The Board of Trustees

A Governor since 2011, John studied Physics at University College, Oxford, before a career in teaching in both the maintained and independent sectors. John was Deputy Head of Prior Park College (1993-98), where, in addition to his responsibility for the academic side of the school and his teaching, he coached hockey and tennis teams as well as supporting his wife Maggie who was Housemistress of St Mary’s. He went on to become Headmaster of Princethorpe College (1998-2009) after which he became General Secretary of the Catholic Independent Schools’ Conference, CISC (2009-2016). He continues to support Catholic Heads in working for EducareM of which he is a Trustee. John is a keen golfer and enjoys playing tennis with Maggie. They have three children, the youngest of which went to the Paragon and Prior Park College, and two grandchildren.

A Governor since 2013, Anne studied Chinese & Linguistics at Leeds University before joining HM’s Overseas Civil Service. Anne served as Administrative Officer in Hong Kong between 1981 and 1997 where she developed policies on, amongst other areas, Education, the Environment and Disability Discrimination. Anne lives in Bath and is currently is the Chair of the Board of Directors of the Museum of East Asian Art in Bath.

Anne’s two children were educated at The Paragon School, with one going onto Prior Park College. Anne was Chair of the Prior Park College Parents’ Association for six years. In her spare time Anne enjoys walking, swimming, reading and cooking

A Governor since 2019, Tony was educated at Prior Park College (1972-1977) before moving onto study mathematics at Queens’ College, Cambridge. After over 25 years’ experience in investment banking in the City, he spent eight years as Finance Director in the oil sector. He is now Director and owner of a financial and investor relations consultancy, Caros Consulting Limited. Tony is also Senior Independent Director and Chairman of the Audit Committee of JKX Oil & Gas plc.

A Hong Konger of Portuguese heritage, Tony grew up in both Hong Kong and Lisbon but now divides his time between Bath and Twickenham.

In a career that spans more than 30 years, Lauren has held many leadership positions in primary, secondary and special education. She has worked in the maintained and academy sector undertaking roles locally, regionally and nationally. and has been fortunate enough to be invited by secretaries of state for education and ministers to help develop policy on workload, headteacher standards and early years provision. She served as chair for the DfE primary heads reference group for a number of years, worked with Dame Reena Keeble to redevelop the Arts Mark Award and in 2015 was awarded the OBE for services to education.

Sue attended the Sixth Form at Prior as a day girl between 1986-88. She trained as an Accountant and has worked mainly in the Public/NHS and Not-For-Profit sectors. She is currently working as an Interim Consultant after spending the last 5 years as Finance Director of Historic Royal Palaces with a rather splendid office in Hampton Court Palace! Sue lives in East Molesey, Surrey, but spends time with family who still live in Bath.

Sue has been an active member of the Prior Park Alumni for many years and is keen that the links with the school are maintained and enhanced.

Nic studied Business Studies at the University of West London. There followed a 30 year career in international banking working in London, Paris and Tokyo where he specialised in private equity and leveraged finance,
In the last few years he has gained both executive and non-executive board expertise whilst working for multiple local and national charities and voluntary organisations. He is currently the Chair of Governors at Cirencester Primary School.

An avid follower of rugby (he is a Twickenham Stadium Tour Guide!) he enjoyed sailing and retains a love of watching cricket and divides his time between Mortlake and Cirencester.

Simon is currently Headmaster of Chafyn Grove, an independent, coeducational boarding, prep school in Salisbury. He was educated at Stonyhurst and Cambridge. After a gap year as a Platoon Commander in the Royal Green Jackets, he taught at Dulwich College Preparatory School. He then spent a year in up-country Kenya at Pembroke House before moving to St. John’s Beaumont Prep School in Windsor as Housemaster, then Deputy Head. In 2010 he took over the Headship of Moreton Hall in Suffolk, before moving to Chafyn Grove in September 2016. Simon is the Governor with responsibility for safeguarding.

Victoria has worked for over 25 years in education.  She has been a primary teacher, a governor of two schools, MD of an EdTech business, worked for AQA Education and is now a freelance consultant and project manager.  Victoria loves a challenge and was a member of the first all-female expedition to the North Pole.  Since then, she has been back to the Arctic twice, run multiple marathons and has climbed Kilimanjaro.  She is a motivational speaker and uses her adventure experiences to run resilience workshops for schools and businesses with a message of ‘Why not, what’s the worst that can happen?’ 

Victoria is very involved in the life of Langridge Church and is currently a member of the PCC.  Her son is currently in his final year at Prior Park College (2023) having joined the Paragon nursery at the age of three.

A governor since 2020, Bill has lived in Bath since 1996 and has educated his four children at Prior Park. Bill was brought up a Catholic, and was educated at Ampleforth before reading English at University College London. His career began in consumer goods advertising, but for the last 25 years he has worked in digital media and information technology. In this field, his experience has been wide ranging, from founding venture capital-backed start-ups to designing IT systems for large corporations. He devotes his spare time to making music, studying art history, cooking, and playing tennis.

Laurence has spent the last 20 years working in senior leadership of independent schools, and latterly as Head at Frederick Hugh House School, London.  He has specialisms in school improvement, leadership support and change management.   

Margaret joined the governing body in September 2020. Born, and brought up a Catholic, in Manchester, she was educated at Loreto Convent in Moss Side.  She read law at Durham University and following qualification as a solicitor, spent 22 years as a competition and commercial partner, and head of department, at City law firm, Travers Smith LLP. Since stepping down as a partner at the end of 2012, she has been volunteering in the charitable sector. She is currently a trustee and Vice Chair of Sue Ryder, and a trustee of Great Britain Wheelchair Rugby and of the Royal Voluntary Service.

Margaret is also Vice Chair of the Fundraising Regulator, the regulator of charitable fundraising in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Revd Canon Nigel Rawlinson is the University Chaplain, University of Bath. He qualified in Medicine from Cambridge (Emmanuel College and Addenbrooke’s Hospital) in 1980. After surgical training, and whilst working in A&E at the BRI, he trained in the West of England Ministry Training College (WEMTC), Bristol, to be ordained into self-supporting ministry in the Church of England in 1999. His academic mentor was a Roman Catholic theologian. He then worked as an “ordained doctor” in A&E (consultant, BRI), and then at Dorothy House Hospice as a specialist doctor. From 2011-2016 he was Director of Student Affairs at the Medical School in Bristol. In September 2016 he was appointed University Chaplain and team leader in the University of Bath. Working as a “priest outside church”, Nigel is passionate about seeking Christian unity. His Spiritual Director is a Roman Catholic Sister, and he has wide experience working with the Roman Catholic tradition, in Bath, this country and as chaplain to HCPT pilgrimages to Lourdes. He and his wife Pat worship at Bath Abbey, where he is Associate Minister. They have two daughters, Claire and Anna-Fleur, both now married, and two grandchildren. Anna-Fleur joined Prior Park College in the 6th Form - an experience that was to be a life foundation for her. Committed to nurture and enable the development of young people, he was asked to be a trustee to support the faith life and pastoral care in the College.

Jane joined the Governing Board in 2016 following a 30-year career as teacher and teacher trainer in the field of Teaching English as a Foreign Language, both overseas (Greece, Egypt and France) and in the UK. Latterly, she was a lecturer at the University of Bath, specialising in English for Academic Purposes and Employability Skills. Currently, she teaches on communication skills courses for Chinese interpreters and translators. Her three children attended Prior Park College. Jane lives in a village near Keynsham and in her spare time, she is a Church Warden, loves playing tennis, gardening and walking with her husband and dog in the local countryside.