Mother, Artist (printmaker) Environmentalist. I am immensely proud to lead Northern Star Academies Trust, a diverse Trust Partnership of nine schools (primary and secondary) and a School Centred Initial Teacher Training (SCITT) spanning North and West Yorkshire. Previously, I served as a Secondary Headteacher (Skipton Girls’ High School), the lead for a Cohort 2 Teaching School Alliance and have spent 28 years as a secondary education teacher and leader.

I am the Principal of Harrogate College which is a General Further Education College that provides technical education and training to people across Harrogate and North Yorkshire. In addition, I am a member of the Harrogate and Knaresborough Locality Board and a member of the charity Zero Carbon Harrogate.

I am the Executive Headteacher of three small village schools across North Yorkshire – the Goldsborough Sicklinghall Federation (Goldsborough CE Primary school, close to Knaresborough; Sicklinghall Community Primary School close to Wetherby) and Admiral Long, in Burnt Yates near Ripley.

I am Headteacher of Boroughbridge High School, which is federated with King James’s School, having worked in three community secondary schools in County Durham, York and North Yorkshire. I believe in inclusion and, having led a school through the pandemic, I have a commitment to identifying how schools need to adapt to ensure that all students, including those that are disadvantaged, engage with education so that they are safe, happy and successful. Throughout my career I have been an active member of The Geographical Association, serving two terms on The Governing Body and I continue to enjoy teaching Geography!

I am the new Headteacher for New Park Academy Trust in Harrogate. I bring with me my experience as a SENDCo and SEND consultant adviser, including being Lead Teacher for a Targeted Mainstream Provision for Communication & Interaction, as well as my experience of being a class teacher and a parent. I am a strong advocate for ensuring our schools are representative of society with a strong focus on inclusive education and providing opportunities and environments where all of our children can thrive and learn.

I am a passionate teacher and leader who has followed a career path focused on ensuring the best teaching is available for those individuals who need it most. I have led science departments in schools in some of the most deprived areas of Leeds, and I’ve led my departments to excellence.