John is a highly experienced barrister, called to the bar in 1975. He “has great intellectual depth and is a superb advocate and negotiator.” (The Lawyer)

Anne has 30 years experience as a Services parent, and has considerable knowledge of the welfare needs of Services families. She is past Chairman of SSAFA Forces Help, Sussex Branch. Anne has specific responsibility for liaising with the Prep School.

Graham is an experienced local businessman with an active interest in rural and community regeneration. In 2013 he has been honoured by Her Majesty The Queen with his appointment as High Sheriff of East Sussex. His wife Sarah kindly acts as the Independent Visitor for the boarding house.

 

Jo works as an independent counsellor/psychotherapist mainly within the NHS. Before this, she worked for Berkshire Education Department as a Senior Practitioner in child mental health services.

 

Jo has some nineteen years experience of living and working in boarding schools; as wife to a housemaster, later to become headmaster. Jo is our designated Safeguarding Governor.

Outside work, Jo is actively involved in drama and music in East Kent.

Jonathan Watts (Education)

Jonathan Watts studied History at the Queen’s College, Oxford before researching on medieval art at the University of York. He began teaching in the mid 1970s and in 1988, he became Head of History and Politics at Benenden, the girls’ boarding school in Kent, becoming the school’s first male housemistress in 1993. He has wide ranging experience of both the academic and pastoral sides of school life and has developed particular roles in successfully preparing sixth-formers for all aspects of university entry and in recruiting, interviewing and caring for new students from the UK and overseas. He has been a GCSE and A-level examiner in History, has a number of publications to his credit and has been a governor of four independent schools in the UK. Since retiring from full-time teaching in 2012, he has been acting as a consultant for students, teachers, parents and school governors on a range of educational issues. He also works as an adviser on international schools in south-east Asia for the New College of the Humanities, London. He continues to pursue his enthusiasm for music, the theatre, the visual arts and travelling.

Victoria Mills

Victoria was for many years Curator of the Hastings Museum and is now Administrative Director of Great Dixter House and Gardens.

She has been involved in heritage education, project management and fundraising throughout her career and has worked in both public and charity sectors. She has understanding of dyslexia and boarding through her own experience as a parent.