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Governance

The Board of Governance for Radnor House Sevenoaks comprises Directors and Heads of School plus 6 members who are parents at the school and made up of, 2 from the Prep School, 2 from the Senior School and 2 from the Friends of Radnor House.  Each parent serves on the Board for two years from the time of their appointment.  This mix brings a unique wealth of variety, knowledge and input to the Board of Governance.

The Board of Governance meets termly with the aim of advising the Directors on the effectiveness of the School with regard to meeting its aims and implementing its development plan. Members help Directors to support the Head and the School and also advise in holding it to account. 

All members of the Board of Governance can be contacted confidentially through Louise Lay at llay@radnor-sevenoaks.org

Colin Diggory - Non-Executive Chairman

BSc (Hons) PGCE MA EdD CMath FIMA FRSA

Colin Diggory is a former Headmaster, recently retired after 8 years as Head of Alleyn's School (IAPS, HMC), Dulwich, and 11 years as Head of Latymer Upper School (IAPS, HMC), Hammersmith; with 34 years experience of teaching in the independent sector (Manchester Grammar; St. Paul's; Merchant Taylors' Northwood; Latymer Upper; Alleyn's). After graduating from Durham University with a 1st Class Honours in Mathematics, he achieved his Masters Degree through the Open University and was awarded a Vice-Chancellor Award for Education and Language Studies for his Doctorate of Education.

Colin Diggory was a Chief Examiner at A level; an Ofsted assessed Lead Inspector of Independent Schools, and continues to provide thought-leadership for the sector through public speaking and writing. Should you wish to contact Colin in his capacity as Chair of the Board of Directors, please contact him via the school address below.

David Paton - Head

BComm (Hons) PGCE MA

As the founding Head of Radnor House, David Paton understands the importance of good teaching and is passionate about improving the life chances of children.  He is a teacher with over 20 years of experience; prior to founding Radnor House he was a senior leader at The Harrodian and Deputy Head of Senior School at Dulwich College.  David continues to support two low-cost community schools in Uganda and is a Governor of two local primary schools in Kent.

George Penlington - Deputy Head (Pastoral)

BA, Dip Teaching

Graduating from Otago University, New Zealand, with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Art History, George completed his teaching qualification at the Christchurch College of Education, New Zealand. He started his career at New Plymouth Boys’ High School (NZ), teaching English and Art History. He was also the Arts Coordinator and a boarding master.

Moving to the UK, George briefly taught English at Hurlingham and Chelsea, before taking up a permanent position at Bearwood College in Wokingham. There for 13 years, he was an Assistant Boarding Housemaster, a Day Housemaster, Head of the Prep School, and, for the final seven years, Academic Deputy. A keen sportsman, he is relishing his position of Head of Senior School at Radnor House Sevenoaks, as it affords him the opportunity to further strengthen the already excellent Co-curricular programme. 

Philippa Lang - Head of Prep School

BA (Hons), QTS, MA

Philippa knew from a young age that she wanted to teach and with a passion for sport and outdoor education, she completed a four-year teaching degree in Physical Education at Chelsea School, University of Brighton. So successful was her final teaching placement that she was recommended for a role as Head of Physical Education at Montgomery School, Canterbury. When the school became an Academy and federated with another, Philippa was promoted to Director of Sport across both academies. As a member of the Senior Leadership Team, she discovered her interest in whole-school strategy and school improvement and completed a master’s degree in education at her alma mater in 2012.  In 2013, an opportunity arose to move into the independent sector, and Philippa accepted a position as Assistant Head: Head of Additional Learning at St Aubyn’s School, Woodford Green: a 3-13 Prep School for 525 children. Here she was asked to take on the role of Special Educational Needs Coordinator and to support the development of teaching and learning within the school. In 2018, Philippa and her family moved to Kent, and she was appointed as Deputy Head of Rose Hill School, Tunbridge Wells: another 3-13 Prep School. During this time, the school was graded as ‘Excellent’ in both academic and pastoral provision. She led on the development of a new curriculum framework, which contributed to the School’s shortlisting for the award of TES Independent Prep School of the Year in 2022. She began work towards her National Professional Qualification for Headteachers (NPQH) in October 2023.

Philippa now lives in East Grinstead with her partner Elisa and their four children: Amelie, Toby, Nathan and Dylan. Her active interest in sports and the outdoors remains and many holidays are spent exploring the coastlines, forests and mountains of the British Isles, with their Cavapoo puppy, Arlo.  

Esther Wright- Head of Student Support and Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL)

 

MA (Hons) PCGE

Graduating from the University of St Andrews in  Ancient History and Archaeology, Esther initially stepped into leadership in a post degree sabbatical role as Vice President of the Students Association. Finally, cutting her student ties, she entered the digital world of Direct Marketing, where she worked for a number of high profile agencies and latterly managed client accounts for Dell EMEA and Asia Pacific regions. Realising that her passions lay more with History, in 2007 Esther decided to follow the family career path into teaching and took up a PGCE with History specialism at Canterbury Christ Church, joining Radnor House Sevenoaks in 2009 as Year 4 class teacher. In 2012 Esther took up the post of Deputy Head of Prep, and Head of Prep and Nursery in 2013, and in 2017 became Head of Student Support across the whole school. Esther believes it to be a privilege to work with the children, families and staff of Radnor Sevenoaks.  She is hoping that at some time this year she will resume her not so secret hobby of historical re-enactment; she thinks that Beechwalk would be an excellent site to re-enact the Battle of Hastings!

Prep School Parent- Andrew Barden

Andrew has been on the Board of Governance since March 2021 and has two children in the Prep School and one child in the Senior School. 

Senior School Parent- Julie Elder

Julie has been on the Board of Governance since March 2021 and has a son in the Senior School.

Senior School Parent- Emily Simons

Emily has been on the Board of Governance since March 2021 and has a daughter in the Senior School.

Friends of Radnor House Sevenoaks (FoRH7)

Christina Algar (Co-Chair of FoRH7) has three daughters at the school, two in the Prep School and one in the Senior School. 

Helen Beckerson (Treasurer for FoRH7) has a daughter in the Prep School and a daughter in the Senior School. 

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