Governance

Haileybury Academy Trust works with the sponsor and the school leaders to provide the best possible education at Haileybury Turnford and that ambition, pride and success are at the heart of everything that Haileybury Turnford does. The governing body has oversight of the educational provision at the school and is responsible for its growth, future direction and development.

The Full Governing Body meets termly. In addition there are various committees. The Education Committee meets half-termly and focuses on all issues connected to students, including the quality of education (curriculum intent, implementation and impact), student behaviour and attitudes, personal development, sixth form provision, inclusion and safeguarding. The Finance & Resources Committee meets half-termly and focuses on all issues connected to the school’s finances and resources.  The Remuneration (Pay) Committee meets annually, and focuses on staff pay and the appraisal process.  The governors’ Disciplinary Committee meets when necessary to consider specific student disciplinary matters.

The Governors can be contacted directly

Written correspondence will be forwarded to the Chair of Governors.  This will result in a longer delivery time than emailed correspondence.

 

Governors 

Mr Robert Whitaker (Chair of Governing Body)

A former pupil of Turnford School, who went on to read Law at the University of Kent at Canterbury and subsequently obtained a Masters in Law at the University. He is an Executive Partner at Tees Solicitors heading up their business law team and specialising in employment law. Rob is a member of the Employment Lawyer’s Association. A former chair of a West Essex community based charity, Rob is involved in a number of community groups and initiatives including with Rotary and as a co-opted governor at a primary school in Bishop’s Stortford.

Dr Laura Pugsley (Vice Chair & Chair of Education Committee)

Born and brought up in Wales, she studied at Newnham College, Cambridge where she took a degree in archaeology and anthropology and then a PhD. She has taught history at Haileybury since 2002, has been the Oxbridge Coordinator and head of Lower School (Years 7 and 8). Her many interests include sport, notably football (a Blue) and also rowing and hockey. She is Chair of the Education Committee, and is currently Deputy Head i/c safeguarding and wellbeing at Haileybury.

Mr Eugene Du Toit

Born in Zimbabwe and grew up in South Africa, Eugene has lived in England for over 25 years. Before being appointed Master of Haileybury, Eugene was the Headmaster of Wellington School, Somerset, served as Deputy Headmaster at Trinity School, Croydon, and was an Undermaster at St Paul’s School. He has taught Economics, coached rugby and athletics, has been a tutor, Head of House and Head of Year during his career.

Graduating from The University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, he has completed both an MA and an MBA through UCL. He has served on HMC’s Education Committee and also supported HMC’s Reform of Assessment Working Group; he has also had his views on the changing nature of educational leadership published.

Eugene is married to Angela and they have two children. He played representative rugby in South Africa, swam the Channel as a member of a relay team and completed a solo swim of the length of Lake Windermere. In his spare time, he enjoys reading non-fiction, walking in nature and cooking for friends and family.

Ms Olivia Firek

Olivia sits on the Education Committee.  She holds the position of Assistant Head at Haileybury with responsibility for the Heads of Year 7 to 11.

Mr Richard Freeman

Richard is a former student of Turnford School who has over 20 years of experience building collaboration software businesses. In 2019 he joined TES as a General Manager and began working with schools and colleges. In 2022, he became Vice President for the EMEA region at Vivi. He is an advocate for technology that improves education outcomes and has worked with 100s of schools on the successful deployment of projects.

Mr Ian Hodges-Jackson

Ian is one of the founding directors of JCA. As chairman, he has overseen the growth of the company from its formation in 2004, to its current position as an extremely successful building services provider.

With over 25 years’ experience in the mechanical and electrical industry, Ian began his career with British Aerospace, where he served a five-year mechanical and electrical engineering apprenticeship. During his time, Ian worked at the cutting edge of engineering, gaining experience within critical environments including clean room and hybrid semi-conductor build facilities, data center and process engineering environments, specialist military engineering facilities and commercial and industrial building services engineering.

Mr Michael Kemp

Michael is a materials engineer with over 20 years experience delivering projects and managing research and development in the aerospace industry. Through his career he has developed an interest in the mentoring and education of young people to prepare them for their futures.  With a daughter in Year 8 Michael predicts exciting times ahead for Haileybury Turnford and its students.  He is keen to be involved in supporting the school, students and staff to maintain the high standards that already exist and help them achieve their full potential.

Ms Ulla Mahaka

Ulla’s parents were both teachers who taught her that serving your community to empower children is a great honour. She is thrilled to be given the opportunity to support the school’s children, parents and Haileybury Turnford.

Her experience includes 15 years working with children, the community and schools in the UK. She welcomes the opportunity to use her knowledge and skills to help ensure Haileybury Turnford’s children have the best educational journey.

Ms Lisa McKeown

Lisa is a leader of strategic investment planning and portfolio for the Markets business within the Barclays Corporate and Investment Bank.  Responsible for multi-year strategic investment planning with a focus on technology together with on-going portfolio performance evaluation Senior strategic planning, risk management and transformation specialist with extensive commercially and regulatory led global investment banking experience spanning Trading, Risk and Middle Office Functions gained at Barclays, Morgan Stanley, UBS and Mitsubishi.

Mr Colin Parry (Chair of Finance & Resources Committee)

Colin is the CEO of ISSA. He is responsible for creating & executing the ISSA strategy, growing the membership, and ensuring that ISSA continues to help the Securities Services industry develop solutions and reduce risk. He also runs his own consulting business. Prior to joining ISSA in September 2019, Colin co-founded a fintech (Atomic Wire) and set -up his own consulting business after almost 25 years at UBS. At UBS he held a number of senior roles in the US, UK and Switzerland in both Operations and Finance, including running the global investment banking Operations and creating Finance Shared Services.

Colin served at Bridge Academy, Hackney as a Governor and Chair of the Finance and General Purposes Committee between 2012 and 2018. Colin holds a Bachelor’s degree in Money, Banking and Finance from Birmingham University (UK) and graduated from the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst.

Mr Scott Pearce

Scott is Managing Director of Cuffley based design agency Datum Creative Media Limited, who specialise in the producing of marketing materials within the education sector. Scott enjoys ties with the local community having lived in Cheshunt his entire life and is an administrator for his twin boys football club Cuffley FC. Scott’s children are at Haileybury Turnford and welcomes the opportunity to be a Governor.

Mr Stuart Westley

After attending Lancaster Royal Grammar School, Stuart read Law at Corpus Christi College Oxford, representing the University at rugby and cricket and achieving a degree. After a brief, unspectacular spell as a professional cricketer with Gloucestershire County Cricket Club, he taught mathematics at Framlingham College where he was also Master in Charge of Cricket, Housemaster and Director of Studies.

In 1984 he moved to be Deputy Head, Bristol Cathedral School, now an academy but then an independent day school which educated the Cathedral Choristers. In 1989 he became Principal, King William’s College, Isle of Man and from 1996 to 2009 was Master of Haileybury. Haileybury became a fully co-educational school in 1998.

In 2009 Stuart became General Secretary of the Association of Governors of Independent Schools (AGBIS) whose purpose was, and is, to provide advice, support and training for the Governors of its 800 or so member schools. He retired from that post in August 2016 and continues to undertake consultancy work for independent schools in Britain, some commissioned separately and some on behalf of AGBIS.

Stuart has been a governor of twelve schools. He is currently Chair of Governors of a girls’ all through school, a governor of an academy and of one other independent, co-educational senior school.

Mrs Corinne Wood

Corinne is a SENCO at a London Primary School as well as part of their Safeguarding and Pastoral team and is looking forward to bringing her skills and experience as well as being the voice of our parents as a Parent Governor.

Trustee Business Interests 2024-25

 

Mr Robin Newman (Accounting Officer)

Principal of Haileybury Turnford since September 2016.

Accounting Officer Business Interests 2024-25

 

Further Trust information can be found Here


Documents:

Governor attendance 2023-24
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HT Board Committee membership 2024-25
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