Charlotte Marten
Richard Harman
Prof Mona Siddiqui OBE
Rt Hon Sir Nick Gibb
Virginia Parkes
Alex Mitchell
Julie Robinson
Lorraine Davidson
Barney Northover
Sue Roxby
Ali Henderson
Heather Styche-Patel
Tom Beardmore-Gray
Charlotte Marten has served as Chair of AGBIS since 2024. She is a governor at North London Collegiate School. She is former Deputy Chair of Governors at Rugby School and former Chair of the Grammar School Heads' Association. Charlotte remains actively involved in education through her role as a director of the Inspire Education Trust, and through her work as an education consultant.
Sir Nick Gibb was the MP for Bognor Regis and Littlehampton between 1997 and 2024, having represented the constituency for 27 years. Nick is also a former Schools Minister, serving for over 10 years in the UK Government under four Prime Ministers (2010-12, 2014-21 and 2022-23). He is a qualified chartered accountant, having worked for KPMG in the 13 years prior to becoming an MP in 1997. Nick graduated in law from the University of Durham in 1981.
As Schools Minister, Nick introduced the Phonics Screening Check and the Multiplication Tables Check and he reformed the Primary National Curriculum as well as introducing revised GCSEs and A levels.
As Education Minister, Nick overhauled the teacher training framework (“Core Content Framework”), and the CPD for teachers in the first two years in the profession (“Early Career Framework”) to ensure that initial teacher training and continuing professional development was evidence-led, as determined by the Education Endowment Foundation. He also oversaw the reform of the suite of National Professional Qualifications (“NPQs”) for teachers, senior leaders and head teachers. He also revised, simplified and strengthened the Teachers’ Standards.
The PIRLS international study of the reading ability of 9-year-olds reported England coming 4th in the world of countries that tested children of the same age, with England achieving its highest ever score – largely attributed to the reforms introduced since 2010. And the recent PISA survey showed England rising from 17th to 11th place in Maths.
A recent Daily Telegraph article
quoted Nick Gibb “as the most influential schools minister in England’s history”.
Alex Mitchell's career spans 38 years in the maintained and, predominantly, independent sectors including day, boarding, single sex, co-ed, tied and standalone schools. After many years as a Director of Music in several schools, including Haberdashers' Girls' School in Elstree and the Loughborough Foundation Schools in the East Midlands, he became Headmaster of Holmwood House School in Colchester, Essex in 2009 for 12 years. During that time, Alex was Chairman of the IAPS East Anglia district. Since 2002, Alex built up 24 years' experience as an ISI inspector and, since 2019, has been a Reporting Inspector for UK and international inspections. Until recently, Alex was a governor of an independent school in Hertfordshire and is currently a governor of a British international boarding school in Africa. Having undertaken reviews of governance, he now leads the AGBIS International programme as well as coordinating consultancy services for both UK and international member schools.
Julie Robinson began her career as a teacher, housemistress then head of prep schools. Julie led on education and training for the prep schools association, IAPS, then joined the Independent Schools Council in 2015.
ISC’s small team of staff has been described as “sleepless champions of the sector”, representing independent education at national level in the media and across government departments.
ISC’s data analysis informs advocacy of the sector and Julie promotes sector-wide campaigning, appearing in the national media (including Newsnight, Sky, BBC and Channel 4 News, The Today Programme) and contributing to books and articles.
ISC is a coordinating body bringing together the associations representing heads, governors, bursars and schools (AGBIS, GSA, HMC, ISA, IAPS, ISBA and the Society of Heads) along with affiliates BSA, COBIS, SCIS and WISC, to inform and promote the sector, rebutting untruths and explaining the value of independent education to wider society.
ISC provides a vital route into government policy for independent schools groups as well as presenting a united front for the sector at large.
Julie is a parent and a school governor for a state school and an independent school.
Lorraine Davidson was a senior civil servant at the Scottish Government where she was Head of Education Strategy, Head of vaccine oversight during the pandemic and Head of European Engagement. She served a Vice Chair of Gordonstoun. Lorraine also enjoyed a 20-year career in the media during which she was a BBC political correspondent at Westminster, Europe Correspondent for the Daily Mirror in Brussels and a political correspondent for the Times. She also wrote a biography of the former First Minister Jack McConnell.
Sue joined ISBA in 2025 and leads the ISBA Advice and Guidance team – with responsibility for co-ordinating the advice and guidance support and resources for schools. She joined ISBA from a school group where she was Business Director, prior to which she was a school Bursar. Her career in education has also included being Director of Operations in a for-profit group, management consultancy (education policy and implementation) with a “big-four” firm, and teaching (in the UK and overseas).
Ali is the CEO of Royal National Children's SpringBoard Foundation. Ali brings over 15 years’
experience of leading programmes and policies to address social inequality from roles in the civil service, including for Prime Ministers Blair & Brown, as well as in local government and in various charity roles. Prior to becoming CEO, Ali led RNCSF's focus on impact and learning for two years, having joined RNCSF from Oxfam GB.
Heather is Chief Executive Officer at RSAcademics and leads their work to help schools build strong leadership, effective governance and thriving communities.
Since joining RSAcademics in 2014, she has brought strategic insight and deep sector understanding to her work with schools. Before becoming CEO, Heather led both the Consultancy Services practice and the Professional Services Appointments team, supporting schools across the independent and state sectors to strengthen their leadership and plan for the future.
Her consultancy projects have ranged from strategic reviews and research studies to brand development, fundraising and change management. Whatever the brief, Heather focuses on helping school leaders and governors make confident, evidence-based decisions that have a lasting impact.
Earlier in her career, Heather held senior roles in higher education, including Faculty Manager of the Business School and Director of Marketing and Market Development at the University of Surrey. She later served as Director of Finance & Operations of an independent school and Business Manager at an academy. She studied Law and German and holds an MBA from Henley Management College.
Heather is Chair of the Board of Whole Education and previously served as a governor of a large UK independent school for over a decade. She is motivated by a belief that strong, values-led leadership in schools can change lives and communities for the better.
Tom Beardmore-Gray was educated at Ampleforth College and University College, Oxford. After three years with the Metropolitan Police Tom qualified as a Chartered Accountant with Price Waterhouse in 1990 and went on to work for Pepsi and De Beers.
In 2010 Tom became CFO of the Girls’ Day School Trust where he managed a broad range of M&A activity. In 2018 Tom became Chief Executive with Prep Schools Trust and managed the Trust’s merger with Radley to form the Radley Schools Group in 2025.
Tom is Warden of Bradfield and a director of AGBIS. He has previously served as Vice President of the University of Reading and as Chair of Governors at Lambrook School.
