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Staff and Board of Governors

Our hard-working, dedicated staff and Governors, each with their own expertise, support our young people to have an educational experience of the highest quality.

The Grange School Staff

Skip down to Governors information

Executive Leadership Team

Dr Lorraine Earps - Head of The Grange School

Mr Stephen Gauller - Chief Operating Officer

Mr Rob Oakes - Head of Senior School

Mr Ben Tagg - Head of Junior School

Senior School - Senior Leadership Team

Mr Rob Oakes - Head of Senior School

Mrs Heather Eaton - Deputy Head, Pastoral

Mr James Walker - Deputy Head, Academic

Mr Jeremy Gribben -  Director of Teaching & Learning

Mrs Heidi Hackett - Director of Enrichment & Co-Curriculum

Mrs Hannah Horsley - Director of Post 16 Education

Full Senior Staff List

Junior School - Senior Leadership Team

Mr Ben Tagg - Head of Junior School

Miss Anna Evans  - Deputy Head, Pastoral

Mr Matthew Pearson - Deputy Head, Academic

Mrs Anna George - Assistant Head

Full Junior Staff List

Support Staff

Mrs Vinnie Williams - Head of Finance

Mr Ben Moore - Head of IT Services

Mr James Birdsey - Head of Estates

Dr Samantha Thistleton - Marketing & Development Manager

Miss Laura Hough - Admissions Registrar (Senior)

Mrs Nicky Pratt - Junior Admissions & Head's PA

Mrs Lynn Geary - HR & Governance Administrator

Mrs Julie Ward - Senior Head's PA & Office Manager

If you would like to speak to a specific member of staff please contact the school office.


Board of Governors

Drawn from a variety of professional backgrounds and all committed volunteers the Governors share The Grange School’s vision. They understand our purpose, ethos and values and play a vital role in the running of the school as well as consulting on and supporting the future path the school takes.

The school is also a Trust, of which all parents are members. An Annual General Meeting takes place in the Spring, where the Board of Governors is confirmed in office and is available to answer questions, it is open for all parents to attend.

The Chair of Governors can be contacted at the school address.

Trevor Brocklebank (Chair of Governors)

Trevor joined the Board of Governors in December 2020 and became Chair in June 2022. Trevor currently holds a portfolio of Non-Executive roles, including Chair of Marketing Cheshire and Vice-Chair of the Cheshire and Warrington Local Enterprise Partnership. He is a Non-Executive Director and founding investor at Workbuzz, an employee satisfaction survey provider and also co-founder of Rise, who provide adapted seated sports across the UK.

Trevor has two children who currently attend the Grange. Trevor and his children are all dyslexic and he has a particular interest in this area. He can often be seen walking his four dogs and spends as much time as possible on the sea, on boats and paddle boards!

Martin Newsholme (Chair of Finance Committee)

Martin became a Governor in September 2018 and chairs the Finance Committee and serves on the Property and Remuneration Committees.  Martin is a non-executive director of businesses in the healthcare and housing sectors having previously been a partner in the accountancy firm KPMG.  He has vast experience of advising boards of public and private companies and of operational management in private business and professional practice.

Martin has twin sons who were pupils at the Grange School prior to moving on to university and work.  Martin has a keen interest in most sports and is a qualified junior rugby coach and an enthusiastic golfer.

Jeremy Simpson (Chair of Property Committee)

Jeremy joined the Board of Governors in 2015 and chairs the Property Committee and serves on the Nominations & Compliance Committee.  He is a Chartered Surveyor and is a Director of Simpsons Commercial Property, a specialist property firm. He was previously a partner in Tushingham Moore. Jeremy was a graduate in Urban Land Economics from Sheffield Polytechnic and has an MBA from the Manchester Business School and is a Fellow of the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors.

Jeremy’s three children all attended The Grange Senior School. He enjoys most sports and regularly plays golf and tennis and enjoys outdoor activities including fell walking, cycling and skiing.

Tracy Pollard (Chair of Education Committee)

Tracy joined the Board of Governors in September 2021 and serves on the Education Committee. She is a retired Headteacher who has taught and led in the education sector for 33 years.  Tracy Chairs the Education Committee of another independent school and mentors educational leaders.

Tracy is passionate about all things outdoors and spends as much time as possible in the Lake District, walking and cycling.  She is a passionate reader and enjoys watching live theatre and dance productions

Vicky Fleetwood 

Vicky joined the Board of Governors in May 2021 and serves on the Nominations & Compliance Committee.

Her 3 children attended the School during the period 1999 to 2020 and Vicky has a keen interest in the wider benefits of education and enrichment activities to help develop resilience in young people.

Vicky has been a practising solicitor for 30 years advising primarily on commercial transactions and compliance within large global companies and has played a key role in encouraging sustainability standards.

Vicky has a keen interest in sport, particularly rugby (at any level) and cricket. She enjoys walking, reading and loves travel.

Naomi Jayatilake

Naomi joined the Board of Governors in June 2019 and serves on the Nominations & Compliance Committee with specific responsibilities for safeguarding. She graduated with an honours medical degree from The University of Liverpool and worked in various hospitals across the North West. She is currently a Speciality Doctor in Community Paediatrics at Leighton Hospital. Safeguarding children and young people is a large part of her role as Community Paediatrician. She serves on the Executive Council for The British Association of Community Child Heath and is a BACCH representative for The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health.

She has one child in the Senior school and 2 now at University who both attended The Grange from Reception through to sixth form.

Julian Llewellyn

Julian joined the Board of Governors in August 2020 and serves on the Finance and Property Committees. He is the Chief Financial Officer of a Manchester based IT business, BCN Group, and holds a Non-Executive in a Cheshire tech start up. 

Outside of work Julian coaches at Lymm Rugby Club, plays cricket and has a keen interest in sport generally. His son currently attends the Grange School.

Tom Sherry

Tom joined the Board of Governors in January 2021 and serves on the Education Committee. Tom first joined the Grange School as a student in 1979. His wife also attended The Grange and they now have two children at the School.

He has been a Drama Producer and Executive Producer for more than 20 years and his current role is Managing Director for Headline Pictures.

Stuart Begg

Stuart joined the Board of Governors in May 2021 and serves on the Property and Nominations & Compliance Committees with specific responsibilities for health & safety. He has over 30 years’ experience in Architecture and Project Management in the design and delivery of a comprehensive range of project types and has a broad understanding of all aspects of construction and procurement methods including partnering strategies essential to deliver successful projects.

Stuart’s two sons attended the Grange from Junior School through to sixth form, the youngest leaving in 2020. Outside his career Stuart enjoys playing golf and, cricket, is a keen skier and swimmer with recovery through Pilates. Stuart also enjoys sketching, gardening and wine tasting and is actively involved in the village community where he lives.

Sarah Eglin

Sarah joined the Board of Governors in June 2022 and serves on the Education  and Nominations & Compliance Committees. With a passion for putting people at the heart of any Organisation, Sarah is an advocate for the People Function to be a force for positive change. Heading up the People Team for Co-op Operations: Stores, Retail Support, Logistics and Funeralcare. Her role focuses on the delivery of the Co-op’s ambitious Culture & Transformation agenda.

Sarah’s 3 children have all commenced education in Reception at the Junior School, and her eldest son is now in year 10 at the Senior School.

With a passion and belief that we are able through empowering our children’s growth and development, to create the next generation of leaders who could truly change the world for good in the UK and beyond. She would like to now use her transformation and cultural experience to support the Grange on the next stage of its journey – a journey where staff, parents and children are all part of co-creating its future.

Phil Tabb

Phil joined the Board of Governors in June 2022 and serves on the Education Committee. Phil graduated from the University of Warwick with a First-Class Honours degree in Economics. Phil has built a career as a Finance Director and, more recently, Managing Director, working with large UK PLCs across multiple sectors including Transport, Technology, and Business Process Outsourcing.

Phil is currently the Managing Director of two technology businesses providing outsourced services to the Public Sector, delivering a Network Managed Service on behalf of London Underground and an automated grant management solution on behalf of the Department of International Trade, which provides funding for UK small and medium sized enterprises to expand internationally.

Phil lives in Hartford with his wife, Jenny, and their daughter who attends the Grange Senior School. He is an enthusiastic musician, has a passion for cricket (both playing and watching), and enjoys outdoor pursuits such as hill walking and paddle boarding. On most weekends, Phil can be found on a riverbank supporting his daughter’s rowing exploits on behalf of the school.

Oliver Matthews

Oliver joined the Board of Governors in June 2022 and serves on the Finance Committee. As a former pupil of the Grange attending both the Junior and Senior schools, Oliver is the proud dad of two daughters who currently attend the Senior School. His time at the Grange found him life time friends including his wife, Tara.

In his career to date Oliver has spent time in both professional practice and the commercial sector where he has held a number of senior finance roles in a variety of industries. In the companies he has been part of, he has relished understanding the core operational mechanics of the business, getting to know the key individuals and their skill sets that make them and the businesses they’re a part of a success, as well as shining a light on what the performance drivers for those businesses are or need to be. Oliver intends to adopt this inquisitive approach as a governor and his goal is to be part of the growth and future success of the school.

Oliver's indulgences are formula1, biking, hiking, golf and enjoying a beer and a game of pool with friends.

Sharon Amesu

Sharon joined the Board of Governors in February 2024. Sharon currently holds a portfolio of Non-Executive roles, including Trustee of the Hallé Orchestra, Board Member of the Greater Manchester Good Employment Charter and Regent for Liverpool Hope University. Sharon is a former Criminal Barrister and is a Director of SA Consulting an organisation that supports businesses with Leadership Development and Diversity and Inclusion solutions.

Sharon has three children, her youngest child currently attends the Grange. Sharon has a particular interest in ensuring that the school environment is welcoming and inclusive for all children, staff and parents.

Mark Webster

Mark joined the Board of Governors in February 2024. He and his wife, Gill, have been Grange parents for 17 years, with all three of their children having attended the school.

Mark recently retired after a 35-year career in the medical devices industry, most recently as International Vice President of a US resuscitation equipment manufacturer.

Since retiring, he has become trustee of a charity supporting people with a learning disability, is a university guest speaker and MBA mentor. Additionally, Mark is a GoodSAM cardiac responder and runs the Alpha Course. When not doing these things, he is usually to be found spending time with his family, out on the golf course or the playing guitar.