Committee | Society of Heads

Roland Martin - Chair of The Society of Heads 2019 - 2020

City of London Freemen’s School

Roland Martin, has been in his second headship at City of London Freemen’s School since September 2015. Previously, he spent four years as headmaster at Rendcomb College in...

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Roland Martin - Chair of The Society of Heads 2019 - 2020

Roland Martin, has been in his second headship at City of London Freemen’s School since September 2015. Previously, he spent four years as headmaster at Rendcomb College in Gloucestershire and thirteen years as a Housemaster and English teacher at Eton College. He was educated at Rendcomb, as a scholar, proceeding to take a degree in English and Related Literature at the University of York, before starting his teaching career at Newcastle-under-Lyme School. As a head, he is committed to widening access to pupils through bursaries and scholarships and has been active in engaging with educational issues as Chair of The Society of Head’s Futures Group; he is also a serving team inspector for The Independent Schools’ Inspectorate.

Lynne Horner - Vice-Chair

Westholme School

Lynne originates from the Wirral and apart from going to the University of Birmingham, she has spent her career in the North West region. As a pupil on an assisted place in the 1970s, Lynn...

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Lynne Horner - Vice-Chair

Lynne originates from the Wirral and apart from going to the University of Birmingham, she has spent her career in the North West region. As a pupil on an assisted place in the 1970s, Lynn feels it is unsurprising perhaps that she moved into the independent sector. Lynn has worked in a range of schools including boarding, girls’ only and coeducational – in all Lynn has been privileged to work with some inspirational colleagues. She became Head at Abbey Gate College in 2006 and took up her current role as Principal of Westholme School in 2013. With a diverse sporting background, Lynn believes strongly in the importance of teamwork and is proud to have been part of the Society of Heads for 15 years.

Adrian Meadows - Chair Designate & Treasurer

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 - Chair Designate & Treasurer

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 from September 2017.

Chris Bouckley - Chair of Heads of Junior Schools' Committee

Fulneck School

Chris trained in Leeds, at the Carnegie School of Education and, on graduating, took up the post of PE Teacher at Brentwood School. 16 years later, Chris moved back to his home county of...

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Chris Bouckley - Chair of Heads of Junior Schools' Committee

Chris trained in Leeds, at the Carnegie School of Education and, on graduating, took up the post of PE Teacher at Brentwood School. 16 years later, Chris moved back to his home county of Yorkshire. Following spells in two state schools, Chris returned to his 'Alma mater', initially as a Senior Lecturer and then on to Undergraduate Admissions Coordinator and Schools Partnership Manager. During this time, he was appointed as the External Examiner at St. Mary's, Twickenham where he observed primary education and was so impressed by the quality of teaching, he decided to venture into this phase. Initially he took on the role of Deputy Head at Heathfield (the Junior School to Rishworth School) before securing his current position at Fulneck School in Pudsey, Leeds where he is now a Vice Principal with responsibility for the Junior School. Chris would say that children are at the heart of everything, and believes in creating pathways that children can use to reach their goals. A keen sportsman, Chris identifies his hobbies as skiing, cycling, dog walking and cooking (though not necessarily in that order).

Frank Butt - Chair of Deputy Heads' Committee

Langley School

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Frank Butt - Chair of Deputy Heads' Committee

Born in Gloucestershire and educated at Marling Grammar School in Stroud, Frank Butt studied Engineering with German at the University of Bath and his PGCE in Exeter. His teaching career started with a three-year spell at the Royal Grammar School, Newcastle, before moving to Langley School, Norfolk, where he has progressed through the ranks from pioneering Head of Department, through Director of Studies and Academic Deputy Head to Senior Deputy Head. Frank has passionately applied his experience of Grammar Schools’ rigor, challenge and expectations to this non-selective setting. He has been accredited with driving up the academic aspirations and achievement of his current school, and the success that has ensued. Frank has a ‘growth mind-set’ philosophy, believing that every child should be challenged to unlock their potential. Frank has three children and his hobbies include chess, martial arts, triathlon, skiing and the great outdoors.

Christine Cuniffe - Chair of Professional Development Committee

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 has...

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Christine Cuniffe - Chair of Professional Development Committee

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 has 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.

Sarah Raffray - Chair of Sports & Creative Arts Committee

St Augustine’s Priory

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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Sue Hannam - Chair of Futures Group

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 - Chair of Futures Group

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, Susan was Deputy Head for 6 years before becoming the Cathedral School’s first Headmistress in 2015.

Damian Ettinger - Chair of IRG

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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Andy Colpus - Chair Education Committee

St. Joseph's College, Reading

Andy has been Headmaster of St Joseph’s College, Reading since September 2012. After studying Economics and Statistics at Southampton University he joined BAA plc on their graduate trainee...

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Andy Colpus - Chair Education Committee

Andy has been Headmaster of St Joseph’s College, Reading since September 2012. After studying Economics and Statistics at Southampton University he joined BAA plc on their graduate trainee scheme. Much of the management and financial training that he received has proved to be invaluable as a Head. On completion of the training scheme Andy decided to change career, becoming a Maths teacher, then Head of Maths before moving to Reading Blue Coat School where he was Second Master. After seven years there, Andy was appointed Headmaster of St Joseph’s College, where he continues to love teaching Maths. During the last few years St Joseph’s College has won a number of awards including the ‘Independent School of the Year’ award at the 2015 TES Independent School Awards. Andy is Chair of The Society of Heads' Education Committee and is an ISI team inspector for Quality of Education inspection.

David Holland

Hill House School

David is Headmaster of Hill House School, Doncaster, an independent school for ages 3 to 18 with 740 pupils. Hill House was named Times Independent School of the Year 2012-13, and received the...

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David Holland

David is Headmaster of Hill House School, Doncaster, an independent school for ages 3 to 18 with 740 pupils. Hill House was named Times Independent School of the Year 2012-13, and received the 2016-17 Times Award for the Outstanding Community Initiative. Previously Head of Classics and Boarding Housemaster, David has spent the last 14 years in two headships. In addition to his day job, he is a keen cricketer and hockey player and serves as an ISI Educational Quality Inspector. He is a passionate advocate of holistic education, and believes in the importance of striving for improvement and excellence.

Emma-Kate Henry

Head Elect - St. Christopher School

Emma-Kate has been involved with the Society of Heads since 2009, following her appointment as Deputy Head at St Christopher School in 2009. Following her move to Hampshire Collegiate School as...

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Emma-Kate Henry

Emma-Kate has been involved with the Society of Heads since 2009, following her appointment as Deputy Head at St Christopher School in 2009. Following her move to Hampshire Collegiate School as Principal in January 2014, Emma-Kate has enjoyed being part of the Professional Development Committee and recognises the importance of the work of the Society and its excellent network of support. She is looking forward to serving on the main committee from September 2017, and beginning her new role as Head of St. Christopher School in September 2020.

Guy Ayling

Mount Kelly

Guy was a boarder himself for 11 years at Bilton Grange and Rugby School. He studied Medieval History at St Andrews and then spent three years in Japan on the JET Programme, where he studied Kendo...

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Guy Ayling

Guy was a boarder himself for 11 years at Bilton Grange and Rugby School. He studied Medieval History at St Andrews and then spent three years in Japan on the JET Programme, where he studied Kendo and tried his hand at sumo wrestling. He then joined Sedbergh School where he was Housemaster, followed by Senior Master, staying there for 14 years before moving to Llandovery College as Warden in April 2012. Guy took up the role of Head Master and Principal of the Mount Kelly Foundation in April 2019. He is married to Heather, and has three boys; Oliver, Theodore and Finlay. Guy enjoys sport especially fives and cricket and his favourite food is fresh Maine lobster rolls.

Julian Noad

Oswestry School

A 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...

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Julian Noad

A 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. 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.

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