Meet our Members

My career has included technical consultancy, shipbuilding and academic research in project management, but more recently into the issues surrounding information sharing within the public sector, particularly children’s services. I also served a spell on the National Curriculum Council.

I have been a school governor first with Longhorsley First School, then with King Edward VI High School (KEVI), and am also a former Trustee of The Three Rivers Learning Trust, where I helped develop the strategy of the Learning Trust, including the best mix of education pathways, enrichment and skills. I am married with six grown up children, four of whom were at KEVI.

I was born in Morpeth and have lived here most of my life. I have 4 children and 6 grandchildren. I am retired. My professional background was within the Civil Service for 35 years where I managed large numbers of staff and IT equipment.

I was a Governor at Abbeyfields First School from the mid 1980’s to 2017 including 15 years as Chair. I was also a Governor for several years at Newminster Middle School. I joined Three Rivers Learning Trust Board of Trustees in 2017 and was Chair of the Board between 2021 and 2023. I was also Chair of the Northumberland Schools’ Forum – a statutory body with a consultative role in relation to the local distribution of school funding, for a number of years.

Along with everyone who respects and values state education, I strive to ensure that in Cheviot Learning Trust we maintain high ambitions to promote the development of future citizens who possess intellectual capacity, social awareness and emotional intelligence in equal measure.

I am the CEO of the Durham and Newcastle Diocesan Learning Trust which has seveteen Primary Schools soon to be twenty covering 7 Local Authorities in the North East of England. Prior to being the full time CEO I was the Diocesan Director for Education for the Anglican Diocese’s and Durham and Newcastle responsible for the oversight of 106 C of E Schools. I have worked in Education since my mid-twenties starting as a Primary School Teacher in Gateshead before leaving Headship in North Tyneside to join the Diocese as Director.

In my spare time I love spending time with my wife and children along with our two dogs Simba and Meg. As for hobbies I really enjoying walking in my home of Northumberland and I am licensed by the British Trust for Ornithology to catch and ring mute swans for the North East Swan Study Group.

In January 2021, Mark Wroe was consecrated as the Suffragan Bishop of Berwick, succeeding Bishop Mark Tanner who moved to become Bishop of Chester.

Mark was educated at St Mary’s University, London and Anglia Polytechnic University and trained for ministry at Ridley Hall, Cambridge. He served his title at All Saints Chilvers Coton with St Mary the Virgin, in the Diocese of Coventry and was ordained Priest in 1997. In 2000, Mark was appointed Priest-in-Charge, and latterly Vicar of St Alban Windy Nook, Gateshead in the Diocese of Durham. Mark took up the roles of Priest-in-Charge of St Barnabas and St Jude, and Vicar of Holy Trinity Jesmond in the Diocese of Newcastle in 2007. In 2017, Mark was additionally appointed Area Dean of Newcastle Central Deanery.

In 2019, Mark became Archdeacon of Northumberland, having been Acting Archdeacon since 2018. He is married to Caroline (a renal consultant and research professor) and they have three school age children. He was born in Newcastle upon Tyne and grew up in nearby Chester-le-Street, County Durham.

I was born and brought up in Sunderland where, after qualifying as a teacher, I taught in a Primary School before moving to West Yorkshire teaching for several years focusing mainly on Key Stage 1.

I took a career break in order to raise my children and returned to teaching initially in Lancashire and then in Gateshead becoming a Deputy Headteacher in a Primary School there. During this time I was appointed as Headteacher of a First School in Hexham and, whilst there, became increasingly involved with the work of the Local Authority, eventually, working as an advisor and taking the lead on NQT’s, Pupil Premium and One to One tuition. This involved me working closely with representatives of the DfE. I also worked as a SIP in various schools in all phases across Northumberland.

I was asked by the Authority to be an Acting Headteacher in several schools supporting them through difficulties that were either self identified or following an Ofsted Inspection.

I was a Governor at Prudhoe Castle First School and Mickley First School becoming Chair of Governors at both schools. I am now retired and spend as much time as possible in the Lake District walking, reading and generally enjoying the views.