Meet our Governors

Governor Type	Name	Committee Membership	Business Interests and material interest arising from personal relationships	About the Governor
Chair of Governors Local Authority Governor	David Hill Term of office: 08/02/13 - 06/12/28	Quality of Education Leadership & Management Finance & Premises Finance & Premises	Governor at Mascalls	David’s two youngest grandchildren used to go to St Marks. They now live with their mum and dad and David and Susan, his wife, in a shared house in Matfield. David was a senior sales and marketing manager with BT until 2001. Since then he has trained over 1000 senior and middle managers in leadership, teamwork and communication skills.
Ex-Officio	Elaine Cole Term of office: 11/07/22 - 11/07/26	SIAMS	None
Foundation Governor	Rev Claire Allwood Term of office: 17/01/22 - 16/01/26	SIAMS	None	I am vicar of St Mark’s Church and have also been fortunate to have a family connection with the school. I am passionate about enabling the children to engage with the treasures of the Christian faith and traditions and about supporting the well-being of the whole school community.
Foundation Governor and Vice Chair	Hester Gudmunsen Term of Office: 21/3/22 - 20/3/26	SIAMS	None	I have been actively involved with the St Mark's school community since my eldest daughter joined the school in September 2016 and my youngest daughter is still at the school. I was elected as a school governor in 2022 and have since been made Vice-Chair. My background is in strategic planning, performance and change management, and I currently work for a global professional body. I’m passionate about supporting this great school to continue to raise standards of achievement and develop well-rounded children that are able to reach their full potential.
Headteacher Governor	Simon Bird Term of office: from 01/01/18	SIAMS	None	I was appointed Headteacher in January 2018, having previously been Deputy Head from February 2010. I live outside of Tunbridge Wells and have two young daughters.
Co-opted Governor	Sarah Russell Term of office: 01/02/15- 01/02/27	Quality of Education	None	I joined the St Mark’s School community in 2007 and both of my children have attended the school. I was first elected as a parent governor and am now a co-opted Governor. There have been many changes over the years and I am as committed to supporting the whole school as when I joined.
Co -opted Governor	Shelley Kerr Black Term of Office 21/03/22 -20/03/26	Finance and Premises	None	My two children attend St Mark's and I joined the governing board in 2022. I am passionate about the power of education to enable children from all backgrounds to succeed in life, whatever their chosen path may be. I bring my experience of working in a regulated industry (financial benchmarks) where governance and oversight is a critical part of my day to day to my role as governor at St Mark's. I sit on the finance committee and am the designated governor for SEND.
Co-opted Governor	Jenny Gray Term of office: 25/09/23 -25/09/27		None	I am a parent of 2 children at St Mark’s and became a co-opted governor in September 2023. I have worked in education for 16 years and am currently the Deputy Headteacher of a local secondary school. Outside of work, I coach the Tunbridge Wells U9s hockey team at the weekend and enjoy travelling as much as I can with my children.
Parent Governor	Jamie Johnson Term of office: 15/10/12 - 6/12/2028	Behaviour, Attitudes & Personal Development	None	My name is Jamie Johnson, I have been a parent governor for the last 6 years since my oldest son Frankie started at St Marks; he is now in year 9! I have two other sons: Charlie who is in year 6 and Joey in year 3! They all are loving school; and so am I being a parent governor. You may see me around the school giving boxing lessons to the children! I am the former W.I.B.F British Lightweight Champion; and now I am an A.B.A Boxing Coach. We use the training in the school to teach children self control and discipline; and mainly to combat any form of bullying
Co-opted Governor	Rhi Begg Term of office: 17/03/25 - 16/03/29		Trustee at Samphire Star Education Acting Head of Reading Virtual School	I joined the St Mark's community when my daughter entered Reception in 2024 and became a co-opted Governor in March 2025. I have worked in primary education within the local area, have continued to work within Educational Leadership. I am currently a Head of a Virtual School, supporting children looked after and those with a social worker.
Staff Governor	Sarah Donoghue Term of office: 01/09/23 - 31/08/27		None	I have worked at St Mark’s for 16 years and 5 of my children have attended the school. My favourite lesson is Art.
Clerk to the Governors	Claire Chapman		None	I have worked at the school for over 12 years, firstly as a Teaching Assistant and then in the school office. My two children went to school here.

Approved Minutes of Governor meetings are available by emailing the Clerk, Claire Chapman, at the school office: office@st-marks.kent.sch.uk