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Governors

The Board of Governors is responsible for the overall direction of the school but plays no part in its day to day running which is left entirely to the Headmaster and his staff. However, Governors maintain close contact with the school, particularly with the Headmaster and the School Bursar as well as making themselves available for consultation should the need arise.  Full Governor’s meetings are held at the school once a term and various active sub-committees also run termly to deal with specific areas in the school and are attended by both Governors and members of the SLT. 

Should you need to contact the Chair of Governors, Dr James Bentall, this can be done via the Clerk to the Governors bursar@kingshottschool.com or chairofgovernors@kingshottschool.com

We are very fortunate to have a broad and extremely talented group of Governors who work across the five Governor sub-committees: Finance and General Purposes, Education, Marketing, Compliance including Health and Safety and Governance. :

  • Finance & General Purpose Committee
    • Dr James Bentall

      Dr James Bentall

      Chair of Governors

      Qualifications:MA PhD (Cantab) MBA ACMI MCMI
      About:

      Dr Bentall is an economist and has previously worked in a variety of financial and consultancy roles. He also has considerable experience of the independent Schools sector. More recently Dr Bentall worked as a Bursar whilst also advising other schools on financial and HR matters.

    • Mr Ian Chambers

      Mr Ian Chambers

      Qualifications:BSC, FCA
      About:

      Mr Chambers is a Chartered Accountant and is a Senior Audit Partner at PwC. He is a member of the Board for the Europe, Middle East and African business with specific responsibility for the Assurance market.

      He has considerable experience of the educational sector and has previously been a Governor in both state and independent schools.

    • Mr Simon Nathan

      Mr Simon Nathan

      Deputy Chief Executive & Head of Policy, Independent Schools Council (ISC)

      Qualifications:BA Hons Economics and SPS
      About:

      Simon leads the policy and political affairs team for the ISC - a trade association representing 1,400 independent schools. This includes managing ISC's relationships with Ministers, civil servants and MPs on behalf of member schools. Since taking post in January 2019, Simon has led ISC's work on promoting the value of independent schools within political debate and co-ordinating the sector's response during Covid. Prior to joining ISC Simon worked for trade bodies in construction and the education policy team at the Confederation of British Industry (CBI). He has a degree in economics and politics from Cambridge University and is married with three children.

  • Education Committee
    • Dr James Bentall

      Dr James Bentall

      Chair of Governors

      Qualifications:MA PhD (Cantab) MBA ACMI MCMI
      About:

      Dr Bentall is an economist and has previously worked in a variety of financial and consultancy roles. He also has considerable experience of the independent Schools sector. More recently Dr Bentall worked as a Bursar whilst also advising other schools on financial and HR matters.

    • Mr Richard Midgley

      Mr Richard Midgley

      Qualifications:BA (Ed) Hons.
      About:

      Mr Midgley is the Director of Admissions and a current Boarding Housemaster at Bedford School, where he has worked since 1998. He has extensive experience of school life and has significant experience within the world of schools marketing.

    • Mrs Lara Péchard

      Mrs Lara Péchard

      Qualifications:BA, MA, PGCE
      About:

      Mrs Lara Péchard became Head at St Margaret's School, Hertfordshire in January 2019. St Margaret's is a day and boarding school and has recently become co-ed. She is immensely proud of the ethos and accomplishments of the school.

      Previously she was Principal Deputy Head at Norwich School. Her role was varied and multi-faceted, with oversight of the pastoral side of the school and the day to day operational functions. Before joining Norwich School she was at the Portsmouth Grammar where she started her teaching career and was Assistant Head and Head of Sixth Form before leaving.

      Lara is a historian, with a particular interest in US History. Outside of work she loves to travel, walk and spend time with family and friends.

    • Mrs Samantha Selkirk

      Mrs Samantha Selkirk

      Qualifications:BEd Hons
      About:

      Mrs Selkirk is currently Head of Lower School at Reigate St Mary's, and prior to this she was Head of Lower Juniors at St Christopher School. Sam has been in education for nearly thirty years having taught from Early Years through to Year 6 in the state and independent sectors, for seven years she ran a co-educational boarding house for 11-13 year olds. Sam is particularly interested in the significance of the Early Years and Key Stage 1 learning environments and Individual Needs provision.

  • Marketing and Communications Committee
    • Mr Richard Midgley

      Mr Richard Midgley

      Qualifications:BA (Ed) Hons.
      About:

      Mr Midgley is the Director of Admissions and a current Boarding Housemaster at Bedford School, where he has worked since 1998. He has extensive experience of school life and has significant experience within the world of schools marketing.

    • Mrs Harriet Marsh

      Mrs Harriet Marsh

      Qualifications:BA Hons, PGCE (Cantab)
      About:

      Mrs Marsh is a proud alumna of Kingshott as both a pupil and gap year teacher. She currently works in business development and will primarily support the Marketing Committee. Outside of work, Harriet is a keen traveller and sportswoman, playing hockey for Blueharts. She hopes to bring an open and energetic approach to the governing board, and feels her skill set is well suited to supporting the school's ethos and ambitions.

  • Governance Committee
    • Dr James Bentall

      Dr James Bentall

      Chair of Governors

      Qualifications:MA PhD (Cantab) MBA ACMI MCMI
      About:

      Dr Bentall is an economist and has previously worked in a variety of financial and consultancy roles. He also has considerable experience of the independent Schools sector. More recently Dr Bentall worked as a Bursar whilst also advising other schools on financial and HR matters.

    • Miss Clare Waller

      Miss Clare Waller

      Qualifications:LL.B, LL.M
      About:

      Miss Waller lives in Hitchin and is a solicitor. She has extensive experience of advising schools and other education establishments on all aspects of employment law.

  • Compliance Committee
    • Mrs Lara Péchard

      Mrs Lara Péchard

      Qualifications:BA, MA, PGCE
      About:

      Mrs Lara Péchard became Head at St Margaret's School, Hertfordshire in January 2019. St Margaret's is a day and boarding school and has recently become co-ed. She is immensely proud of the ethos and accomplishments of the school.

      Previously she was Principal Deputy Head at Norwich School. Her role was varied and multi-faceted, with oversight of the pastoral side of the school and the day to day operational functions. Before joining Norwich School she was at the Portsmouth Grammar where she started her teaching career and was Assistant Head and Head of Sixth Form before leaving.

      Lara is a historian, with a particular interest in US History. Outside of work she loves to travel, walk and spend time with family and friends.

    • Mrs Samantha Selkirk

      Mrs Samantha Selkirk

      Qualifications:BEd Hons
      About:

      Mrs Selkirk is currently Head of Lower School at Reigate St Mary's, and prior to this she was Head of Lower Juniors at St Christopher School. Sam has been in education for nearly thirty years having taught from Early Years through to Year 6 in the state and independent sectors, for seven years she ran a co-educational boarding house for 11-13 year olds. Sam is particularly interested in the significance of the Early Years and Key Stage 1 learning environments and Individual Needs provision.

    • Miss Clare Waller

      Miss Clare Waller

      Qualifications:LL.B, LL.M
      About:

      Miss Waller lives in Hitchin and is a solicitor. She has extensive experience of advising schools and other education establishments on all aspects of employment law.

    • Mr Simon Nathan

      Mr Simon Nathan

      Deputy Chief Executive & Head of Policy, Independent Schools Council (ISC)

      Qualifications:BA Hons Economics and SPS
      About:

      Simon leads the policy and political affairs team for the ISC - a trade association representing 1,400 independent schools. This includes managing ISC's relationships with Ministers, civil servants and MPs on behalf of member schools. Since taking post in January 2019, Simon has led ISC's work on promoting the value of independent schools within political debate and co-ordinating the sector's response during Covid. Prior to joining ISC Simon worked for trade bodies in construction and the education policy team at the Confederation of British Industry (CBI). He has a degree in economics and politics from Cambridge University and is married with three children.