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Our Schools

Yorkshire Endeavour Academy Trust is a unique and exciting partnership that was formed in 2018 by five primary schools that have a long and successful track record of collaborative working. Each with significant expertise in supporting schools.

Our Schools

Yorkshire Endeavour Academy Trust is a unique and exciting partnership that was formed in 2018 by five primary schools that have a long and successful track record of collaborative working. Each with significant expertise in supporting schools.

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About our school

Governor Profiles

Mark Hollingworth

Chair

Co-opted Governor

Link Governor responsibilities: Finance Committee; Training and Development; Attendance. 

"I became a school governor as I have a strong interest in supporting my local community, and our strong village school system is an important part of that community. My wife and I moved to the area as part of our semi-retirement plan and now run holiday cottages. I am a co-opted governor, and have no family ties to the school but I felt that my previous business experience could be put to good use in helping our schools, and from a personal point of view, I wanted to give my brain a bit of exercise! I am part of the Finance Sub-Committee and am the Link Governor responsible for attendance. As well as being a school governor, I am also Chair of the Derwent Valley Junior Cricket League, committee member of the Moorsweb rural broadband scheme and chair of Glaisdale Cricket Club. I see part of my role as a governor as an opportunity to help foster and develop links between all of these local community groups. When I'm not doing building work or voluntary work, my main interests are music (I still play in my old band from the 1980s) and also cricket, where I have been known to turn out for Glaisdale Cricket Club!"

Jo Kevan

Vice-Chair

Co-opted Governor 

Link Governor responsibilities: Training & development; Standards Working Party; Pupil Premium

"My children are the fifth generation of my family to attend Castleton Primary School so I have a vested interest in the development of the school, and it is this which led me to joining the governing body in 2016.  I am passionate about the role our three village schools play within the local communities and about the many benefits of small schools. I studied Japanese & German at the University of Leeds and then lived and worked in London for over ten years before returning to Castleton in 2014. I currently work for a local marketing agency which specialises in marketing for the hospitality industry. In my spare time, I am actively involved in a number of community groups and organisations within the local area including the village hall and the village cricket and tennis clubs."

Christina Zanelli

Headteacher

"My background experience is working and leading in both large and small schools. My career started in a large (500 pupils) Junior school in Lincoln with 80% FSM. I went on to set up and lead an inclusion unit for 2 years within this school, which catered for children excluded from other schools. After 7 years in Lincoln I became Deputy Head of a large school in Whitby where I was also SENCO and a leading Maths teacher. I was acting head of that school for a period of time before becoming the head of a small school in North Yorkshire that was in Special Measures! After a period of 3 years we were judged by Ofsted as a good school with outstanding features, including outstanding leadership.

I became headteacher of West Cliff Primary School in Whitby in 2011, a school that had previously been in serious weakness. West Cliff is now judged by Ofsted to be good with outstanding leadership. We have a strong record of providing school to school support for both large and small schools. I am a Local Leader of Education and work for the DFE on providing tailored support to schools regarding recruitment and retention  Our school was one of the founder members of the Yorkshire Endeavour Academy Trust and I was delighted to be appointed as CEO. To support this role I have successfully completed the National Professional Qualification - Executive Leader (NPQEL) qualification. I believe passionately that all children deserve the very best education we can give them, and that we only have one chance to do that. In 2021, I became Acting Headteacher of Lealholm Primary School and I am also the Strategic Lead of the Yorkshire Endeavour English Hub."

Olly Cooper

Headteacher  

"I joined the governing body in September 2022 when I became the Executive Headteacher of Castleton and Glasidale Primary Schools. I am also the SENCo at Lealholm Primary School and the Yorkshire Endaevour Academy Trust's Curriculum Lead.

I have spent my entire career working in small, rural primary schools; I have a real passion for developing the community feel in schools of this type, which attracted me to this position. Prior to working at Castleton and Glaisdale, I was acting headteacher of another village school, leading it through a challenging transitionary period following a poor Ofsted inspection. Pupil numbers at the school were dwindling and there was added financial pressures. However, this school is now thriving, achieving a positive Ofsted report and a 40% increase in pupil numbers. Following this success, I was seconded to a federation of two rural schools near Whitby, where I had further impact as their Acting Executive Headteacher."

Richard Beadnall

Co-opted Governor

Link Governor responsibilities: Safeguarding and EYFS

“As a Headteacher of a Primary School, I appreciate the importance of good Governance and the need for Governors to support schools as much as possible. I wanted to give something back to the school which has given my daughter an exceptional educational and social experience since she joined Castleton in 2018.  I have been a teacher for 17 years and am currently the Headteacher of a one-form-entry Primary School in Yarm, which also has a 26-place Nursery provision. Outside of education, I enjoy cycling, mine exploration and photography.”

Ellen Sayer

Co-opted Governor

Link Governor responsibilities: Standards & Curriculum

“I was keen to join the governing body as I have two children who attend Castleton school. I currently work as a Year 3 Lead in a large local primary school.  I love being outside and am a huge fan of Forest School and strongly believe that learning should be full of fun.”

Joy Sinclair

Co-opted Governor

Link Governor responsibilities: Safeguarding

"I was lucky enough to move to Castleton in 2020, just before the first lockdown. What a fantastic place! I wanted to give something back t" the village that had welcomed us so warmly and so am delighted to be a governor at our three schools. I have many years’ experience of being a governor and trustee, and hope to bring that experience to the governing body. I am currently the Safeguarding Governor.  In my working life, I was a Chartered Accountant but am now retired having worked for many years in a neighbouring local authority and was responsible for school audits for a time. As a result of losing most of my hearing when I was 34, I have a particular interest in inclusion. I have 3 children and 2 grandchildren whose company I adore! In my spare time I enjoy the countryside, gardens, walking our dog and reading."

Nick Tindall

Parent Governor

Link Governor Responsibilities: Standards & Curriculum Working Party Sports Premium  

"I am a parent of two children attending Glaisdale Primary. My family have lived in the upper Esk Valley for many generations, so I have a good knowledge of the schools within the Trust and firmly believe they are an integral part of our community. I became a parent governor in the summer term of 2021. I have link governor responsibilities for Sports Premium and a member of the Standards Group.

I studied Zoology at Leeds University and then completed a PhD in Parasitology at Edinburgh. Prior to my retirement in August 2021, I had been in secondary education for thirty years.  Latterly, I was Assistant Headteacher in a large comprehensive school on Teesside. My specific responsibilities were for staffing, timetable, curriculum, health and safety and educational visits.

In my spare time I am Chairman of Danby Cricket Club. However, my allegiances are now divided as my son has chosen to play for Glaisdale!"

Joe Culley

Parent Governor

"I am the step-father of a current Year 6 pupil at Castleton and my youngest son will be due to start at the school in 2024. I moved to the moors some years ago having met my now wife, a local dentist, who moved to the area some years before. I am a practicing barrister, specialising in criminal and civil law, including being routinely responsible for the prosecution of serious criminal cases in the Crown Court. I also have experience in local government, having been elected as a Member of Middlesbrough Borough Council in 2015, and holding a number of positions of responsibility on Council committees. From 2019 I was also the Secretary and Treasurer of a busy private social and sports club. 

I became interested in serving as a Governor as I believe I have skills and experience that will add value to the governing body. I care passionately about wanting the local school to continue to thrive, and am aware of the importance of clear leadership, strong decision-making, and carefully considered scrutiny. I believe this also requires objectivity, strategy and fairness in the way in which business is conducted."