Governors

Individually known, communally nurtured, for personal success

 

Mission statement

In our small, welcoming school, we provide individualised learning for every child in our care.  Every child is known and valued and every child is nurtured, encouraged and challenged to achieve their full potential.  We aim to develop enquiring, resilient and respectful individuals who are adaptable and eager to learn, well prepared for the next stage of their education and for life.  We offer a breadth and depth of educational opportunity, taught by an innovative, inspiring and motivated staff.  St. Christopher’s is a safe and happy place, a thriving, diverse community with strong local ties and with the wellbeing of pupils and staff at the heart of all that we do.

Mrs Lindsay Curtis (Chair of Governors and Chair of Finance Committee)

Lindsay studied Modern History at Lincoln College, Oxford and went on to qualify as a chartered accountant with PriceWaterhouse Coopers, specialising in the charity and not for profit sector. Lindsay joined The Wellcome Trust in 1997 to work on its investment portfolio and was Head of Performance and Risk Management, responsible for the custody, accounting, compliance and performance and risk reporting arrangements for the portfolio, when she left to have her family.

Lindsay’s two sons both attended St. Christopher’s from LKG to Year 6. Lindsay was actively involved in the St. Christopher’s Association, undertaking the role of Treasurer for a number of years.

Mrs Helen Lowe (Vice Chair of Governors and Chair of Education Committee)

Helen grew up in Bristol where she was educated at Clifton High School, an independent girls’ school. She moved to Oxford to study at the then teacher training college, Lady Spencer Churchill College (now part of Oxford Brookes University). Following this, she attended the Guildhall School of Music and Drama and Drama Studio, London, after which she worked as a professional actor.

Helen moved into teaching Drama and English, firstly in secondary schools, then at a wide range of state and independent primary and prep schools. Helen was also the Literacy Advisor for the London borough of Richmond-upon-Thames.

Helen became a Head at King’s House School Junior Department in Richmond, where she enjoyed three very happy years, before moving to become Head at Bute House Preparatory School from 2012-2021. Helen now works as an Education Consultant in a wide range of schools across the UK and is an ISI Team and Compliance Inspector.

Helen is married to Phil and has two adult children – Josh and Sophie – and a miniature schnauzer called Mishka – a gift from the girls of Bute House on her departure from the school.Helen joined the Board of Governors in 2022 and is the Chair of the Education Committee.

Dr Chris Martin (Chair of the IT and H&S Committee)

Chris became involved with St Christopher’s when his first son joined in 2001, and has had 4 children in the school. Educated at the Bootham, the Friends school in York, Chris went on to gain a 1st class honours degree and Ph.D. in Computing from Imperial College, London, and now runs a software development company in the city.

Chris joined the Governors in 2011 and is involved in the website, IT and information management within the school.

Mrs Claire Coulson (Chair of Safeguarding Committee)

Claire’s eldest child joined St Christopher’s Reception in 2008 and her two younger children started in Lower Kindergarten.

Claire studied Molecular Biology and Genetics at the University of Manchester before turning to Law, which she studied at the College of Law, and she also holds a postgraduate diploma in Intellectual Property Law from Bristol University.

On qualifying as a solicitor, she specialised in biotechnology and pharmaceutical patent litigation and pharmaceutical regulatory law. Claire now volunteers as a telephone assessor and trainee generalist advisor at a local Citizens Advice Bureau, assisting clients with a wide range of issues.

Mr Tuki Rounds

Tuki Rounds has been a teacher for 17 years and is delighted to be part of the Governing Board at St Christopher’s. He is the Senior Deputy Head at Trinity School where his specific remit are operational elements of school as well as Partnership and Community work, Marketing and Communications, ICT Systems and Provision, as well as compliance elements.

Prior to this, Tuki was an Assistant Head (Co-curricular) at RGS Worcester where he again oversaw lots of operational aspects of school life, from  assemblies to clubs and societies, the House system, Trips and Visits, and more.

He has also worked at Colston’s School (now Collegiate School) in Bristol as a Head of Religious Studies and Philosophy, and Head of Year in a state school in Essex (St Martins, Brentwood).

Outside of school, Tuki is very keen on sports, and enjoys road cycling and running, as well as watching Football and Cricket; however, his first love is Rugby. Whilst his playing days are behind him, he still supports Bath.  Tuki enjoy travel and the theatre, when he is able, but most of his spare time, when not at Trinity, is spent enjoying time with his wife and their daughter.

Isobel Pastor

Isobel studied Neuroscience at University College London. She has been a Civil Servant for the past 15 years, holding various positions in policy and project/programme leadership. She is currently Head of the Centre for Connected and Autonomous Vehicles.

Isobel has lived in Beckenham for 20 years and has a 1-year-old daughter who is currently at nursery.

 

St Christopher’s The Hall School Limited is a registered not-for-profit company (company number 590877) and a registered charity (charity number 307917), and is governed by its Memorandum and Articles of Association.

The Governors are the Directors of the company and the Trustees of the charity; no governor gains financially from involvement with the School. The Governors meet regularly to determine the general policy for the school.  The Governors operate through a number of sub-committees, including Safeguarding, Finance, Education, Health and Safety, and IT, which report to the main Governing Board, where all key strategic decisions are taken. The day to day management of the School is delegated to the Head and his staff.

The Chair of the Governors can be contacted via the School Office.

 

Open Mornings

Our next open event:

Tuesday 19th March from 10.30-12.00am

Wednesday 1st May from 10.30-12.00am

Thursday 23rd May from 10.30-12.00am

Tuesday 11th June from 10.30-12.00am

Please book in for one of our Open Mornings. There will be a talk from the Head, a tour by current pupils and a chance to chat over coffee with governors, staff and other parents.

Find out more

The Reception and 7+ Assessment

We are taking applications for places in our Reception classes and Year 3 classes for September 2024,

For further details please contact our Admissions Registrar via admissions@stchristophersthehall