- Home
- About Us
- The Governing Body
The Governing Body
Meet The Trustees
![]() Theresa HomewoodChair of GovernorsTheresa Homewood is the former Senior Deputy Headteacher at Sevenoaks School, having previously been the Pastoral Deputy Head for fourteen years. Theresa was the acting Headteacher from 2019-2020. One of the Governors nominated by Sevenoaks School, the Education Sponsor of Knole Academy, Theresa's main role is to help foster links between the two schools. |
||
![]() Anne WilliamsVice Chair of GovernorsI first became a governor when my daughter was a student at the Bradbourne School, and then became a governor at Knole Academy. I take a keen interest in governance as I worked for a number of years advising the directorate of a local authority on governance issues. I am responsible for the induction of new governors at Knole. |
||
![]() Malcolm FisherGovernor, Chair of Teacher and Learning CommitteeI am a chemical engineer, have three teenage children and have lived in Sevenoaks since 1996. I was educated in Cambridgeshire at the local comprehensive school and sixth form college. I studied at the University of Birmingham, achieving a First in Chemical Engineering. I worked for ICI on Teesside for a number of years as a Process Engineer, both in design and operations roles. I then moved to Esso's European Engineering Centre in Surrey where I worked on projects for Esso's refineries across Europe, before moving into their Retail Business where I took overall responsibility for Forecourt Engineering throughout the UK and Ireland. Since 2006 I have been on a career break to look after our three children who are in their mid to late teens. My own education and career have taught me the value of STEM subjects and how important it is to inspire young people to take an interest in these subjects. I am a scout leader and have led one of the 1st Sevenoaks scout troops for the last seven years and have seen how young teenagers can be motivated by practical activities. I am the lead governor for child protection matters. |
||
![]() Sarah RogersGovernor, Finance, Premises, Audit and Risk CommitteeSarah runs a family business in Sevenoaks, 'Riverhill Himalayan Gardens', which she and her husband relaunched in 2010. After completing a degree in German at Exeter University, Sarah worked in the Financial Services Industry before training as a teacher at Homerton, Cambridge. She taught in the Primary sector in Essex and then as Assistant Head at Ben Jonson Primary School in East London before moving to Sevenoaks and having four children. |
||
![]() Donna DewberryGovernor, Teaching and Learning CommitteeIn 1997, I joined what was then known as The Bradbourne School, but is now Knole Academy. I was Head Girl between 2003 and 2004; I remain extremely proud of being chosen for this role. After successfully completing my A-Levels at the Bradbourne School, I went on to study a Law Degree. In 2009, I was called to the Bar, as a member of the Honourable Society of Lincoln's Inn. I cross-qualified to become a Chartered Legal Executive in 2015. Subsequently, I have become a Senior Associate in a specialist law firm based in the City of London. I credit my success to the foundations built whilst studying in the supportive and encouraging environment of The Bradbourne School. It has been an honour to have regularly been invited back to the Knole Academy to visit teachers, speak with students, participate in Celebrations of Achievement and to watch the increasingly impressive dance, music and drama performances. It is a delight to witness the Academy evolve and grow from strength to strength. I have recently joined the Teaching and Learning Committee of the Governing Body. I cannot emphasise enough just how much I am looking forward to working with the Governors, to continue with the development of the Academy. My particular interest is the bridging of the gap between studying and the working environment. I hope to pass on the ethos that was installed into me; anything is possible, if you believe in yourself and work hard enough.
|
||
![]() Jo WildmanGovernor, Teaching and Learning CommitteeI serve on the T&L committee and am the governor responsible for monitoring SEN (special educational needs) provision. I am also a governor at a local primary school, a post I have held for ten years, and Chair of the Kent Junior Chess Association which organises tournaments and promotes chess to young people across the county. My professional background is as an editor, journalist and photographer. A previous role was managing editor at the Department for Education, which gave me a valuable insight into the development and implementation of education policy and I have also worked for national and local newspapers and as a writer |
||
![]() Roger Wedderburn-DayGovernor, Finance, Premises, Audit and Risk CommitteeRoger is in his mid-50s and spent most of his working life as a solicitor with a major law firm based in London. His clients included governments, international organisations, major financial institutions and other leading companies around the world. Having worked part time since 2011 followed by retirement in 2015, Roger has sought to become more involved in the community and joined Knole Academy as a governor in September 2014. He is a member of the Finance and Premises Committee and is also the governor responsible for data. As a retired lawyer, Roger has nearly 30 years’ experience of building up and managing a substantial legal practice and has worked with, analysed, described and investigated a wide range of businesses. His skills include the ability to assimilate and analyse large amounts of data, to identify problems and to find solutions. Roger is also a trustee of his firm’s charitable foundation and a volunteer with the Institute of Advanced Motoring. |
||
![]() Magnus SpenceChair of Finance, Premises, Audit and Risk CommitteeI am a Chartered Accountant and have worked in financial services for the whole of my career. Currently, I work at Jupiter Asset Management where I am responsible for their Hedge Fund business. If truth be known, I wish I had been brave enough to become a teacher! Educated at Rugby School, I studied Geography at Durham University. I have six children and live in Ticehurst, East Sussex. I am one of the governors nominated by Sevenoaks School, the Education Sponsor of Knole Academy. |
||
![]() Susanna WoodersGovernor, Finance, Premises, Audit and Risk CommitteeSusanna has worked in the Financial Services Industry for over 25 years in a variety of business and risk management roles. She is Chief Risk Officer at Fidelity International UK. After completing her banking degree. Susanna started her career at Commerzbank in Germany in the International Banking business. She then led the credit risk department at a private commodity firm in Germany whilst completing her Master of Business Administration degree in partnership with the University of Wales. This led to an international risk management consulting career at Pricewaterhouse Coopers and Ernst & Young, advising banks, insurance companies and asset managers around the globe on credit, operational and regulatory risks. Subsequently, Susanna joined Barclays as the Head of Internal Audit for Risk Management before moving to Royal Bank of Scotland's Risk Management Oversight. Susanna has lived in Sevenoaks for almost 15 years and in that time has been a voluntary teacher at the Kent German Saturday School. |
||
|
||
![]() Joanne WhiteheadGovernor, Teaching and Learning CommitteeI was brought up and educated in east Manchester before studying for a postgraduate degree in History at the University of Warwick. Following a couple of years in the charity sector, I joined the Civil Service and have qualified as a HR professional. My current role looks at the succession plans for senior Civil Service leaders and ensuring development and support are in place for individuals. |
||
|
||
|
||
Annabel ApplebyGovernor, Finance, Premises, Audit & Risk CommitteeAnnabel grew up just outside Tonbridge and left the area to go to university and start a career in London. With her husband they moved back to the area in 2020 when their son was born, to be nearer their family. She was a governor of a primary school in London for 8 years and is thrilled to be a governor again in the area where she was educated, giving her an opportunity to contribute to the strategic direction and success of a school. She is a Director in the NHS and is responsible for elective services across Guys & St Thomas’, Kings College and Lewisham & Greenwich Trusts. Her work focuses on identifying and delivering opportunities for these Trusts to collaborate and improve the care we give to our patients. |
||
|
||
|