Local education leader appointed Chancellor of Leeds Children's University to empower young learners

With over 15 years’ experience in education in Leeds, Rebekah (Bex) is passionate about supporting young people to realise their potential and is currently Deputy Headteacher at Shakespeare Primary School. She is an alumna of Leeds Trinity having achieved a degree in Education in 2009 and was awarded an Honorary Fellowship by the University last year.

She becomes the second Chancellor of Leeds Children’s University, a strand of the national Children’s University network, which provides high-quality and enriching extra-curricular learning experiences for children aged seven to fourteen.

Commenting on becoming Chancellor, Bex said: “Becoming Chancellor of Leeds Children’s University means being a voice for participation, a champion for the young learners in our city, and a reminder that an extracurricular spark of wonder can raise aspirations allowing children to dream of a bigger and brighter future.
 
“It’s a true honour to be a part of an organisation that creates learning opportunities of such depth and breadth, allowing the children of Leeds to fall in love with learning – once that happens, the sky is the limit. I look forward to working with the team who give the learners of our city their wings.”

Her appointment reflects a shared commitment to improving outcomes for children and families across the Leeds City Region. Leeds Children’s University works with local schools, community groups, and families to provide inspiring learning opportunities both inside and outside of the classroom, which can positively impact on attainment and increase a pupil’s positive identification with education.

In particular, it places a strong focus on providing opportunities to children facing intersectional disadvantage, closely aligning with the work of Bex’s charity Zarach, which supports children facing bed poverty by providing beds, bedding, and pyjamas via referrals received from schools. Zarach has also supported families through schemes including a food club, hygiene bank, uniform exchange, and holiday club to ensure all children get a chance to thrive at school.

First launched in 2014, Leeds Children’s University has welcomed children from schools across the city, helping the next generation develop an affinity for education while raising their self-confidence and aspirations. As Leeds Trinity celebrates its 60th anniversary, offering a chance to reflect on its impact on individuals and the community over the past six decades, Bex’s appointment will support the University’s aim to empower even more learners to reach their full potential in the years ahead.

Professor Charles Egbu, Vice-Chancellor of Leeds Trinity University, said: “We are delighted to welcome Rebekah as Chancellor of Leeds Children’s University. Her outstanding commitment to improving the lives of children and families across Leeds, both through her leadership in education and her work with Zarach, makes her an inspiring role model for young people and a perfect fit for the role. 

“As an alumna and Honorary Fellow of Leeds Trinity, her appointment is particularly meaningful. We are so proud of the work she has done since graduating almost seventeen years ago and the positive impact she has already had on so many children and families truly embodies the mission and values of our university. She is an excellent example of the highly skilled, motivated leaders we aim to produce in our School of Education and, of course, across the whole institution.” 

Hosting Leeds Children’s University supports Leeds Trinity University’s Access and Participation Plan (APP), which features strategies to improve opportunities for underrepresented groups to access, succeed in, and progress from higher education. The latest Children’s University State of the Nation Report shows that, of the 600 children they surveyed, the vast majority view learning as something they enjoy and want to keep doing as a result of participating in Children’s University. Most also agreed they had increased confidence and self-belief, gained skills, and felt more prepared to face new challenges thanks to the initiative.

The APP links directly to the University’s Strategic Plan 2021-26, which outlines Leeds Trinity’s mission to be a diverse and inclusive University that welcomes students from all backgrounds and beliefs and provides a transformational educational experience.

More information about Leeds Children’s University can be found on the Leeds Trinity website.