Governing Body

Governance

Governing Body

Kingsley’s Local Board of Governors brings outside experience to bear on the school. It advises, challenges and makes recommendations, so that the wellbeing-led promise the school makes to families is tested by people who do not run it day to day.

The school from the approach, or a meeting room

The role of the Governing Body

The board advises, it does not run the school

Kingsley’s Local Board of Governors is purely advisory. It provides support, challenge and informed recommendations to the KSI Management Board and to the Directors of Kingsley Education Limited, who hold the formal responsibilities. Membership of the Local Board carries no director or trustee liability.

Day-to-day running sits with the Headteacher and staff. The board’s task is to stand back, take the longer view, and ask the questions that keep the school honest about its own aims. Claudia Bickford-Smith chairs it in her capacity as Nominated Proprietor, overseeing legal and regulatory compliance and reporting to the Board of Directors.

Who governs Kingsley

Each governor holds a clear portfolio

The Local Board currently holds portfolios for staff and student wellbeing, and for curriculum and inclusion, alongside the Chair.

Portrait of a middle-aged woman with shoulder-length blonde hair wearing a blue blazer over a light blue shirt, against a plain light grey background.

Chair

Claudia Bickford-Smith

Nominated Proprietor and Chair, and CEO of Aldates Global Education Ltd. She oversees the school’s legal and regulatory compliance, chairs the Management Board and reports to the Board of Directors. Thirty years in international education, with degrees from the University of Cape Town, the University of Cambridge and UCL’s Institute of Education, and a Fellow of the RSA.

Smiling middle-aged man with light complexion, grey hair, and beard wearing black glasses, a dark suit jacket, light blue shirt, and navy tie with red stripes against a white background.

Governor

Mark Richards

Staff and Student Wellbeing. Read music at the University College of Wales, Aberystwyth, with postgraduate study at King’s College London and Cardiff University. Sixteen years at Queen Anne’s School, Caversham, latterly as Senior Deputy Head, and now works in educational consultancy and governance.

Smiling woman with shoulder-length brown hair wearing a black blazer over a green blouse with a white pattern.

Governor

Sally Akam

Curriculum and Inclusion. Thirty-five years in secondary education, leading a large Geography department and serving as Assistant Head at an independent boarding school, with responsibility for curriculum design, student tracking and UCAS applications. An experienced governor across a range of settings.

Portrait of a young man with medium-length dark hair, a thin mustache, and wearing a dark crew-neck shirt, looking directly at the camera against a plain white background.

Governor

Stephen Wu

How governance works here

Full board, and two standing committees

The full board meets four times a year, in September, November, March and June. The two committees meet on the same days as the November, March and June board meetings.

Full Governors’ Meeting, four times a year

Curriculum & Welfare Committee, three times a year

Business and Finance Committee, three times a year

Meeting dates

When the board meets in 2026-27

Governing Body and committee meetings, 2026-27 academic year.

Date	Time	Meeting
3 September 2026	2.00pm - 4.00pm	Full Governors’ Meeting
25 November 2026	9.30am - 11.00am	Curriculum & Welfare Committee
25 November 2026	11.30am - 1.00pm	Business and Finance Committee
25 November 2026	2.00pm - 4.00pm	Full Governors’ Meeting
3 March 2027	9.30am - 11.00am	Curriculum & Welfare Committee
3 March 2027	11.30am - 1.00pm	Business and Finance Committee
3 March 2027	2.00pm - 4.00pm	Full Governors’ Meeting
24 June 2027	9.30am - 11.00am	Curriculum & Welfare Committee
24 June 2027	11.30am - 1.00pm	Business and Finance Committee
24 June 2027	2.00pm - 4.00pm	Full Governors’ Meeting

Also in attendance at Governing Board meetings are Mr Robert Pavis, Headteacher; Mr Stephen O’Brien, Director of Finance; and Mrs Samantha Hammond, Headteacher of the Preparatory School.

The questions the board asks

Six questions the board returns to at every meeting

How well are we doing?

How do we know?

Could we do better?

What do we need to do to improve further?

Are our pupils safe?

How well are we promoting staff and pupil wellbeing?

Ethos & Core Values

Safeguarding

Policies & Reports

Questions

Frequently asked questions

Who governs Kingsley School?

Kingsley’s Local Board of Governors is chaired by Claudia Bickford-Smith, Nominated Proprietor and Director of Kingsley Education Ltd. She is joined by Mark Richards, who holds the portfolio for Staff and Student Wellbeing, and Sally Akam, for Curriculum and Inclusion.

How does governance work here?

The Local Board is advisory. It offers support, challenge and informed recommendations to the KSI Management Board and to the Directors of Kingsley Education Limited, who carry the formal responsibilities. Day-to-day running stays with the Headteacher and staff.

Can I become a governor?

Kingsley welcomes expressions of interest from people who would like to join the Local Board and contribute their experience to the school’s development. There is particular interest in candidates with a background in SEND, boarding education or primary education. Write to Claudia Bickford-Smith at claudia.bickford-smith@aldateseducation.com.

Discover Kingsley

Welcome from the Head

University Destinations