The Board | Society of Heads

Welcome to the Society of Heads' Board.

We meet each term to help shape the work we do as a Society.

David Gajadharsingh - Chair of the Society 2023-2024

The Royal Ballet School

David Gajadharsingh did his first degree in Aeronautical Engineering and then went on to study for his PGCE at Oxford University. He started his teaching career at Peers School in Blackbird Leys,...

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David Gajadharsingh - Chair of the Society 2023-2024

David Gajadharsingh did his first degree in Aeronautical Engineering and then went on to study for his PGCE at Oxford University. He started his teaching career at Peers School in Blackbird Leys, Oxford.

He left teaching for a brief sojourn with Glaxo Pharmaceuticals in their sales and marketing department before returning to the profession with Collingham Tutorial College in London in 1990.

He was appointed as a Physics teacher and Head of Year at Aylesbury Grammar school in 1991. In 1997 he secured the post of Head of Physics at Millfield School in Somerset and while in post was also asked to take on the role as Head of Year (Sixth Form), in which he was responsible for the academic and pastoral welfare of some 340 students.

David was appointed as Deputy Headmaster of King Edward VI Grammar School in Stratford-upon-Avon in 2003. During his time at KES, Stratford, David was responsible for both the pastoral and academic dimensions of the school. David took up the post of Headmaster of Bedstone College in Shropshire in 2011 and joined the Royal Ballet School in April 2019.

David has always been involved in playing and teaching sport and has gained county, national and international honours in fencing. At Oxford he was awarded a fencing ‘Blue’ and he has run clubs in fencing, football, basketball, badminton, table tennis and cricket during his teaching career.

David was born in Trinidad and Tobago. At the age of three his family left the Caribbean island. They moved first to Dublin, (his mother is Irish), and then on to London where he attended Burlington Danes Comprehensive School in Shepherd’s Bush. David joined The Royal Ballet School as Academic and Pastoral Principal in 2019. David is married to Gabi and they have two daughters.

David Gajadharsingh BSc (Hons), PGCE, CPhys, MInstP, NPQH

Sue Hannam - Vice Chair

Lichfield Cathedral School

Sue graduated from Birmingham University with a BA (Hons) in English Language and Literature, which included a one year Erasmus exchange to Austria. After a brief but successful career as a...

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Sue Hannam - Vice Chair

Sue graduated from Birmingham University with a BA (Hons) in English Language and Literature, which included a one year Erasmus exchange to Austria. After a brief but successful career as a solicitor, Sue’s passion for English and Drama led her to retrain as a teacher, gaining a PGCE from Birmingham University. Sue first worked in Cirencester, then moved to a school in Warwickshire, progressing to Assistant Head with responsibility for Post-16 education. Recruited in 2009 to establish a new Sixth Form at Lichfield Cathedral School, Sue was Deputy Head for 6 years before becoming the Cathedral School’s first Headmistress in 2015.

Gareth Doodes - Chair Designate & Chair of the Education Committee

The King's School

Gareth joined the King’s School, Worcester Foundation in September 2020 as the 36th Headmaster since its refoundation in 1541, following six years as Headmaster of Dover College. Appointed to...

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Gareth Doodes - Chair Designate & Chair of the Education Committee

Gareth joined the King’s School, Worcester Foundation in September 2020 as the 36^th Headmaster since its refoundation in 1541, following six years as Headmaster of Dover College. Appointed to his first Headship at Milton Abbey aged 32, Gareth was educated at Eastbourne College, studied History at St. Andrews University, and earned his teaching qualification through Cambridge. Gareth began his career at Taunton School before working as a Housemaster Oakham. A member of HMC and a proud member of the Society of Heads, Gareth served as Chair of the BSA South East region from 2018 - 2020 and sits on the Society of Heads Education Committee. As Headmaster he teaches history to Year 9. Married to Jess with two children who both attend King’s St. Alban’s, in his free time Gareth is a political anorak and current affairs junkie who likes to cycle, run, cook, play the piano and sing.

Christine Cunniffe - Honorary Treasurer

LVS Ascot

After graduating from Reading University with a Master’s degree in Music, Christine enjoyed six years as a professional pianist before entering the teaching profession in 1994. She taught in...

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Christine Cunniffe - Honorary Treasurer

After graduating from Reading University with a Master’s degree in Music, Christine enjoyed six years as a professional pianist before entering the teaching profession in 1994. She taught in state comprehensive and state grammar schools before taking up the post of Director of Music at LVS Ascot in 2003. Christine has been internally promoted on a number of occasions including Assistant Head Academic and Assistant Head Pastoral before becoming Headmistress of LVS Ascot Senior School in 2010 and then Principal of both the Junior and Senior Schools in 2015. Christine believes in life-long learning and achieved an MBA from Leicester University in 2013. She likes to keep busy and contributes to The Society of Heads Professional Development Committee and the Main Committee as well as being a member of the BSA Committee. Christine is also an ISI inspector for Quality of Education inspection.

James Davies - Chair of the Sports and Creative Arts Committee

Halliford School

James has been Headmaster of Halliford School since September 2017 where he has enjoyed getting used to a very different pace of life compared to rural Cumbria where he was previously as Headmaster...

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James Davies - Chair of the Sports and Creative Arts Committee

He is a serving ISI inspector. A music graduate from the Universities of Sheffield and Manchester, Mr Davies has spent his career in teaching and has taught music at and held leadership roles in many independent schools across the north of England and now in South West London. Mr Davies is also the Safeguarding Governor for St Augustine’s Priory in Ealing and Education Governor for Parkside Prep School in Cobham.

Mr Davies is an accomplished musician and as an organist and choral director, he has performed in most of the Cathedrals in the UK and many overseas. He is also an active member of the RNLI where he has served as a lifeboat man on both the East and West coasts of the UK being involved in many rescues and is currently working with their education department as there are as yet no RNLI stations in the Shepperton area. In his spare time, he is very involved with outdoor activities having organised student expeditions to Europe and Africa and he is a keen Scuba Diver and currently completing his instructor examinations. He has also has a loyal Labrador who is our very own Halliford Hound and helps to keep him in order!

His love of all things water based has recently led him to take on a volunteer position as Lead Skipper with the local Sunbury Ferry on the river Thames. He is also currently renovating a Dutch River Cruiser which he is using with students at Halliford School as part of a new Boating club to pass on his skills. He comes from a sporting family where both his father and sister are British Olympians and so is no stranger to the demands of elite sports and loves spending time supporting the boys at Halliford with their sporting ambitions.

Silas Edmonds

Ewell Castle

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Silas Edmonds

An alumnus of Calday Grammar School, Silas Edmonds completed his BA in English Literature and Latin at the University of Keele (the poetry of William Blake and Catullus being particular favourites), later achieving Chartered London Teacher Status, an NPQH through the Institute of Education and then his MA in Educational Leadership and Innovation through the University of Warwick.

Formerly Head of Senior School and Acting Principal of Surbiton High School, Silas was appointed as Principal of Ewell Castle School in 2019. His educational focus is inspiring young people to discover their strengths and to stimulate their intellectual curiosity so that they can think freely for themselves, “knowing what to do when they don’t know what to do…” (Piaget).

He greatly enjoys being a member of The Society of Heads’ Futures Committee and is delighted to lend his voice to The Society’s growing educational influence around equity, diversity and inclusion, as well as contributing to the national debate about the true value of an independent school education.

Damian Ettinger - Chair of the Inspection Reports Group

Cokethorpe School

Previously a housemaster and head of department at Prior Park College and Downside School, Damian was appointed to a headship in 2002. He is a Director of ISI, a Freeman of the Worshipful Company of...

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Judith Fremont-Barnes

St Paul’s Cathedral School

Judith Fremont-Barnes has been Head at Milton Abbey since 2018, before which she led Duke of Kent School in Surrey for seven years. She has a Masters degree in Inclusive Education and a lifelong...

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Judith Fremont-Barnes

Judith Fremont-Barnes has been Head at Milton Abbey since 2018, before which she led Duke of Kent School in Surrey for seven years. She has a Masters degree in Inclusive Education and a lifelong interest in education for those who are not 'school-shaped'. She is also a keen supporter of theatre and the visual arts. Her career has included the role of Deputy Head at More House, Frensham, Head of English at Radley College and lecturer in English Literature at Kobe Kaisei Women's College in Japan. Judith values the collegiate spirit and the commitment to professional development of The Society of Heads.

Rob Jones

Rendcomb College

Rob has been Head of Rendcomb College since September 2015, having moved to the Cotswolds after four years at Shiplake College, where he was Senior Deputy Head. Rob was educated at Canford School...

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Rob Jones

Rob has been Head of Rendcomb College since September 2015, having moved to the Cotswolds after four years at Shiplake College, where he was Senior Deputy Head. Rob was educated at Canford School before reading Economics at Swansea University. After a brief period mixing banking with elite rowing, he moved into teaching in 1994. Rob has taught at five schools and held roles including Head of Rugby, Head of Rowing, Head of Department and Housemaster. Rob is a keen sportsman: be it rowing, where he has raced at Henley, Triathlons or boating on the south coast with his family. As a Head, Rob is committed to developing the individual within a caring community and he expects Rendcombians to contribute to, as well as benefit from, school life.

Dr Andy Kemp - Chair of the Futures Group

The National Mathematics and Science College

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Dr Andy Kemp - Chair of the Futures Group

Dr Andy Kemp is Principal of The National Mathematics and Science College, based in the Midlands on the edge of the Warwick University campus. The National Mathematics and Science College is the top performing specialist STEM sixth form day and boarding school in the UK. Joining NatMatSci was something of a homecoming for him as he studied for his BSc in Mathematics, PGCE, MSc and EdD in Mathematics Education all at the University of Warwick. More recently he has completed his MBA at UCL in 2017.

He has spoken at conferences around the world in relation to the role that technology plays in education, and in particular AI and mathematics education, and has been published in several journals, magazines, and collective works.

Adrian Meadows

The Peterborough School

Adrian has been Headteacher of The Peterborough School, a day school catering for boys and girls (age 6 weeks to 18 years), since September 2007. The school educated girls only in the Senior...

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Adrian Meadows

Adrian has been Headteacher of The Peterborough School, a day school catering for boys and girls (age 6 weeks to 18 years), since September 2007. The school educated girls only in the Senior School before becoming coeducational in September 2010. Previously, he was Director of Studies from September 2003, and was responsible for the academic performance of the school and Digital Strategy. Adrian was Head of Physics and Electronics at Merchiston Castle School from September 1999, after starting his teaching career there in 1996. He was also a resident boarding house tutor for three years and wrote the school timetable for 7 years, introducing two school databases. Adrian enjoys playing golf, mountain biking and road cycling having recently completed the Tour of Cambridgeshire. His other hobbies include playing table tennis, having played in the Peterborough Premier League. Adrian has previously been a member of the Society of Heads Public Relations Group and Futures Group until 2014 when he joined the Main Committee, serving as Honorary Treasurer in September 2017 and leading as Chair of the Society of Heads 2020-2021.

Julian Noad

Queen's College

Julian's grammar school education in Kent was followed by an electrical engineering degree at Southampton University. However, the appeal of electric circuits was trumped by a spell of offshore...

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Julian Noad

Julian's grammar school education in Kent was followed by an electrical engineering degree at Southampton University. However, the appeal of electric circuits was trumped by a spell of offshore yacht racing. After a Bristol University PGCE, Julian started his teaching career as Head of Science in a maintained middle school in Dorset. Clifton College’s physics department soon followed, along with a number of management positions, including six years as a boarding housemaster. After five years as Deputy Head in North Wales, at Rydal Penrhos, Julian then took on the headship of Oswestry School in 2014 and then the headship of Queen's College in 2021. Julian is a keen sailor, who enjoys sharing his passion for the water. He is also an enthusiastic rugby coach and supporter. He is a keen and all-round sportsman: cross-country running, playing squash, fives or golf whenever possible. The community of Society of Heads schools is much cherished by Julian and he enjoys sitting on its Education Committee.

Sarah Raffray

King's College International School, Bangkok

Sarah Raffray has been Headteacher of St Augustine's Priory which is an all-through Catholic girls day school in Ealing since August 2012. She was previously Deputy Head of St...

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David Tickner

Newcastle School for Boys

David is Head at Newcastle School for Boys. Having worked in financial services for a number of years, David started his teaching career in 1993 at Alleyn’s School in south east London, where...

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David Tickner

David is Head at Newcastle School for Boys. Having worked in financial services for a number of years, David started his teaching career in 1993 at Alleyn’s School in south east London, where he taught English and Games, served in its cadet force and became a Housemaster before moving to The Perse School in Cambridge as Head of Middle School in 2001. In 2006, he joined Newcastle School for Boys - then a newly formed school – to establish its GCSE programme. David became Head in 2012 by which time the School had become a fully-fledged three to 18 school which now has an established track record in individual academic progress and developing boys and young men of excellent character. Having enjoyed the support and community of the Society of Heads, David joined its education committee in 2016 and is proud to serve now on its main committee. David is also a team inspector for the Independent Schools Inspectorate. Away from school, David enjoys spending time with his wife, Caroline – also a teacher, and their two daughters. He is an avid sports fan who loves taking to his bike in Northumberland and beyond.

Jessica Ward

Elmhurst Ballet School

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Jessica Ward

Jessica trained as a contemporary dancer and choreographer at Trinity Laban and went on to perform with their resident company, Transitions, among other freelance projects. Having sustained an injury during her dance career, she took the opportunity to pursue her other passion – teaching. She taught dance in a number of schools and colleges as well as holding senior appointments in London Secondary Schools before joining Elmhurst Ballet School as Principal in 2010.

Jessica has always had a passion and interest in choreography and has enjoyed creating work for a number of youth companies including the award winning team at The Grange Opera.

In her role as Principal, Jessica is the Chair of the National Music and Dance Scheme schools' Headteachers group and is involved in a number of other networks to support the development of Elmhurst. Jessica is a Team Inspector for the Independent Schools Inspectorate. Ofsted has described her as a ‘highly effective leader’.

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