Current Governors

Trust Appointed Governors

Helen Williams (CEO)

Since becoming Chief Executive Officer of Moorlands Learning Trust in 2017, Helen has provided visionary leadership that has driven MLT’s significant growth and established its strong reputation for excellence across North and West Yorkshire.

Helen is responsible for the strategic direction of the Trust, cultivating collaborative partnerships, policy formulation and ensuring the delivery of high-quality education throughout multiple schools. Her commitment to developing and empowering others and fostering innovation has been vital to the Trust’s success.

Helen brings over 20 years of experience as a senior leader in education, having led equally successfully across very differing types of schools, including those with very high and very low levels of socio-economic disadvantage and those requiring special measures, through to those that are outstanding. As Headteacher from 2014, she led Ilkley Grammar School to achieve its first Outstanding Ofsted rating in 2017. Recognised for her expertise in school improvement, mentoring, coaching, and navigating schools positively through Ofsted inspections, Helen is passionate about inter-school support.

Her qualifications include the NPQH (2006), MA in Education Leadership (2015), LLE designation (2018), and NPQEL (2019).

Under Helen’s stewardship, Moorlands Learning Trust has grown from a single academy to a multi academy trust partnership comprising nine schools, with over 6,500 pupils and around 1,000 staff.

Richard McManus - Executive Headteacher

Richard McManus joined the Moorlands Learning Trust’s senior executive team in 2025 and is currently the Executive Principal at The Skipton Academy (TSA) and Executive Headteacher at Benton Park School (BPS).

Prior to taking on his current role, Richard was Principal at TSA, where he led a significant period of transformation. When he joined the academy in 2017, it was in special measures, with a declining roll and identified by Ofsted as a “stuck school”. Under Richard’s leadership, TSA achieved a “Good” rating in all areas from Ofsted in 2023 and has been oversubscribed in Year 7 for the past two years.

In his earlier career, Richard served as Senior Vice Principal at two inner-city Bradford schools and as Senior Assistant Principal at a demanding school in Leeds. His proven track record in improving schools in challenging circumstances, coupled with his commitment to enhancing student achievement, continues to be an invaluable asset to the Trust.

Co-opted (Community) Governors

Keith Bothamley

I have spent all my working life in education. Following a geography degree at Newcastle and an earth science PhD at Cardiff, I completed teacher training at Hull and have worked for over 25 years in Leeds schools in various positions, including headteacher, a period as an acting headteacher and also supporting a neighbouring school as its Executive Headteacher. I have led Initial Teacher Training programmes at the University of Leeds and more recently at Red Kite Teacher Training and remain strongly interested in supporting new entrants to the teaching profession.  I have also acted as a Department of Education consultant on specific curriculum and recruitment programmes.  

I live in Addingham with my wife Kate, who works at Nell Bank in Ilkley, our son Matt, currently in Year 13 at IGS and our German Shepherd, who does her best to keep me fit.

Recent retirement has allowed me to pursue an academic interest in Norse archaeology and to work on renovating a property in the South Lakes.

Clare Reed

I currently work in two quite different roles; since 2020 I have been the Community Champion for Morrisons Supermarket in Skipton and for over 10 years I have been a Company Director for Education Works Ltd.

As the Community Champion, I support local community groups and charities such as the Skipton Foodbank, SELFA, Skipton Step Into Action, Stepping Stones, Manorlands, Greatwood Allotments and many more.  I also provides donations to local primary and secondary schools including special schools, nursing and care homes and homeless groups. 

I am also an Educational Consultant working with teachers, advisors, consultants from all around the UK and occasionally abroad too. The main area of my work is Oracy (Speech, Language and Communication) development, which is currently a greater problem for many more children and young people following the pandemic.

Andrew Bruce

Sally Bisset

Staff Governors:

Mark Cook (Principal)

Mark has served as Principal of The Skipton Academy since September 2025, leading the school with a strong commitment to high standards, inclusion, and student success. He first joined The Skipton Academy in 2017 as Deputy Principal, playing a key role in school improvement, staff development, and strengthening the curriculum.

Before joining the academy, Mark spent ten years as an Assistant Head Teacher at Bingley Grammar School, where he contributed significantly to whole‑school development and raising achievement.

As a governor, Mark brings strategic insight, a passion for nurturing staff and student potential, and a clear focus on sustaining an ambitious long‑term vision for the school and its community.

Josh Fryer (Assistant Principal)

I am a geography teacher and Head of Humanities at The Skipton Academy. Graduating in 2018 from Lancaster University, I then went on to complete my PGCE with Red Kite and the University of Leeds. I have been at the academy for four years and have worked hard to develop the curriculum in a range of subjects, most recently developing the academy’s PDT curriculum, focusing on RSE, RE and citizenship. 

In recent years, I have acted as an ECT and ITT mentor. I have a strong interest in curriculum design and the development of trainee and early career teachers.

Parent Governors:

Sara Ramsey

I am a parent governor, currently having one child attending TSA, my other to follow soon. 

I currently work for a business who Case Manages for children and young adults with acquired brain injuries.

I have a degree in History and Sociology from University of Manchester, and a PGCE in Primary education and I was a Reception teacher in Burnley following my studies.

I have further experience with children and families from my volunteering work at Homestart.

When not working I like to read and spend time running our small-holding.