A member of Dales Academies Trust
Mrs Marie Mann, Headteacher
I am the Headteacher at Trinity Academy Richmond and was appointed from January 2026. I have been teaching for over 25 years, working in a range of primary school settings. I live in Richmond with my husband and two teenage-boys and our dog, Shadow.
As a Headteacher Governor I report to the Governing Body on the progress the schools are making in all areas of our development plan and advise the Chair and other Governors on a range of matters in relation to the strategic development of our federation.
It is a pleasure to work alongside a highly talented staff team who strive to make the school the best learning environment they can for all our amazing children. I am very proud of their efforts in developing the school into what it is today. I look forward to working with everyone in the future on the next stage of our development.
Dr Jean Lang is a Co-opted Chair of the Governing Body.
I was born and raised in Yorkshire, and after a fulfilling 40+ year career in education as a teacher, headteacher, and senior leader at both local authority and national levels, I have returned to my roots in North Yorkshire. This move brings me closer to family and allows me to enjoy the beautiful landscape and vibrant community of the region.
Although I formally retired from my final full-time role as Head of School Improvement and Partnerships in the London Borough of Camden in 2017, I have remained actively engaged in education through voluntary work. I was a member for 13 years of the international Council of the World Association of Lesson Studies, a global organisation dedicated to advancing teacher research and improving teaching and learning and I am currently an affiliate of Oracy Cambridge, supporting schools in embedding oracy across the curriculum, and an associate of CAMTREE (Cambridge Teacher Research Exchange), which publishes and disseminates teacher-led research worldwide.
My passion for teacher research inspired my own doctoral study, which explored the lived experiences of professional learning and development among staff in small primary schools. This work led to the creation of a national online network that enabled teachers to collaborate on classroom-based research addressing shared challenges. I am proud to have earned my PhD from Exeter University in 2025 for this research.
I’m delighted to have been invited by the Dales Academies Trust to serve as a co-opted governor for the Cornerstone group of schools and Trinity Academy, Richmond. As someone with a lifelong passion for education, I’m committed to using my experience to help ensure every child receives the best possible opportunities to learn, grow, and thrive in a supportive school environment.
Linda Macfarlane is a Co-opted Governor, Vice Chair of the Governing Body.
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.
Mrs Wendy Pritchard is a Foundation Governor.
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 a churchwarden at St Mary’s Church Richmond and I am much involved in the life of the church. I love photography and gardening, and am still engaged in creating order in our garden!
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.
Mr Jonathan King is a Parent Governor.
I moved to the area with my wife and daughter in Summer 2021. We felt warmly welcomed into the Trinity Academy Richmond family and my daughter quickly settled and is very happy at the school. I have several years’ experience of site/ facilities management in a number of schools (both primary and secondary) and was pleased, in having the opportunity to join the governing board, to offer my knowledge of this different but equally important aspect of school life, which does affect and contribute to both staff and pupils’ working, learning and playing environment and enjoyment of school. Trinity is blessed with fantastic outside space and I’m looking forward to developments which will enhance opportunities for interaction and constructive play that I believe is so important.
I have also been involved in local churches taking a variety of roles including Churchwarden, which in some ways is similar to my school roles in overseeing the care and maintenance of often historic buildings and grounds as well as considering how they can be adapted for contemporary use.
I enjoy walking, exploring the wonderful countryside, very amateur gardening and equally amateur singing.
Reverend Lorna Heatley is a Co-opted Governor.
Born and raise in Harrogate with a background of journalism and communications, I came to Richmond to be the Assistant Curate of the Benefice of Richmond with Hudswell, Downholme and Marske. In my first week, I attended a collective worship at Trinity Academy and was able to see first-hand the special place it was.
It is a joy to be able to come in and lead collective worships regularly, as well as welcoming children to the Parish Church of St Mary’s, and it is also my joy to always seek to strengthen the schools ties, not just with the community as a whole, but with their own ideas of religion and spirituality.
Ms Rebecca Broadbent is a Co-opted Governor.
I have had an interest in education for over 30 years, firstly through the eyes of my own children (also briefly being a parent governor and serving on the PTA at their first school), but subsequently working first as a TA in a middle school, followed by cover supervisor in a high school and for the last 12 years of my working life as a modern languages teacher in secondary education.
Whilst reading and writing are the key to success throughout all education, my interests lean more towards the creative side of school life, of which I count MFL as one. I have worked as a theatrical costumier and currently volunteer at Richmond Amateur Dramatics Society in the costume department. I am also a keen tennis player, and am now the volunteer welfare officer at my local club in Darlington.
I was approached by one of the Trinity governors to consider this role and I feel I have a lot to offer from my own experience, as well as the desire to equip young people with as wide a variety of skills as possible.
Mrs Sarah Botting is a Staff Governor.
I have been working with children for over 25 years. My career began in 1998 when I headed to London, from Lincoln to work as a professional Nanny. Over the next 18 years I became a part of many families caring for their children, including new born twins! During this time, I got married and welcomed my own daughter in 2010. In 2014 we visited North Yorkshire on a family holiday. We fell in love with the Dales and in 2016 we made the move from London to Yorkshire. I was fortunate enough to start work at our local primary school as a Teaching Assistant. When my daughter started secondary school, I made the decision to take on a new job as Teaching Assistant at Trinity Academy. Over the 4 years that I have been at Trinity Academy, I have progressed with my career and I gained HLTA status in 2023. I cover every class within school, teaching PE, PSHE and French. I am also responsible for sporting events throughout the school year. I thoroughly enjoy my work and being across the whole school is a valuable asset as my role as staff governor.
In my spare time I am a very keen runner. I am a member of Swaledale Runners and I enter many races, including ParkRuns, 10ks and half marathons. A marathon is not on my to-do list just yet!
Dr Sophie Ellis is a Parent Governor
I have been fortunate to live in Richmondshire a number of times since 2004, owing to my father’s role in the Armed Forces. Having attended 12 schools throughout my own childhood, I am passionate about supporting families who have faced barriers to accessing consistent education.
Prior to relocating to Richmond with my daughter in 2025 I have lived in Cyprus, Germany and Gibraltar. My daughter joined Trinity Academy in 2025, and we have both received a warm and kind welcome from all at Trinity.
I hold a Doctorate, with my research specifically focused on supporting Armed Forces Families through the challenges of educational transitions. Additionally, I hold a Master of Education with a specialism in teaching English as a Secondary Language (EAL). My professional and personal interests are deeply rooted in ensuring inclusivity and equality, I am driven by a commitment to giving every pupil an equal opportunity to achieve their full potential. I have a particular interest in supporting our school’s SEND provision.
I currently work at Risedale School in Catterick Garrison, where I support service pupils and their families. In addition, I am collaborating on a research project through the University of Winchester aimed at supporting families from Afghanistan who have transitioned into local schools in Richmondshire. Outside of my work and school governance duties, I enjoy being active and recently joined the Richmondshire Netball Club.
