The Governing Body

Theresa Homewood 

Chair of Governors

Theresa Homewood is the former Senior Deputy Headteacher at Sevenoaks School, having previously been the Pastoral Deputy Head for fourteen years. Theresa was the acting Headteacher from 2019-2020. One of the Governors nominated by Sevenoaks School, the Education Sponsor of Knole Academy, Theresa's main role is to help foster links between the two schools.

Anne Williams

Vice Chair of Governors

Anne first became a governor when her daughter was a student at The Bradbourne School, and then became a governor at Knole Academy.  She takes a keen interest in governance and worked for a number of years advising the directorate of a local authority on governance issues. Anne is responsible for the induction of new governors at Knole Academy. 

Malcolm Fisher

Governor, Chair of Teacher and Learning Committee

Malcolm is a chemical engineer. He has three teenage children and has lived in Sevenoaks since 1996.

Malcolm was educated in Cambridgeshire at the local comprehensive school and sixth form college.  He studied at the University of Birmingham, achieving a First in Chemical Engineering.  Malcolm worked for ICI on Teesside for a number  of years as a Process Engineer, both in design and operations roles.  He then moved to Esso's European  Engineering Centre in Surrey where he worked on projects for Esso's refineries across Europe, before moving into their Retail Business where he took overall responsibility for Forecourt Engineering throughout the UK and Ireland.

Since 2006, Malcolm has been on a career break to look after his three children who are in their mid to late teens. Malcolm's education and career has taught him the value of STEM subjects and how important it is to inspire young people to take an interest in these subjects.  Malcolm is also a scout leader and has led one of the 1st Sevenoaks scout troops for the last seven years and has seen how young teenagers can be motivated by practical activities.  Malcolm is the lead governor for child protection matters.

Sarah Rogers

Governor, Finance, Premises, Audit and Risk Committee

Sarah runs a family business in Sevenoaks, 'Riverhill Himalayan Gardens', which she and her husband relaunched in 2010.  

After completing a degree in German at Exeter University, Sarah worked in the Financial Services Industry before training as a teacher at Homerton, Cambridge.  She taught in the Primary sector in Essex and then as Assistant Head at Ben Jonson Primary School in East London before moving to Sevenoaks and having four children.  In 2010 she relaunched the local family business, ‘Riverhill Himalayan Gardens’ to include garden opening, weddings, events, school visits and a cafe . In March 2023 she stepped back from this to concentrate on her career as a landscape artist.  

Donna Farron

Governor, Teaching and Learning Committee

In 1997, Donna joined what was then known as The Bradbourne School, but is now Knole Academy. Donna was Head Girl between 2003 and 2004 and remains extremely proud of being chosen for this role.

After successfully completing her A-Levels at The Bradbourne School, she went on to study a Law Degree. In 2009, Donna was called to the Bar, as a member of the Honourable Society of Lincoln's Inn. Donna cross-qualified to become a Chartered Legal Executive in 2015. Subsequently, she has become a Senior Associate in a specialist law firm based in the City of London.

Donna credits her success to the foundations built whilst studying in the supportive and encouraging environment of The Bradbourne School.

Jo Wildman

Governor, Teaching and Learning Committee

Jo serves on the T&L committee and is the governor responsible for monitoring SEN (special educational needs) provision. Jo is also a governor at a local primary school and Chair of the Kent Junior Chess Association which organises tournaments and promotes chess to young people across the county.

Jo's professional background is as an editor, journalist and photographer. A previous role was managing editor at the Department for Education, which gave her valuable insight into the development and implementation of education policy. Jo has also worked for national and local newspapers and as a writer.

Roger Wedderburn-Day

Governor, Chair of Finance, Premises, Audit and Risk Committee

Roger is in his mid-50s and spent most of his working life as a solicitor with a major law firm based in London.   His clients included governments, international organisations, major financial institutions and other leading  companies around the world.  Having worked part time since 2011 followed by retirement in 2015,  Roger has sought to become more involved in the community and joined Knole Academy as a governor in September  2014. He is a member of the Finance and Premises Committee and is also the governor responsible for data. 

As a retired lawyer, Roger has nearly 30 years’ experience of building up and managing a substantial legal  practice and has worked with, analysed, described and investigated a wide range of businesses.  His skills  include the ability to assimilate and analyse large amounts of data, to identify problems and to find solutions.  Roger is also a trustee of his firm’s charitable foundation and a volunteer with the Institute of Advanced Motoring.

Magnus Spence

Governor, Finance, Premises, Audit and Risk Committee

Magnus is a Chartered Accountant and has worked in financial services for the whole of his career. Currently, Magnus works at Jupiter Asset Management where he is responsible for their Hedge Fund business. 

Educated at Rugby School, Magnus studied Geography at Durham University. He has six children and lives in Ticehurst,  East Sussex. 

Nick Clark
Governor, Finance, Premises, Audit and Risk Committee

Nick is a Chartered Certified Accountant with over 15 years experience in the Education sector. Nick has worked as an external auditor, external consultant, internal auditor and Head of Finance within both private and public education settings. Currently Nick is the Deputy Director of Finance and Education for The Kemnal Academy Trust (TKAT) a multi-academy trust with 45 schools across the South East of England.

Nick has been passionate about education throughout his career and believes strongly in making decisions with current and future pupils in mind. "Finding the balance to ensure a school or trust delivers the best education for the pupils in the here and now whilst building an environment that is sustainable for the future is key to my decision making. Being a Governor at Knole Academy is an honour and a position I take very seriously and take great pride in."

Nick has been on the board at Knole Academy since 2019.

Joanne Whitehead

Governor, Teaching and Learning Committee

Joanne was brought up and educated in east Manchester before studying for a postgraduate degree in History at the University of Warwick. Following a couple of years in the charity sector, Joanne joined the Civil Service and qualified as a HR professional. Joanne's current role looks at the succession plans for senior Civil Service leaders and ensuring development and support are in place for individuals.

Jesse Elzinga

Governor, Teaching and Learning Committee

Mr Jesse R Elzinga joined Sevenoaks School as Headmaster in September 2020. He was previously Headmaster of Reading Blue Coat School in Berkshire, which he joined in 2016. During his tenure the school enjoyed the best academic results in its history. Jesse expanded the school’s innovative Outreach and Partnership Programme, created a strong network of charities and partner schools within the local community, and established a thriving Development Office.

Before this, Jesse was Director of Studies at Harrow, where he broadened the school’s academic curriculum. Previously, he worked at St Edward’s School in Oxford as Director of Studies and as IB Coordinator. He helped introduce the IB Diploma at St Edward’s and was a residential Assistant Housemaster. He started his career at Whitgift School as a teacher of Theology and Philosophy, the Assistant Head of Sixth Form and the Theory of Knowledge Coordinator.

He studied at Harvard University, where he gained a BA Honours cum laude in Comparative Religion and Philosophy, and at Oxford University, where his MSt focused on ethical philosophy.

Clare Ives

Governor, Teaching and Learning Committee

Dr Ives joined Sevenoaks in 2021 as Senior Deputy Head. Before that she taught at Canford School, in Dorset, where she worked closely with the Headmaster, leading an Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Working Group. She was a housemistress and Head of History and has a wealth of both academic and pastoral experience.

Dr Ives studied at the University of St Andrews, where she earned a first-class degree in History and wrote her PhD on the Civil Rights Movement in the United States in the 1960s. Prior to starting her teaching career,

Dr Ives spent eight years working as a civil servant, and is proud of serving her country in this manner. She is delighted to join the Governing Body at Knole Academy and is keen to continue to foster the strong links between Sevenoaks School and Knole Academy.

Neil Reddin

Parent Governor, Finance, Premises, Audit and Risk Committee

Neil is a qualified practising accountant of over thirty years experience working with small business and private clients.  He has previously served as a governor of a grammar school for over six years and a primary school governor before then, with particular experience in finance and curriculum matters.

He is currently a councillor in a neighbouring authority, serving as chairman of the Audit committee and also sitting on the Education Children and Families committee. He has visited many other schools, spoken to numerous school leadership teams and has had a valuable insight into the wider fields of school funding and standards.