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Governors

Governors of The Leys and St Faith's Schools Foundation

The Leys and St Faith’s Schools Foundation is a charitable company limited by guarantee, registered in England and Wales. Company number 07748737. Registered Charity number 1144035.

The Chair of the Governing Body, Sir Matthew Rycroft, may be contacted by letter c/o The Leys School. Letters requiring his attention should please be marked ‘Private and Confidential’.

Dr R Anthony
Dr R Anthony
The Leys Committee

Richard is Bursar and a Fellow of Jesus College Cambridge, a position he has held since April 2017, where he is responsible for financial, operational and legal matters. This includes managing the College’s endowment, a significant proportion of which is invested in and around Cambridge. Prior to this, he was Bursar, Development Director and a Fellow of St Edmund’s College Cambridge. Richard is also actively involved with the University of Cambridge, where he is currently Chair of Bursars’ Committee, and he was previously an elected member of the University Council.

Richard trained as a chartered accountant in the City and worked in project and corporate finance in infrastructure and utilities, and in wealth management and private banking. He is a director of Cambridge Ahead, a business and academic member organisation dedicated to the successful and sustainable long-term growth of Greater Cambridge. Old Fidelian (74-80) and Old Leysian (80-85).

Mr M Brown
Mr M Brown
The Leys Committee

Studied Biological Sciences (Hons Botany) at the University of Liverpool and completed PGCE at S. Martin’s College, Lancaster. Taught at Brentwood School, Essex (1979-84). Appointed as Head of Biology at The Leys School (1984). Subsequently served (at various times) as Assistant Housemaster of Fen and West Houses, Housemaster of North B House (on its conversion to the co-ed Day House), Officer Commanding CCF, President of Common Room and, latterly, Director of the Wider Curriculum. Coached rugby and athletics – and participated as a D of E Supervisor and Assessor. Retired in 2016. Currently a Governor at Waterbeach Community Primary School, a volunteer within the Learning Section at Wicken Fen NT Reserve and a volunteer instructor at St Ives Open D of E Award Group. Married to Susan (Maths Teacher) with children Rob and Gail (both Old Fidalians/Old Leysians).

Elected Governor 2017.

Mrs A Brunner
Mrs A Brunner
Chair of St Faith's Committee, Finance and Audit Committee, Foundation Executive, Nominations Committee

Former parent – son and then daughter who was in the first intake of girls at The Leys. Exeter University (Spanish and French). Teacher: initially taught languages in a large comprehensive and then general subjects in prep school. Most recently Head of 4th year and Head of History at St John’s College School, Cambridge. Lives near Cambridge.

Elected Governor 2002. Chair of the St Faith’s Committee.

Mrs W Challen
Mrs W Challen
St Faith's Committee

The Froebel Institute Roehampton University, London (Cert Ed Primary Education). Previously, a KS3 special needs teacher at Kennington Secondary School, London, then moved to Garden House School, Chelsea to be an EYFS and KS1 class teacher. Later roles at Garden House School included Headmistress at Garden House Boys School, then Pre-Prep Headmistress. Now retired. Governor at Holy Trinity Primary School, Chelsea, Governor at Handcross Park, Sussex, Trustee of Roedean Scholarship Fund, Trustee of Roedean Mission Fund, Trustee of The Giving Tree Foundation, Autism, and Educational Consultant for Llewellyn Education.

Elected Governor in 2016.

Mrs J Clarke
Mrs J Clarke
The Leys Committee

Old Leysian (1986-1988) (Head Girl). Bed (Hons) degree at Oxford Brookes University (Education and French). Taught at The Banda School, Nairobi, Kenya (1994-1997). Taught at St John’s College School since 1997. Positions at St John’s included Class Teacher, Head of Year 4, Teacher of Games, French and Geography. Attended several choir tours, including ones to Europe and the USA. Since 2012, taught part-time at St John’s as a Librarian, Art Teacher and Wardrobe Mistress for school plays.

Elected Governor in 2017.

Mrs J de Grey
Mrs J de Grey

Jo is an Old Leysian (1985 – 1987), subsequently moving to London to complete a secretarial course, and work at Reuters. Jo now lives in Norfolk, where she helps to run the family estate and is currently looking to diversify the farmland and gardens.

Jo is the Chair of The Old Leysian Society Committee and is the current President, and is also a former parent of The Leys.

Mr C Fairey
Mr C Fairey
Chairman of the Nominations Committee

Managing Director of T. B .Fairey & Sons Ltd, a farming company in South Cambridgeshire. Previously a Chartered Surveyor for ADAS and Carter Jonas. Former parent of The Leys and St. Faith’s. Old Fidelian and Old Leysian (79-84).

Elected Governor in 2019.

Ms J Fenn
Ms J Fenn

Judith Fenn read history at Cambridge University then taught for 13 years, latterly as a deputy head at the Godolphin and Latymer School. She has been a Governor of a state special school and a Chair of Governors of an independent day and boarding school. She oversaw statutory teacher induction in independent schools across England for a number of years before taking up post as CEO of The Methodist Independent Schools Trust in February 2023. She is a committed educator with a deep love of schools and their potential to transform lives. In her spare time, she travels and has a particular fascination with prehistoric sites.

Mr J Gladwin
Mr J Gladwin
Chair of The Leys Committee, Finance and Audit Committee, Foundation Executive

Jeremy’s educational career has been in the world of HMC Independent Schools, both senior and through schools, starting in Shrewsbury, via Royal Hospital School and finishing in two Headships, spanning 15 years at St Edmund’s School Canterbury and Bishop’s Stortford College. He has a particular interest in boarding education and was a long standing Boarding Inspector with CSCI, Ofsted and ISI. He studied educational leadership at Masters level at the University of Cambridge. He served for many years on the HMC Professional Development Committee and is an accredited appraiser and mentor for HMC Heads. He became a founder member of the Bishop’s Stortford Educational Trust, which brought together all the diverse secondary schools (6) in the town for the benefit of mutual collaboration and support. Jeremy is also a Governor of Haberdashers’ Boys’ and Girls’ School, Elstree.

Elected Governor in 2021.

Revd. Dr. P Glass
Revd. Dr. P Glass
Foundation Executive Committee

Revd. Dr. Paul Glass has worked for 23 years as full time Chaplain in Methodist Schools. He was Pastoral Visitor for the Methodist Schools group and is currently Superintendent of the Wey Valley Methodist Circuit and Methodist Chaplain to the University of Surrey.

Mrs E Hooley
Mrs E Hooley
The Leys Committee

Newnham College, Cambridge (Economics and Law). Previously Associate Solicitor at Allen & Overy, London. Since 1998 Solicitor & Company Secretary at Websters, a tax, legal, accounting and financial planning practice based in Cambridge, specialising in private client and tax planning advisory work. Formerly Vice President of Newnham College Roll (Alumnae) Committee and since 2013 Newnham College Associate. Former parent of The Leys.

Elected Governor 2015.

Professor H Iqtidar
Professor H Iqtidar
St Faith's Committee

Humeira is a Professor of Politics in the department of Political Economy, King's
College London and parent of former St. Faith's and Leys students. She has studied at
the University of Cambridge in UK, McGill University in Canada and Quaid-e-Azam
University in Pakistan. Before returning to academia, Humeira worked in management
consulting with Deloitte Consulting in Canada and UK.

Mr C Kirker
Mr C Kirker
St Faith's Committee

Attended St Faith’s (Cambridge) and Kimbolton schools. MA in Modern Languages at Jesus College, Cambridge. Various posts held such as Product Manager for Clarksons Holidays, Sales Manager for Inghams Travel, Sales and Marketing Director for Global Holidays, Commercial Director for Travelscene Holidays, then owner and Chairman of Kirker Holidays until 2002 as well as owner and Director of The Grand Touring Club until 2005. Now retired. Former Chairman of AITO (Association of Independent Tour Operators); former Chairman of the Oxford and Cambridge Club, London; current Trustee of the Oxford and Cambridge Club; current Trustee of Jesus College Cambridge Society; current Committee member of the Oxford and Cambridge Club; current Committee member of the Garrick Club.

Elected Governor in 2016.

Mrs S Loft
Mrs S Loft
The Leys Committee

Professional life based in Marketing, mostly as Account Handler in advertising agencies. Started at Saatchi & Saatchi, moving to Publicis and then FCB. Stephanie spent two years as the Advertising and Promotions Manager at Debenhams Plc. With five children, Stephanie is a past and present Leys parent.

Mr J May
Mr J May
The Leys Committee, Finance and Audit Committee

After gaining Law degrees at Cambridge University in the mid-1970s, John worked until 1999 for the Hambros Group in the UK and Australia where he was a director of Hambros Bank and managing director of Hambro Countrywide, the listed estate agency and financial services group. He was a director of listed investment trust Caledonia Investments for 8 years from 2003 and has spent the last 20 plus years advising, managing or investing in a wide range of businesses where he has chaired or been a non-executive director of over 40 UK and international companies. He was previously a governor of Brentwood School in Essex where he had been educated and is also Chair of Trustees at BASET (The Britain-Australia Society Education Trust). John is married with two grown-up children and, having grown up in Essex where he was born, now lives in Cambridge and Norfolk.

Elected Governor in 2021.

Mr R Mitchell
Mr R Mitchell
St Faith's Committee

College of St.Paul’s and St.Mary’s, Cheltenham BEd (Hons). Current Director of Mitchell-Armstrong Ltd (marketing in education). Previously Headmaster at Wellingborough Prep School (2004-2015) and member of staff at St Faith’s (1986-2004). Appointed Teacher Representative for St Faith’s in September 2016.

Elected Governor in 2016.

Ms S Northcott
Ms S Northcott
St Faith’s Committee

Stephanie was admitted as a solicitor, and practiced, in both the UK and Hong Kong before joining AstraZeneca as Senior Legal Counsel. Studied Environmental Science at the University of York before completing a Graduate Diploma in Law at BPP Law School.

Mr S Peak
Mr S Peak
Chair of the Finance and Audit Committee

Partner in Chartered Accountants Peters Elworthy & Moore based in Cambridge, specialising in family owned businesses, including farms and medical practices. Attended Hatfield Polytechnic reading Business Studies. Former pupil of East House (78-83). Current parent of The Leys and former parent of St Faith’s. Treasurer of OLS and OL Benevolent Fund. Member of Gog Magog Golf Club.

Elected Governor in 2016.

Mr S Regan Asante
Mr S Regan Asante
The Leys Committee

Old Leysian (Moulton and West 2002-09) and a Politics, Philosophy and Economics (2:1) graduate from the University of Liverpool. Samuel is as an entrepreneurial leader who has specialised in running high growth companies within the media industry. He was part of the founding team at the global media company UNILAD, taking it from a bedroom start-up to a company with revenue of £12m+. He then founded his own company prior to acquiring Joe Media and grew the group revenue to £10m+. His expertise lies in building, scaling and supporting teams across multiple departments to deliver, grow and innovate. He is also a non-executive advisor to Screenshot Media and Impress.

Ms H Renfrew Knight
Ms H Renfrew Knight
Foundation Executive, St Faith’s Committee

University of Oxford (BA Hons History & Italian), INSEAD, Director of Strategy and Integration, Cambridge University Press. Developed career as strategy consultant at Booz. Allen & Hamilton, Andersen Consulting & Spectrum Strategy Consultants. Since 2001, specialised in consulting in education, working on projects in the UK & internationally. Former Ofsted inspector. Former Chair of Governors, Eastfield Infants School, former Vice Chair of Governors, Richard Atkins Primary School, Trustee of Emmaus Cambridge, Leys parent.

Elected Governor in 2017.

Sir M Rycroft
Sir M Rycroft
Chair of the Foundation, Foundation Executive

Old Leysian (North B, 1981-1986) who benefitted from the wide range of extra-curricular activities available at The Leys, including double bass, piano, singing, hockey, drama, DofE, debating and the Fortnightly. Studied Maths and Philosophy at Merton College, Oxford. Joined the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in 1989; with early postings in Geneva, Paris and Washington. In between he worked in London on the Balkans, NATO and Europe. In the Senior Civil Service, he was the Private Secretary to the Prime Minister for Foreign Affairs, the British Ambassador in Bosnia, the Europe Director then Chief Operating Officer in the FCO, and then Ambassador to the UN in New York. As a Permanent Secretary, Matthew spent two years at the Department for International Development and has been at the Home Office since 2020.

Miss L Sales
Miss L Sales
The Leys Committee

Old Leysian (Moulton 2000-2002, Dale 2002-2007) (Head Girl). Studied Theology at the University of Nottingham. Global Procurement Risk Management Lead, AstraZeneca. Trustee for the Cambridge Cancer Help Centre and Independent Member of the Joint Audit Committee for the Cambridgeshire Constabulary. Also a member of the Old Leysian Society Committee and Old Leysian Benevolent Fund Committee.

Mr A Silverton
Mr A Silverton
St Faith's Committee

Former pupil (Fen 73 – 78) and former parent (03 – 10) who is a Business and Political Studies honours graduate of Aston University. Divisional Director of Brewin Dolphin and former Head of its London Wealth Management office. Also a Trustee of the Tim Henman Foundation which provides opportunities to vulnerable and/or disadvantaged young people.

Elected Governor in 2021.

Mrs V Wienand
Mrs V Wienand
St Faith’s Committee

Vicki read English at St. John’s College, Cambridge, studied for her PGCE in Oxford and teaching in a variety of secondary schools in the UK and Australia followed. She is co-Series Editor of Cambridge University Press’s Cambridge School Shakespeare series which sells worldwide, a trustee of Coram Shakespeare Schools Foundation and a governor of St. Anne’s Church of England Primary School in Godmanchester. Her three children attended St. Faith’s.

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