Leadership Team
Mrs Lorna Buchanan
Headteacher
Designated Safeguarding Lead
After leaving school I worked for Lloyds Bank on their management development program for 6 years. I then trained as a teacher at Oxford Brookes University achieving a 2:1 BA Hons. I have taught in five schools and held management positions in four of them. I have been through three Ofsted/HMI inspections and each time the school was awarded outstanding. I am now training as an Ofsted Inspector. I was awarded a Postgraduate Certificate in Advanced Educational Practice in Special Educational Needs in 2014. I have had the privilege of being the Headteacher of Holy Trinity School since 2013. Holy Trinity is a very high achieving academic school; however, I believe that a strong emphasis on a broad and balanced curriculum is essential, an education that promotes the spiritual, moral, mental and physical development of children, My aim at Holy Trinity is to continue to ensure all children have the opportunities and experiences that will prepare them for their future life.
Mrs Natalie Medler
Deputy Head/RE Lead
In 2007, I qualified with a Bachelor of Education in Psychology and Educational Development at Nottingham University, with a 2:1. After a few years working in advertising, in London, I decided to pursue my career in teaching and completed a Postgraduate Certificate in Education at Roehampton University, with a specialism in KS2. I completed my first year in teaching and two subsequent years in a school in London before moving to Oxfordshire and joining Holy Trinity in 2011. During my time here, I have enjoyed being RE Coordinator and was on the Senior Leadership team when we achieved our outstanding Ofsted award. Since starting a family, I am now working part-time and have begun training to qualify as a Counsellor – learning skills of which I hope to be able to use alongside my teaching role with children and young people in the future.
Mrs Lizzie Clay
Acting Assistant Head & Key Stage 2 Leader
Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead
Mrs Fiona Wickens
SENCo
SENCo
Teaching Staff
Miss Laura Willis
Reception (St Francis)
Mrs Marsha Rickard
Year 1 (St John's)
Key Stage 1 Phase Leader
I graduated from Brunel University with a degree in Sport Science in 2000 and then worked in the Licensing department of MGM in London for a time – the Pink Panther and James Bond were my bread and butter! Disappointingly, I never met either in the flesh. My next step was to study for a PGCE in Primary Education, which I did at the University of Southampton, specialising in Modern Foreign Languages. On qualifying, I worked as a class teacher for 7 years at Abbotswood School in Hampshire, before relocating to Chipping Norton. After a short break to raise my 3 children, I returned to teaching at Hill View School in Banbury, where I happily worked for 4 years before applying for a position at Holy Trinity. Throughout my career I have primarily worked in Key Stage 2 and moved to Year 1 in 2017. I am Science lead at Holy Trinity and am currently undertaking my Forest School training, which I look forward to putting into practice in 2022. I am also part of a maths mastery workgroup with several local schools, working with Mrs Clay (KS2 and Maths Lead) and all of our staff to embed mastery within our maths curriculum. I am staff governor and an active member of the PTA, having chaired for 3 years.
Mrs Rebecca Catling
Year 2 (St Patrick's)
I qualified with a Bachelor of Education first class honours degree from Westminster College, Oxford in History and Education in 2006. History and English Literature being my majors, I was lucky to be taught for a short while by Philip Pullman. Since qualifying I have worked in a couple of primary schools in Bicester, a Middle school in Oxford, Middle Barton Primary School where I was KS2 co-ordinator and latterly Great Tew Primary school for over 14 years. Before marrying and starting a family I took a part-time teaching position in order to do a Law degree at Leicester University, eventually working in a small Family Law Practice in Stratford for a short time. But the lure of the classroom pulled me back! I have taught in every year from Reception through to Year 6 and was a County writing moderator for 2 years.
Miss Katie Hickman
Year 2 (St Patrick's)
In 2022 I qualified with a BA Honours in Education (Primary studies) from The Open University. I am currently studying for my PGCE with QTS with the University of Buckingham. After attending Holy Trinity as a pupil, I was lucky enough to start working here in 2011 as a one-to-one Teaching Assistant in Key Stage Two. Over the years, I have been a classroom Teaching Assistant in lower Key Stage Two, Key Stage One and Early Years. During this time, I qualified as a Higher-Level Teaching Assistant. I have worked with a range of different children and needs. As well as being a Classroom Teaching Assistant, I run our wrap around care and have previously led the Key Stage One choir. In my free time I enjoy swimming and walking my Sprocker Spaniel Lola.
Mr Jake Kinahan Brown
Year 4 (St Joseph's)
I qualified in 2020 with a PGCE in Primary Education from Oxford Brookes University. Before I was a teacher, I worked for 5 years as a teaching assistant with a range of different children and needs, including learners with specific learning difficulties and emotional needs. During this time, I specialised in teaching phonics and word recognition for learners in KS2. While studying as an undergraduate, I wrote my dissertation on interventions used to support children with their social and emotional development. I have just taken up the lead for History and Geography, both of which are real passions of mine, and I am looking forward to supporting the development of a skills-based curriculum in both these areas. Music is my other passion in life, and I love singing and playing guitar in my free time.
James Whybrow
Year 3 Teacher (St Paul's)
In 2017, I qualified with (BA Hons) Sport Coaching and Physical Education from Oxford Brookes University. From there I worked in a variety of sales and facility management roles, running a football stadium at one point. My interest in teaching never went away, so in 2021 I returned to Oxford Brookes to complete my PGCE in Primary Education with QTS. During my training I was placed at Holy Trinity and after a successful and enjoyable placement, I was delighted to be offered my first teaching post at the school. Outside of school, sport is a big passion of mine, particularly cricket, and I play and coach youth cricket for Charlbury CC.
Mrs Lizzie Clay
Year 6 (St Teresa's)
Key Stage 2 Phase Leader
I began my teaching career in 1995 after qualifying with a 2:1 B.Ed (Hons) Exon, with specialisms in maths and PE. Since that time, I have been lucky enough to teach in each year group throughout the primary age range before becoming KS2 lead at Holy Trinity. I enjoy guiding student and newly qualified teachers who are embarking on their careers, training to be a NQT mentor in 2016, and I have also taken the role of PE lead on two occasions. I currently lead maths and I am excited to be continuing to implement Maths Mastery into our school following two years of training with the National Centre of Excellence for the Teaching of Mathematics (NCETM). I am also thrilled to have been selected to train to be a NCETM primary maths specialist lead, a role which will enable me to support teachers from other schools in implementing the mastery approach in their setting. As well as teaching for 14 years, I have also enjoyed several years working in the field of outdoor education, specialising as an open-canoe instructor in the south of France. In 2003, I took a break from teaching and trained to be a paramedic, working across the county of Oxfordshire, before settling down to start a family. As well as outdoor pursuits and maths, my other passions are music, dance and musical theatre. I play clarinet and piano, and in my younger years, gained extensive experience both performing and teaching dance. These days, I thoroughly enjoy using my skills to lead the KS2 choir.
Mrs Rebecca Goodall
Year 5 Teacher (St Andrew's)
After graduating from the University of Birmingham with a Bachelor of Music in 2018, I worked in both the NGO and music sectors in London, Oxford and Birmingham for three years. Alongside my jobs, I worked as a freelance cello and piano teacher and quickly gained a respect and passion for education. I returned to Birmingham in 2021 to complete a PGCE and have since relished the challenges and successes of primary teaching. Outside the classroom, I teach music privately and play and sing in many local concerts. As well as music, my other passions are outdoor pursuits, art, and travel. I look forward to developing my skills at Holy Trinity and encouraging a curiosity for the arts and the outdoors in young children.
Mrs Natalie Medler
Year 6 Teacher (St Teresa's)
In 2007, I qualified with a Bachelor of Education in Psychology and Educational Development at Nottingham University, with a 2:1. After a few years working in advertising, in London, I decided to pursue my career in teaching and completed a Postgraduate Certificate in Education at Roehampton University, with a specialism in KS2. I completed my first year in teaching and two subsequent years in a school in London before moving to Oxfordshire and joining Holy Trinity in 2011. During my time here, I have enjoyed being RE Coordinator and was on the Senior Leadership team when we achieved our outstanding Ofsted award. Since starting a family, I am now working part-time and have begun training to qualify as a Counsellor – learning skills of which I hope to be able to use alongside my teaching role with children and young people in the future.
Mrs Sue Stansfield
Teacher
Teacher
I have a Bachelor’s Degree in Geography & Archaeology and a PGCE in teaching. I am also a qualified TEFL teacher and level 2 British Cycling Mountain Bike Guide. Since graduating I have been a teacher at several primary schools in Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire. I have taught all age groups from Reception to year 6, and worked at a school for the visually impaired. At different schools I’ve been a coordinator in Science, PE and Modern Foreign Languages. Outside of the classroom I work in a local club teaching mountain bike skills to children aged 5-15 years of age.
Mrs Claire McGeehan
Teacher
Teacher
