A TEACHER has come home to take over a school she used to walk past as a child.

Carys Barnett is the new headteacher at Trinity Academy primary school in Richmond, which has more than200 children. She is moving from the south west where she was part of a leadership team responsible for four schools.

Mrs Barnett is no stranger to the area, growing up in the town until she was five and her family moved away.

She said: “This really is like returning home for me and my husband. We both grew up in the area and still have family and friends here. In fact, my Dad remembers walking me past the school when I was really little. It was an amazing moment to tell him that I am now returning to be the headteacher.

“The past, however, is just part of the story of what attracted me to this post. Trinity Academy Richmond is a great school, but one I also know that we can make even better. I can’t wait to start working with the whole community to ensure that our school is a place that everyone is incredibly proud to be part of.”

Trinity Academy is part of the Dales Academies Trust, a group of 14 schools spread across North Yorkshire and the Stockton Borough Council area. Trust chief executive, Damian Chubb said Mrs Barnett had been part of the leadership team of four schools in the south west, all of which saw their outcomes improve and where inspections took place, their Ofsted ratings strengthened. One inspector praised her for her "innovation, bravery, and effective changes".

Mr Chubb added: "Finding the right headteacher for Trinity Academy Richmond was of vital importance. We needed to find someone who wasn’t just a fantastic educationalist to make positive changes, but an individual who really had community spirit at their heart.

“What impressed us throughout the interview process was not only the educational improvements that Carys has helped to lead, but also the fact that all of her schools received amazing feedback from parents. Building relationships really is Mrs Barnett’s strength.

“I firmly believe that this is a fantastic appointment, and I can’t wait to start to see what we can all collectively achieve for the brilliant children of Trinity Academy.”