Staff and governors
We currently employ around 650 teachers and support staff who form a vibrant, diverse and welcoming community
Highgate’s Governors
MBE, BA, FCA, CTA (Chairman since 2017, governor since 1998)
Bob Rothenberg (OC) was a Highgate parent and retired from Blick Rothenberg Chartered Accountants in 2019 having been senior partner for over 20 years. He has served as a Trustee of Police Now and The Prince’s Foundation and as a Board member of both London First and Think London. He continues to work both advising a number of clients and acting as a trustee and an executor. Mr Rothenberg was made an MBE in the 2007 New Year’s Honours List for services to business and to the community in London. He has been regularly quoted on tax and commercial issues in the national press and appeared on these topics on radio, television and other media outlets.
MA, MRICS, FRGS, FRSA (Governor since 2018)
Mark Barber (OC) is Director for AIG Global Real Estate. Mr Barber is formely of the Grosvenor Estate and Wellcome Trust. He is Chair of the Estates Committee and the Health and Safety lead.
MA (Oxon) (Governor since 2023)
Jenny Brown is the Headmistress of the City of London School for Girls following her first Headship St Alban’s High School for Girls. She has previously held senior roles in Channing and St Paul’s Girls’ schools and taught at Highgate School in 1995. Jenny is a Trustee of the Mitchell Trust Charity and also sits on the IntoUniversity Advisory Board.
BEd (HONS), MA, OBE (Governor since 2018)
Joan Deslandes was appointed to the Governing body in September 2018. She sits on the Finance, Audit & Risk Committee and is also a member of the Non-Fee Income Group (NFIG) Committee.
MA (Cantab) (Governor since 2018)
Sam King qualified as a barrister in 1990, became a QC in 2018 and now practices in the area of children’s law. Ms King grew up in Highgate and still lives locally. Sam sits on the Nominations & Remuneration Committee and is also a member of the Safeguarding Committee.
(Governor since 2023, Treasurer since 2024)
Hannah Lewis has held senior financial roles for UK and European financial markets since her First Class MEng in Metallurgy and the Science of Materials from Trinity College, Oxford. Hannah lives locally and has one child who attends Highgate School.
She is Chair of the Finance, Audit & Risk Committee.
LLB (Hons), BCL (Oxon), Notary Public (Governor since 2023)
Kevin is a corporate lawyer with Mishcon de Reya LLP where he is a Partner and Chair of the Corporate Department. He lives locally and has two children who attend Highgate School. Kevin is also on the board of Union Chapel, a live events venue and charity for homeless people. Kevin is Chair of the Nominations and Remuneration Committee.
MScM (Governor since 2021)
Leonie Morel is a Partner at Goldman Sachs, where she leads the Fundamental Strategies Team globally. Mrs Morel has been living in North London for 16 years; she has two children who attend Highgate. She graduated from HEC School of Management in 2001. Leonie sits on the Finance, Audit & Risk and the Nominations & Remuneration Committees.
KC, MA (Oxon) BCL (Governor since 2023)
Tamara Oppenheimer is a barrister practising in commercial law at Fountain Court Chambers. She became a QC in 2020 and is the Equality & Diversity Officer of her Chambers. Tamara has 3 children, two of whom are still at Highgate. She has a particular interest in music and is a trustee of the Pimlico Musical Foundation. Tamara sits on the Estates Committee.
BA, LLDip (Governor since 2014)
Kumar Panja is a Managing Director of JP Morgan Corporate and Investment Bank. Mr Panja lives in North London and his children attend Highgate. Kumar sits on the Finance, Audit & Risk Committee and is also a member of the Safeguarding Committee.
MA, MBA (Governor since 2011)
Aly Patel (OC) is a partner at hedge fund JNE Partners. Mr Patel has previously worked at York Capital, Apax Partners and Goldman Sachs and has an MBA from Harvard Business School. He has been involved with one of the Prince of Wales’ charities, Business in the Community. Aly sits on the Finance, Audit & Risk Committee and is also a member of the Non-Fee Income Group (NFIG) Committee.
Secretary and Clerk to the governing body is John Pheasant BSc, LLDip, Barrister
John Pheasant is also Highgate School Bursar.
- Governors Info
Governors, listed above, who are the Charity’s Trustees, are responsible for the governance of the School. The structure of the Board is governed by the Charity’s Scheme of Governance dated 1 September 2005, as amended, which states that the Governing Body shall consist of between 10 and 18 Governors.
The full Governing Body meets at least six times a year. There are a number of sub-committees that meet at least three times a year: (1) Finance, Audit and Risk Committee, (2) Estates Committee, (3) Nominations and Remuneration Committee and (4) Safeguarding Committee. Governors drawn from the sub-committees meet periodically to review the ethical dimensions to school policies and, where required, to consider significant matters of education policy or practice.
The Nominations and Remuneration Committee is responsible for overseeing succession planning to ensure the Governing Body contains appropriate diversity, experience and skills, and making recommendations to Governors about recruitment processes for new Governors. Recent appointments have involved advertising roles, prior to a sifting and interview process, within our parent body (2014 – resulted in 4 new Governors), within our parent body and alumni (2018 – resulted in 2 new Governors; 2020 – resulted in 1 new Governor) and externally using a leading board-search organisation (2023 – resulted in 2 new Governors). Occasionally, a particular individual is engaged who has a skill or experience which is needed (eg an educationalist or someone with safeguarding expertise) prior to them being interviewed. All new Governors receive induction training.
Governors, as charity trustees, must serve the interests of the Charity and be concerned only to deliver its charitable objects. For that reason a Governor who is a parent or associated with another group (eg alumni) cannot be, and is not considered to be, a delegate of that body or representing its interest when acting as Governor. All Governors are obliged to avoid conflicts of interests and/or loyalty whether related to personal issues or other groups or associations.
The Governing Body can also appoint associate members to serve on one or more of the sub-committees/working groups and/or to attend full Governing Body meetings. Associate members are often selected to draw on expertise and experience from outside the Governor membership.
If someone is interested in finding out more about the School’s Governance, please contact the Secretary and Clerk to the Governing Body.
- Senior School Senior Team
Adam Pettitt* Head
Florence Bill Development Director
Keith Brown Assistant Head, Director of Studies
Matt Crump Deputy Bursar
Jack Flowers Acting Head of Lower School
Clare Marie Goldsworthy Assistant Head, Communications
Rebecca Golland* Deputy Head (Safeguarding and Pastoral), Whole School and Designated Safeguarding Lead
Sally Hancock* Principal of the Pre-Preparatory School
Todd Lindsay* Senior Deputy Head
Jenny McLoughlin Assistant Head: (Acting) Head of Sixth Form (Pastoral)
James Newton* Deputy Head, Academic
Chanel Noel Community Partnership Director
Daryl Noyce Assistant Head, Academic Ops and Digital Strategy
Jonathan Pearson Head of Middle School
John Pheasant* Bursar
Sam Pullan Assistant Head, Executive Operations
Graeme Robertson* Deputy Head, Professional
Jen Sacks Assistant Head, Academic
Louise Shelley* Senior Deputy Head
Henry Shepherd Assistant Head, Academic
Verity Smith* (Acting) Deputy Head (Pastoral), Senior School
Philippa Studd* Principal of the Junior School
Guy Waller Assistant Head, Head of Sixth Form, Academic
Julie Welch Assistant Head, Projects and Logistics
Kasia Wojtkowiak Director of Compliance and Qualifications*Member of the Strategy Management Committee (SMC)
University and Careers:
Catherine Valette Director of Higher Education
Vivienne Spoerri Director of N American University Admissions
Alison Parsons Careers and Employability Specialist - Junior School Senior Team
Philippa Studd* Principal of the Junior School
Emma Duong Deputy Principal (Pastoral)
Alison Lloyd Director of Studies
Victoria Nemeth Assistant Principal (Curriculum and Communications)
Matt Anderson Assistant Principal (Logistics and Operations)*Strategy Management Committee member
- Pre-Prep Senior Team
Sally Hancock* Principal of the Pre-Preparatory School
Philippa Poll Deputy Principal (Teaching and Learning)
Hayley Lock Deputy Principal (Pastoral)
Elissa Ellison Deputy Principal (Curriculum)*Strategy Management Committee member
For information on working at Highgate, please visit our Work with us page.
Chair of Governors contact details
If you wish to contact the Chair of Governors, please address your letter to:
Bob Rothenberg MBE
c/o The Secretary to the Foundation and Clerk to the Governors, Mr J C Pheasant
Highgate School
70 North Road
London
N6 4AY
chairman@highgateschool.org.uk