EXAM results, Ofsted inspections and league tables are often enough to keep head teachers busy year after year.

But not for Julie Lodrick, head teacher of The Mount school – who will take on an extra challenge by tackling this year’s Plusnet Yorkshire Marathon on Sunday.

Dame Judi Dench’s former school is set amongst 16 acres of grounds and sports fields, giving Julie an ideal spot for her training runs, and she has even enlisted a former Olympian to help her get up to speed.

She said: “Being the head of a busy school does not leave me much time in the day for training so I have been preparing by getting up earlier than usual and running then.

“I am also delighted to welcome an Olympian onto our staff; Gillian Lindsay, who is The Mount’s new director of sport and wellbeing.

“She has taken part in three Olympic Games and won a silver medal in Sydney for the womens’ sculls rowing.

“She has been training with me and has been both encouraging and inspiring whenever encouragement or inspiration was needed.”

This is Julie’s third marathon, but her first Yorkshire Marathon, which follows a route around the city and into the surrounding countryside.

She hopes to raise £1,000 for Ibba Girls’ School, a new boarding school in South Sudan set up by an old scholar, Professor Jean Hartley.

Julie added: “Ibba Girls’ School is an inspiring vision to educate and improve the life chances of girls from the poorest backgrounds in South Sudan, which has emerged from over 20 years of civil war and is the world’s newest country.

“Due to domestic pressures, it is incredibly difficult for a girl in South Sudan to remain in education, and most drop out of school by the age of 10.

“A girl in South Sudan today is more likely to die in childbirth than to complete primary education. Ibba Girls’ School seeks to change that.”

To sponsor Julie visit uk.virgin moneygiving.com/JulieLodrick

For up to date marathon coverage and information, visit thepress.co.uk/marathon