Our governors come from a wide range of professional fields.

They meet regularly to ensure the strategic vision and direction of St Margaret’s creates opportunity and the best offer for its pupils. They are involved in the wider school life too, attending concerts, plays and sport fixtures; they are passionate supporters of the School.

Should you wish to contact the Chair of Governors, please do so through via the Clerk to the Governing Board’s email: n.mitchell@stmargarets-school.org.uk

Laurence Miller

Chair

Laurence Miller graduated from the University of Reading having studied Film and Drama and is now the Commercial Director for Nimax Theatres where he oversees the programming for six West End theatres. Laurence has worked extensively at the Edinburgh Festival since 1992 and has run the prestigious Dave Edinburgh Comedy Awards, (previously The Perrier Award) since then. Laurence lives in North London with his wife and two daughters, both of whom are current pupils at St Margaret’s. In his spare time, he loves nothing better than watching cricket at Lords, going to the theatre, watching classic old movies and building Lego projects. Laurence chairs the Admissions & Marketing Committee and is a member of the Finance, Estates and General Purposes Committee. Laurence has recently taken on the role of Health & Safety Link Governor.

George Budd

George Budd was educated at Hampton School before moving onto Durham University to study Geography. He then completed a PGCE at the Institute of Education in London and taught for nearly 20 years, predominantly in independent girls’ schools. Most recently, he was Principal of Moreton Hall School in Shropshire, named as TES Boarding School of the year in 2021. George was a member of the HMC Inspection Committee and the GSA Boarding and Research Committees. He remains an Emeritus member of the Girls' Schools Association. George has recently started a conversion course in Law with the intention of becoming a solicitor. George sits on the Education Committee.

Tim Calvey

Education is in Tim’s DNA. He was brought up in a boarding house run by his father in Zimbabwe and graduated from Christ Church University. He has held various roles including Deputy Head at Eagle House and Orley Farm School. He is now Headteacher at Orley Farm, where he is passionate about finding the right future school for his pupils. He favours a holistic approach to education, promoting sport, and ensuring that children’s wellbeing is considered alongside their academic progress. Tim is a member of the Education Committee.

Brian Coulshed

 Brian was born in St. Helens, Lancashire, attending West Park Grammar School and graduating from Manchester University with B.A. Honours degree in Geography and a PGCE. Brian began his teaching career at Longdean School ultimately going on to become Headmaster of Parmiter's School in Watford, before retiring in 2010.
Brian enjoys playing cricket, walking in the Chilterns and the Cotswolds, travelling, reading and listening to music. Brian chairs the Education Committee and is a member of the Finance, Estates and General Purposes Committee.

Rachel Hodgson

 Rachel graduated from Durham University with a Combined Honours degree in Social Sciences. She went on to work in Consumer Goods Marketing for almost ten years, for Procter & Gamble and then Johnson and Johnson. She then moved into the Education sector; first as Communications Director at Tonbridge School and then Head of Candidate Search for RSAcademics, a renowned research and analysis company in the sector. She now works as a freelance consultant in Strategic Marketing and Admissions projects for schools. Rachel is married with four children. Rachel chairs the Pastoral Committee, and is a member of the Governance & Nominations and Admissions & Marketing Committees. She is the Safeguarding Governor.

Catharine Jessop

Catharine graduated in Classics from the University of Cambridge, entered the Civil Service and became a Senior Policy Adviser at the Inland Revenue, working on tax legislation and spending two years on secondment to Marks & Spencer. She retrained as a teacher in mid-life, teaching Classics at Haberdashers’ Aske’s School for Girls, then moving to St Margaret’s as Head of Classics and subsequently Head of the Language and Culture Faculty until her retirement in 2022. During this time she particularly enjoyed mentoring PGCE students and early-career teachers. Catharine is a keen singer and also loves reading, gardening and looking after her four chickens. Catharine sits on the Education Committee and the Pastoral Committee, and is the Boarding Link Governor.

Kaya Jeyarajah

 Kaya attended St Margaret’s School from 1993-1998. She studied Medicine at the University of Leicester and also holds a degree in Psychology from Goldsmiths. As an anaesthetist at St George’s, she is passionate about learning and education and is heavily involved in training the doctors of tomorrow as well as nurses, paramedics, and midwives. Kaya has keen interests in wellbeing and is a qualified Hatha and Vinyasa yoga and meditation teacher and she teaches professionally in a south London yoga studio. Kaya is a member of the Education Committee.

Yasmin Jones-Henry

Yasmin Jones-Henry is a writer for the Financial Times and co-founder and curator of The Lab E20. She works in the space where culture meets commerce and fashion meets finance. Through her work as a writer and cultural strategist with specialisms in sustainability, the built environment and cultural innovation, she has established a career championing the role culture and creative enterprise can play as a catalyst to inclusive regeneration.

Yasmin is also a trustee of the Crafts Council, the Association for Cultural Advancement through Visual Arts (ACAVA), and D Lab Studios CIC. Yasmin is a former pupil of St Margaret's, Bushey (2003-2010). After leaving St. Margaret's, Yasmin went on to study Joint Honours Classical Literature & Civilisation and English Literature at the University of Birmingham, and remains a keen Classicist to this day. Yasmin sits on the Pastoral and Marketing and Admissions Committees.

Morven Longton

Morven attended St Margaret's between 2002 and 2004. She graduated from Durham University with a first class degree in Education Studies and Psychology. Morven then completed her PGCE through the Teach First programme where she also gained her Masters in Transformational Leadership. Following time spent teaching various age groups in primary schools in London and Kent, Morven took on the role as Assistant Head (academic) at Garden House School in Sloane Square. Most recently, she was the head at the Village Prep School in Belsize Park. Morven lives in Northamptonshire with her husband, Henry and new addition, Florence born in December 2023.
Morven sits on the Pastoral Committee and is the EYFS Link Governor.

Tim O'Brien

Tim is a Chartered Accountant with over 40 years professional experience. Since forming his own practice, Optimum Support, based in central London in 2004, he has specialised in advising charities and not for profit organisations on strategic management, financial and governance matters. Many of his clients are in the education sector. Previously, he was a partner in major accountancy firms: PwC and EY where he held several key leadership positions. Outside of work he holds, or has held, a number of other voluntary positions in the Education sector and the Performing Arts world. He is also a Trustee of a grant giving charity, He has two adult children and two granddaughters and his other interests include music, theatre and sport. Tim chairs the Governance & Nominations Committee and is a member of the Finance, Estates & General Purposes Committee.

Malcolm Spooner

Interim Vice Chair

 Malcolm was born in Maidenhead. After leaving school he joined Southern Electricity Board in 1972 as a Tariff Analyst and remained with them for 35 years. In 2007 he formed his own Utility Consultancy and contracted his services to LSI Utility Brokers, near St Albans where he was appointed Head of Markets, Energy Management & Legislation. With the recent sale of LSI, Malcolm has returned to being an independent Utility Consultant again. Living in Hertfordshire since 2002 with his wife and stepdaughter who is a former pupil of St Margaret’s, he enjoys travel, theatre and sports; especially horse racing, Malcolm chairs the Finance, Estates & General Purposes Committee.

Matthew Woolf

Matthew is a parent with two children in the school. Having attended Highgate School and Manchester Metropolitan University, he subsequently moved into the consumer products industry. His career includes tenures at Tom Tom, Lego and most recently as the Retail Director at Harry’s. With previous primary school governor experience, Matthew is a staunch advocate for community service. In addition to his position on the St Margaret’s Board of Governors, he is also an active member of the Community Security Trust. Matthew sits on the Marketing and Admissions Committee.