Pen Portraits

Mrs Jean Lang is a Co-opted Chair of the Governing Body.

I am delighted to have been asked to become Chair of the Governing Board of Trinity Academy in Richmond. I am currently the chair of the Local Governing Board of the Cornerstone group of four schools which is also part of the Dalesmat Trust

I was born and brought up in Yorkshire and following a long 40+ year career in education as a teacher, headteacher and local authority and national senior leader, I have returned to my roots in North Yorkshire.

I formally retired from my final full-time role as Head of School Improvement in the London Borough of Camden in 2017, but in the last five years I have kept very busy with voluntary work, being Honorary General Secretary of the World Association of Lesson Studies, a global organisation focussing on teacher research aimed at improving teacher and pupil learning, and as a governor and Chair of the standards committee at the small rural school in the village where I previously lived. I also carry out a little work for Hughes College in Cambridge as an affiliate supporting schools with the development of pupil oracy as well as working towards achieving a PhD as a distance learner at Exeter University.

Mrs Wendy Pritchard is a Foundation Governor, Vice Chair of the Governing Body.

My husband and I moved to Richmond eight years ago, when he retired as Bishop of Oxford. I soon became a governor of Trinity Academy Richmond, and am now a Foundation Governor. I am committed to fostering the links between school and church, and to the progress and well-being of both the children and the staff.

I am a retired maths teacher, having taught in secondary schools and further education colleges. My last paid work was as learning support assistant in a C of E secondary school, supporting children who had special educational needs or who found learning more difficult.

We have five grandchildren – one still at primary school – and our younger daughter and her husband are both teachers. I am well involved in St Mary’s Church Richmond. I love photography and gardening, and am still engaged in creating order in our garden!

Mr Terry Cane is a Co-opted Governor.

Newly appointed as a governor of Trinity Richmond, I am also chair at South Otterington and until recently chair of Cornerstone Schools, all part of the Dales Academies Trust

Previously I supported schools as a National Leader of Governance, appointed in April 2015 until July 2021,in this post I worked with over 30 schools, including primary, secondary and schools with different Ofsted gradings. The role has included supporting chairs of governors, facilitating governing board self evaluations and leading effective governance sessions.

I am a keen golfer playing regularly in club competitions, I enjoy gardening, walking and when necessary DIY. Not sure if it’s a hobby, I prepare the parish accounts for the 2 parishes where I attend church.

I have undertaken various governor training sessions mainly N L G training, External Reviews of Governance, Safeguarding, Safer Recruitment, School Finance, school admissions and over subscription. I have served as a school governor from 2002, as a chair of governors since 2006.

Reverend Martin Fletcher is our Ex-offio Foundation Governor.

I have been Rector of Richmond with Hudswell and Downholme and Marske since April 2018, and I am delighted to be an ex-officio governor at the school. Before moving here I had parishes near the other Richmond in Surrey and in Essex and was a school governor in both communities. I grew up in Kirby Hill and it is wonderful to have returned to my roots.

It is always a joy to come in to Trinity Academy, and the weekly collective worship assemblies are a highlight for me. I am committed to supporting the school in any way I can, and to promoting a growing link between St Mary’s and the local ‘Church of England’ school.

Mrs Janet Beeton is a Foundation Governor.

Linda Macfarlane is a Co-opted Governor.

My belief that young people deserve the best in education has been a guiding principle since I began teaching, many years ago. My experience in schools is wide and, as well as the very real joys of classroom teaching, it spans a range of management and subject leader roles in a variety of secondary schools. I worked for several years as a school inspector and have just recently stepped down from being chair of governors in a comprehensive school, in Essex, where I worked closely with a multi academy trust. Despite all this, I remain committed to the belief that what happens on the ground, in the classroom, is where the greatest difference is made for young people. This is nowhere truer than in primary schools. This is where teachers, working with great professional commitment, lay the essential foundations for children to try, to persist and to succeed, as they become confident in the enjoyment of learning. As a member of the board of governors at Trinity Academy, I am very proud to be part of that project.

Mandy Bogojevic is a Co-opted Governor.

First and foremost, I am mum to five children, three of whom are now married adults and the youngest are twin boys, one attending Trinity Academy and the other at Mowbray School in Bedale.

I have been a member of the Trinity Academy governing body since 2019, initially as a parent governor and now continuing in a new role. I am also a member of staff in the school, working part time mainly supporting children with additional needs.

My career has been largely focussed around young children and my previous employment includes 11 years inspecting early years settings for Ofsted and North Yorkshire County Council, regional management at two private day nursery companies, nursery and pre-school management, consultancy and tutoring.

I am passionate about children and helping to ensure that their education and life experiences are positive and rewarding, helping them to achieve their potential with opportunities to succeed, whilst developing into responsible and caring individuals.

I have lived in Richmond for over 25 years, love to swim, walk and to be outdoors generally, usually accompanied by my youngest boys, my husband and our dog.

Miss Hodges is a Staff Governor.

Mr Jonathan King is a Parent Governor.