The Sherborne Schools Group Board of Governors

In July 2024, the two charitable trusts that own Hanford, Sherborne Girls, Sherborne Boys and Sherborne Prep formally merged into one charity called the Sherborne Schools Group – a unique and exciting educational opportunity in the UK for girls and boys aged 3–19.

The Sherborne Schools Group also includes Sherborne Schools Worldwide, a joint venture set up by Sherborne Girls and Sherborne Boys in 2017 to establish Sherborne-branded schools around the world.

The full list of governors for Hanford and the wider the Sherborne Schools Group is shown below, as well as a small number of co-opted members of individual committees.

Hanford’s Governor with lead responsibility for Hanford Safeguarding issues is Canon Nicki Edwards.

Governors assist with the Sherborne Schools Groups’ governance, the planning of strategic objectives, safeguarding the Group and schools’ financial health and ensuring compliance with all legal requirements.

Academic Year 2024 – 2025

Hanford Governing Committee
*Sally Craig-McFeely, Chair* Sally is a graduate of St. George’s Hospital Medical School and has recently retired as a General Practitioner in Hindon, Wiltshire. She lives locally with her husband, also a retired General Practitioner and they have four adult daughters. Sally and her husband ran the CQC rated outstanding medical practice and onsite dispensary singlehandedly for nearly 20 years. *Canon Nicki Edwards, Safeguarding Lead* Nicki recently retired as Head Teacher of The Gryphon School, a Church of England Academy part of Sherborne Area Schools’ Trust (SAST). Nicki acts as a Bishops’ Adviser in the national Shared Discernment Process and is Churchwarden in her home parish. Nicki was made a Lay Canon of Salisbury Cathedral in May 2022. A Dorset girl, Nicki grew up in Sturminster Newton before studying at Imperial College London and Oxford University; she began her teaching career in Surrey. *Amanda Hughes* Amanda has a degree in Chemistry and Management Economics, she qualified as a chartered accountant in UK, with Coopers & Lybrand, before spending two years as Business Advice Manager in Russia, also with Coopers & Lybrand. She then spent 10 years in the commercial world before becoming a Bursar. Sixteen years at boarding schools, mostly locally, provides a good insight to the challenges facing independent schools and brings a wealth of experience to the Hanford Committee. *Reverend Martin Lee* Martin moved to Sherborne in 2021, as Team Rector of Sherborne Abbey, having spent 13 years as the incumbent of a large parish in Newcastle upon Tyne. Martin has used his keen interest in Education to serve on several Governing bodies with over 20 years’ experience as a Chair. He has also served as Chair of Appeal and Exclusion panels for local authorities. In his spare time, he is a Beekeeper, enjoys Music, and now is delighted to add to the list of enjoyment the role of a Grandad. *George Marsh* George started his career at the Dragon School before spending eleven years working in two comprehensive schools. He then became Assistant Director of Studies at Millfield School before being appointed Head of Millfield Prep School. He completed his career as Headmaster of Dulwich Prep London for eighteen years. He is currently also a Governor of Caldicott Prep School. He is Chairman of Wilton’s Music Hall.
Group Board
*Louise Hall* Joint Chair, member of the Governance & Nominations Committee and the Finance Committee *Juliet Blanch* Member of the Governance & Nominations Committee *Sally Craig-McFeely* Chair of the Hanford Committee and a member of the Pastoral and SPS Committees *Canon Nicki Edwards* Chair of the Pastoral Committee and a member of the Hanford and Education Committees *Amanda Harris* Member of the Governance & Nominations Committee and the Finance Committee *Amanda Hughes* Chair of the Finance Committee and a member of the Estates, Hanford and SPS Committees *Nick Isaac* Member of the Finance and Commercial Committees *Nigel Jones* Chair of the Estates Committee and a member of the Commercial Committee *Angela Lane* Chair of the Investments Committee and a member of the Finance and Governance & Nominations Committees *Robin Leach* Chair of the SPS Committee and a member of the Pastoral and Commercial Committees *The Rt Revd Martin Lee* Member of the Pastoral and Hanford Committees *George Marsh* Member of the Education, Hanford and SPS Committees *Jo Massey* Member of the Estates and Education Committees *Anthony Pralle* Chair of the Governance & Nominations Committee and a member of the Finance and Commercial Committees *Mark Spearing* Chair of the Education Committee and a member of the Estates Committee *Matthew Taylor* Member of the Finance and Investment Committees *Dr Paul Williams* Member of the Education and Commercial Committees *Michael Wilson* Member of the Education, SPS and Commercial Committees
Co-opted Members of Committees
Aubrey Capel Co-opted to Estates *Guy Hayward-Cole* Co-opted to Investments *Guy Hudson* Co-opted to Investments *Max Jonas* Co-opted to Pastoral *Ruth Newman* Co-opted to Sherborne Prep *Gilly Staley* Co-opted as Advisor (Health & Safety) *Maria Wingfield-Digby* Co-opted to Commercial *Nicholas Wordie* Co-opted to Estates