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About Us

Governors

Board of Governors

It is the Governors’ function to have responsibility for the long-term success and viability of the school and to support the Head and senior leadership team. Governors are non-executive and come from a range of backgrounds. The Governors are both trustees of the charity and directors of the limited company.

Their role is to:

  • Set the strategic direction for the school, ensuring its long-term success and viability
  • Provide guidance and support for the Head and the senior leadership team to ensure that the school provides the best possible education for both present and future pupils
  • Ensure effective control and management of the school’s finances
  • Ensure that the school complies with all relevant regulation

Exeter School Governors

Mr James Gaisford

Position:
Chair

James Gaisford is the Chair and has been a Governor of Exeter School since July 2002. A chartered accountant, James chairs the Finance and General Purposes Committee and sits on the Academic and Governance Committees. James lives in Broadclyst. He…

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Gillian Hodgetts

Position:
Vice-Chair

Gillian is a former pupil of St Margaret’s School who studied in the sixth form at Exeter School. A Governor since March 2011, she is Chair of the Foundation Committee, sits on the Finance and General Purposes and Governance Committees…

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Ruth Vigers

Position:
Vice-Chair

Ruth Vigers is Chair of the Welfare and Safeguarding Committee. She is also on the Junior School and Governance Committees and Nominated Safeguarding Governor. She was educated at Queen Elizabeth School, Crediton and trained as a nurse at the Royal…

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Rowan Edbrooke

Position:
Vice-Chair

Rowan is the Vice-Chair and Chair of the Academic Committee and has been a Governor since 2014. She has had a successful and fulfilling career in teaching, largely in the independent sector with particular experience of academically selective girls’ schools….

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Mr Adrian Burbanks

Position:
Governor

Adrian is a former pupil who attended Exeter School from age 7 to 18. Outside the classroom he was very involved in the music department, CCF and school journalism and represented the school in rugby and chess. Adrian is a…

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Helen Clark

Position:
Governor

Helen has been a governor since March 2011. She is Chair of the Junior School Committee and sits on the Welfare and Safeguarding Committee. Helen is an outdoor pursuits expert who has represented The Ski Club of Great Britain in…

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Catherine Gibaud

Position:
Governor

Catherine Gibaud is a KC, practising at Gray’s Inn and specialising in commercial litigation and advisory work. She became a Governor in March 2017 and sits on the Junior School and Welfare and Safeguarding Committees. Before coming to the Bar…

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Mr Stephen Hodder

Position:
Governor

Brigadier Stephen P Hodder BSc (Hons) joined the Governing Body in June 2015 and sits on the Foundation Committee. He is a former pupil of the school and is the Honorary Colonel of the Exeter School Combined Cadet Force. Following…

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Mr Dominic Kalantary

Position:
Governor

Dominic became a governor in 2022 and sits on the Finance and General Purposes Committee. Educated at Trent College, he studied Economics and Politics at the University of Exeter, developing his skills in preparation for working in the managerial team…

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Mr Richard May

Position:
Governor

Richard May became a Governor in 2016. He grew up in Plymouth and has lived and worked in Devon for most of his life. He sits on the Finance and General Purposes Committee. Following 3 years at Swansea University reading…

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Mr David McGahey

Position:
Governor

David was Director of Education for Buckinghamshire until 2000, having previously worked for five other Local Education Authorities. He was himself once a teacher. From 2001 he was Managing Director successively of a number of Education businesses: Amey Education, VT…

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Andrew Richards

Position:
Governor

Andrew started his schooling at Miss Monday’s in Exmouth at the age of 3, before moving to St. Peter’s Lympstone and then on to board at Plymouth College. He went to Aston University Business School reading Business Management and…

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Claire Baillie

Position:
Governor

Claire Baillie joined the board in March 2023 and sits on the junior school committee. Both her children attended Exeter School. Claire has over 40 years’ experience of education both as a serving practitioner and in a number of leadership…

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Mr Michael Johnson

Position:
Governor

Mike is the CEO of Chulmleigh Academy Trust and Headteacher of Chulmleigh College, a position he has held since 2004. He sits on the Academic Committee. After reading history at The University College, Bangor, Mike completed a PGCE at The…

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Mr Ikenna (IK) Iroche

Position:
Governor

IK became a governor in November 2023 and sits on the Foundation and Finance and General Purposes (F&GP) committees.  He was a pupil of the school from 1993 to 1995 and was active in the CCF in addition to representing the school in rugby…

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Mr Stephen Otter

Position:
Governor

Stephen is the Chair of South Western Ambulance Service NHS Trust, and a non-executive director in Seetec, an employee-owned company delivering public services in the UK and Ireland.  He is also lead advisor with UN and…

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Exeter Pre-Prep School Governors

Helen Clark

Position:
Governor

Helen has been a governor since March 2011. She is Chair of the Junior School Committee and sits on the Welfare and Safeguarding Committee. Helen is an outdoor pursuits expert who has represented The Ski Club of Great Britain in…

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Ruth Vigers

Position:
Vice-Chair

Ruth Vigers is Chair of the Welfare and Safeguarding Committee. She is also on the Junior School and Governance Committees and Nominated Safeguarding Governor. She was educated at Queen Elizabeth School, Crediton and trained as a nurse at the Royal…

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The New School – 30th Anniversary

Summer Open Evening - 9 May

Click here to register for our summer open evening on Thursday 9 May 5.30-8pm.

Our school experts, the pupils themselves, will be on hand to guide you through what daily life is like. For more information on school places, please email admissions@exeterschool.org.uk.