Our Leadership Team

MA, PGCE

Born in Sri Lanka in 1959, Mr Davies went to school in Nottinghamshire, progressing to a degree at Oxford and a PGCE at Cambridge. Starting his teaching career in 1981, he taught for 10 years in the maintained sector, first in a comprehensive school and then in a grammar school, before joining the Leadership Team at Latymer Upper School in Hammersmith, and then progressing to his first Headship at St Dunstan's College in Catford in 1998.

 After nearly 7 years Mr Davies became Head of Brentwood School in Essex in 2004 and retired from there in 2019. Brentwood School has a similar structure to Radnor House in that it consists of a Junior School, Main School and Sixth Form, and is situated close to London, just outside the M25. 
In 2018 Mr Davies led Brentwood School to an outstanding Inspection Report. Mr Davies was appointed Chair of the Board of Directors at Mount House School in Barnet in 2023, and joined the Board at Radnor House School in 2024.

Out of school, Mr Davies is a keen tennis and golf player, and is President of the Demijohns Cricket Club, the cricket team for alumni of St John's College in Oxford University. He was also Chairman of the Brentwood Theatre Trust for 10 years, and has served on the Admiralty Board and as an ISI Inspector. He was also the Independent Schools advisor to the Duke of Edinburgh's Award for several years.  He chaired the London Division of the Headmaster's Conference twice while serving as a Head. 

BA (Hons) FCA

Neil is a qualified Chartered Accountant, with a degree in Economics from Lancaster University.  He has a background in Corporate Finance, Real Estate Banking and Property Development/Operations.  

Having joined Radnor House in 2013, he was instrumental in developing the Twickenham operation. He led on the acquisition of what was Combe Bank School in 2015 and spent a further nine years as Finance and Operations Director.  Radnor House Sevenoaks developed almost beyond recognition over that period with Neil leading and delivering significant investments in the estate, infrastructure and staffing.  

As of September 2024, Neil stepped down from his Executive role, and remains on the Board as a Non-Executive Director with specific oversight of Finance and Operations.
He is a sports and fresh air nut, loving nothing more than being in the middle of the Yorkshire Dales, or on a sandy beach with his pair of dogs.

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.

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.

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.

MA, 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 from 2017 to 2024 was Head of Student Support across the whole school.

BSc (Hons) MA PGCE

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• After graduating from the University of Leeds with a BA degree in English Literature and Language, Lottie was selected to join the competitive and rigorous Teach First Graduate Programme. Following the two-year placement, achieving an MA in Leadership and Management alongside her PGCE, Lottie joined Bradford Grammar School as a teacher of English and Drama and Head of Higher Education for three years. From here, Lottie took on the role of Head of English and the Assistant Head position of Head of Scholarship and Academic Excellence at Wetherby Senior School in London for five years. Lottie enjoys exploring the great outdoors with her young family, attending the theatre and discussing literature with friends at her book club.

BA, Dip Teaching

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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.

MA Cantab

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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.

MA (Hons), PGCE

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Scott graduated with an MA in Economics from the University of St Andrews. Following a postgraduate gap year post in a prep school in the Midlands, he undertook a PGCE before spending his formative teaching years at Clifton College in Bristol. He then moved to London, firstly at Alleyn's School and then as Head of Economics and Head of Sixth Form at Eltham College. Beyond work, he is a keen choral singer, an avid football fan, and enjoys days out in the Kent countryside with his young family.

BA (Hons), QTS, MA

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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. 

BA (Hons)

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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.