Governors/Meet the Governors

I grew up in a difficult area of the North East of England before studying at Loughborough University, from where I  graduated in Business Administration and French, before undertaking a long career in the insurance sector. I also have qualifications in Behavioural Science and am a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Insurers. My career took me to work in Chester, Liverpool, Melbourne, Manchester and Madrid before moving to Surrey when I worked in the City of London. During my career I was Director of Human Resources in a British, an American and a Japanese insurance company as well as being Managing Director of companies when working in Spain.

I am married with three adult children and a keen armchair sports fan, continuing to follow the fortunes of Sunderland Football Club, which I have supported for over fifty years, and enjoy watching rugby and cricket as well as playing golf. When bored I love to bake cakes etc, though my wife restricts this passion as I like to eat them too (much)!! My own experience has shown me how education and learning open opportunities and I am  passionate about ensuring children are given opportunities to develop and learn and encouraged to achieve.

I have worked at Barnsbury for over 10 years, teaching in both Key Stage 1 and Key stage 2. I am currently teaching in year 3 and I am part of the Senior Leadership Team. I lead assessment, computing and RE across the school. Prior to working in Woking, I have taught in two schools in London, giving me a very varied experience. I thoroughly enjoy my job and working with the children must be one of the most rewarding jobs to have. I am very fortunate to work with such amazing and dedicated staff. My role as a staff governor has given me further insight into the development and growth of the school and allowed me to ensure that decisions are carefully made and that every decision made is for the benefit of our pupils.

Hi, I'm Matt and I'm a parent governor with two children studying at Barnsbury School. I live close to the school in Mayford, with my wife, the kids and our pets: a cat and a bearded dragon. I work as Editorial Director for an international publishing company, and in my spare time I love to run and play sports, and just spend time with family and friends.

I have recently joined the Governing board in September 2025. I am passionate about promoting mental health and safeguarding within education, ensuring every child feels safe, supported, and able to thrive. My professional background combines academic expertise and practical experience in wellbeing. I am a qualified Children’s Wellbeing Practitioner, with hands on experience delivering evidence-based interventions to improve emotional wellbeing for children and young people. I am also a University Lecturer for a range of Mental Health practitioners,  teaching and mentoring students at higher education level, fostering inclusive learning environments and supporting diverse needs.

I believe that strong governance should prioritise pupil welfare alongside academic achievement. My commitment is to advocate for mental health awareness, robust safeguarding practices, and collaborative approaches that empower staff, families, and communities.