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Governors

The Governing Body of The Judd School

The Judd School is a Voluntary Aided School supported by The Skinners’ Company www.skinners.org.uk. The Company appoints the majority of the Governing Body, which also comprises elected Parent Governors, elected Staff Governors, Associate Governors and the Headteacher. Current members of the Governing Body are profiled on the next page.

Should you wish to contact the Governing Body please email the Clerk to Governors.

Foundation Governors

Mr Charles Doyle - Chairman of Governors 

Charles Doyle is an Old Juddian (1978-1985) who remembers his time there fondly (and some of the teachers too!).  After careers in the Royal Navy and the City, he now works in infrastructure finance and lives in Fulham with his wife and two small boys. 

Charles is a Foundation Governor (having become an apprentice to the Skinners' Company after school).

Governor Meeting attendance 2021/22 - 10/10
Declared Business & Financial Interests - 
Term - 12/11/19-11/11/23

Mrs Lucinda Ball
 

 

Lucinda Ball, until recently, worked as a History teacher at top performing Pate's Grammar school, Cheltenham. During that time she was an AQA examiner.  Having moved to Oxford, she taught History on the foundation course at Warwick University.

She is a Foundation governor, member of the Education committee and governor i/c Prevent.

Governor Meeting attendance 2021/22 - 6/7
Declared Business & Financial Interests - 
Term - 1/9/17-31/8/25

Mr Jeremy Cronk 

Jeremy Cronk is a Foundation Governor (and SEND link governor) who grew up and attended school in Tonbridge.  He read History at the University of Edinburgh, and spent an exchange year at McGill University, Montreal.  After university and law school, he worked as a solicitor in London and Tokyo, before joining SSE, the energy company. Jeremy now lives back in Tonbridge with his wife, Louise, and two young children.  He enjoys swimming, dog walks with the family, and stand-up comedy.

Governor Meeting attendance 2021/22 - 4/7
Declared Business & Financial Interests - TBC
Term - 1/9/20-31/9/23

Mr Roper Peckham-Cooper
 

 

  

Roper Peckham-Cooper is a Foundation Governor and member of the Education Committee. He is an Old Juddian leaving Judd in 2008. Roper is now part of the Livery of the Skinners' Company in London and is a new member of the governing body. 

Roper studied Politics at Exeter University. Since leaving Exeter, Roper has been working in the world of consulting and now supports business leaders with executive coaching. 

Governor Meeting attendance 
Declared Business & Financial Interests - None
Term - 1/9/22-31/8/26

Mr Ed Ethelston - Vice-Chairman 

Ed Ethelston is a Foundation Governor,having been admitted to the Livery in 2014. He was appointed to the Governing Body in November 2011 and became Chairman of the Education Committee in 2014. 

He was brought up in Sevenoaks and was a student and Head Prefect at Judd (1987-1994), so is familiar with the school, some members of staff and the CCF of which he was a Cadet Warrant Officer in the RAF section. Following on from Judd, he read Jurisprudence at Hertford College, Oxford before opting for a career in Accountancy, starting off with PwC in London, then Director of Finance at a private equity backed media company before becoming CFO at the Press Association.

Ed's interests include cycling and skiing, and he lives with his partner, son and daughter in Surbiton, Surrey.

Governor Meeting attendance 2021/22 - 6/7
Declared Business & Financial Interests - Venues Ltd (Director)
Term - 1/9/19-31/8/23

Dr Luke Rajah
 

 

Luke Rajah is an Old Juddian (1998-2005) and is a Foundation Governor (having completed an apprenticeship with the Skinners' company after leaving school).

After leaving The Judd School, Luke read Natural Sciences at the University of Cambridge, where he also completed a PhD in Biophysics. He then joined the Boston Consulting Group as a strategy consultant, and now works as an investment director for Ombu Group, a venture capital firm.

Governor Meeting attendance 2021/22 - 5/7
Declared Business & Financial Interests - None
Term - 1/9/17-31/8/21

Mr Bill Webb
 

Bill Webb was at school in Tonbridge, is a Skinner and Economics Scholar of Trinity Hall, Cambridge. Following a career in management and consulting in the fashion and retail industries he currently works part time in The University of the Arts Business School, teaching and supervising both undergraduate and postgraduate students. He lives in South West London with his Chinese wife Ying, their son Robert and dog Crumble. He enjoys current affairs, flyfishing, antiques and travel. He is Manager of his son's Colts team at Wimbledon Rugby Football Club.

Governor Meeting attendance 2021/22 - 6/7
Declared Business & Financial Interests - None
Term - 1/9/17-31/8/21

Associate Governors

Mrs Alex Akrimi
 

Alex Akrimi lives with her family in Tunbridge Wells and has spent the last 16 years in Education working in Further Education as a teacher and senior leader and more recently for an awarding organisation as Head of Standards. Alex was appointed to the Judd governing body in March 2018 as an Associate Governor, and is a member of the Education Committee.  

Governor Meeting attendance 2021/22 - 2/7
Declared Business & Financial Interests - None
Term - 6/3/18-31/8/26

Mr John Costello 

John Costello BDS FDS MSc MOrth RCS (Eng) 

I have been a parent now of the Judd School since 2010. As a family we have tried to contribute as much as possible to life at the school with the boys participating in numerous extracurricular activities in the sporting / musical and acting fields. My wife Julia is currently serving on the JPA Committee.  I am an Ambassador for the school’s Development Fundraising Committee.

I am a local orthodontist being a founding partner of Total Orthodontics which has several sites in the area including Tonbridge, Tunbridge Wells and Sevenoaks. Over the last 15 years this has given me invaluable experience of the school viewed through the eyes of my pupil patients, their parents and family, plus the local community as a whole.

I work in Tonbridge and Sevenoaks and am also, currently, the Junior Section Chairman of Tonbridge Juddians RFC.

Governor Meeting attendance 2021/22 - 6/7
Declared Business & Financial Interests - None
Term - 12/11/19-11/11/23

Mr Philip Greatrex  

Phil Greatrex is a former pupil of Judd (1967-74). He was a player for, and treasurer of, the Old Juddian rugby club for over 10 years and more recently treasurer of the Old Juddian Society for 25 years, where he is still a main committee member. Phil, a chartered accountant by training, is senior partner at CW Energy LLP where he has worked for over 25 years providing taxation services predominantly to the oil and gas sector in the UK.

Phil has lived with his family in the Tunbridge Wells area since finishing his degree and has always maintained a strong interest in, and links with the school, culminating with his recent appointment as an associate Governor of the school.

Governor Meeting attendance 2021/22 - 7/7
Declared Business & Financial Interests - Director and shareholder of PPJ Oiltax Consultants Ltd and a partner in CW Energy LLP 
Term - 1/9/19-31/9/23

Mr  Ben Thompson 

Ben Thompson

I have lived in and around Tunbridge Wells most of my life.  I have five sons.  The younger three being Judd boys - Zachary (left in 2020, now at Exeter), Samuel (left in 2022, now at New College Oxford) and Daniel (Year 12). For myself, I attended Canford School and graduated in Music from Durham University.  My wife Rachel teaches at St Ronan’s School in Hawkhurst, as assistant deputy head of pastoral care.  

I have more than thirty years’ experience in marketing and communications, working in the UK and the USA and specialising in the financial and professional services sectors most recently working with companies in renewable energy and natural capital, which are making a positive environmental impact.

Since 2015, I have been a member of the school’s Development Fundraising Committee and am heartened by the amount of support and parental engagement fostered by the school.   I have encouraged my boys to make the most of the outstanding opportunities and facilities offered by Judd.    

In my spare time I play squash, tennis, golf, the piano and am a keen sailor. 

Governor Meeting attendance 2021/22 - 5/7
Declared Business & Financial Interests - None
Term -
1/9/21 to 31/8/25

Elected Parent Governors

Mr  Scott Henderson 

Scott Henderson

Scott has been involved with The Judd School since 2019 when his son Daniel joined year 7. He is enjoying learning about the school and observing the similarities with his own: Pate's Grammar School in Cheltenham. He studied Economics at Warwick University before joining an investment bank. After undertaking an MSc in Organisational Psychology at UCL he transferred to become a compliance officer. Outside work, Scott enjoys being a scout leader and participating in various outdoor activities.

He is a Parent Governor and member of the Education Committee

Governor Meeting attendance 2021/22 - 6/7
Declared Business & Financial Interests - Trustee of the Beckton Skills Centre which provides vocational (automotive maintenance and repair) training to young people (typically aged 18-25) who would otherwise not be in employment,
Term - 18/12/19-31/8/23

Mrs Donna Western 

Donna Western

Donna has enjoyed a wide-ranging career spanning finance, start-up, technology and biotech across the US and UK and is currently at the Bank of England.  Fast-paced technology-led environments have intensified her interest in how schools prepare students to thrive in an ever-changing world moving at unprecedented pace.  Donna is a local Sea Scout leader and lives in Tonbridge with her husband, Mark, and two sons.  She has been involved with the Judd School since 2019 and looks forward to continuing an active role in the school’s life. 

Governor Meeting attendance 2021/22 - 6/7
Declared Business & Financial Interests - None
Term - 9/7/21-8/7/2025

Elected Staff Governor

Mr Simon Pearce 

Simon Pearce

Simon went to school in Gloucester and studied at Sir Thomas Rich’s Grammar School (1980-1985). On leaving school, he joined the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers based at Ashchurch in Tewkesbury where he studied Mechanical Engineering on a YTS scheme. He then went on to join the Royal Military Police and spent a number of years in the Army Reserve. 

In 1996, Simon joined the Metropolitan Police Security Force, SO17, at the Houses of Parliament where he took on the role of internal security officer. In 2001 he was promoted to Security Manager and was responsible for both pedestrian and vehicle searches. During his time in this role, Simon was part of the planning team for events such as the State Opening of Parliament and the Queen Mother’s Lying in State. He was also involved in the Prevent scheme and worked with SO15 Counterterrorist Command. 

In 2015 Simon joined The Quest Academy as a Cover Supervisor and in 2020 joined Temple Grove Academy Primary School as the Emotional Literacy Support Assistant and Music teacher. 

Simon joined the school as Learning Support Assistant in September 2020.

Governor Meeting attendance 2021/22 - 6/7
Declared Business & Financial Interests 
Term - 17/12/20-16/12/24

Previous Governors

Governors who have stepped down within the last 12 months 

Name Governor Term of Office
Mr Aaron Croucher Foundation 1/9/19 - 22/6/22