Judith Carr (Co- Chair of Board of Governors)
My professional background has always been in education. I taught for 36 years, entirely in the secondary sector, in the west end of Newcastle. My principal subject was Physical Education which in later years developed to include Sport Science. I was a Head of Department for 10 years and for my last 8 years before retirement I worked as an Advanced Skills Teacher within my own school and was seconded to the Local Authority for 1 day a week. This work focussed on the development of teaching and learning styles across the curriculum and included outreach work in First, Primary and Middle Schools giving me some experience of all Key Stages including very active involvement in the organisation and delivery of five Summer Schools each involving over 200 children aged between 6 and 10.

Since retirement I have worked occasionally as a Consultant supporting Subject Leaders, most of whom were in the primary sector. I have also worked with a Disability Charity in developing an advice service specifically to support disabled people experiencing a variety of challenges including young people, their parents, friends and carers.

I have an association with Thropton going back throughout my life and have lived here permanently for 21 years. I am currently a member of the Parish Council and as such I have an interest in all areas of village life however, as a retired teacher, particularly the School. I was delighted to be given the opportunity to serve as an School Governing Bodylor and look forward to working collaboratively to support the work and development of the whole School and Learning Trust community while continuing to develop my own knowledge and experience of rural education.
Sylvia Crane (Co-Chair)
I have lived in Rothbury most of my life and my two sons were raised and educated here.
I worked in Dr Thomlinson Church of England Middle School office for over forty years and then spent ten years working in the office of our local member of parliament.
I am an elder of Rothbury United Reform Church.
Ruth Younger
I grew up on my familyā€™s farm near Rothbury, and Iā€™ve returned here to raise my own children. I graduated from Durham University with a degree in Politics and worked for 11 years in various campaigning and communication roles, based between London and the North East. I then ran a Bed & Breakfast for several years but now work as Head of Campaigns and Elections for the Liberal Democrats.

I have two sons who are currently attending schools within The Three Rivers; the eldest is at KEVI and the youngest is at Dr Thomlinsonā€™s Middle School.

I have been a Governor at Thropton since 2016 and have a particular interest in communication, as well as education in rural areas like the Coquet Valley. I also served as Chair of the School Governing Body for three years.
Natalie Baldry
Myself, husband and 5 children live in Morpeth, we have 2 children at KEVI, 1 child at Newminster, 1 at Abbeyfields the eldest is now at college training to be a flight attendant. I have been an School Governing Bodylor for Thropton Village First School for many years now and from day one fell in love with what a lovely nurturing school it is and the passion the staff have for making it so.

I have been Managing Director of our family run Estate Agency Clarke Holland and have been now for many years. You could say that my life revolves around property, I also manage serviced accommodation for contractors/holiday makers in Northumberland. My love of property also includes a monthly property networking event that I have been running now for our 5th year.

Charity and children are subjects that I'm passionate about Iā€™m also a trustee for Hope 4 Kidz and Kinship. I've done a lot of volunteering within the charity world over the years and taken part in different projects from peer to peer support to helping parents to engage with their children via the use of toys. Some resent highlights interviewing Sir James Munby for a professional knowledge exchange (daily social workers). Taking part in a round table with Josh MacAlister Chair of the Independent Review of Childrenā€™s Social Care (his last engagement before writing the review). Attending the Peopleā€™s Postcode Lottery Gala in Edinburgh.
Melanie Thompson-Glen
Having had my three children all attend Thropton Village First School, the youngest still being in year 3 I am delighted to join the School Governing Body.

I have lived around Rothbury my entire life and am passionate about keeping vibrant communities in rural areas, including local schools. My current role as Business Development Manager at Gateshead College provides me with a great deal of insight into an Ofsted outstanding College and the importance of offering children as broad a range of experiences as possible from a young age.

In the past I have worked as a business and export adviser for a range of organisations including the Foreign Office through the Department of International Trade and the local Enterprise Agency. I ran my own consultancy business for six years before joining Gateshead College two years ago. I hope my skills can be used to benefit the continued success of Thropton Village First School.
Aileen Wright
I have lived in the Coquet Valley since 1982 and my children attended Dr Thomlinson C of E Middle School which prepared them very well for KEVI. I believe that Dr Thomlinson Middle School is a very good school (as endorsed by Ofsted, SIAMS and SATs results) and am proud to support it in my role as School Governor.

I have spent my working life in Education; mainly in teaching, which culminated in being Headteacher at Harbottle C of E First School for 13 years, and more recently mentoring, and inspection roles in the Coquet Valley but also County wide. I believe that the skills and experience I have gained, together with my understanding of the challenges faced by schools in such a rural area will help me support the development and continued improvement of Dr Thomlinson C of E Middle School.

I have great interest in teaching and learning and in particular the impact that the schoolā€™s core Christian values have on staff, pupils and the ethos of the school.
John Gray
Graduated from Edinburgh University in 1972 with BSc. Hons. in Agriculture and subsequently obtained a P.G.C.E at Reading College of Technology. After 4 years as Lecturer in Agriculture became a farmer. For the last 40 years have been sheep-farming near Longframlington. Three children, now adults, progressed happily through the 3 tier system (Swarland First to Rothbury Middle and then KEVI). I am fascinated by the politics and processes of Education. My interests are rugby, ballroom and Latin American dancing and speaking Spanish.
Sue Burston
I am a Northumbrian and a graduate of Durham and Newcastle Universities.

As a Psychiatric Social Worker by profession I worked for Durham County Council and the University of Newcastle, in the Royal Victoria Infirmary as a social worker. Leading from this I have a long history of volunteering, for the WRVS, as a church fundraiser, as a Community Medical Fund Trustee, as an organiser and speaker for Christian Aid and as a Youth Drop In Trustee.

A significant area of my volunteering has been as a Governor of Glendale Middle School Wooler for about 30 years. I was Chair of Governors for many years and I have frequently campaigned for the retention of rural schools in Northumberland.

In retirement I have the delight of being involved with the children of Harbottle School as a volunteer listening to their reading. I have a personal investment in Harbottle School spanning two generations as my children started their school career there and now my two grandchildren are attending.
Toni Dick
I am a Psychology graduate and a qualified teacher and have taught in a local primary school for six years where I lead Early Years and Phonics and reading across the school. I spent a considerable amount of time working on school policies including initiating change and training staff in new behaviour management techniques and policy.
I have recently left the classroom to spend more time with my two girls who are 2 and 4years old. I live in Thropton and enjoy playing an active role in the community, having helped set up ā€˜Thropton Togetherā€™ a local group aiming to improve our village and bring the community together.
I am passionate about getting children outside, learning through hands on experiences. I currently work on a self-employed basis as a forest school leader in local schools offering after school clubs, curriculum provision and holiday clubs. When I am not working, I spend my time with my two young children and all of our animals!
As an educator, I feel strongly that all children can achieve regardless of their experiences and starting points and hope that my experiences working in a rural primary school and as a parent, will aid me in supporting Thropton First School to continue to be the very best it can be.
Rachael Dumbell
We came to live in Rothbury over a decade ago having no connections in the area and have been warmly welcomed by the wonderful community.
Iā€™m delighted to be given the opportunity to be an Academy councillor for Dr Thomlinson School and to become part of the Three Rivers team. I hope my knowledge, skills and experience in learning and development, leadership and organisational development from a commercial environment across many countries, will add value and provide support in achieving our goals.
Nick Rowark
My career working with children & young people spans over 30 years at local, regional and national level.

For 16 years I was Youth Ministry Adviser for the Diocese of Durham Board of Education, where I gained much knowledge and experience in collective worship, organising large youth events, writing training material, child & adolescent development, bereavement, loss & grief in young people, safeguarding, curriculum, governance, finance and buildings, which I am able to bring to the role of school governor.

Since 2016, I have served as Chaplain to 3 schools (now part of the Cheviot Learning Trust), where I specialise in one to one support of both pupils and staff. I am also a trustee of Broomley Grange outdoor activity centre near Stocksfield.
Paul Freeman
I am a retired veterinary surgeon, having practised in the Coquet Valley for thirty-one years, and live in Rothbury. I am a trustee for a veterinary charity. My three daughters all attended Dr Thomlinson Middle School and I was previously a governor of Rothbury First School which they also attended. The school is an integral part of the valley community and I am honoured to serve on it's governing body.