Sir William Borlase's Grammar School

Governance

Sir William Borlase’s Grammar School is part of a Multi-Academy Trust, the Marlow Education Trust.  This trust was established with the intention of developing a group of schools in Marlow and the surrounding area who are able to work together to deliver the best outcomes for students, regardless of their ability, background or needs.

It currently comprises Sir William Borlase's Grammar School and Beechview Primary School. Borlase collaborates informally with the primaries and other Marlow secondary via the Marlow Liaison Group.  

Responsibility for Sir William Borlase’s Grammar School specifically lies with a local board of Governors.  These enthusiastic and dedicated volunteers, drawn from the staff, parent and wider community, support the school in its aims by working with leadership to provide challenge, expertise and perspective.  The local governing body meets termly, as do its core sub-committees. Minutes of the Local Governing Body are available on request please contact enquiries@swbgs.com

Members of the governing body are all local people with a strong interest in the school. Over half the governors are current or former SWBGS parents.

The term of office of Governors is four years excepting:

  • The Headteacher

  • Staff Governors if they cease to be employed by the School

In general, Governors are replaced as and when they reach the end of their four-year term. Subject to remaining eligible to be a particular type of Governor, any Governor may be re-appointed or re-elected.

Chair of Governors - Mrs Gill Towell

Gill has been a governor at Sir William Borlase’s Grammar School since 2019. She was originally a parent governor and has been our Chair of Governors since October 2023.
Gill’s background is in engineering, specialising in optoelectronics. She led multi- disciplinary teams to deliver optical networks across Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Before leaving her corporate career, Gill was Business Operations Director for two multinational telecoms companies. Gill set up GillyMac Designs in 2012,an award-winning sewing business, teaching adults and children locally,
nationally and internationally.
Gill is married with two daughters, one of whom was at Borlase from 2015 to 2022. Gill is committed to supporting the school and staff deliver an outstanding education and superb extra-curricular opportunities for all pupils.
Gill can be contact on gtowell@swbgs.com

Gill's term began on 12 November 2019.  

Vice Chair of Governors - Mr Alex Jamieson

Alex is an Old Borlasian who left the school in 2006. 

Alex is currently Head of European High Yield & Syndicated Loans Trading at Hayfin Capital Management, one of Europe’s leading alternative asset management firms.  Prior to joining Hayfin, he worked at Man Group within the Capital Asset Solutions team.  Previously, Alex was a principal and trader within the European Credit team at Apollo Global Management.  Alex began his career in equity derivatives at the Royal Bank of Scotland.

Alex graduated from University College London with an MSc degree, with Distinction, in Psychological Sciences and from the University of Nottingham with a First Class BSc Honours degree in Economics.  Alex is a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA).

He was delighted to join Borlase’s Board of Governors in October 2021 to support the development of the school.

Alex's term began on the 18 October 2021.

Vice Chair of Governors - Mr Hugh Miall

Hugh is Old Borlasian who left the school in 2004. He read law at Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge whilst holding a choral scholarship, and now practises as a commercial chancery barrister from XXIV Old Buildings, a leading set of chambers in Lincoln's Inn. Hugh and his young family recently moved back to the local area, and he was delighted to be able to join the board in October 2018 and support the development of Borlase and its pupils as a governor. 

Hugh enjoys spending most of his free time running around with (or after) his young son. He is a keen musician, and whilst he is primarily an avid listener and concert-goer, he also continues to perform as a singer from time to time.

Hugh's term as Governor began on 15 October 2018.

Appointed Governor - Mrs Charlotte Redcliffe

Charlotte is a chartered accountant and chartered tax advisor by qualification. 

Outside work, Charlotte is a keen horse-rider and Pony Club mum.

She has three children, all of whom were students at SWBGS. Charlotte is committed to supporting Borlase to be the best it possibly can, and to giving all students the skills and confidence they need for the future lives they choose.

Charlotte's current term as a Governor began on 15 October 2016.

Mrs Redcliffe can be contacted by email at credcliffe@swbgs.com  

Appointed Governor - Mr Phil Sharp

Phil has been a school governor at Sir William Borlase’s Grammar since April 2014.

He has lived in Marlow since 2005.

Across his career, he has worked in a variety of functions and sectors, and held a number of Country and European HR Director roles in Healthcare and Financial Services Companies, including Johnson & Johnson, and now Bayer Pharmaceuticals. He is currently studying towards an MSc in Coaching and Behavioural Change at Henley Business School.

Outside of work, Phil is a member of Marlow Hockey club and plays in a men's team for them each week. He also thoroughly enjoys road cycling and cross country running. Phil is married to Lisa; his son Samuel studied at Borlase and is now at Newcastle University Medical School and his daughter Eleanor is currently studying for her GCSEs at Borlase.

Phil's current term began on 19 October 2020.

Appointed Governor - Mr Gary Regan 

Gary joined the Sir William Borlase Grammar School Local Governing Board in October 2023. He was previously a Governor of a local primary school for four years.
Gary’s background is in Special Needs Education. Prior to qualifying as a teacher, he worked in a psychiatric unit for children. Once qualified, he was a teacher and SENDCo in mainstream education, before moving into the special sector. He is now the Executive Principal of an Outstanding Multi-Academy Trust, having previously been the Head Teacher of each campus within the trust. Gary is also an OFSTED inspector.

Gary’s term began on 2 October 2023.

Appointed Governor - Carole Black

Carole has worked in education for over twenty years as a teacher of maths, SENDCo, Assistant Head and Deputy Head with responsibilities during that time including Safeguarding, Pastoral Care, PPG, SEND and Staff Welfare.  She is also a qualified National Education Lead in Mental Health and has worked with the Association of Character Education (ACE), supporting assessments of schools with the ACE Kitemark. Prior to working in education Carole worked in marketing, primarily for an international oil company.

Carole is married with two children who are now grown up, and currently works in another local Grammar school.  She is committed to inclusive education and supporting all young people develop academically, socially and emotionally,  to help, prepare and empower them for their futures, so they can fulfil their individual aspirations and contribute positively to the societies they are part of.  Carole can be contacted on cblack-gov@swbgs.com

Carole's term began on 2 October 2023.

Staff Governor - Mrs Claire Woodgate

Claire was appointed as Staff Governor in October 2023. Claire is the Administration Manager and the PA to the Headteacher and Deputy Headteacher.

Claire's term began on 2 October 2023.

Staff Governor - Mr Harry Blackwell

Harry has been a staff governor at Sir William Borlase's Grammar School since September 2023.

He is a teacher of Biology and has taught at the school since 2018.

Harry's term began 2 October 2023. 

Parent Governor - Ms Charlotte Thatcher

Charlotte lives in Marlow and has been a parent at Borlase since 2012. She currently has a son in Year 13 and a daughter in Year 9.

Charlotte is Head of People and on the Senior Leadership Team at Oodle, a financial services company of 500 employees based in Oxford, and has a background in talent attraction and diversity consulting.

Charlotte's term began July 2021.

Parent Governor - Mr Carwyn Jones

Carwyn joined the local governing body at SWBGS in 2023 as parent governor. 

Carwyn is an ex-Maths teacher but most recently worked in the pharmaceutical healthcare communications industry for a large agency group in Marlow. He is currently a consultant for multiple businesses and also runs the Pharmaceutical Marketing Society in the UK, a not-for profit organisation.

He has a daughter at the school, and also brings experience of roles as Governor, Vice-Chair, and Chair of Governors at local schools.

Carwyn’s term began in December 2023.

Appointed Governor - Ms Kate Burt

Kate joined the local governing body at SWBGS in 2022 and has responsibilities for safeguarding and mental health and wellbeing. 

Kate has a BSc in Molecular Biology and Biochemistry as well as being a Chartered Accountant, and has worked in both the finance and pharmaceutical industries for over twenty years.  She currently works in Corporate Development for a US biotech focussed on genetic medicines and also leads the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion initiatives at the company.

Kate is a passionate advocate for all aspects of education for young people and also brings ten years experience as a governor at other local schools in Buckinghamshire.

Kate's term began 6 April 2022.

Appointed Governor - Ms Kally Kang-Kersey

Kally is currently Chief People Officer at Essensys having previously been VP, Talent & Organisational Development at Zebra Technologies. Over the last 25 years Kally has held various senior HR and leadership roles at Xerox, American Express and Yellow Pages Sales Ltd (BT). She has a strong background in organisational design and development, executive coaching, mergers and acquisitions and talent management. She has worked in the area for over 20 years but is based in London.

 An HR leader with many years experience operating and influencing at Board level, Kally is passionate in driving the Inclusion and Diversity agenda. She is excited to work with the school further, having been connected to the school as an Educational Advisor for Bucks Skills Hub since 2019. 

Kally has a real desire to ensure educational opportunities are available to all and particularly interested in enhancing the skills of the next generation, in particular, supporting students from the neurodiverse community.

Kally's term began 6 April 2022.