Our governors

The Governing Body of St Mary’s School, Cambridge is responsible for determining the aims and overall conduct of the school, sometimes referred to as setting the strategy. 

In conjunction with the senior leadership, the Governing Body sets and reviews the policies, plans and procedures which are designed to ensure the best possible education for present and future pupils of the school. The Governing Body is responsible for ensuring the proper control of the school’s finances. It is also responsible for ensuring compliance with regulation, with the guidance of the Charity Commission, and with the law, including the Companies Act 2006. As trustees, the Governing Body is also the guardian of the school’s assets.

Our Governing Body comprises 13 volunteers from education, industry and faith organisations.

Mr Stuart Westley serves as Chair of the Governing Body. He can be contacted via Mrs Katy Dix, St Mary's School, Cambridge, Bateman Street, Cambridge, CB2 1LY.

S Westley - Chair of Governors

After attending Lancaster Royal Grammar School, Stuart Westley read Law at Corpus Christi College, University of Oxford, representing the university at rugby and cricket and achieving a degree. After a brief spell as a professional cricketer, he taught Mathematics at Framlingham College from 1973 to 1984 where he was also a Housemaster and Director of Studies. He has subsequently held the role of Deputy Head at Bristol Cathedral School, Principal at King William's College, Isle of Man, and Master of Haileybury. He succeeded Shane Rutter-Jerome as General Secretary of The Association of Governing Bodies of Independent Schools (AGBIS) in September 2009, before retiring in 2016. He has been a governor of nine schools and is currently Chairman of Governors of a preparatory school in Hertfordshire.

A Grant

Andrew Grant’s teaching career was spent in HMC Schools, including Merchant Taylors', Whitgift, RGS Guildford and St Albans, from which he recently retired after 21 years as Headmaster. Beyond school, Andrew was Chairman of HMC in 2009-2010, a Director of the Independent Schools Council (ISC) from 2009-2011 and served on various curriculum-related groups including the assessment sub-group of the Tomlinson 14-19 Review and the HMC/GSA Universities sub-committee. His experience as a governor spans HMC, GSA and IAPS schools and he is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, Commerce and Manufactures (RSA).

C Jones

Acting Chair of Governors
Colin Jones is the Managing Partner of law firm Hewitsons. His legal practice involves working with a wide range of educational institutions, including schools in the independent and maintained sector as well as colleges and other higher education bodies. This enables him to have a wide range of experience of education in its various forms. He became a governor in 2013, and this allows him to be involved with a different side of the education sector.

Sister F Orchard

Sister Frances is a member of the Congregation of Jesus, Mary Ward’s Foundation, and has been associated with the congregation for most of her life. She attended the University of London and holds an honours degree in History, and a PGCE in History and Religion, teaching both subjects at St Mary’s School, Cambridge for a brief period. After serving as Headmistress of St Mary’s Ascot she went on to become General Secretary of the Catholic Independent Schools’ Conference before being elected onto the CJ General Council as Vicar General. During this time she achieved an MA in Catholic School Leadership and took on five school governorships at various times. Sister Frances is currently the Provincial Superior of the CJ in England.

J Clements OBE

Judy Clements OBE is the Independent Adjudicator and Chief Executive of the Office of the Independent Adjudicator for Higher Education (OIA). The OIA is the independent student complaints ombudsman for higher education in England and Wales. Judy has over 25 years' experience in the public sector, having served as The Adjudicator for Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs, the Valuation Office Agency and The Insolvency Service; as a Director at the Independent Police Complaints Commission; and as Head of Diversity and Equality at HM Prison Service. Judy is a member of the Senior Women in Public Policy network. She is also an independent adviser to Victim Support’s Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Committee and a governor at two independent schools.

Professor J Driscoll

Judith Driscoll studied Material Science at Imperial College, London and obtained a PhD in the same subject at the University of Cambridge. She spent a period of time researching at Stanford University before taking up an academic post at Imperial. Following her time at Imperial she took up her current post at University of Cambridge and at Trinity College, where she became the first female Professor in the Department of Materials in 2008, and also the first female Professor of Natural Sciences at Trinity. She is a dedicated promoter of women in Science and firmly believes single-sex education is an excellent route for encouraging women into Science and Mathematics. Judith's daughters attended St Mary's School, Cambridge from Junior School through to Sixth Form.

J Pyne

Jeremy Pyne’s career in advertising has dealt with a variety of household brands from consumer goods to those in the automotive industry. Currently, Jeremy is responsible for maintaining effective working relationships with all of his firm’s existing global clients and with a large client service team. He has responsibility for career development as well as the overall management of talent within the agency. The father of two daughters, who have both attended St Mary’s School, Cambridge, Jeremy resides with his family in Cambridge and enjoys playing tennis and swimming.

J Storey

After graduating from Loughborough University, Jo was initially employed as a Risk Analyst in industry, before becoming a Senior Lecturer in Mathematics and Statistics. Her passion for the wellbeing of young people then drew her to the role of Principal Researcher, working for the National Health Service on a major project, researching drug and alcohol abuse in young people.

Jo then became Statistical Advisor to the Royal College of Optometrists and, whilst working at the University of Cambridge, became involved in the development of a Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) for the students. She was accredited with 'Fellowship' status by the Higher Education Academy (HEA) for teaching and learning in 2007 and subsequently returned to full time teaching in secondary education.

Jo became Head of Mathematics at King Edward VII and Queen Mary school, prior to being employed at New Hall school, a day and boarding school as first Vice Principal (Academic) and subsequently Deputy Principal. In September 2015 she was honoured to be appointed as Head of Thornton College, a day and boarding school. In her first year as Head, Jo helped introduce a Sixth Form, and the College now caters for students from 2.5 to 18 years. Through her various roles, Jo has considerable experience of ‘growing a School’ and is devoted to offering a holistic education, which will equip young people for the challenges of an ever-changing world.

In 2016 Jo qualified as an ISI inspector. Her understanding of compliance and regulation ensures that no stone is left unturned in her quest to provide for the global needs of every single child. She is currently a Director of Education at Cognita on the UK Executive board, where she is working to improve and inspire the education within schools spanning eight different countries.

Jo is married to Darryl. They have one daughter, Sinéad, and two dogs; a Bernease Mountain dog and a Bischon Frise, both of which complement their love of the outdoors and all it has to offer.

M Ledzion

Born in Switzerland, Michael Ledzion came to school in the UK aged 11 and later moved to Cambridge to study Manufacturing Engineering at Christ’s College. Throughout his career he has enjoyed a variety of roles in different industries, spanning strategy consulting, online retailing to semi-conductors and technology. He founded/co-founded and led five successful companies which enabled him to work around the world. On his return to England he took over Sports for Schools, a social enterprise that inspires kids to be physically active by exposing them to the country’s top Olympic and Paralympic athletes. Michael's daughter attended St Mary's School, Cambridge, and his principal contributions to the board of governors are an entrepreneurial business mind and a focus on the physical health of students through sports.

M Pattinson

Marina Pattinson holds an MEng in Aerospace Engineering and professional qualifications in sales and marketing. She gained her a postgraduate qualification in Engineering Management at Cambridge University and is a Chartered Engineer and a member of the Royal Aeronautical Society. Marina is currently a Systems Engineering Manager at Marshall Aerospace and Defence Group in Cambridge. She has many years experience of budgetary responsibility, performance management and governance, ensuring her team's adherence to procedures and safety regulations. Marina is passionate about encouraging women into STEM and is frequently called upon to participate in various Women in Innovation and Engineering events, latest being a key speaker at Women in Engineering Forum at the Engineering Department, Cambridge University. Marina has 3 grown-up step sons and a daughter who attends St Mary’s Junior school.

N Ward

Nessa Ward was brought up in Ireland and educated by the F.C.J order of nuns at a Catholic boarding school. She attended University College Galway graduating with an MB BCh BAO Bachelor of Medicine after which she moved to the UK for her postgraduate medical training. Nessa pursued various medical interests, including Anaesthesiology, Palliative Medicine and General Practice. Before retirement, she was a Partner at a Cambridge City Practice looking after a population of 11,000 patients. Nessa is an Eucharistic Minister at the church she attends with her family, where they are actively involved in fundraising activities. Nessa's daughter attended St Mary's School, Cambridge from Junior School through to Sixth Form.

R Burch

Raymond Burch has over 30 years’ experience as a construction cost consultant with extensive experience of both public and private sector schemes with particular emphasis on education, housing, retail, leisure and commercial projects. With the exception of two years spent overseas Raymond has worked in the Cambridge area throughout his career, and he has been at Marstan BDB since 1995 and an equity partner for the past 11 years.

R Gleeson

Rachel has been a secondary school teacher for over 10 years in both the state and independent sectors. She is currently Head of Humanities at Bedford Modern School, teaching RE and History, is a sixth form tutor supporting the UCAS process and coordinates all US university applications. Alumna of St Mary’s (1997–2002), she is President of the Pastonian Association and writes a termly article for The Pastonian. Rachel studied Theology & Religion at Durham University, taking a particular interest in the Early Church and in the relationship between the Abrahamic traditions. She went on to complete her PGCE at St Peter’s College, Oxford and later completed a Farmington Fellowship with Homerton College, her research focussing on enquiry- based learning. Outside of the classroom Rachel is involved in games lessons, coaching netball and delivering dance and fitness classes. She is also an active member of her school’s outdoor educational team, leading the annual Bushcraft week. Beyond work Rachel enjoys reading, going to the theatre, photography, travelling during the holidays and playing board games. She loves walking, especially in the Cambridgeshire countryside, and has recently taken up running.

R Haynes

Ronald Haynes is a University Computer Officer, at the University of Cambridge, who has had experience within academic Information Communication and Technology in both the US and UK. Ronald currently acts as Relationship Manager for the university’s colleges, as well as having a wider responsibility for the University Information Technology Community as Development Manager. Fundamentally his role involves liaison, strategic and practical consultancy, course development and provision, as well as professional and community development. Formerly he had been Head of Theology at St Augustine High School (Texas, US), as well as a computer consultant and journalist with technical writing and editing experience in London and Pittsburgh (US), developing and publishing on the interworking of the main micro systems. He is a Trustee of and presenter for the Eckhart Society, and holds BCS, ACM, Computer Society and IEEE membership.

S Dixon

Sarah Dixon's career in the teaching profession included twelve years at Bedford School, culminating in the post of Head of Pastoral Care. In 1999 she was appointed Head of Peterborough High School, a girls’ school within the Woodard Corporation. She moved from there to be Head of Northampton High School within the Girls’ Day School Trust in 2007; she retired in August 2015. Sarah remains a director of TES Prime and was until recently a non-executive director of two health care trusts. Sarah is married and lives locally, with two adult daughters who live in London. Sarah will sit on both our Governance and Education Committees bringing much experience of pastoral care and wellbeing, safe-guarding and boarding to the school’s governance.

S Squire

A graduate of the University of Cambridge, Sarah spent 36 years as a diplomat in six countries and also served as the Ambassador to Estonia. During her various London based assignments she worked with many government departments: Cabinet Office; Department for International Development; Ministry of Defence; Department for Employment; and the Treasury. Following her Foreign Office career Sarah was elected as the President of Hughes Hall, University of Cambridge, and acted as a Deputy Vice Chancellor, chaired and belonged to numerous boards, committees and working groups.

Sarah also has significant experience in the voluntary sector having been a Magistrate on the Cambridge Bench and a board member of local groups such as Cambridge VSO and the Cambridge Humanitarian Centre. Most recently she has taken on non-executive roles: as a trustee for United Learning and United Church Schools, as a Chapter Member of Ely Cathedral, as Co-Chair of Cambridge for Europe and as a trustee of The Bell Foundation.

Sarah is married and has a son and a daughter.

V Espley

Victoria Espley is Bursar at Hughes Hall in the University of Cambridge with responsibility for all operational and financial matters within the College (Buildings Maintenance, Accommodation, Catering, Finance, IT and Human Resources). Prior to her career as a Bursar, Victoria was a senior manager for a number of City-based organisations including Swiss Re and GE Capital. Victoria has been a trustee of a number of educational charities including the Church Schools of Cambridge (where she was Treasurer), ACE Nursery School (where she was Chair of Trustees) and St Luke’s Primary School (where she was Chair of Governors). She is a graduate in Economics and in Law and holds an Advanced Diploma in Insurance and a Certificate in School Business Management. Victoria has been a St Mary’s parent since 2012 and was previously Chair of St Mary’s Junior School PTA. She is the daughter and granddaughter of Mary Wards girls and is proud to be supporting the Mary Ward values.