Governing Body

As Headteacher I am an ex-officio member of the governing body and as such attend all meetings and committees. Working alongside governors is an important part of any headteacher role. I value the work I do with them to steer the strategic direction of the school for the benefit of all our students.

Our governors come from a variety of professional backgrounds and bring with them a huge amount of expertise and in doing so provide different perspectives that help to both challenge and support our school development priorities.

Collectively, we have one shared vision. To provide a safe and inclusive community that enables every student to reach their full potential and develop a love of learning, by living our values every day.

Originally from South London, I have lived in East Grinstead since 2008. My wife works at Sackville School and my daughter is soon to be joined by my son at the school.

I have been a Police Officer since 2006 and work across Sussex keeping our communities safe. I lead in a number of areas around development of Police Officers and Staff, specifically improving representation and understanding from underrepresented members of society. I am a firearms commander and mentor. I attended the University of Portsmouth where I obtained post graduate qualifications relating to Leadership and Policing Cultures. I believe in fairness, respect and doing the right thing for people.

Out of work, I can be a bit of a geek and will often be found watching Star Trek, One Piece or any other sci-fi/anime. Unfortunately, this impacts my music tastes which is almost exclusively J-Pop! It certainly sets a tone for night shifts.

I have been a Governor at Sackville since 2013 after previously serving for 8 years at a first and then middle school in Crawley.  I’m married with two grown up children.  I worked in finance for 38 years and following early retirement enjoyed a second career in property maintenance and development.

I believe every child should have the opportunity to reach their potential in a safe and secure school environment.

I have been a member of the Governing Body at Sackville for over 10 years, originally as a Parent Governor and now as a co-opted Governor. I head up the Resources and Personnel committee, and I am also vice chair of the overall Governing Body.

I run my own small business in East Grinstead and I am married, having two grown children, both of whom studied at Sackville School.

** Newly appointed – biography coming soon **

I am very pleased to have recently been appointed as a co-opted governor at Sackville.

I have lived in East Grinstead all of my life, including attending Sackville as a student for six years back in the late 70’s, early 80’s.

I’ve spent more than thirty-five years working in a variety of IT roles across various industries, the last nine of which have been at a large Multi-Academy Trust based in Kent and South-East London.

Whilst working for the Trust I think I have gained a good understanding of the challenges around IT in Schools, particularly in regard to cyber security and safeguarding. During this time I have also gained an appreciation in the wider aspects of running Academy schools and a respect to those who devote their lives to education. I see joining the governing board of Sackville as an opportunity to give something back to both my old school and the local community.

Having recently moved to the area from London, I was keen to support my local community and I’m delighted to have been selected as a governor at Sackville school.

I currently work for a large global Bank and look forward to applying my core skills in finance, product design and programme management to a completely different setting. I come from a family passionate about education; my mum is currently a Vice Principle and my dad a school governor too.

In my spare time I’m typically found renovating my new house in Hartfield with my husband Will, or walking my energetic German Pointer on the Ashdown Forest.

It was an honour to be elected staff governor in January 2024. Although I have only been at Sackville, initially as a Year Leader, since September 2021, it truly feels like home and I am incredibly fortunate to be a part of this vibrant and thriving community.

I am currently Head of Yousafzai and Teacher of English. Before I arrived at Sackville, I was a KS3 Coordinator and Assistant Head of Year at a large comprehensive secondary school in Surrey. I truly believe that education is the key to a better future for all and our young people give me hope every day.

Outside of school, I enjoy spending time with family, playing golf and exploring local restaurants. I am a proud father to two boys and can often be found having tea and cake with my wife and children at National Trust tea rooms.

Having moved to East Grinstead 2 years ago, I am excited to be a member of the School Governing Body and the broader community.

Originally from South Africa, my wife and I left in 2006 and have lived in Belgium, the Czech Republic and Switzerland.

I have over 20 years’ experience in the healthcare industry and have also most recently served on a part-time secondment with the International Rescue Committee in Jordan. I am passionate about topics such as organisational governance, strategic planning and personal development. My wife and I have two daughters in the school.

I am excited about the opportunity to serve as a co-opted Governor at Sackville. My combination of professional expertise, advocacy for SEN, and strategic experience positions me well to contribute positively to the school’s governance.

I hold an MSc in Education Management and Leadership and am a Fellow and Chartered Manager through the Chartered Management Institute (CMI). As a parent of two children, I understand first-hand the importance of fostering an inclusive and supportive educational environment for all children and enhancing the quality of both educational and pastoral programs, ensuring they meet the diverse needs of all students. In my leisure time,

I enjoy swimming, arts and spending time with my family, playing a board game or two!