Helen has been foundation governor since 2003. Helen holds a BA Hons. Economic & Social History, York University and is Head of Consumer Research at Morpace International, FMMRS and listed in Who’s Who of Professional Women.

In her professional career Helen has held senior leadership positions in a number of major international research firms, specialising in quantitative research, insight and consulting.  She is very conversant with financial accountability, personnel development and accountability and data protection.  Her business responsibilities include governance and oversight of large divisions numbering 100+ staff and divisional budgets in excess of £12m.

She brings to her work within ELT her skills in business across many aspects from data performance, budgeting, financial planning, people development and business and relationship development. 

Helen lives locally and has strong links with the Parish Church in Esher and its daughter church in West End, Esher.

David is an ordained priest in the Church of England, and a Senior Consultant in Impact Investing at New Philanthropy Capital.  He has worked at Big Society Capital and Imperial College Health Partners and prior to that was Dean and Chaplain of St Catharine’s College in Cambridge. David also holds a Ph.D. in Divinity from Cambridge University. 

In his professional career David has experience of supporting charities, strategic leadership, and governance as well as a deep understanding of the values and ethos that shape the Church of England’s vision for education. He is strongly committed to extending excellent educational opportunities to all, regardless of background or belief, as a means of improving their life chances and enabling them to live fulfilled lives. He is also keen to ensue clarity of strategic vision, effective governance, and a supportive professional environment for those who dedicate their working lives to education. 

Despite being ordained and having permission to officiate in the Diocese of Guildford, David does not represent the Diocese as a member but is sympathetic to their role and aims, while providing critical distance in support of the strategic aims, governance and ethos of ELT.  

Hugh has worked in education for all his working life. Qualifying as an English teacher, he worked in various comprehensive schools where he progressed through middle leadership to become a senior leader in two schools.

Following this he became a local authority inspector in Hammersmith and Fulham for three years. Hugh also taught postgraduate and Masters’ students at London University Institute of Education before becoming a senior school inspector in Sutton. At the same time, he became an accredited Ofsted inspector. Hugh has worked on nearly 90 inspections and has led over 20 inspections; he has also been a Quality Assurance reader for inspection reports.

Currently Hugh is a consultant working with Guildford Diocesan Board of Education and The Good Shepherd Trust advising institutions on leadership approaches to school improvement and curriculum developments. Hugh has lately chaired two Interim Executive Boards for schools in special measures.  He has been an accredited trainer with the National College, leading on training for governing bodies.

Mary de Sausmarez has extensive experience working in senior sales and marketing leadership positions. Having spent the majority of her career in telecoms, 4 years ago she moved into the Education sector as a Senior Director for a business which supplies assessments to all types of schools.

A local resident for over 20 years, Mary has been active in the community and been Chair of the Charitable Trust that runs Cobham Village Hall for the last 14 years. Mary therefore brings to the trust robust understanding of the commercial world especially marketing and communications within Education, as well as her keen support and understanding of the local area.

Mike has been in the education sector for over 20 years and is currently Executive Head Teacher at Esher C of E High School.  His career spans both Anglican faith schools as well as secular schools, whose locations ranged from inner city to suburban settings in London and Surrey.  This experience has given Mike insights into the huge diversity of the educational system and equipped him with invaluable knowledge including direct experience of leading pedagogy, Senior Leadership, management and recruitment of staff as well as broad knowledge of pastoral support. 

In his role as executive head of the Trust he has strategic oversight of the schools, ensures policy and practice are fit for purpose and aligned, and ensures the educational outcomes across the schools are of the highest standard.  Mike leads a small, focussed Trust Strategic Leadership Team which implements the Trust vision, works on medium and long-term development planning, and enables the growth of the Trust by collaborating with other schools. 

Baz lives locally with his wife and two children.  He runs an IT consultancy company specialising in transportation systems both in the UK and internationally where Baz has set up teams to manage and maintain the solutions. Baz’s company works primarily in the UK, US and Australia. Baz is involved with the strategic recruiting and training, and also working with clients to define service models and supporting innovation and service improvement. 

Baz’s major contracts include the Oystercard and contactless travel in London, the Sydney, Brisbane and New York transit systems, and transport systems a number of other cities. 

Baz was a school governor at Grovelands Primary School in Walton for 8 years, and for most of that period was Chair of Governors. He then joined Esher High C of E Secondary School as governor and was Chair for just under 2 terms.  Baz gained a lot of experience during that time in holding the SLT to account for students’ progress and attainment, financial and resource management of schools and also working alongside staff and other volunteers.

Baz has more recently been volunteering for Princess Alice Hospice in Esher.  He is a firm believer in supporting local organisations in any way he can.

Leonard has been a Foundation Governor of Esher Church of England High School since 1999 during which time he has had a very wide variety of roles in the governance of the school. Today he is on the Admissions and Teaching & Learning Committees and is the lead governor on Christian Ethos.

Formerly a senior civil servant, since his retirement he has worked very widely in the voluntary sector, including as a trustee of national and international charities. In particular, for many years he was a governor of a special school for very severely disabled children run by the charity, Livability, of which he was a trustee/director for many years.

Through the experience and training gained in his governance roles, Leonard brings to the Trust a strong understanding of his role.  He is an excellent team player and accepts the shared responsibility an accountability of his roles, keeps a constant focus on what’s best for the students and both schools by asking probing and challenging questions in a constructive manner and always acts with strong moral purpose, integrity and honesty.

He represents the Diocese as a Member of the Trust, having been an active member of his parish church and secretary of the parochial church council for many years.  Leonard is a strong advocate for the MAT's values, philosophy and ethos.

Alex is an experienced Diocesan Director of Education and leads the Education team based at Church House, Guildford. 

He is a member of the Bishop’s Leadership Team and provides the strategic leadership for education with oversight of 83 Church of England schools in the Diocese of Guildford. Alex represents the Diocesan Board of Education as Member of Church of England multi-academy trusts across the Diocese. 

Before taking up his post in Guildford, Alex was the Director of Education for Rochester Diocese for 6 years and has been an Acting Chief Executive officer of two Diocesan Multi-Academy Trusts. 

Alex is an experienced system leader and former Local Leader of Education (LLE) in Surrey. He has 20 years’ experience in education as a teacher, governor, local authority adviser and primary headteacher of a Church of England school in Guildford Diocese. 

Alex is a Trustee of Schools Alliance for Excellence (SAFE) a local education partnership in Surrey and The Prospect Trust and was a former Chair of the Association of Anglican Directors of Education (AADE). 

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Alison worked in commercial banking and the global banking regulatory sector, before moving into education 7 years ago.  She also brings to the role 8 years’ experience as a school governor.  Since taking up the role of Company Secretary and Clerk, Alison has completed VWV’s Company Secretarial Course for Academies and the NCTL Clerks Development Programme.