Our Governing Body
As the Governing Board, we are responsible for providing strong leadership to the school and ensuring accountability for our educational and financial performance. Specifically, we oversee the strategy, policy, budgeting and staffing and enable our school to run as effectively as possible, working alongside senior leaders and supporting teachers to provide an excellent education to all children.
Our Chair is responsible for leading the development of the Governors’ strategic vision for the School, ensuring proper mechanisms are in place for the governors to exercise constructive oversight of academic standards and pastoral matters, in addition to making sure the governors fulfil their duty in ensuring the School is fully compliant with the Independent Schools Standards Regulations.
Mark joined the governing body in 1997 and served as an elected Parent Governor until 2003. He returned to the governing body in 2008 and throughout both periods of office has served on the Finance Committee.
A graduate of Cardiff University and a Chartered Accountant by profession, Mark has spent most of his working life in the financial services industry in the City. He has put his financial and general business skills to very good use at St Michael’s in helping to guide the School’s finances through several major building developments, the need to comply with public benefit requirements, and the challenges posed by economic austerity.
Mark also provides tailored strategic planning support to various charities and social enterprises that are tackling disadvantage in the UK.
Mark is married to Gill and has two daughters, both of whom are former pupils of St Michael’s. He enjoys playing tennis, watching football and playing the bass guitar.
Nigel joined the governing body in 2019 and has been Vice-Chair since June 2021. He is a long-term resident of Leigh and is married with two adult daughters.
Nigel is a solicitor and partner in the Southend firm of Tolhurst Fisher although, after 35 years with the firm, he now works on a part-time basis with responsibility for various management roles including training. Nigel was a Southend Borough Councillor for 14 years and Leader of the Council for 7 years. He has also served on the governing bodies of various schools.
Nigel’s interests include walking, photography and the theatre. He is also a supporter and regular visitor to Gloucester Rugby Club.
Diane rejoined the Governing body in October 2024, having previously served as a Governor from 2018 until 2020. She is a member of the Personnel and Education committees.
Diane is a qualified HR professional and was Head of HR for a major financial institution in the City having held both generalist and specialist roles during her career. Since leaving the City Diane has worked at Westcliff High School for Boys as HR Manager and as Head of Careers and WRL (work related learning) -a pupil facing role. She then joined The Fitzwimarc School where she was Head of HR then Business Manager before retiring in August 2022.
Diane lives Leigh with husband Nick and has three grown up children. Diane’s interests include travel, reading, theatre, the French language and she is a season ticket holder at Southend United Football Club.
Fay was a Pathology Manager at the Wellesley Hospital before becoming an elected councillor at Southend Borough Council 17 years ago. Whilst there, she was The Worshipful Mayor in 2018. She is a Director at the Belfairs Academy and an active member of the Boyce Hill Golf Club Rotarian.
Fraser joined the governing body in 2021 and serves on the Buildings and Finance Committees.
Fraser graduated from the University of Westminster in Business Management and runs his own accountancy and payroll company, He also has over 10 years of experience in investment banking, financial services, telecommunications and banking. He is currently working for Thomson Reuters to provide cost savings to the organisation and enable a better agile and collaborative workforce. During his career, he has also delivered cost savings for many organisations including the Royal Bank of Scotland, Balfour Beatty, Deutsche Bank and Lloyds Banking Group.
In his spare time, Fraser enjoys being a Special Constable with Essex Police and has achieved the rank of Inspector leading a team of other volunteer police officers in the Chelmsford & Maldon district. Until recently, he was also a school governor with Mayflower High School in Billericay where he sat on the Premises and Finance Committees. Fraser decided to step down after relocating to Leigh on Sea with his family.
Stuart joined the Governing Body of St Michael’s in 2004 and was Chair of Governors between 2008 and 2010. Stuart is Chairman of the Finance Committee and also sits on the Buildings Committee.
Stuart is an accountant at the Southend-based firm of Accountants Alan A Mills & Co. and has been able to use his extensive experience of finance and helping small businesses to assist St Michael’s considerable development over the years.
Stuart is married with two daughters both of whom attended St Michael’s School. He enjoys the occasional game of tennis, has a keen interest in motorsport and particularly enjoys working on his garden.
Heather joined the governing body in 2022 and serves on the Personnel Committee as well as Chair of the Education Committee.
Heather has been working with the Chelmsford Diocesan Board of Education since 2017 after working for Essex County Council for 39 years, during which time she was a headteacher for 27 years. She offers advice and support on both a practical and strategic level. She has led a range of schools rural, town and coastal ranging from a three-class primary school, an infant school, a junior school up to a 14-class primary school.
Heather’s interests are travel, swimming, gardening, dancing, films, the theatre, reading. She is a member of the Wickford Rock Choir and is actively involved in her local church, being in the church choir and on the PCC.
Father David returned to Essex after leaving Southend as a teenager to go to the London School of Economics. For most of the intervening years, he has been a full-time Chaplain with the Royal Navy, mostly serving with the Royal Marines. His time with them included several tours of Northern Ireland, Bosnia, Kosovo, Iraq, Afghanistan and Sierra Leone.
Father David was delighted to return to parish ministry in such a traditional parish such as St Margaret of Antioch, Leigh on Sea, where there is a daily ministry of services, activities and outreach. St Michael’s is one of four schools in the parish but one with which St Margaret’s has a deep, historical bond and affection. As well as parish life and occasional reservist duties within the Royal Navy and Royal Marines, Father David acts as the National Chaplain for the Royal Marines Association and as County Chaplain to the Royal British Legion.
Come and see for yourself
Book a personal visit or register for one of our open days
Visit our school so you can see for yourselves the class sizes, the dedication and commitment of our staff, the range of facilities and resources available to enhance your child’s learning, meet our pupils and confidently make the right decision for your child.
“Just a note to say thank you to St Michael's for our son's 8 years at the school. He's enjoyed every second of it and has fully embraced all the opportunities the school has to offer. I'm sure his time at the school will stand him in excellent stead for secondary school. As an additional mention, I wanted to let you know how wonderful Mrs Matthews has been for our daughter in Year 4. We've always felt that the teaching has been very good at the school but Mrs Matthews seems to be on a whole other level! Her communication, feedback and encouragement has been excellent. She has clearly spent time really getting to understand the children and our daughter's confidence and ability has come on in leaps and bounds. We cannot thank her enough! ”
- Former Parent
“After a lengthy search in West Oxfordshire at numerous other private schools, I found none of them were a patch on St Michael's. They had huge grounds, impressive sporting and drama facilities, however the special family/nurturing feel we've always loved about St Michael's just wasn't there at all. I decided that if we couldn't find a school which measured up to St Michael's, then there was little point in moving, so we stopped the house move and are remaining where we are.”
- Parent
“During my time at St Michael's, not only did I really enjoy it, I found that I wasn’t scared to move on and I felt prepared and ready for senior school. I now realise just how much the school gave me and at Senior School, I have found topics that I had already covered or had been hinted to in the lessons at St Michael’s. So I really thank the school and feel grateful for the preparation that I had and now use. ”
- Former Pupil
“As a former pupil, St. Michael's was the obvious choice. Their values and school ethos have remained the same and Sophia has become a confident, caring and hardworking individual. ”
- Former Parent and Pupil
“Just wanted to say a big Thank You to all staff and teachers over the last few months. As a full time working Mum I don't know what I would have done without the structure provided each day.”
- Parent
“..thriving, secure, ‘family feel’ environment where children are positively nurtured as individuals and able to reach their own potential.”
- Parent
“St. Michael's is a wonderful school. I would recommend it to anyone looking for a safe haven for their child to grow, learn to be well rounded individuals with the love of God in their hearts and love for all human beings as well as develop academically putting them in a good position ready for the next level of education.”
- Former Parent
“St. Michael's has been on our radar for the last few years following on from various positive conversations with different people about the school, your results and the general atmosphere and approach. With our daughter now turning two, we felt it was a good time to start enquiring and visiting the school. We're so glad we did!”
- Prospective Parent
