Past pupil awarded CBE for services to further education

A FORMER Ripon Grammar School student has been awarded a CBE for services to further education.

Alastair Da Costa, who left RGS in 1983 and studied at the University of Leeds before going on to enjoy a successful international career in corporate law, was honoured in 2025’s New Year Honours list.

The Commander of the Order of the British Empire is one of the highest-ranking honours within the Order of the British Empire, below a knighthood or damehood.

Current chair of the University of Leeds Council, the institution’s governing body, Alastair was a board member and chair of Capital City College Group – one of the largest further education providers in the UK - for 13 years.

Previously chair of digital education business 01Founders Limited, he also served on the councils of the London School of Economics and the University of Sussex.

Between 2018 and 2021, Alastair served as a commissioner to the UK government’s Social Mobility Commission and was lead commissioner for further education and adult skills.

He said: “I am equally delighted and humbled by this incredible honour. I have always held a deep passion for skills development and lifelong learning, recognising the transformative power of both higher and further education for individuals and communities alike.”

The son of a nurse and an RAF squadron leader who left school at 16, he was the first member of his family to go to university and looks back on his time at the school - which his daughter, now at university, also attended - with fondness.

“RGS gave me confidence and helped raise my ambitions. I would never have thought I could have gone to university, become a lawyer and enjoy the career I had without the teaching and guidance I received at school.”

He adds: “RGS also gave me friendships that I still have and it introduced me to rugby. School was hard at first, but certain teachers saw something to encourage me and, along with a love of sport which RGS allowed me to enjoy, my confidence grew.”

Having held the U14s North Yorkshire 800m athletics record and represented his county in U18s rugby during his school days, he still enjoys sports in his spare time and is chair of professional rugby union club, Leeds Tykes.

Following his law degree from the University of Leeds, Alastair went on to qualify as a solicitor and became a partner and shareholder in a number of professional services organisations, including a distinguished 20-year career with international law firm DLA Piper.

Originally studying history and economics at university before switching to law, his advice to current RGS students is: ““Find something that inspires you. It’s important to do something you enjoy. I really enjoyed history, but my passion was to study law. Although it was quite daunting to change courses, I’m glad I did.”

He also went on to gain an MSc in development management from the London School of Economics.

The most important lesson he learnt during his time at RGS, he says, is: “Don’t give up! I only just passed the entry exam at 13 and in my first term at RGS I was placed second last in my class in the Christmas exams. But eventually I found a subject I loved (history) and by doing well in that it gave me confidence to gradually improve elsewhere.

“My history teacher, Dr Petchey, really inspired me with his lessons and gave me the confidence to believe I could be better.”

He looks back on his time in London working as a general admin assistant for a fashion company during a gap year as a particularly valuable experience: “It made me realise how much hard work goes into the basics of making, promoting and selling clothes and a lot of it is really not glamorous at all. While totally unplanned, it was a great first business experience for me.

“I would advise students not to be afraid of getting involved with something that looks interesting; keep an active brain; always take your chances to learn when you move into a new environment; and have the confidence to believe in yourself – careers don’t always go as planned but take the experiences you have gained and use them well.”

*Alastair is pictured far right in the RGS 1980 rugby team photo, above