and headteacher
• Former lecturer in English and Education at Sheffield Hallam University
• Church of England curate
• Established the Diocese of Sheffield Academies Trust

Brings skills in school leadership, supporting schools, Diocesan leadership and working with the Church of England

The Rt Revd Sophie Jelley was consecrated a Bishop at York Minster on 21 September 2020. Sophie was installed as the seventh Bishop of Doncaster in Sheffield Cathedral on 24 September 2020.

The Revd Canon Sophie Jelley trained for ordination at Wycliffe Hall theological college where she gained an MPhil in Theology (Modern Christian Doctrine) from the University of Oxford. Sophie was ordained deacon in 1997 and priested in 1998, in the Diocese of Bradford, serving her title post at St Peter’s Church in Shipley. Sophie worked with Church Mission Society, serving at Uganda Christian University for three years before returning to the UK to become resident minister of St John the Evangelist, Churt in the Diocese of Guildford.  In 2010, Sophie became Vicar of St Andrews in Burgess Hill in the Diocese of Chichester. She was appointed Assistant Diocesan Director of Ordinands in 2013 in addition to her role. In 2015 Sophie was appointed Diocesan Director of Mission, Discipleship and Ministry and Residentiary Canon Missioner at Durham Cathedral.

Sophie is married to Chris and they have three children together.  Sophie plays the violin and viola and is a soprano singer and has been a keen runner for many years.

The role of the Bishop of Doncaster was created in 1972 and has been occupied almost continuously since that time.  The ministry of the Bishop has traditionally given honour to, and has focused the commitment of the Church on, the lives and communities of those who live in the Archdeaconry of Doncaster.  It is a Suffragan role, that in simple terms, means ‘assistant’ to the diocesan bishop.  While having a primary focus on Doncaster, Sophie works across the Diocese with the Bishop of Sheffield.  She also forms a part of the wider bishop’s staff team, and chairs the Board of Education.

I am Senior Lecturer in Ancient Near Eastern History and Literature at the University of Sheffield. I also serve as Director of Admissions, which includes outreach to secondary schools, and various other issues related to how primary and secondary education feed into higher education.

I am Chair of the Board of Trustees of the Palestine Exploration Fund, the oldest organisation for the archaeological exploration of the Levant. Along with leading the Board, I have oversight for the investment of PEF’s ca. £5,000,000 endowment.

I was ordained Deacon in 2018 and Priest in 2019 here in Sheffield. I served my curacy at St Thomas Crookes, with placements at All Saints Ecclesall and St Gabriel’s Greystones. I am now Minor Canon Theologian at the Sheffield Cathedral. I also serve as Bishop’s Advisor for Inter-Faith Affairs, supporting Bishop Pete in his engagement with other faith communities and political leaders in the region.

I am now in my second term on the Diocesan Board of Education.

Alan has been involved in school governance since 2001, he has been a National Leader of Governance since 2012 and has a Masters Degree in Business Administration from the University of Wales. He is a member of the Institute of Leadership and Management and the Society of Education and Training and is passionate about school improvement, ensuring that all children are able to achieve to their full potential.

As a National Leader of Governance, Alan has supported and helped to develop Leadership and Governance in Schools and Academies throughout Yorkshire. He is also a Director serving on several other Boards of Multi Academy Trusts and School Improvement Companies. Alan has served on the Diocesan Board of Education for 5 years and supports the Director of Education and Board in all things governance and training.

Alan is the Managing Director of a Leadership and Management Consultancy designing and delivering Courses for, amongst others, the Sheffield Chamber of Commerce and Industry and working with many businesses across the region. He runs training programs and seminars developing and promoting Leadership and Emotional Intelligence skills throughout the Country.

Alan says, “I always remember learning ‘the more you put in, the more you get out’ and that has certainly been true with Governance. It’s a very rewarding feeling making a decision or supporting someone in a way that makes a difference for the children of our school.”

Derek Grover served as a senior civil servant in the Department for Education and Employment, latterly as the Director of Adult Learning responsible for national policy on education and training post-16 outside universities.