Chesham Grammar School is an academy and the founding school of Red Kite Schools Trust.  The Trust Board meets twice per term. Trustees are linked to specific areas of focus within the School's Development Plan and also have roles and responsibilities such as Safeguarding and SEND.

We are a board of 14 Trustees bringing a wide range of experience and skills to support the strategic development of Chesham Grammar School.

Full details about trustees can be found below.  

To contact Trustees, please use the following email address: Clerk to the Trustees

Trustees

Annmarie McNaney - Headteacher

Annmarie has been the Headteacher at CGS since September 2015.  She joined the school as Headof Sixth Form in the late 90s before being promoted to Assistant Head and then Deputy Head, a role she held from January 2007 until her appointment as Headteacher.  During her time on the Senior Leadership Team, she has introduced several new initiatives and was the driving force behind 'CGS Learning', the school's bespoke approach to teaching and learning.  She was an integral part of the CGS journey from good to outstanding and is very proud of what was achieved in the process.  

Before moving to Chesham Grammar, Annmarie taught at Backwell School, a large, nine form entry comprehensive school just outside Bristol, where she was Assistant Head of Sixth Form.  Annmarie is a graduate of the University of Bristol where she read Theology and Sociology and where she also studied for her PGCE.  Annmarie lives in Berkhamsted and is married with two sons, both of whom joined CGS in year 7.  Both sons are now CGS alumni, the elder leaving in 2021, going on to a Degree Apprenticeship with UBS. The younger, a member of our Class of 2024, sat his A levels last summer and is now at Manchester University reading Economics.

 

Linda Cannon Clegg BEd (Hons), MA (Ed), NPQH
Chair of RKST (CGS) Board of Trustees

Linda has over 25 years of educational and leadership experience, serving as a headteacher for 9 years.  She is also Ofsted inspectorate trained. She is currently a Trustee of the Buckinghamshire Community Foundation ‘Heart of Bucks’, Board Director of Kop Hill Climb (KHC), a national car event held in Buckinghamshire which raises money for the local community and is the former Chair of Risborough Area Residents Association. Linda is also a governor at a non-selective secondary school within Bucks. KHC was awarded the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service in 2021. She is interested in maintaining and supporting school improvement and believes that a successful school cares deeply about student and staff wellbeing. Linda is married and lives in the Chilterns.

Tom Grant

Tom has lived in Buckinghamshire all his life and has strong connections to Chesham and the surrounding area. He was drawn to school governance upon realising how much of a positive impact his secondary education had on his career prospects and so wanted to be part of ensuring future generations had the same encouragement and opportunities for self-realisation of potential. With over 13 years in business management, freelance consultancy and private investment in businesses spanning various sectors including live events, IT, technology development and security, he felt his operational and strategic planning experience would be of value to a board of governors as transferable skills, but also as foundations for further personal development in a new environment. Outside of his professional life, Tom’s hobbies and interests include shooting, climbing and swimming, most of which he doesn't get to do as he would like!

Anthony Ogden MA (Cantab), MA (Lancaster)

Having completed a post-graduate business degree, for many years Anthony worked in various commercial roles with Shell International both in the UK and overseas, before moving into the not-for-profit sector with The Cancer Research Campaign. He also served as a Non-executive Director in the Chiltern & South Bucks Primary Care Trust where he chaired the audit committee, and he served the maximum two terms as a trustee of the Hospice of St Francis. He became a governor of Chesham High School (as it then was) in 2005 and was elected chairman of the Finance Committee soon afterwards. He served two terms on the Bucks Schools Forum and now sits on Bucks Schools appeal panels. When the school became part of Red Kite Schools Trust, he became a Trustee. He now chairs the Finance and Audit Committee of the Trust.

In his personal life he is a keen golfer and singer. He has also been a member of Chesham Musical Theatre Company for 12 years, appearing in many productions at the Elgiva Theatre, where he is a member of the advisory board.

Nicky Runeckles MA (Cantab)

Nicky has been a Governor and then Trustee since 2017. She is Mum to two teenagers, one of whom attended Chesham Grammar School from Year 7 through to sixth form, leaving in 2023. Nicky has 25 years’ experience working in mental health and substance misuse services; in senior operational and business development roles. She currently works freelance with many leading organisations helping advance the impact of digital solutions in healthcare - particularly for children and young people’s mental health. Nicky brings her experience as a parent and from her work in young people’s mental health to her role as Trustee. She understands the importance of the role schools play in promoting and supporting the mental health and wellbeing of students and staff, and she cares about the voices of pupils and parents being heard. Nicky lives in Chalfont St Peter with her family and many animals and loves running trails and swimming in open water.

Mark Simpson BSc 

Mark was elected Parent Governor in November 2018, and appointed Trustee in 2022.  He took a close interest in fundraising and school development when his children were at Boxmoor Primary School in Hemel Hempstead, and went on to Chair the Parent Teachers’ Association for two years. Mark has two teenage children.  One attended CGS for seven years, leaving in 2023 and the other is still a student at the school. Mark is Deputy Chair of the Finance, Audit and Premises Committee, and SEND Link Trustee.

Mark has almost 30 years’ experience in the IT and Business Services sector, working for large multi-nationals supporting some of the biggest brands in the UK, leading teams across the UK, US, India and Europe.  Currently running a business unit with clients across the Commercial Real Estate and Facilities Management sector, Mark has a special interest in maximising the value of investment made in the services, infrastructure and fabric of CGS to the benefit of students and staff alike.  He also has a strong interest in student mental wellbeing and physical health.

Mark is a keen cyclist, golfer, gardener and musician, and lives in Hertfordshire with his wife and children.

Gurdeep Singh BSc

Gurdeep has been involved in secondary education for 25 years.  He studied Mathematics at the University of East Anglia and then decided to pursue a career in maths teaching.  He worked in three different secondary comprehensive schools in Hertfordshire, taking on leadership roles within the Maths Department, before moving to his current school - Aylesbury Grammar School.  He became a Head of Year before being promoted to his current position as Assistant Headteacher.  His key responsibilities are leading Learning and Teaching, Digital Literacy, Character and Key Stage 2-3 transition.  He is passionate about supporting those new to the teaching profession and has spoken at conferences for trainee teachers.  He also works with other schools to support their approach to Character Education.  He has previously been a Governor at his local primary school.

He is keen to help with school football and cricket teams and outside of school, he coaches his son's football team.  He is a keen golfer as well as an avid reader of historical books.

Kris Wilson

Following a career in Intensive Care nursing and as a cardiac surgery tutor, Kris lived for several years in Spain and Holland. When the family returned to the UK, she moved into the education sector, working in administration, health and welfare in a local primary school for 25 years. As both of her sons attended Chesham Grammar School, she joined the PTA and then the governors, serving as Chair of Governors for 6 years.

Although Kris is now retired, she is still involved with primary age children needing pastoral and counselling help. She is also a governor at a local combined school.

She still travels extensively when she has time, having family in Sweden, Holland and Andorra.

Simon Winchester BA (Hons), PGCE
Vice Chair of RKST (CGS) Board of Trustees

Simon has spent sixteen years working in secondary education. After studying English Literature at University, he worked at two large co-educational London schools, before going on to spend seven years as Head of English at Wycombe Abbey School. He is now Deputy Head (Academic) at St Margaret’s School in Hertfordshire, an independent coeducational 2-18 school. Simon is an examiner for A-level English Literature and visits other schools to offer training on the delivery of A-level English. He is passionate about the development of broad academic and co-curricular opportunities for pupils, and a strong advocate of dynamic ongoing professional development for teachers.

A keen marathon runner and skier, Simon is married and lives in Chesham. Simon has been a governor of Chesham Grammar School since 2019.

Philip Manktelow 

Philip was born and raised in London and attended a grammar school in Clapham. After obtaining a degree in Business Studies he spent over 25 years working in the finance and accounting section of a major oil and gas company. His 3 children were all educated in Buckinghamshire grammar schools and the final 11 years of his career were spent as Business Manager at the John Hampden Grammar School in High Wycombe. Now in retirement, he is a trustee and treasurer of Buckinghamshire Community Foundation (Heart of Bucks), a charity that provides grants to good causes in the local area. Philip’s wife is an ex-teacher at CGS and they now live ‘across the border’ in Thame.

Georgia Chapman

Having completed a Law degree and subsequently a Masters in Human Resources Management in 2019, Georgia began her career working at Sheffield Hallam University in Admissions until moving into HR roles at EPM Ltd where she developed her HR knowledge and skills particularly in the education sector.  Moving into her current role at the Diocese of Ely Mutli Academy Trust which is made up of 40 primary schools across Cambridgeshire and Norfolk, Georgia is now Senior HR Advisor and Trust Recruitment Lead. With her career being based in education, she is passionate about ensuring schools and staff are supported to be at their best in order to help secure the best experience and outcomes for the students.  In her private life Georgia enjoys spending time with family and friends, travelling, good food and watching the Formula 1.

 

Co-opted Trustee

Lucy D'Orsi

Lucy is committed to ensuring student wellbeing and academic achievement are delivered at CGS. She firmly believes that CGS should be a school where students can be ‘themselves at their best’ and those who work at the school feel supported and valued.

Lucy volunteered for the role as parent governor and latterly trustee as she believes it is critical that children are happy, safe, supported and well educated. She feels that these fundamentals enable children to unlock their true potential and achieve great things in life. 

Lucy is the Chief Constable of the British Transport Police and prior to this, she served for 29 years in the Metropolitan Police Service. She has a breadth and depth of experience in public sector leadership roles, stakeholder engagement, budget management and delivering better outcomes for policing and the public.

Her family is exceptionally important to her and she tries to ensure a good work-life balance.

Parent trustees

Mallory Hughes

After going through the Bucks grammar school system herself, Mallory studied law and sociology at university before going into publishing. She has worked across books, magazines and journals in London and Sydney in editorial and management roles and in recent years decided to work freelance to better accommodate family life. She's excited to be able to give time to the trustee role and engage with pupils, staff, parents and the school community to understand the views of all and to work with CGS to help achieve its ambitious vision. She firmly believes you get just one chance at your school years and we all have a responsibility to make them count. Hope for the future lies in what we teach and instil in our children. These are precious, formative times and should be as rewarding as possible in every way for both the young people and those there to inspire and teach them. 

In her spare time Mallory loves to cook and garden as well as enjoying a game of tennis or squash - usually being beaten by the younger generation!

 

Bernadette Bird

Bernie is excited to offer her skills and experience. She has spent her career working in Digital and Technology at FTSE 100 companies and completed a Master of Business Administration.  Currently at Marks and Spencer, Bernie is a Mentor and is an active member of "Women in Technology" to help champion women in tech. Bernie believes in the transformational power of education;  that everybody has a right to a quality education, and it can change lives.   She has fond memories of her own education, and truly believes every child deserves a positive experience. She believes that education is about the “whole person”; we are in a challenging and complex world which can put the mental health of young people at risk, and it’s vital we put strategies in place to support young people. Bernie has long been keen to take an active role in school life where she can, as a vice chair of the Parents Association at her childrens' primary school, to volunteering at events and school trips. Bernie is a proud mother of two teenage girls, and lives with her husband and two French bulldogs. She enjoys Book Club, travelling, and dog walks with her family.

 

 

Staff trustee

Kathryn Taylor BA (Hons), BSc (Hons), PGCE, MEd 

Kathryn is a passionate classroom practitioner in secondary Religious Studies, with consistently strong student outcomes at KS3, GCSE and A Level. Kathryn is committed to improving the life chances of young people through promotion of research informed practice in schools while promoting and embedding cultures of continuous improvement.  Her teaching highlights are complemented by previous experience leading and empowering large and complex teams; sensitively navigating ambiguity while empathetically managing difficult conversations.  Kathryn continues to build awareness of philosophical, organisational, political, social, managerial, interpersonal, and technical dimensions of schools and educational institutions as an ongoing Doctor of Education (EdD) candidate.  Her thesis is entitled ‘Exploring relationships between school cultures and teacher professional development and learning’.  Kathryn also facilitates on the National Professional Qualification: Leading Teacher Development.

Governance Professional (Clerk)

Katherine Rudkin

The Board is supported by:

Annmarie McNaney - Chief Executive Officer, Executive Headteacher and Accounting Officer
Sarah Hammond - Chief Financial Officer

Trustees Committee Membership

RKST Members

The Members of the Trust are responsible for appointing up to 5 Trustees to the Trust Board and they also receive the annual accounts each autumn.  They meet at least once per year.

Robert Stretch
Aubrey Waddy
Sue Walton
Kris Wilson

All of the members have a past association with CGS, most having served as governor or trustee.

RKST Constitution

Record of attendance RKST 2023-2024

TUFT disclose 

Publication Scheme

Trustee Declarations of Interest

Executive Pay