Dave Norman was appointed Chief Executive Officer of the Schools Linking Network (SLN) in February 2012. He looks forward to his involvement with the organisation, and to building on the excellent work that the existing team has already developed.
For 30-years Dave was a member of the West Yorkshire Police. During this period, he was responsible for developing several initiatives connected to peer-led drugs education in schools and communities and for SMART (Schools Multi Agency Resource Team) work focused on early intervention with families and their children’s schools.
SLN’s work is not only vital in helping schools develop closer links, but also in supporting the teachers of those schools with specialist advice and support, e-linking opportunities, SLN-Model United Nations projects, and up-to-date views and support on developing education policy connected with Ofsted inspection. Dave Norman, CEO, SLN
Dave was central to the development and establishment of BARCA-Leeds and Serious Fun – two West Yorkshire based charities that are still in existence today, 18-years after their inception.
During his career, Dave has been the recipient of the West Yorkshire Police Community Officer of the Year Award and the West Yorkshire Police Authority Award for Outstanding Police Work. In 1998 Dave was made a Member of the British Empire for his work in communities and in education.
Following his time in the police, Dave was appointed to the post of Head of Cohesion and Communities for Yorkshire and the Humber at Government Office. One of his main tasks, following the terrible events in London on 7 July 2005, was to deal with the roll out of Preventing Violent Extremism and the development of a regional tension information sharing system. He was also responsible for the establishment of the Regional Faiths Link Group and the development of a national Madrasah education and support programme.
From Government Office, Dave joined the University of Bradford as the Head of Access and Widening Participation. Here, his team dealt with and developed schools based aspiration and attainment raising programmes. He was also responsible for establishing the University’s first Academy – University Academy Keighley.
Dave understands the vital importance of helping to support young people and communities. He is dedicated to work in the Education sector, which he will continue to develop through SLN.
