The Governing Body
The Priory School is led by a group of committed governors that meet each term and are passionate about the strategic direction and development goals of The Priory School. The role of the governing body is to provide strategic leadership and accountability.
It has three key functions:
– Overseeing the financial performance of the school and making sure its money is well spent
– Holding the headteacher to account for the educational performance of the school and its pupils
– Ensuring clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction
Our Governors for 2023-24
| Name | Appointed by | Roles | Type | Committees | Date Appointed | Term of Office expires |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mrs Jo Trimnell | Headteacher | Ex-Officio | All committees | Sep 2020 | ||
| Revd Peter Nevins | Diocese of Guildford | Chair of Governors Chair of Curriculum Committee | Foundation | Curriculum | 1 Jan 2021 | 31 Dec 2024 |
| Canon Peter Bruinvels | Diocese of Guildford | Chair of Resources Committee | Foundation | Resources | 1 Sep 2020 | 31 Aug 2024 |
| Mrs Cara Chillingworth | Parents and Carers of students at the school | Vice Chair of Resources Committee | Parent governor | Resources | 1 Apr 2021 | 31 Mar 2025 |
| Mr Neil Milner | Diocese of Guildford | Foundation | Teaching & Learning | 1 Mar 2021 | 28 Feb 2025 | |
| Mrs Helen Coulson | Diocese of Guildford | Foundation | Curriculum Resources | 24 Feb 2021 | 23 Feb 2025 | |
| Mrs Clare Harrison | Staff employed by the school | Staff governor | Curriculum | 26 Feb 2021 | 25 Feb 2025 | |
| Mrs Ellen Walkinshaw | Governing Body | Vice Chair of Governors Vice Chair of Curriculum Committee | Co-opted governor | Curriculum | 15 Sep 2021 | 14 Sep 2025 |
| Mr Ben Foley | Governing Body | Co-opted governor | Curriculum | 15 Sep 2021 | 14 Sep 2025 | |
| Mrs Nancy Szachno-Dressel | Parents and Carers of students at the school | Parent governor | 18 Oct 2023 | 17 Oct 2027 | ||
| Mrs Hazel Paige | Local Authority | Local Authority governor | Curriculum | 23 Jun 2021 | 22 Jun 2025 |
Resignations in the last 12 months
| Name | Type | Date Appointed | Date resigned |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mrs Ginny Green | Foundation | 1 Sep 2020 | 13 Jul 2023 |
Declaration of Interests
Governors are required to declare and publish details of any relevant business and pecuniary interests that could impact on their ability to act impartially in their dealings with the school.
| Name | Declaration of Interests |
|---|---|
| Canon Peter Bruinvels | None |
| Mrs Cara Chillingworth | None |
| Mrs Helen Coulson | None |
| Mr Ben Foley | None |
| Mrs Clare Harrison | None |
| Mr Neil Milner | None |
| Revd Peter Nevins | None |
| Mrs Hazel Paige | None |
| Mrs Nancy Szachno-Dressel | None |
| Mrs Jo Trimnell | None |
| Mrs Ellen Walkinshaw | Women’s Officer at Mole Valley Constituency Labour Party Director (Progression) at Reigate College Student at University College London |
Attendance Records
Governor Profiles
Mrs Jo Trimnell
Headteacher
Jo has been teaching for 21 years after graduating with a BA Hons with QTS status from the University College of Chichester. She originally studied Physical Education, however her career has taken her to teaching Psychology, which she thoroughly enjoys. Jo started at The Priory School in 2013 as an Assistant Headteacher and then in 2016 as Deputy Headteacher. Before starting at The Priory School, Jo taught in Hampshire and Hertfordshire.
Jo is passionate about the development of all students that attend The Priory School. Her career of working in Learning and Teaching, Pastoral and SEND has given her a wide range of knowledge as to how best to support children and staff.
Rev'd Peter Nevins
Chair of Governors
Rev’d Peter Nevins is the Vicar of St. John the Evangelist, North Holmwood and Area Dean of the Dorking Deanery. He has had three children attend the Priory School and is very enthusiastic about the community, culture and educational quality there. Peter is keen about education both as a teacher and a student. He is a lifelong learner in higher education and has experience as a secondary school teacher, university lecturer, school governor, curriculum writer and chaplain in an educational context.
In particular, Peter is passionate about the entire school and surrounding communities experiencing the love of Jesus and His blessings through education for life in all its fullness.
Canon Peter Bruinvels
Foundation Governor
Canon Peter Bruinvels CC is a Governor of The Church of England Church Commissioners and an elected Member of General Synod. Vice Chairman of Guildford Diocesan Board of Education and an Honorary Canon of Guildford Cathedral. He is an Ofsted SIAMS RE Inspector and SACRE Member.
He is Armed Forces Champion and Honorary Colonel to 11 Infantry Brigade, SE as well as Civilian-Military Liaison Adviser and Military Expert to both Surrey and Kent County Councils.
In 2017, he was awarded The Canterbury Cross by the Archbishop of Canterbury ‘for sustained and outstanding work in support of the Church of England’ – his work in Education and with the Armed Forces was highlighted in the citation
Married with two grown-up daughters, he is President of Dorking and Mole Valley Athletics Club.
Mrs Cara Chillingworth
Parent Governor
Cara joined the governing body as a parent governor in April 2021.
She has one child at The Priory, and one who has recently moved on from The Priory to a local 6th form college. Cara brings to the role of school governor finance, analysis, change management, problem solving and implementation skills developed in close to three decades working in large corporations. She believes that all children should have access to high quality education which opens up opportunities for them and inspires life-long learners, and wants to support The Priory in continuing to deliver this for its students and community.
Mrs Helen Coulson
Foundation Governor
Helen has supported CofE schools through several Governor roles since 2003.
She is currently Chair of Enlighten Learning Trust (ELT) and Churchwarden in the parish of Esher.
In her professional career Helen has held senior leadership positions in a number of major international research firms, specialising in quantitative research, insight and consulting. She is very conversant with financial accountability, personnel development and accountability and data protection.
She brings to her work at The Priory her skills in business across many aspects from data performance, budgeting, financial planning, people development and business and relationship development.
Mr Neil Milner
Foundation Governor
Neil is a former student of The Priory School under its previous guise of Sondes Place.
He has worked for Lloyds Bank for over 30 years, including 9 years as Manager of the Dorking Branch, and is now the Manager of a Branch in London.
Neil lives in Beare Green with his partner Louise and their four children, two of which currently attend The Priory School.
Mrs Ellen Walkinshaw
Co-opted Governor
Ellen is currently an Associate Director at Reigate College, and brings to her role as a Priory governor her experiences of working in education for over 20 years in a variety of roles and settings. These have included subject leadership in both sixth form and 11-18 settings and work as an Advanced Skills Teacher in schools across the London Borough of Wandsworth.
Ellen has a particular interest in increasing the number of students from under-represented groups taking up places at the most competitive universities and also having equal access to broader opportunities such as sporting and cultural activities.Ellen lives in Westcott with her husband and three children.
Mr Ben Foley
Co-opted Governor
Ben comes to the role of governor for the first time after careers in the law and teaching which took him to various parts of the world including Nepal, Colombia and most recently the Bahamas. Whilst at the Bar he advised on and litigated Employment law matters and in teaching he has held various roles including Head of Law, Head of English and Director of Academics.
When he is not teaching students how to dive, Ben spends his time actively involved in the Duke of Edinburgh Award as well as supporting other local youth charities.
Mrs Clare Harrison
Staff Governor
Clare has worked at The Priory since September 1998, during her time at the Priory she has been Head of the PE department and has been a staff governor before. At the present time she is a full time PE teacher and a year 9 tutor. Clare is passionate about providing extra curricular activities and opportunities to all students and strongly believes in the benefit of forging positive relationships with students.
Mrs Hazel Paige
Local Authority Governor