Our Governors

Simon became a Governor at RMS/ the School in January/ March 2017, since which time he has been on the HR, Estates and F&GP committees.

He became Chair of the Governors in February 2023.  Before retiring at the end of 2020, he was a senior partner at City law firm CMS, and was widely acknowledged for his expertise in providing advice in relation to commercial property investment and development for both U.K. and foreign investors.

As well as having had a number of management roles at the firm, he was a trusted adviser to a number of the firm’s most important clients who looked to him for legal and strategic advice. He lives in Amersham and, since May 2021, he has been a parish councillor.   He is a keen road cyclist, walker, tennis player and golfer. He and his wife, Jill, have three grown-up children , Tom, Matthew and Lucy

Peta started her successful teaching career in 1976 and she was a headteacher for twenty years.  She has been headteacher of a primary school in Rickmansworth, as well as working as a School Improvement Partner for Bath and North East Somerset Council for several years.

Peta has always enjoyed serving on a school governing body and has been a governor of many schools over the last 30 years. In addition, Peta was an OFSTED inspector of schools and worked as an education consultant. Peta has now retired and is about to begin her doctorate at the University of Bristol. As a result of all of this, she has extensive knowledge of education and the school inspection system.

Tessa Lemon has worked in HR management for over 25 years, most recently in higher education. Employers have included Ernst & Young, the Audit Commission and Brunel University London. She now undertakes consultancy projects to help organisations attract, develop and grow their people talent and maximise individual performance and engagement. Tessa studied History at Southampton University and then went on to undertake her HR qualification at the University of West of England. In 2010 she pursued her interest in cultural change by gaining a post graduate diploma in the Psychology of Organisational Development from Herriot Watt University. She is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development and on the governing body of an infant and early years’ school. She lives in Amersham and enjoys travelling, theatre, reading and keeping fit. She has run two marathons as well as a number of half marathons.

Mark is a Headteacher at a co-educational day prep school in Hertfordshire. Mark has worked in education for 30 years teaching a variety of subjects including English and sports. He was the Director of Sport and a houseparent at Repton Prep School and Head of Stonar Prep School in Wiltshire, he has taught at a variety of maintained and independent schools in his career. Mark is also an ISI team inspector and a father of 3 who enjoys all sports and trying to keep fit.

Sean is a Chartered Surveyor with over 25 years experience working in the commercial property sector and holds a Masters in Business Administration. Sean runs the London business at a national real estate company, Lambert Smith Hampton, having previously held senior positions at DTZ (now Cushman & Wakefield.) Sean specialises in providing Property & Asset Management advice to a range of financial institutions and property companies across the UK. He is also currently a Non-Executive Director of a not for profit charity, Forward Housing, which helps provide accommodation for people suffering with disabilities. Sean lives locally and his daughter attended the school up to July 2018. He is a very keen sportsman with a particular passion for golf, cycling, rugby and football!

Robert has worked at leading, local independent schools since 2008 teaching Politics and Philosophy, coaching Hockey and taking on a variety of roles including Housemaster, Head of Sixth Form and most recently Academic Deputy Head. A Law graduate of the universities of Cambridge and Paris, Robert worked in London as a solicitor and entrepreneur, before entering teaching and completing his PGCE in Theology and Philosophy. Robert lives in Sarratt with his wife and two sons, where he enjoys running, cycling, tennis and a spot of environmental activism.

Berneej is an entrepreneur operating a B&B and has recently opened a Code Ninjas franchise in Borehamwood. Having studied Chemical Engineering at Imperial Berneej spent 14 years in the City including 7 years at Morgan Stanley before leaving the industry in 2014 to run his own business. Berneej enjoys playing hockey and has two daughters who both study at RMS.

Sharron is currently an Assistant Headmistress at an HMC co-educational independent school in Bushey, Hertfordshire where she is the Director of Sixth Form and also the Deputy Designated Safeguarding Officer. Having studied History and Politics at the University of Manchester, Sharron completed her PGCE in History at the University of Cambridge. She lives locally with her three children and enjoys reading and spending time outdoors. Sharron is a member of the pastoral and academic sub-committees.

Andrew is an Investment Manager, with over 30 years’ experience of advising charities on their investments, and is a Chartered Fellow of the Securities Institute. He is currently a Senior Investment Director at Psigma Investment Management where he is responsible for leading the charities business. He is a trustee of the Masonic Charitable Foundation, where he chairs the Investment Committee and he carries out a similar role for the Worshipful Company of Ironmongers where he is a Liveryman and sits on the Court. He also serves as a Trustee of the Sir Halley Stewart Trust (a grant giving charity), The ICAEW Charitable Trusts and The Harrow Mission Trust. He is currently a Foundation Governor at Christ’s Hospital School in Horsham and served a four year term as a governor at The Cathedral School of St Saviour and St Mary Overie.

Ian is the Bursar of Merchant Taylors’ School in Northwood. He was in the British Army for thirty years, serving in Germany, Belize, Canada, Australia, the Balkans, the Middle East and Afghanistan. Ian is a former athlete and Nordic skier, who retains a keen interest in outdoor education as a white water kayak coach and canoe leader. A graduate of the Führungsakademie in Hamburg and the University of Canberra, his professional qualifications are in leadership, strategic management, financial strategy and project management. Ian lives with his wife and two sons in Northwood.

Helen has worked in market research for over 25 years. She is currently Global Chief Experience Officer for Customer Experience and Mystery Shopping at Ipsos. Previous roles include Global Chief Marketing and Communications Officer and Managing Director of Ipsos Loyalty, UK. Helen is a highly experienced events speaker and chair at industry events.

Helen is passionate about unlocking potential; she is a business mentor and trained coach, with a focus on supporting future leaders. She is a leadership team member of Ipsos ‘Women in Ipsos’ a network charged with maximising the potential of women, by inspiring them to reach their full potential. She has led a corporate school partnership programme and is currently in the throes of creating a Corporate School Responsibility (CSR) initiative, concerned with providing access to education for children – with a focus on girls – who have forcibly been displaced from their homes.

Helen is married to Nick, they have four daughters, currently all pupils at RMS for Girls, and a fox red labrador.

Keith was a Governor at RMS for 46 years and served as Chairman for 25 years. He is a Fellow of the ICAEW and CIOT, Member of the SSBV, Freeman of the City of London and retired member of Monopolies & Mergers Commission. Keith practised as a Chartered Accountant and spent 40 years lecturing in the UK and overseas. He was honoured by the Queen as a Commander of the Most Excellent order of the British Empire and as a Commander of the Venerable Order of St John of Jerusalem. His astute business brain was invaluable in helping to bring the school to the sound financial basis it now enjoys.