LINACRE are delighted to announce our new Chair, as we look to help transform the educational prospects of more students in Yorkshire.

Ali Jaffer of the Social Mobility Commission will lead Linacre though an exciting period of expansion.

Ali, who founded one of our former partner schools, Sheffield’s Chapeltown Academy, said, ”Having seen the impact of the Linacre programme first hand, I am delighted and honoured to be joining Paul and his team as the charity’s next Chair.

“It’s so important that more young people across Yorkshire get the benefit of the academic enrichment that the Institute can provide.”

Ali, who has also helped grow the charity Yes Futures exponentially in recent years, added, “We are excited about the challenge of growing the charity so its transformative work can be felt more widely.”

Ali was the driving force towards the setting up of Chapeltown. The Academy provides first-rate academic support for sixth-formers in a large social-mobility cold spot, between north Sheffield and Barnsley. He went on to be Deputy Head and Acting Head.

Paul Coupar-Hennessy, our Executive Director, said: “Ali understands small charities looking to grow, understands Yorkshire, understands its schools, and understands the highly academic universities our students are aspiring too.

“He is also at the very heart of a policy network trying to give northern students a fairer chance. We could not have wished for a better candidate.”

For the past year, Ali has been Head of Policy and Innovation at the SMC. A government body, it monitors progress towards better social mobility in the UK, and promotes social mobility in England.

Ali is a graduate of Magdalene College, Cambridge, and starts as Chair this week.