Governors Details

Name

Role

Bio

Jim King

(Chair of Governors)

Co-Opted

After graduating from Kings’ College, London, Jim began his career as a teacher in grammar, secondary modern and comprehensive schools becoming a member of the senior management team. He then joined the UK civil and diplomatic services, representing the UK in the USA, Canada and Europe. Jim specialised in conflict resolution and was involved in the Irish Peace Process. Subsequently Jim worked as a managing director leading global security risk management in a US investment bank with additional senior management posts in retail banking and commerce. A resident in the village for 44 years, Jim’s children attended CSPI and he has a granddaughter in the school now. He is passionate about all round excellence in education.

Cheryl Hopes

(Vice Chair of Governors)

Co-Opted

Cheryl has worked at a technology company for 20 years in various roles including Sales, Operations, Strategy and Project Management. As a co-opted governor, Cheryl focuses on the areas of Resources and Finance to support the school in delivering an overall exceptional experience to our children. Cheryl has a keen interest in Science and Physical Education having completed her university degree in these subjects. She has two daughters, one who has recently completed her time at the school and one who is due to start shortly.

Nick Smith

(Vice Chair of Governors)

Liz Thorpe

Co-Opted

Liz trained as a management account and spent 20 years working in international business in a combination of finance and strategic planning roles. She also has a degree in French and Spanish and has worked as an EFL teacher in a local FE college. She has lived in the village for over 20 years and has 2 grown-up daughters who both attended the school, one of whom is now training to be a Primary teacher.  Liz joined the governing body in 2011 and is passionate about our happy school and the importance of every child being nurtured to achieve their full potential. Liz is currently working as the Finance Manager at one of the local churches. In her spare time, she volunteers at a local foodbank and enjoys country dog walks with her family.

Sue Wallis

Local Authority

Sue has been Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Governor since 2017, also the Pupil Premium and Safeguarding Governor since 2020. She left CSP in 1968, trained to teach KS2 in Birmingham, working in inner city schools. The experience began a career long desire to enable every pupil, whilst giving insight into cultural differences. Sue was a supply teacher, with young children, returning to CSP in 1986. Her daughter attended CSPI, her son the Academy, where she taught for ten years, also as Special Educational Needs Coordinator. Her children went to University, she taught at a large, London prep school then Seer Green CofE Combined for ten years, also as SENDCo in both KS1 &2. Having retired in 2010 and been widowed in 2016, Sue moved back to CSP to be near family. One grandson is in Reception, the other in Reception at a London Primary. She Home Schooled them both throughout the Lockdowns!

Shona Hunter-Singh

Co-Opted

Shona is a children's and family worker at Gold Hill Baptist Church. She has grown up in
Chalfont St Peter and went to university in Bournemouth where she studied theology and
youth work. For 12 years she has volunteered at the Chalfont St Peter Youth Centre and
has a real desire to see each and every child in the village thrive in all areas of life.
Shona has also grown up attending theatre groups in the local area and loves the
arts and the impact it has on the wellbeing of children and young people.

Sheila King

Co-opted

Sheila has lived in Chalfont St Peter for over 40 years. Her children attended CSPI and currently her granddaughter attends. She is a retired headteacher and her ongoing passion for outstanding education is now channelled in being a Governor. She has served for the past eight years as a Governor at Chalfont St Peter Academy and joined the CSPI Governing Body in October 2020. Here she is the Assessment Governor as well as being a champion for Art, Design Technology and Wellbeing. Sheila also loves to garden, to travel and to try her hand at a range of arts and crafts.

Chris Thorne

Co-Opted

Chris is an educator with 18 years of teaching experience having taught Early Years and KS1 children in mainstream and independent schools. He is now Head of Years 3 & 4 and Head of English at Wetherby Prep School in Central London.

Katie Barr

Parent Governor

Katie has been a secondary school English teacher for twenty years, taking on a variety of academic and pastoral leadership roles during her career. Katie is passionate about education and is particularly interested in how we can improve the way children learn; she is currently completing a Masters in Education to further her knowledge and understanding of pedagogy. She is Chair of the Teaching and Learning Committee where she hopes to use her knowledge and experience to support the development of the school in this area. Katie has a son who has recently completed his time at the school and a daughter who will be joining Reception in September.

Co-opted

Co-opted