Introducing our Governors
St Bartholomew’s School is pleased to introduce our Governing Body.
You can read more about our Governors below and learn about the role of our Governors on our Governance Structure and Responsibilities page.
To contact the Clerk to the Governors, please email office@stbarts.co.uk.
Introducing our Governors
Gary Norman - Chair of Governors
Current Term of Office: 12.2.2023 – 11.2.2027
I have been a St Bart’s parent since 2013 when my son started in Year 7. I was elected as a Parent Governor in 2019. Once that term of office came to an end, I was co-opted as a Governor. I am married with one child and have lived in Newbury since 1986, always within walking distance of the school.
I retired in 2018 having spent 40 years in industry working as a software developer, applications engineer, customer service manager, project manager, programme manager and senior executive. I have experience in many fields including IT, printing and publishing, customer service and outsourcing in both the public and private sectors.
I have a first class degree in Economics and am currently studying towards an OU degree in Natural Sciences, as well as trying to learn Italian. I strongly believe in the benefits of education for all, and at all ages, and am delighted to be part of this excellent school.
I have a variety of other interests including walking and theatre. I am involved with the local Rock Choir and have a season ticket for a Premier League football team.
Gary is also a member of the Education, Business and People Committees as well as chairing the JCC.
Trustee meeting attendance for 2022/23: 16/22
Campbell Smith - Vice-Chair of Governors
Appointed Governor
Joint Chair of the Governors’ Business Committee
Current Term of Office: 1.10.2020 – 30.9.2024
I am a chartered accountant and have worked for Vodafone in Newbury, London and Dusseldorf for a number of years.
Campbell is also a member of the Education Committee.
Trustee meeting attendance for 2022/23: 25/25
David Fitter - Headteacher
Accounting Officer & Appointed Governor
Dr Fitter is a member of every committee.
Trustee meeting attendance for 2022/23: 30/31
Anna Bawden
Co-opted Governor
Current Term of Office: 1.9.2023 – 31.8.2027
Anna writes about health, social affairs and modern languages for the Guardian and is former deputy editor of the Guardian’s Society and Education sections. She has also worked for the FT, Business Week and Goldman Sachs and speaks French, German and Italian.
Anna has recently joined the Governing Body and is a member of the Education Committee.
Shaun Letchford
Appointed Governor
Joint Chair of the Business Committee and Health & Safety Governor
Current Term of Office: 6.1.2024 – 5.1.2028
I am a civil engineer with experience working for major global consulting engineers in the planning, design and management of development and infrastructure projects, specifically in highway and infrastructure planning, engineering and design, including drainage and flood risk management.
A Fellow of the CIHT and Member of the ICE I recently joined the CIHT South East Region Committee, becoming Secretary in 2019.
A Director and founding member of Abley Letchford Partnership, I have been instrumental in growing the business, both its client base and staff recruitment, and I am proud to be a local employer.
My wife, Beulah, is a Headteacher and we have sons in Year 10 and Year 12 at St Bart’s so education is at the forefront of our family life.
Shaun is also a member of the Education Committee.
Trustee meeting attendance for 2022/23: 21/22
Hesham Shaker Azab
Co-opted Governor
Current Term of Office: 12.10.2022 – 11.10.2026
I am an Engineering Solutions Analyst with Vodafone. Over the past 18 years I have worked in many disciplines across technology with extensive experience delivering large scale projects. Some of the roles I had played in technology include strategy, demand management, capacity planning, delivery, governance, performance reporting & supply chain management.
Some of the nontechnical roles include being a mentor for the graduates scheme, running assessment centres for the apprenticeship programme at Vodafone and I am an active member of the Vodafone Muslim Society. I have a BSc in Communications and Electronics Engineering from the University of Alexandria in 2004.
I first moved to the UK in 2011 for 5 years then came back to the UK again in 2018. I have been a resident in Newbury for 11 years and have two sons, the elder of them currently at the school in Year 8.
Hesham is a member of the Business and Education committees.
Trustee meeting attendance for 2022/23: 17/14
Simon Butler
Appointed Governor
Current Term of Office: 6.9.2022 – 5.9.2026
Simon is a member of the Business Committee.
Trustee meeting attendance for 2022/23: 12/16
Jon Healy
Parent Governor
Current Term of Office: 12.3.2024 – 11.3.2027
Jon has recently been elected as a Parent Governor and is looking forward to working with the Governing Body.
Daisy Hutchinson
Appointed Governor
Safeguarding Governor
Current Term of Office: 6.1.2024 – 5.1.2028
Having read History at Southampton University, I qualified as a solicitor in 2003. Since then, I have lived and worked in Newbury. I am a partner in a local law firm which I set up in 2013. I have one child currently at St Bart’s and one who has just left.
Daisy is a member of the People and Education committees.
Trustee meeting attendance for 2022/23: 13/15
Jo Larmour
Co-opted Governor
Current Term of Office: 1.9.2021 – 31.8.2025
Jo is a member of the People Committee.
Trustee meeting attendance for 2022/23: 10/15
Chris Mabbatt
Parent Governor
Current Term of Office: 11.02.2022 – 10.2.2026
I currently work for South Central Ambulance Service having previously worked for Guide Dogs as a Procurement Business Partner achieving value for money whilst managing commercial risk. I am a volunteer Wish Maker & Community Leader for Make-AWish supporting children with critical illnesses.
I was previously a School Governor at my son’s primary school and read with pupils for six years. I have a particular interest in Personalised Learning, SEND and the needs of disadvantaged children.
Trustee meeting attendance for 2022/23: 8/15
Tom Murray
Co-opted Governor
Current Term of Office: 19.4.2021 – 18.4.2025
Having read Psychology at the University of Wales, Bangor I joined Deloitte as a graduate trainee in 2006. I qualified as a chartered accountant in 2010 and am currently a Partner in the Audit practice, based in Reading.
I have two primary school aged children. We have lived in Newbury since 2016, having relocated from Cambridge where I started my career.
Tom is a member of the Business Committee.
Trustee meeting attendance for 2022/23: 11/16
Marcus Randall
Co-opted Governor
Current Term of Office: 9.6.2020 – 8.6.2028
I have been an English teacher for nearly a decade and worked at St Bart’s since 2014. My degree is in English Language and Linguistics and I’m passionate about teaching and learning, specifically my subject.
I’m eager to bring my skills and experience in the classroom to bear in a more strategic role. I look forward to working as part of the Governing Body to ensure students continue to have access to an excellent school experience which allows them to face whatever their future has in store.
When not teaching, I enjoy reading and walking, as well as going to the theatre and rock concerts.
Marcus is a member of the Education and Business committees.
Trustee meeting attendance for 2022/23: 20/22
Felix Rayner
Appointed Governor
Current Term of Office: 1.9.2021 – 31.8.2025
I was an executive headteacher at an infant and a junior school federation in Newbury. I have worked in education since 1995 and have worked in a number of schools across West Berkshire in a number of roles. I have wide experience in school leadership and management and am passionate about improving life chances for all pupils in my care.
I carry out school improvement work for the local authority and work with a multi academy trust in Oxfordshire. I also work as an OFSTED inspector and lead a number of inspections throughout the year.
I have lived in Newbury since 2003 and have two children, one currently at St Bart’s and one who has now left.
Felix is Chair of the People Committee.
Trustee meeting attendance for 2022/23: 12/13
Nick Smith
Co-opted Governor
Current Term of Office: 1.9.2021 – 31.8.2025
I am a business director within the chemical industry, I have fulfilled sales, marketing, strategy, sustainability and general management roles in global multinationals and am more recently involved with sustainable chemistry startups. I also have extensive international experience, having lived and worked in Germany, Spain, India and China. I hold a Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry and a Master’s in Business Administration.
Returning to Newbury in 2020 after fifteen years working overseas, I was delighted to join the Board of Governors of St Bartholomew’s School. I have three children here and our eldest is also an alumnus.
I am strongly committed to equity, diversity and inclusion, and was a founding member of an EDI employee resource group at a previous employer. I have a variety of interests including gardening, walking and cooking.
Nick is Chair of the Education Committee and also serves on the Business Committee. He is also the Curriculum Link Governor.
Trustee meeting attendance for 2022/23: 13/20
Charlie Warner
Co-opted Governor
Current Term of Office: 6.1.2024 – 5.1.2028
Charlie is a member of the Business Committee.
Trustee meeting attendance for 2022/23: 10/16
Andrew Yorston
Appointed Governor
Current Term of Office: 1.9.2023 – 31.8.2027
Andy is a lawyer who works for Vodafone and lives in Newbury. He has experience of risk management, compliance and has a wide range of legal experience including employment and commercial law.
Andrew has recently joined the Governing Body and is a member of the People Committee.
Cassandra Capel
Appointed Governor
Current Term of Office: 1.9.2024 – 31.8.2028
I began my career in Global Mobility, being responsible for the complicated tax affairs of expatriates and high net worth individuals. I then shifted further into the Human Capital arena. It was here I was exposed to the various aspects of global employment solutions, policy development, benchmarking and restructuring compensation and benefits packages.
As my career evolved, I became more involved in the HR needs of each company I worked with. I have always been passionate about people and talent management. The ability to attract, develop and retain the right people can make or break an organisation. Building strong, effective, resilient teams and shaping cultures designed to perform has been a strong focus of mine.
In my spare time I love to keep active, read and write. I coach netball to young children at a local primary school. I’m also Chair of Trustees for Flag DV, a charity providing legal advice to victims of domestic abuse.
I have two daughters at St Barts, one in Year 9, one in Sixth Form and I attended St Barts myself. The school has been a huge influence in our family and has had a positive impact on all of our lives.
Cassandra has recently joined the Board of Governors and is a member of the People Committee.
Introducing our Members of the Academy Trust
Stephen Uden
Chair of Members
Current Term of Office: 12.2021 – 12.2025
I had a long career in the IT industry. I have worked in the field of Education for many years (including as Head of Education Relations for Microsoft); my proudest moment was getting computer science added to the curriculum.
As a governor, I focussed on supporting the school around strategy & planning (which is unglamorous but very important) as well previously being link governor for the Science Faculties and the Sixth Form. I am a former student of St Bart’s along with my brother and sister and my three children have all studied here. It’s therefore a real honour to be a Governor at a school that has formed such an important part of my life.
Jeanette Clifford
Original Signatory
I have been a Governor at St Bart’s for more than a decade and am proud to serve the School where our three children, Aidan, Brendan and Caitlin, were educated. I have been the Vice-chair of Governors, Safeguarding Governor and Chair of the People & Performance and Learning & Achievement committees. I was previously Chair of Governors at Robert Sandilands School in Speen and am a former Chair of St Bartholomew’s School Foundation. I have a background in business and, as a qualified FE teacher, taught Marketing and Business from entry to post-graduate levels and also worked in teacher training. My first degree was in geography, I have an MBA and an MSc in Risk, Crisis & Disaster Management. I have also been a Newbury Town and West Berkshire Councillor.
Steve Foyle
Term of Office: 30.3.2021 – 29.3.2025
I am a chartered chemical engineer with over 30 years’ experience in the nuclear industry. During this time, I have undertaken a wide variety of roles in production, research and development, nuclear plant design, marketing and sales, engineering consultancy, project development and nuclear policy in central government. I have lived and worked in several parts of the UK and have been fortunate in travelling widely overseas on business.
Steve was a governor at St Bart’s from 2001 until 2020.
Ian Peddie
Original Signatory
I have been closely involved with St Bart’s since 1995, joining the Parents’ Association when my eldest daughter started in Y7. After three years chairing the PA, I joined the Governing Body as a parent governor in 2000. I was elected Chair of Governors in 2011, when we were making our transition to Academy status – with the additional freedoms and responsibilities that brought.
I am a civil engineer, with most of my career spent in the planning and management of major infrastructure projects, such as Hong Kong’s Mass Transit Railway and the high speed rail link from London to the Continent. My professional experience was put to the test in helping deliver the new state of the art school which now sets a firm foundation for the education of future generations of St Bart’s students.
Ian stepped down as Chair of Governors and as a Trustee in 2020.
Emma Percy
Term of office: 30.3.2021 – 29.3.2025
I have been a qualified solicitor since 2006 and currently work for VM02.
I grew up in Newbury and attended Park House Secondary School and St Bartholomew’s Sixth Form before heading to University and life outside Newbury. My family and I returned to settle in Newbury in 2011 and I have daughters in years 8 and 11 at the school.
I look forward to many years ahead being involved with St Bart’s.
Recently Resigned Governors
Catie Colston
Co-opted Governor
Term of Office ended: 13.9.2023
Meeting attendance for 2022/23: 26/31
Karen Sadler
Appointed Governor
Term of Office ended: 13.9.2023
Meeting attendance for 2022/23: 14/29
Umar Butt
Co-opted Governor
Term of Office ended: 5.1.2024
Trustee meeting attendance for 2022/23: 7/15
