Governor Profiles
Please find below the profiles of some of our Governing Body:
James Rothwell (Chair of Governors)
James Rothwell read Classics at Magdalen College, Oxford and retired in July 2018 after 41 years as a Classics teacher. Latterly he was Senior Master at Marlborough College and then at St Mary's, Calne.
He is a Court member of the Worshipful Company of Dyers, with which St Saviour's has a close connection. He is married with four grown up children and divides his time between Wiltshire (where he governs a local primary school) and London. His interests include Cricket, Rugby and British Political History.
Laura Johnson
Laura is a former student of St Saviour’s & St Olave’s and also worked at the school as PA to the Senior Leadership Team when her children were both babies.
Laura has a varied professional background having worked for HMRC, other Southwark schools and in the music and hospitality industry. Laura currently works for the National Education Union in their London Regional Office, helping assist members who are encountering difficulties with their employers and assisting in the Union’s campaigns for more funding for schools, assessments, workload and pay.
Laura is also a parent governor at Charles Dickens Primary School, located in the Borough.
Laura lives in the local area with her two sons and enjoys the fun activities to be had in the area, especially dining out and socialising.
Martin Hodgson
Martin who was born and brought up near Glasgow now splits his time between Yorkshire, where his family are based, and London where he lives within 1 mile of St Saviour's & St Olave's School. Martin is married and has 2 children aged 15 and 17 who attend a Quaker school in York. Martin is a chartered accountant and is a partner with PwC who employ several thousand people within Southwark. Martin has a Masters degree from Glasgow University in Economics and Economic History. Outside of work and family, interests include running, sport as a spectator, cooking, travel and history.
Stephen Parry
Stephen graduated through the University of Life by entering the City post his 'A' levels. He progressed through the ranks to become a Managing Director at Lehman Brothers where he managed and built a variety of trading and investment businesses, while also spending several years in New York. He subsequently moved to Nomura, after Lehman's demise, to manage their proprietary trading business. He then took some time out from work to literally 'spend more time with the family' which comprises his wife Lucy and three children. He currently works as an Investment manager at a Hedge Fund in the West End.
Stephen has historical, one step removed, connections with the foundation schools as his wife and her mother both attended St Saviour's. His father also attended St Olave's while on it's previous Tooley Street site.
Stephen is additionally a Trustee of the St Olave's and St Saviour's Schools Foundation, as Dulwich Estate's representative. Outside of these activities he enjoys golf, sailing and walking and warmly embraces general socialising!
Rob Thomas
Rob grew up in Devon and moved to London to study an Economics Degree at Brunel University. After graduation he began his career in the city where he now has over 15 years experience in Financial Services, predominantly in risk management, product management and consulting. He currently works as an Executive Director at Coutts & Co. who are partnered with St Saviours and help support the school through open days, teacher and pupil mentoring and other activities.
Rob lives in Epsom, Surrey and is married with 2 children; a daughter who is in Year 1, and a son who goes part time to nursery. Rob is a volunteer for the Princes Trust and Coram and supports various charities through fundraising. His hobbies include golf, running and windsurfing.
Cherish Bere
Cherish is the Head of Religious Studies at St Saviour’s and St Olave’s. Prior to this she was an Assistant Head of Year and Teacher of Social Sciences at Beths Grammar School, Bexley. She is an Associate Fellow of Kings College London and holds a Masters in Education Management. Cherish is passionate about effective teaching and learning and before completing her PGCE at Kings College London she studied Theology and Religious Studies at York St John University.
Cherish is also the Co-Founder of Effective Education Africa a charity that works to support the provision of girls’ education in sub Saharan Africa particularly her home country Zimbabwe. In her spare time Cherish enjoys cooking, reading and travelling.
Sue Long (Vice Chair of Governors)
Sue had a very happy career as a teacher for 39 years. She began teaching in 1974 and, with the exception of one year, when she moved to Lambeth, she has always taught in Southwark schools. Sue grew up in Peckham and went to school in Camberwell. She taught at St Saviour's and St Olave's for 27 years and was deputy head for 23 of those years. She is proud to say that she was deputy to three of the six heads that St Saviour's has had in its 117 year history! Sue retired in 2013 but SSSO has always remained close to her heart. She moved to West Sussex in 2014 and has enjoyed being in a more rural area whilst regularly hopping on the train to London for retail therapy and catching up with friends! Also in 2014 she was appointed by Woodard to the Academy Council of an academy in Maidstone, becoming the vice-chair a while later. She is safeguarding lead for the Council. Sue has two daughters and six grandchildren who keep her busy. Sue feels very privileged to be a governor at St Saviour's and St Olave's and is greatly looking forward to the role.
Tsion Martins
Before graduating from University with a degree in Criminal Justice and Legal Studies, Tsion worked with several community groups in London which used the creative arts to work with Young Offenders. After graduating, Tsion began to work as a mentor, based in Walworth Academy, and was brought on staff as part of the pastoral team for Year 11. After this - wanting to focus more on the direct mentoring of young people - he worked as a Talent Development Manager in the city and started to connect young people directly with coaches and opportunities from the corporate sector. These included companies such as Investec, Skanska, GSK, Endemol and Coutts. He has delivered programs in several schools including: Raynes Park, Battersea Park, Featherstone School, Acton High School, Evelyn Grace, Parkview School, St. Josephs, and Stockley Academy.
Tsion’s work in the community after partnering with several like-minded individuals, continued to expand to start the company - Bridge The Gap Studios. BTG Studios allows young people to visualise, and interact with their goals, while at the same time learning to express themselves using the creative arts - as well as music and drama therapy. This work has allowed for great collaborations with The Young Vic, Trinity Arts College and even Parliament - where (in collaboration with the Youth violence Commission) a group of their young people showcased a drama production there!
With a wealth of experience in program innovation and creation, inspiring/building young leaders and creating understanding around trauma and mental health, Tsion is currently focused on developing BTG’s parenting programs and holistic family engagement.
Atia Williams
Atia has worked in Human Resources within the Education sector in Local Authorities and directly with schools for over 20 years until her retirement at the end of 2019 (just before the pandemic).
She is a post graduate and Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) and also sits on Employment Tribunals as a lay member.
Her last job before she retired was with the Southwark Diocesan Board of Education which she loved and which confirmed her own commitment to schools and enabling our young generations.
Atia has swapped employment for caring responsibilities and her time is busily and happily spent looking after her wonderful young grandchildren and ailing mother.
David Morgan
David grew up in London, read Chemistry at Durham University and has an MBA from Warwick Business School. He is a Director of Information Technology at AstraZeneca, where he has worked since 2006 in a variety of UK and international roles. He lives in northwest London, with his wife and young son. His interests include hiking, nature, astronomy, art and travelling.