Staff and Governors

Mrs S Newman

BA (Hons) University of Exeter; PGCE, University of Buckingham

Miss India Hawker

Charles became a Governor in March 2018 and was elected Chair in June 2018.  He chairs the Strategy and Development Committee and is an ex-officio member of the other three governor committees.  Charles has lived in and around Henley all his life and played cricket, hockey and rugby for the town.  Recently retired, he spent a career in finance and general management at Ford, Elf, Avis, National Power and Prudential.  A keen sportsman, he continues to play competitive hockey for Reading and enjoys tennis, fly fishing and walking.  Charles has two daughters and a son who all attended Rupert House.

Alison became a Governor in March 2018.  She chairs the Risk and Governance Committee.  She trained and worked as a solicitor in London before spending over 9 years working in Reading as a partner of a City law firm with a branch in the Thames Valley.  She has lived in the Henley area for 25 years.  Alison has a daughter and a son who both attended Rupert House.  Alison was Chair of the Friends of Rupert House from 2006 to 2008.  She enjoys walking, playing tennis and sailing.

Michelle is a local GP and is responsible for overseeing safeguarding at Rupert House.  She has four children (three sons and a daughter), all of whom have attended Rupert House with her daughter still a current pupil. Her children all love sport so she spends a lot of her time watching rugby, football, cricket, gymnastics and ballet.

Paul became a Governor in March 2017 and chairs the Finance and Operations Committee. He is a retired Chartered Accountant, who qualified with Whinney Murray, and then spent thirty years working for Lloyds Bank in the City head office.  He is married, with three children and five grandchildren, and has lived in and around Henley for over forty years. His interests are golf, field sports, gardening and walking.

Hugh became a Governor in November 2018.  He is a member of the Finance and Operations Committee and shares oversight for Safeguarding at Rupert House with Dr Michelle Brennan.  Hugh is one of the Principals of Claires Court (the other is his brother, James) where he has been Bursar since 1980.  He is married to Sheena (Head of Nursery at Claires Court) and they have four daughters, all now fully fledged and flown the nest!

Gill became a Governor in March 2014 and was elected as Chair of the Education Committee in November 2015. Gill has been a teacher for over 30 years and is currently Deputy Head – Teaching and Learning at Queen Anne’s School, Caversham. In her role at Queen Anne’s, Gill is actively involved in strategic development and educational initiatives. Gill enjoys keeping fit, walking and travelling.

Beverley became a Governor in 2016 and became Vice Chair in 2018.  She has responsibility for complaints and Governor training.  She also sits on 3 other Governor committees.  Beverley trained and worked as a solicitor in London before moving to Wargrave in 2010.  She has three daughters and a son, the younger two of her children both attended Rupert House.  Beverley was Chair of the Friends of Rupert House from 2012-2014.

Rosanne became a Governor in November 2009.  She is a member of the Strategy and Development Committee and has led the development of the 5 year Strategy for the school.  Rosanne has lived near Henley for the past 30 years, and has two sons and a daughter, all of whom attended Rupert House and went on to leading independent senior schools and universities.  Rosanne is a management consultant by background, a former Partner at Boston Consulting Group and Client Director at Eden McCallum. Over the past 5 years she served as an Executive Director of SSP Plc and as a Non Executive Director of Allianz Plc. She has many local interests developed during her time bringing up her family in the area, and enjoys riding, walking in the Chilterns, and dancing.

John read English Literature at Cambridge University.  He has over 30 years of high level experience in communications agencies – both within and outside London and is the Managing Director of a creative agency based in Caversham.  He is a member of the Worshipful Company of Marketors.  He educated 2 daughters and a son at Rupert House.  A keen sportsman, he plays tennis and golf and is President of Wallingford Hockey Club.

Vanessa became a Governor in November 2015.  She is a member of the Education Committee.  Vanessa retired from Headship of an IAPS Berkshire Prep School in 2013. Since then, she has been a mentor to new heads for the IAPS and has presented for the Goethe Institut on the teaching and learning of modern foreign languages.  Vanessa has two sons and three grandchildren with whom she enjoys spending time. She is a keen gardener, reader and walker, and she loves to travel.

Mike became a Governor in June 2019 and sits on the Education Committee. He read History at Cambridge University before a career in teaching. He taught at Kingston Grammar School, University College School and St Paul's School. Mike was Head of History at all these schools before becoming an Undermaster and part of the SMT at St Paul's. He is married with a daughter and three sons. On retirement he has returned to Oxfordshire. Mike has always been a keen cricketer and is President of Moreton CC. He is also an enthusiastic golfer and follower of Oxford United.