Our Leadership Team
Radnor House Sevenoaks is a fast growing school community with over 130 members of highly dedicated staff in teaching and support roles.
If you are interested in joining the team at Radnor House Sevenoaks, to take the school through its next phase, please take a look at our latest vacancies.
Board of Directors
Dr Colin Diggory - 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.
Neil Moulding - Group Finance & Operations Director
BA (Hons) FCA
Neil is a Chartered Accountant with a wealth of experience in education, finance and property. He has held senior financial positions within Corporate Finance and Real Estate Banking in the City, together with an executive position in a student accommodation development and operational business. Neil joined Radnor House in August 2013 and is the Director responsible for all financial and operational matters in the Group. Outside school, he follows underperforming teams in various sports and enjoys theatre, live music, travel and walking the dog.
David Paton - Director
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. As a Director he takes an active role in the corporate governance of Radnor House and separately continues to support two low-cost community schools in Uganda and is a Governor of two local primary schools in Kent.
Emil Gigov - Non-Executive Board Member
BA (Hons) FCA
Emil Gigov is a Partner of Albion Ventures LLP, a leading UK based venture capital investor voted Finalist in the Investor of the Year category at the Education Investor Awards 2012. Emil has spent over 15 years investing in small and medium sized UK companies and working closely with their management teams to achieve long term growth. During that time he has been involved in a variety of sectors, including education, child care, healthcare, technology, leisure, media and engineering. Prior to joining Albion Ventures Emil spent seven years working for KPMG, the international accounting firm, in their London office. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants and has a BA (Hons) degree in European Business Administration. Mr Gigov has two young daughters and spends most of his free time with his family. He is a keen skier and tries to keep fit through cycling and running.
Rosie Allen - Non-Executive Board Member
BA (Hons) PGCE
Rosie Allen, previously Head at Radnor House Twickenham, has now become a board member. She graduated from the University of Nottingham with First Class Honours in History and stayed on to complete a Secondary History PGCE. Her teaching career spans over 15 years and has encompassed the full range of age groups and educational sectors, with significant leadership experience prior to joining Radnor House. She is passionate about making the most of the opportunities available to each and every pupil and creating a warm and collegiate environment in which pupils and staff alike can flourish.
Jo Paton- Non-Executive Board Member
BA (Hons) PGCE QTS
Jo is a qualified primary school teacher and former solicitor who has had three children at Radnor House Sevenoaks since 2015. Married to David Paton, she helped establish Radnor House in 2010 and is currently a non-executive board member, member of the governance committee and co-chair of FoRH7 for 2021/2. In her spare time, she is a trustee of Radnor Africa and enjoys running, netball and tennis when not walking her two Labradors.
Extended Leadership Team
Fraser Halliwell- Head
BSc(Hons) PGCE MEd FRSA
Email fhalliwell@radnor-sevenoaks.org
Fraser graduated from Bristol University in 1995 having studied Psychology and Zoology and, following his teacher training, taught for ten years in North Somerset. In order to satisfy a wanderlust, Fraser moved to Bogotá, drawn by the magical realism of Colombia’s literature, the biodiversity and the challenge of learning Spanish. He served the community of the prestigious Colegio Anglo Colombiano for 11 years, seven years as Head of Secondary with a focus on values-based education and academic excellence. Fraser joined Radnor House Sevenoaks in August 2019 as Vice Principal, and became Head in August 2020, he is happy to have returned to the UK to be closer to family, friends and familiar cultural and sporting experiences.
Catherine Hayes - Business Manager
Catherine is an accomplished Business Manager with over fifteen years’ experience working for international engineering consultancies and more recently in education. During this time Catherine has led all aspects of business management including finance, HR, procurement, premises, health and safety and the management of business services teams. Recently Chartered, Catherine brings a wealth of experience to Radnor House Sevenoaks to support school’s business functions and maintain outstanding quality and outcomes.
David Leddington - Head of Sixth Form
BSc (Hons) MA PGCE NPQH
dleddington@radnor-sevenoaks.org
David graduated from the University of Kent with a degree in Economics, Politics with History before completing his Masters Degree in International Relations. Following this he completed his PGCE at Canterbury Christ Church University to follow his chosen passion of teaching. Before joining Radnor House Sevenoaks as Head of Sixth Form he had been teaching for twenty years in a variety of schools in Kent, including a period lecturing at Christ Church University. He was an Assistant Vice Principal and Head of Sixth Form for five years at his previous school where he also completed his NPQH qualification. He is an avid Welsh rugby fan.
George Penlington - Senior Deputy Head
BA Dip Teaching
gpenlington@radnor-sevenoaks.org
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.
Sian Pettitt - Deputy Head of Senior School
MA Cantab
Sian has an MA from Emmanuel College, Cambridge in Modern and Medieval Languages. After an early career in banking and several years in Public Relations, she moved into teaching. Her previous schools include L’Ermitage International School in Maisons Laffitte, France, and Sevenoaks School. She loves music, sport and spending time with family.
Dr Emma Margrett - Head of the Prep School
BA (Hons), MA, EdD, CCRS, FCCT
emargrett@radnor-sevenoaks.org
As an undergraduate, Emma read Theology and Religious Studies at Bristol University. She then worked in international trade finance for several years before studying for an MPhil in Development Studies at Pembroke College, Oxford. Having realised that her true vocation lay in teaching, she returned to London and completed her PGCE in 2001 after training at King’s College London. After completing an MA in Religious Education at King’s College, London in 2006. She went on to teach at Benenden School and Mayfield School. As Deputy Head at Lingfield Prep from 2013, she had had responsibility for the academic direction of the school. She then moved to St Edmund’s Canterbury in 2018 to take up the role of Head of Junior School where she was also Headmistress for the Choristers at Canterbury Cathedral. Emma was selected to train as an ISI Inspector in 2014 and has worked on a number of inspections for ISI since that time. She completed a Doctorate in Education in 2017 and was recognised as a Fellow of the Chartered College of Teaching in 2019 for her contribution to the profession. Emma is actively involved in the Performing Arts- performing in countless productions and singing for pleasure she also has a keen interest in making and icing wedding and celebration cakes. Emma is married to Steve, step mother to Emma who lives in New Zealand and mum to Thomas and Jessica. They live with Vincent the cat who only has one ear.
Esther Wright - Head of Student Support
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!
Mike Godwin - Deputy Head of Prep
BA (Hons)
Mike has a BA in Primary Education (English Specialism) from Manchester and has completed his NPQH through UCL. He has been in education for the majority of his life including periods of time working in outdoor education and working for the International YMCA. Mike has been a Deputy Head within both the state sector and Private International with his most recent post being for Harrow International School in Bangkok. When not at school, he loves the outdoors, watersports and ultimate frisbee.
Liz Reading - Director of Marketing and Admissions
BA (Hons)
After graduating from the University of Birmingham with a degree in English, Liz joined Accenture on the graduate scheme where she became a change management specialist and worked on international SAP projects. After 8 years living in Asia, where she worked as a Marketing Consultant for a travel magazine and lifestyle publisher, Liz returned to the UK with her young family. She began working in schools' marketing at two renowned Prep schools in Kent and completed her diploma in Schools' Marketing and Admissions from AMCIS. When not at school, Liz enjoys running and walking with the family cocker spaniel, Toto.