Governing Body

The Governing Body at the school acts to advise on strategy and direction and supports identified linked-areas of the school. The members of the Governing Body are below.

Claudia Bickford-Smith

Claudia Bickford-Smith is the Chair of the Governing Body in her capacity as the Nominated Proprietor of the school and as a Director of Kingsley Education Ltd. Claudia oversees financial, legal and regulatory compliance for the school, while chairing the Management Board and reporting to the Board of Directors and shareholders. Claudia is the governor with responsibility for Safeguarding and Health & Safety.

Claudia is also CEO of Aldates Global Education Ltd, which has innovative pedagogy, Sustainability Education, Wellbeing, Inclusion and SEND at its heart. She works with the senior team to transform student achievement and there are plans for further research and development of global programmes that aim to make a real difference to learning outcomes.

Click here to contact Mrs Bickford-Smith directly by email

Claudia Bickford-Smith can also be contacted at Aldates Global Education Ltd, 95-96 St Aldates, Oxford, OX1 1DA.

Lieutenant Colonel Noel Claydon-Swales

Lt Col Claydon-Swales, an alumnus of Kingsley (Grenville 89-95) commissioned from the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in 2004. He has enjoyed a diverse military career in the Light Dragoons, serving operationally across the world, including Northern Ireland, Afghanistan, Lebanon, Africa and a NATO tour of duty with the US Army in Poland being awarded a Queen’s Commendation for Valuable Service for leadership and diplomacy.

In the UK, Noel has held a variety of command and staff appointments and has extensive experience in acquisition, training and personnel management. He has a BA (Hons) in Business Management as well as various strategic leadership and project management qualifications. He is President of the Royal Armoured Corps eSports team and a Ministry of Defence operational end user mentor for UK Defence and Security markets. Noel is married to Isabella, and together live in Wiltshire with their son. Noel is a member of the Governing Body and acts as the link governor for careers education.

Sally Akam

Sally moved to North Devon three years ago having had a career in secondary eduction for 35 years, largely in a 13-18 year boarding school in Buckinghamshire. She led a large and successful geography department for many years before joining the school leadership team as an Assistant Head with responsibilities for the school’s tutorial system, managing pupil monitoring, assessment, reporting and UCAS applications. 

Sally has served on the Governing Board of a Buckinghamshire grammar school and is currently Chair of a Local School Committee in a Devon primary school. She is a member of the Governing Body for Kingsley School as the link governor for SEND and Inclusion, and as a member of the Curriculum and Welfare committee.

Jamie Morris

Jamie is an Alumnus of Kingsley (Grenville College 89-96) and was born in North Devon. He was CEO of Travel Chapter, a Bideford based business for over 20 years and is now a Non Exec for the company. His experience has been primarily in the marketing and property space and is now helping support other businesses in their growth journey, both locally and further afield.

He continued to play sport locally after school - mainly cricket (Westleigh CC) and rugby, and is a former Captain of Bideford Rugby Club, where he is now on the committee post hanging his boots up, apart from the odd Vets game! Jamie is a member of the Governing Body as the link governor for development and alumni, connecting the past with both the present and the future.

We are currently seeking new members for our Board of Governers. Members of the Governing Body form a local advisory board for the KSI Education Management Board. Areas of specialism required are:

• Boarding Governor
• SEND Governor
• H&S Governor
• Safeguarding Governor
• Prep School Governor
• Welfare of Staff & Students Governor

Kingsley Education Limited has offices at G16, Central Court, 25 Southampton Buildings, London, England, WC2A 1AL and is registered with Companies House.
Aldates Global Education​ Ltd has offices at 95-96 St Aldates, Oxford OX1 1DA and is registered with Companies House.