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Governors

Ripon Grammar School governors' primary responsibility is to set the school’s strategic direction, working closely with the headmaster and staff to ensure objectives and standards are achieved, while making certain that resources are allocated and used in the best way possible. Governors are always keen to promote good communication with parents and the wider community.

Following the reconstitution of the Governing Board in 2015, as required by the DfE, the Board now comprises eighteen governors, of whom six are elected by parents. 

The Terms of Reference of the Board of Governors and its committees can be found by clicking here.

The Governors' Report for 2023-24 can be viewed here.

Board of Governors' Approved Minutes  

October 2023
December 2023
March 2024 
June 2024
July 2024
October 2024
December 2024

Clerk to Governors : Graham Livesey. 

To contact governors, please email the Clerk, clerk@ripongrammar.com

Elizabeth Jarvis - Chair of Governors and co-opted governor

Elizabeth is a hospital doctor, has been a governor at RGS for five years, and sits on a variety of committees. She is married to Stephen, with four children, two of whom are still students at RGS. In her spare time, amongst other things, she enjoys pursuing her musical interests - a keen organist and pianist when time permits.

Eric Medway - Vice Chair of Governors and co-opted governor

After a degree in bacteriology and three years’ research, Eric started his teaching career at Ermysted’s Grammar School. From 1994 until retiring he was a deputy head at Leeds Grammar School (later the Grammar School at Leeds). He has been a governor at RGS since 1996, when his daughter attended the school. He is a founder of the Hebridean Sheep Society which has brought about the recovery of the Hebridean sheep breed from virtual extinction. Eric has bred them for more than 30 years, and currently has a flock of 80. He is refurbishing the 18th century mill where he lives and walks long-distance footpaths, with ex-colleagues, every week.

Matthew Bean - co-opted governor

Matthew has practised as a barrister for the last 24 years, specialising in criminal law.  Although his Chambers are in Leeds, he works throughout the North East of England.  Matthew was born in Harrogate and has lived in North Yorkshire for most of his life.  He is married to Georgina with three children, the eldest two of whom attended RGS.  In his spare time he enjoys horse riding, gardening and skiing.

Vikki Barton-Brown – co-opted governor

Vikki has more than 30 years experience working extensively within finance for both the private and public sector. She has held senior finance roles in both a large US and also UK headquartered global organisations where she managed employment taxes, governance and compliance. Prior to this she worked for PricewaterhouseCoopers and Deloitte accountancy firms. Vikki has additional project management skills and has experience of working with human resources and employment law to promote governance and compliance. Vikki has an interest in promoting the STEM careers (science, technology, engineering and maths) to students. Vikki is married to Gary, with two children, their youngest a current student and the eldest who has just graduated from Ripon Grammar School. Vikki enjoys the outdoors and horse riding in her spare time.

Barbara Brodigan - co-opted governor

Dr Tom Cavell-Taylor – co-opted governor

Tom works for the High Value Manufacturing Catapult, a national institute for translating new science into industrial production in the UK. Current programmes are on: zero emission cars (batteries and power electronics), hydrogen as an energy vector, zero plastic packaging, personalised medicine manufacture and the national mRNA vaccine variant library. He collaborates with UK universities for postgraduate development and internships for STEM subjects. He and wife Caroline have four sons, one currently at RGS, one at St Aidan’s, and two who are proud old Riponians. His focus as a governor is the pastoral care and welfare of students in both the day and boarding sides of the school. He has been a governor since 2012 and is the governor representative at the Young Peoples Scrutiny Committee of North Yorkshire County Council.

Ian Charlton - parent-elected governor

Ian is a member of the leadership team at a niche legal recruitment consultancy, and has been a solicitor for over 20 years. He has worked as a lawyer at leading international law firms in both London and Australia, where he lived for 10 years. Ian lives just outside Galphay and has two sons, one of whom is in Year 8 at RGS and the other at Fountains Primary in Grantley. Outside of work, he is a trustee of New Light, a charity supporting the work of contemporary artists from the north of England, and a keen road cyclist.

Jayne Dale - parent-elected governor

Jayne has over 20 years’ experience working in the engineering sector as a chartered chemical engineer. Her career has taken her around the world, from commissioning oil refineries to leading multi-discipline design teams and driving strategic business growth. She is passionate about promoting community collaboration for pathways into STEM sectors, an advocate for Women In Nuclear and Women In Defence and committed to fostering inclusive environments. Both Jayne and her husband Nick are old Riponians, with their two sons current attendees. When not at work, Jayne is a trained First Aider for Ripon Rugby Club, enjoys the outdoors, learning new things and music.

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Capt Peter von Hoven - co-opted governor

Peter serves as a Medical Officer in the British Army, delivering high-quality healthcare to personnel across a range of global deployments. His work has included support at notable events such as the D-Day 80th anniversary commemorations in France, participation in multinational NATO exercises, and operations in remote jungle environments. His responsibilities encompass the planning and provision of medical services to UK clinical standards, often in challenging and austere settings. Recently, Peter relocated to Kirby Hill with his wife and young son, and is now eager to contribute to the local community through voluntary work. RGS holds personal significance for Peter, as his grandfather attended the school during the 1950s and 1960s, making the move feel especially fitting. In his spare time, Peter enjoys participating in parkruns, walking in the Yorkshire Dales, and visiting properties managed by the National Trust.

Siny Jayan - parent-elected governor

Siny is an experienced IT Management Consultant, a thought leader with an unparalleled track record delivering diverse Technology solutions to Tier 1 Financial Institutions and FTSE100 companies. Profoundly driven, passionate and a perfectionist by nature, Siny is committed to getting the job done right with an innate desire to achieve excellence! Siny is also Director at Genesis IT Consulting Ltd. Through the years she held a number of senior management roles with a long career working for Provident Financial Group, Vanquis Bank, Deutsche Bank, Lloyds Bank, Ernst Young and IBM. Siny is married to Jayan also an IT professional and mother to two daughters studying at RGS .She is a strong advocate for Women in Technology & Mental Health. When not at work she enjoys travelling and loves spending time with family and her pooch.

Adele Laurie-Wilson - parent-elected governor

Adele is a Chartered Accountant and a member of ICAEW with over 30 years' experience working in the Accountancy and Audit profession both in the UK and internationally, advising and auditing clients in both the commercial and not-for-profit sectors. Adele has audited and advised a number of Multi Academy Trusts and has an understanding of the many challenges facing the education sector. Adele now runs her own accounting firm, providing accounting, tax and portfolio finance director services to owner managed businesses, allowing her to focus on her passion for assisting individuals in achieving their strategic objectives. Adele lives in Harrogate with her partner, Norman, also a Chartered Accountant. They have two children together, one was a boarder at RGS for 5 years, the other is a pupil at a school in Harrogate. Adele has a number of volunteer roles including a conservation group; "Ready for Anything", an emergency response group run by NYC; and is a licensed chaperone (NYC) for a local competitive dance group. In the past, Adele was a Trustee and Treasurer of the PTA for her children's primary school. Adele and her partner spend much of their remaining time supporting their children in sporting and social activities as well as exercising Poppy, the family border collie. The family loves to spend time at live events, particularly music, theatre, comedy, dance and sports. 

Robert O'Hare - parent-elected governor

Robert is a non-practising solicitor, specialising in international tax law and public policy. He works for a global accounting firm but also has experience in tax consulting and professional information services. Robert studied History at the University of Sheffield, and also has Masters degrees from both the London School of Economics and King's College, London. He is a trustee of a small charity that recognises outstanding achievement at another secondary school. Robert is married to Catherine, and father to three daughters. Robert finds relaxation and comfort in road cycling, comedy and a good book.

Victoria Pang - staff-elected governor

Victoria is a Mathematics and IT teacher at Ripon Grammar School, and has worked at the school since 2020. Prior to teaching, she had a career in IT, where she was responsible for the delivery of IT services to a variety of high profile clients. She enjoys running and spending time exploring the outdoors with her family in her spare time.

Josh Stott - parent-elected governor

Josh lives in Ripon with his wife and two daughters, the eldest of which has recently joined RGS in Year 7. Josh is a qualified chartered surveyor, and an associate director at consultancy firm, Steer Economic Development. He has over 20 years’ experience advising national and local government clients on a wide range of economic development issues including property, regeneration and innovation strategy. He was previously Head of Policy and Research at the social policy think tank, the Joseph Rowntree Foundation. Josh loves walking in the Yorkshire Dales, travelling and all things food related. 

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Amy Tweddle-Bray - LA-nominated governor

Amy has worked in the education sector for 15 years, having started her teaching career as a secondary English specialist and having held both pastoral and academic leadership positions in the schools within which she has worked. Amy is now the Director of Design at Ambition Institute - a teacher education organisation which supports teachers and school leaders at every stage of their careers. Amy oversees the design of the Department for Education's Early Career Teachers' programme, as well the suite of 10 National Professional Qualifications which support teachers to become specialists in areas as varied as leading literacy, leading teacher development, leading behaviour and culture, SEND, and school leadership. Amy specialises in secondary curriculum development. 

Jonathan M Webb – Headmaster

Jonathan Webb has been Headmaster of Ripon Grammar School since September 2017. A graduate in History from Christ's College, Cambridge, Jonathan has particular interests in early modern social and political thought as well experience in teaching 20th Century international history and politics. Originally from West Yorkshire, he now lives near the city of Ripon in North Yorkshire and enjoys all things outdoors, and in particular cricket.

David Winspear - co-opted governor

Dave trained as a teacher before working for North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service for over 30 years, ending his career as a senior leader with responsibilities for overseeing strategic transformation programmes. He gained extensive experience in managing risk, prevention, fire/health and safety, safeguarding and incident command. He now works for the UK Health Security Agency as Regional Head of Emergency Preparedness, Resilience and Response across Yorkshire and the Humber. Dave has served as a Governor at 3 schools and a member of the RGS board since 2017. He has 2 daughters both of whom are at RGS.
 

Governors Standing Down in the Last Year

Andrea Edmondson

Prof Kiran Fernandes

Helen Stiles

Financial Information  

As part of current government guidance, the school must publish the number of staff whose salary exceeds £100,000 per annum in increments of £10,000. The information for Ripon Grammar School is below.

You can view Ripon Grammar School´s financial benchmarking information on the DfE website. Please use the following link:

Ripon Grammar School - Schools Financial Benchmarking