Marilyn Atkins

I originally joined Coombe Girls School in January 2002 as a GTP trainee specialising in ICT.  This wonderful opportunity to train within Coombe’s innovative teaching environment gave me the confidence and skills I needed to achieve qualified teacher status. It has now been my pleasure for 10 years to work within the school as an ICT teacher and Leading Edge Co-ordinator. Over this time I have been a tutor, assisted in Sixth Form Mentoring and trained staff in the use of the Virtual Learning Platform. I was appointed a Staff Governor at CGS in 2005 when the Coombe Schools’ Federation was first formed and have served on the Finance and Resources and Curriculum Committees.

Sanjay Bhasin

I have been a Local Authority Governor for a year. Professionally I have been in financial services for more than two decades and focus on financial markets and risk management.

I have two children – daughter 17 and son 21. We have lived in the Kingston / Wimbledon area for the past 6 years.

Alan Burbridge

I became a Governor while my daughters were passing through the Girls' School between 1998 and 2004 and have continued as a Community Governor to support the Schools maintaining their ethos and standards.

As a Chartered Building Surveyor and Structural Engineer with my own local practice I have been particularly involved in the various improvements to the buildings of both Schools over the years.

It has been my pleasure also to support a succession of Heads over the years in the administration of a large organisation.

I look forward to the challenge preparing our sons and daughters for the opportunities of the future as an Academy School.

Linda Clemens

I have one daughter at Coombe Girls' school in Year 11, my other daughter has now successfully left to attend university. I am currently self-employed, running a childcare business and working as a Youth sports coach. I have previously worked for a large multi-disciplinary consultancy running their training, development and graduate recruitment team.

Judith Davies

I became a school governor six years ago following my retirement from the Department for Education, where I was a policy adviser to Ministers. In later years this included policy on schools capital funding, 11-19 student grants, the 14-19 curriculum and provision for 16-19 year olds in schools, FE colleges and work-based learning.

My older daughter was a Coombe student and I welcome the opportunity to contribute to the work of the two Coombe schools in laying a secure foundation for other young people’s careers.

Andrew Elmer

I have been a Coombe Governor for about 2 years. My two daughters thrived at Grand Avenue Primary School (where I've been a Governor for over 10 years ) and they are both now at Coombe Girls' School . After spending 25 years working in local government on environmental, transport and planning issues I worked part-time for the NHS advising on sustainable transport.

I became a Governor to find out how my daughters’ school operated and what I could do to improve or add to the process. It was quite an eye opener to discover how much goes on behind the scenes to ensure the children get the best possible education despite constraints on funds and resources. I’ve certainly learnt a lot and hope my contributions via the Governing Bodies have made a positive difference.

Mark Gadd

I have been a Governor since 2002 and attended Coombe Boys' School during the 'Fisher' period. My special interest is in the finance, infrastructure, maintenance and future development of the Coombe Federation. Professionally I work within the IT sector as a Data Centre Operations Analyst.

Lynn Hayes

My association with Coombe goes right back to when I attended the girls school from 1968-75. I am proud to boast that I was the schools Games Captain and a regular member of the netball, hockey and tennis teams. I loved my school days.

After getting my first teaching job in Hertfordshire I moved back to the area 23 years ago and currently live in Worcester Park. I became a Parent Governor over 10 years ago when my oldest son attended the boys school. Both sons have attended the boys school and the Coombe sixth form.

Over ten years there have been many changes noticeable as a parent and a teacher. These different perspectives are very interesting and helpful to me in the role of Governor. Education constantly evolves and that brings with it many challenges. My interests on the Governing Body are in the areas of curriculum and pastoral care. I sit on both committees and enjoy the sense of involvement in what I consider to be crucial areas for school life. It is a pleasure to be a Coombe Governor and I would not hesitate recommending others to get involved in the future.

Mary Henderson

I have been a Governor for the past 12 years and have previously also been Chair of Governors of a Community Special School.  I have lived in New Malden since 1979.  I have worked all my professional life in education in this country and abroad.  I began as a teacher, then worked for a local authority and latterly became an inspector and consultant.  I have a particular interest in the Federation in the education of children with disabilities and special educational needs.

Howard Jones

I have lived in New Malden for over forty years and brought up four children one of whom attended CGS. I have been a Councillor for St James Ward since 2002. After serving in the Metropolitan Police for thirty years primarily as a Detective, working at one stage as the Head of CID in Kingston, on the Murder Squad and Fraud Squads at New Scotland Yard and as the Head of the UK Interpol Office I have had an interesting second career working for multinational companies and running my own successful consultancy. Now semi retired I enjoy being active in the community, helping my wife with our new allotment and supporting Chelsea Football Club.

Denise MacLeod

This is my first opportunity as a staff governor. I joined Coombe Boys’ School three years ago, as an ICT teacher. My interest in ICT was initially as an end-user within the Publishing Industry where I worked for many years, both in the Advertising/Media areas, as well as in ICT.  Prior to moving to Coombe, I was at The Hollyfield School in Surbiton.   In addition to teaching ICT, I am also Head of Careers & Work Experience.  Since 2010, I have also been part of the pastoral team and am very privileged to be Head of year 11.

I am extremely proud to be a member of the governing body and look forward to working with other colleagues in this rewarding position.

Heather McKissack

I have been a Partnership Governor of Coombe Girls’ School since 2003 and happily continued to serve on the Governing Body when we federated with Coombe Boys’. I teach science/chemistry at King’s College School in Wimbledon and have worked closely on many partnership projects between our three schools. Indeed, I see my role on the Governing Body as further embedding this three-way partnership as well as taking an active interest in the development of the Coombe Schools from an academic, pastoral and co-curricular perspective. I would be delighted to discuss any projects that those reading this section of the website might like to propose.

Jackie Parrott

I have lived in Norbiton / New Malden since 1994 and my son is in year 9 of Coombe Boys’ School and my daughter in year 7 at Coombe Girls’ School. I am the Joint Director of Strategy at Guy’s and St Thomas’ Hospital and have spent my career in the NHS.

The role of the governing body is primarily to set the strategic direction of the Federation and to ensure that we deliver the improvements and changes that we have identified. The governors act as critical friends and challengers bringing their own experiences and their observations of the schools.

I have been a governor for two years, was on the Academy Working Group and currently chair the Personnel Committee. I volunteered because I wanted CBS to offer local boys a really high quality learning environment, across a broad range of subjects, on a non selective basis and for the local community to be proud of CBS as well as CGS.

I really enjoy my role, parent’s views are crucial and it doesn’t need to take up too much of your time. I am happy to talk to anyone who would like to know more about it.

Anthea Rata

I have been a staff governor at Coombe for around 10 years and am currently on the Finance and Health and Safety Committees.

My Qualifications are in science, mainly Physics and I worked at the National Physical Laboratory for 12 years before starting my family, two boys who are now grown up.

I joined Coombe in 1990 as part time Physics Technician and transferred to Information and Communication Technology as the department became increasingly important. Starting as the sole support for a network of 16 PCs and 32 Acorn computers, I am now part of a team of four looking after around 750 computers and other ICT equipment including printers, interactive whiteboards and projectors.

I help run the testing for the European Computer Driving Licence for Year 10 and have responsibility for Support Staff Training as Professional Tutor. Away from Coombe I like gardening, knitting and Church bell ringing.

Alasdair Rennie

I am a parent of two children currently at Coombe Girls School, my eldest daughter left in the summer of 2011. Elected in December 2011, I look forward to help ensure that the Schools fulfil their potential as an Academy. In the past I was a governor at Coombe Hill Junior School. I am an accountant and have worked in a variety of accounting roles in the not for profit and commercial sectors.

John Stuart

With a son at Coombe Boys and a daughter at Coombe Girls, I take a keen interest in educational matters. I was previously a parent governor at my children’s primary school. I also work in education, being a lecturer in History at Kingston University.

Marieke Syed

I have been a governor at Coombe Federation since 2011, and have been a local resident for ten years. I am an executive associate for Taylor Minnis Associates, a consultancy company providing education project management. I have worked on a variety of national and international education projects, including running a national governor training programme for the Further Education system, and developing qualifications for 14-19 year olds. I am looking forward to my part in steering the schools in their future direction as Academies.

Deborah Walls

I started as Headteacher of the Coombe Secondary Schools Federation in September 2011, having previously been Deputy Headteacher at Coombe Boys’ School and Head of Modern Languages & Assistant Headteacher at Coombe Girls’ School.   My professional connection with both Coombe schools which has extended over the last 15 years has been the perfect background to my current role and it is a real privilege to now work over the two sites.  I also have 2 secondary school age children so am acutely aware of the educational demands on young people on both a professional and personal level.

Simon Whittington

For the past two years I have been a staff governor for Coombe Boys’ School.  I started working at CBS almost four years ago when I joined as Head of Year 7 and an ICT teacher. My connection with the school goes back to 1992 when I joined the school as a Year 7 Beverley Boy. I am now Senior Teacher, Head of ICT & Manager of IT Systems. Technology is constantly evolving and it is vital that I keep up to date by attending IT conferences during the year; I also meet with members of the ICT team at CGS termly. Over the years the school has transformed and I am proud to work here and be a part of the governing body which strives to help the school grow and develop in the same way the pupils do.

Stephen Porter

David Wallis