Our Foundation Family, Staff and Governors
The Governing Body
The Governing Body is the legal guardian of the Warwick Independent Schools Foundation’s charitable object:
‘To advance education by carrying on in or near Warwick, day and boarding schools for boys and girls.’
It is the Governing Body’s responsibility to ensure and monitor the success of the Foundation in fulfilling this objective. In this task, the operational running of the Foundation is delegated to the Foundation Principal.
Who are the Governors?
Governors are drawn from the local and wider community, bringing a diversity of skills and interests to the Board. They include former pupils, current and former parents, and representatives from local bodies.
There are currently 14 co-opted Governors, and 4 Governors nominated by external bodies (Warwick University, The King Henry VIII Endowed Trust, Warwick, The Charity of Sir Thomas White, Warwick and Warwick Town Council). The Lord Lieutenant of Warwickshire is an ex-officio Governor.
Governors can sit for up to three terms of four years and must retire at the age of 75.
Governors collectively act in the best interests of the Foundation: they are not mandated by, nor do they represent, any particular groups.
Governance Committees and Roles
All governors sit on two Committees: a School Committee, chaired by the Foundation Principal, and one of the three tactical Committees: Education, Resources & Estates, Finance & Regulatory, which are each chaired by a governor. All Governors also sit on the full Foundation Board. The full Board is chaired by the Chair of the Foundation Governors, to whom the Foundation Principal reports.
Governor appointment and succession planning is overseen by the Appointments Committee, comprising the Foundation Chair, Foundation Vice-Chair, the three tactical Committee Chairs and up to two additional Governors.
Governors take an active interest in the schools, regularly making visits and attending events. An initiative is currently being set up whereby each Governor will have a formal ambassadorial role on a monthly rotation basis. Some Governors have particular responsibilities, for example, Safeguarding, Early Years, Health & Safety. In addition, and a Head’s Liaison Governor is appointed to support each Head in their leadership of the Schools.
| Mr David Stevens* | Foundation Chair |
| Dr Tony Cocker* | Foundation Vice-Chair |
| Mrs Marie Ashe* | Chair, Finance & Regulatory Committee |
| Mrs Sally Austin* | |
| Prof Simon Barnes* | |
| Ms Jo Broughton | |
| Mr Andrew Firth | |
| Mr Chris Gibbons | |
| Cllr Mrs Moira-Ann Grainger | |
| Prof Damian Griffin | |
| Mr Stephen Jobburn | |
| Mr Adrian Keeling | |
| Mr Tim Keyes* | Chair, Education Committee |
| Mr Nick Peall | |
| Mrs Clare Sawdon | |
| Mr Jonathan Wallis* | Chair, Resources & Estates Committee |
| Dr Ruth Weeks | |
| Mrs Anne Wilson | |
| Mr Tim Cox | Ex-officio as Lord Lieutenant of Warwickshire |
| *Members of the Appointments Committee |
Foundation Secretary and Clerk to the Governors: Simon Jones, FCMA
Registered office: Warwick Independent Schools Foundation, Myton Road, Warwick, Warwickshire, CV34 6PP
Correspondence to the Foundation Chair should be via the address above or governors@warwickschools.co.uk
Please click the document below to view the Governor biographies.
