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Governors


The school is managed by a board of governors, who are the charity trustees and the directors of the company.

The governors are committed to:

  • providing value for money
  • recruitment of the best teachers
  • maintenance of the buildings and grounds to the highest possible standards of cleanliness and repair
  • developing the existing facilities
  • providing new buildings
  • keeping Stockport Grammar School at the forefront of education nationally
  • ensuring that the school is open to all who can benefit
  • a development programme which will increase funds available for bursaries and provide the new facilities required by this busy and thriving community
  • ensuring that the school should balance its traditional values with necessary innovation and development
  • providing all pupils with every opportunity to achieve all-round excellence

Governors

Mr J Lee can be contacted at chair@stockportgrammar.co.uk, via the school on 0161 419 2401 or at Stockport Grammar School, Buxton Road, Stockport, Cheshire SK2 7AF.

List of Board of Governors
Governor Jonathan LeeMr JMR Lee, BA, MBA, DipM, MSt: Chair of Governors

Jonathan Lee was appointed to the Board as a Co-optative Governor in October 2016. Jonathan is a Member of the Finance, Building and Management Committees and in September 2023 he was appointed as Chair.

An OS (1976-1983), he read Geography and then gained an MBA at Hatfield College, Durham, followed by a marketing diploma from the Chartered Institute of Marketing. A keen advocate of lifelong learning, in 2017 he completed an MSt in Building History at Wolfson College, Cambridge.

Jonathan worked for international telecommunications companies and investment banks before setting up a number of privately owned sales and marketing consultancies and property businesses. He has had trusteeships with the Hatfield Trust, the Postcode Culture and Equality Trusts and the Construction History Society, where he was Honorary Treasurer. Jonathan is a Liveryman with the Worshipful Company of Woolmen.

Jonathan ran the Valencia half-marathon in October 2023 to raise funds for SGS’s means-tested Bursary Scheme.

Mr N Booth, LLB (Hons) Dip Ger Law

Nigel Booth was a pupil at Stockport Grammar from age 11 to 18 in the 1980s and went on to study Law and German Law at King’s College London.

He was called to the Bar in 1994 and since then has been based in Manchester. His career began in employed practice at the Crown Prosecution Service, but since 2000 he has been in independent practice at the criminal bar, in the main prosecuting and defending criminal cases and more recently appearing at inquests. He has published three legal self-help books.

Whilst remaining a member of Chambers at 9 St John Street, in September 2020 Nigel joined the University of Law in Manchester to teach the criminal part of the Bar Practice Course – skills, litigation, evidence and sentencing – to prospective barristers.

He is now the Programme and Student Experience Lead for the Bar Practice Course at the Manchester campus.

Mr P Brearley, JP, DL

Paul Brearley has extensive experience in public service, having been a member of Salford Community Health Council from 1985 – 1995, serving five years as Chairman. In 1995 Paul was appointed as a Non-Executive Director of Manchester Children’s Hospitals NHS Trust, encompassing Royal Manchester Children’s and Booth Hall Children’s Hospitals, until the trust merger in 2001. He is been a trustee of the Citizens Advice Bureau for over 20 years and Chairman of the Combined Hospital CAB for 11 years.

He was sworn in as a Magistrate at Salford Courthouse in 1997 where he served until transferring to Stockport Magistrates Court in 2001, where he was later elected Deputy Bench Chairman and the last Chairman of the Stockport Bench at the creation of the Greater Manchester Bench. Paul was Chairman of the GM Family Panel for six years before being elected as the Chair of the Greater Manchester Bench for the period April 2019 – March 2022. He is Chair of the Greater Manchester Magistrates Association Branch, which has a very active Magistrates in the Community program, currently working in collaboration with other agencies to address violence Prevention through virtual education.

Paul is a Director/Trustee of the Wellspring (Stockport) Ltd, where he is Chair of the Finance and Investment Committee, he is also a Trustee and Vice Chair of Stockport Sea Cadets, Trustee of David Lewis Centre (Alderley Edge), Trustee of Vernon Charitable Foundation, Treasurer for Stockport Armed Forces Community Organisation (SAFCO). Clerk to his local Parish Council and Chair of the Management Committee of his local Parish Hall.

He is a carer for his former disabled partner.

Governor Krish CarfraeMrs KS Carfrae, MLPM (Hons, MBA (Dist.), CMLI, MRTPI

Krishanthi Carfrae was appointed to the Board as the Old Stopfordian Governor in May 2023. Krishanthi is a member of the External Relations Committee.

An OS (1991-2004), she read Landscape, Planning and Management at the University of Manchester becoming a chartered member of the Landscape Institute and the Royal Town Planning Institute before gaining an MBA at Alliance Manchester Business School.

Krishanthi currently works for Ove Arup & Partners (Arup) where she leads its Cities Advisory and Economics business across the North-West, Yorkshire and Wales. Krishanthi is interested in equality, diversity and inclusion as well as inclusive economic growth and opportunities for all.

Krishanthi has previously held roles on the Landscape Institute’s Advisory Council as well as being the former Chair and Treasurer of the North West Branch of the Landscape Institute.

Governor Paul CarrMr AP Carr, MA (Cantab)

Paul Carr was appointed Vice Chair in September 2023.

He joined the Board as the Ephraim Hallam Educational Foundation Nominative Member in October 2013.

Paul is an Old Stopfordian (1971) and read Classics and Law at Selwyn College, Cambridge before being called to the Bar.

Paul was formerly Justices’ Clerk and Director of Legal Services for Essex Magistrates’ Courts before being appointed to the Bench.

He was also a judge of the Family Court.

Governor Sarah CarrollMiss SE Carroll, BA

Sarah Carroll, OS 1981-83, has been a Governor of Stockport Grammar School since 2003 and is also a Member of the Finance Committee.

A banker by profession, Sarah has held a number of senior roles at UBS, J P Morgan, Bank of America Merrill Lynch and MUFG, including Managing Director of industrial clients.

Sarah has been included in the 2017 FT and HERoes 50 Female Champions of Women in Business List which celebrates the strides being made by women across the UK, Ireland and around the world.

Sarah is married and lives in London and East Sussex. She is also a member of the Finance Committee of Nottingham Trent University and is actively involved in a number of charitable organisations.

Governor Tim FirthMr T Firth, BA (Hons)

Tim Firth is the Governor responsible for Safeguarding.

He was a pupil at Stockport Grammar School from 1977-1983 and then went to Sheffield University to read English Literature.

In 1986 he took his PGCE at Oxford University where he gained a Blue in Cricket.

He taught first at Bedford School, becoming a Deputy Head at Hurstpierpoint College in Sussex, then Headmaster at Wrekin College in 2016.

Mr A Gardiner, BSc (Hons), PgDip

Andrew Gardiner was appointed to the Board as a Co-optative Governor in April 2019 and is the Chair of the Building Committee.

An Old Stopfordian (1977-1984), he read Geography at the University of Birmingham gaining a BSc (Hons) followed by a PgDip in Property Management and Valuation at Sheffield Hallam University.

Andrew is a commercial property surveyor and a Member of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors.

Andrew is a Trustee of Norfox, a property industry based charity which raises money for various small children’s charities across the North West and has been the Chairman of the Office Agents Society (NW) since 2000.

Governor Donna HarrisMrs D Harris, BSc

Donna Harris joined the Governing Board as the Staff Nominative Governor in October 2023.

Donna studied Mathematics at the University of Nottingham, then gained a PGCE in Mathematics before joining the teaching staff at SGS in 1992.

During her time at Stockport Grammar School she was Head of Mathematics, then Director of Studies, before progressing through to Senior Deputy Head prior to retiring in 2021.

She is an experienced School Governor.

Donna’s two daughters are both former pupils of Stockport Grammar Junior and Senior Schools.

Mr J Millington, BSc, ACA

John Millington was appointed to the Board as the Ephraim Hallam Charity Nominative member in October 2022.

John grew up in Stockport and read Business Studies at the University of Bradford Management Centre. He subsequently trained and qualified as a Chartered Accountant with Ernst & Young in Manchester where he worked for fourteen years.

Since then, John has held Finance Director roles with owner-managed businesses in the North West and currently holds positions with franchised motor retailers in Warrington and Shrewsbury.

Both of John’s daughters are former pupils of Stockport Grammar School.

Governor Tim PotterMr T J Potter, BA (Hons) FCA

Tim Potter was appointed as a co-optative Governor in January 2024 and is a Member of the Finance Committee.

Tim is a Chartered Accountant and began his career with Price Waterhouse in Manchester.

He has been Managing Partner of HURST, a northwest based independent accounting firm, for 18 years.

Tim was educated at the Kings School in Macclesfield 1976-1986 and then Bristol Business School 1986-1990.

Governor John ShackletonMr JA Shackleton, MA

John Shackleton was appointed to the Board as the Old Stopfordians’ Association Nominative Governor in December 2015. He is now a Co-optative Governor and Chair of the Education Committee.

John spent four years at Loughborough Colleges/University before returning to Stockport Grammar School in 1977 as a member of the staff in the Senior School. John became Deputy Head at Newcastle Preparatory School in the early 1990s and following that has been appointed Headmaster of four independent preparatory schools; Royal Grammar Junior School in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Fettes College Preparatory School in Edinburgh, King Henry VIII Junior School in Coventry and Hallfield School in Birmingham.

John was a member of the athletics squad at Loughborough in the Mid 1970s and was selected for Great Britain.  John played lacrosse for the Old Stopfordians and represented England on occasions between 1978 and 1992.

Governor Adrian SimpsonMr AC Simpson, BSc, ACA

Adrian Simpson was appointed to the Board of Governors as a Co-optative member in March 2015. He is the Chair of the Finance Committee.

Adrian read accountancy and law at the University of Southampton.

He is a Chartered Accountant who trained with KPMG. Adrian was formally the Finance Director of a local construction company.

His daughter, Laura, is a former pupil who started in the Junior School Reception class.

A leaver in 2011, she is now a doctor.

Ms Jenny Smith, BSc Hons MRICS

Jenny Smith was appointed to the Board in March 2024 and is a member of the Building Committee.

Jenny is a Chartered Surveyor with over 24 years experience in Property Development and Asset Management roles.

Jenny is Head of Markets for CBRE, with responsibility for commercial real estate and facilities management across their investor managed portfolio.

Jenny is passionate about her adoptive town of Stockport and has been involved with a number of strategic regeneration projects.

When time allows Jenny loves spending time in Cornwall with her young family.

Governor Hazel TritschlerMrs H Tritschler, FCIPD MCIPP MSC (HRM) HRMPR (SA)

Hazel Tritschler was appointed to the Board as the University of Manchester Nominative Member in December 2023 and appointed as Vice Chair in June 2024.

Hazel earnt an MSc in Human Resources Management from Edinburgh Napier University, her HRMPR from the University of South Africa, is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (FCIPD) and a Member of the Chartered Institute of Payroll Professionals (MCIPP).

She joined the University of Manchester in March 2022 to oversee People & OD Operations and Reward during a transformation programme and was appointed as Director of People & OD Operations & Reward in May 2023.

Prior to moving to Manchester, and a short spell in Reward & Benefits for Arsenal Football Club, Hazel has worked in Higher Education for 14 years, and has amassed experience in all areas of Human Resources over 25 years, working in the South Africa, Middle East, Scotland, and England.