Our school governors

The Chair of Governors can be contacted c/o Windlesham School, 190 Dyke Rd, Brighton BN1 5AA

or via email governors@windleshamschool.co.uk

Graham Rowlands-Hempel (Chair)

Graham Rowlands-Hempel was previously a lawyer and worked in a law firm in the City of London for over 30 years. Since retirement, Graham has looked for ways to work more in the community and is delighted to work as a Governor at Windlesham School. Graham also works for the Prince’s Trust to help young people find employment. Graham is the current Chair of Governors.

Neil Baxter (Vice Chair)

Neil Baxter is the current Vice Chair of Governors and Head of the Finance Committee. He has worked in senior roles in financial services and banking organisations and has used this experience to help the school secure the financing of the new buildings.

Christine Mannion Watson

Christine Mannion Watson has worked in various aspects of education for over 40 years, most recently as Head of an independent school for pupils aged 3 to 18, and as a Reporting Inspector for the Independent Schools Inspectorate. She is currently involved in research at the University of London Institute of Education. Her main interests are modern languages, foreign travel, silversmithing, swimming, country walking and reading. She has a strong commitment to Windlesham’s aim to provide a broad education in a supportive environment.

Jack Cornish

Jack Cornish is a teacher at Brighton College, teaching 11-18 year olds chemistry. He has held a range of safeguarding and pastoral responsibilities at the College as well as being heavily involved in the sport and service provision. He graduated from Imperial College in 2009 before moving to Brighton to take up a teaching role where he gained his teaching qualification from the University of Southampton. Jack still plays club hockey and also enjoys other recreation sports such as running, volleyball and cycling.

Kathryn Duckenfield

Kathryn Duckenfield is thrilled to be joining the board of governors. As an ex Windlesham school parent she has strong ties to the school and looks forward to her new role. Kathryn worked in the arts as a professional dancer for 11 years and continues her association with theatre in her job at Glyndebourne. She is a successful yoga teacher and is passionate about wellbeing and helping others. In her spare time she enjoys long walks with her family and their rescue dog.

Liz Brown

Liz Brown has worked as a teacher and school leader across all age and phases of education for nearly 20 years and has recently joined the Dukes Education family serving as a Headteacher at Reflections Nursery and Small School in Worthing. She sits on the Little Dukes Early Years Steering Committee which consists of a group of passionate early years educators, headteachers and principles working together to define what excellent early years education looks like and to create world leading ‘policy and practice’ from 0-5+. Liz was a non-executive director at the ISA for 3 years until August 2021 and is a trustee for the Deakin Scholarship Fund, she is also a team Inspector for the Independent Schools Inspectorate. In her spare time, she enjoys travelling and spending time outdoors with her family, long country walks and reading.

Dave Berman

Dave Berman was a Windlesham parent for 10 years with both of his children starting as Owlets and remaining at the school all the way through to Year 6. Some difficult times in life led Dave to develop a keen interest in the nature of our minds and how we can all take some quite simple and straightforward steps to reduce stress and increase happiness. This ultimately led him to qualify as a Psychospiritual Counsellor and, as such, has had his own private practice in London and Brighton whilst he was training. Dave is also a company director who founded one of London’s most innovative vending machine businesses which he still runs today. Dave looks forward to working closely with the Board to ensure future generations continue to enjoy all that Windlesham School has to offer.