PARAGON SCHOOL - Key Persons
A Hong Konger of Portuguese heritage, Tony grew up in both Hong Kong and Lisbon but now divides his time between Bath and Twickenham.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Trustees
In a career that spans more than 30 years, Lauren has held many leadership positions in primary, secondary and special education. She has worked in the maintained and academy sector undertaking roles locally, regionally and nationally and has been fortunate enough to be invited by secretaries of state for education and ministers to help develop policy on workload, headteacher standards and early years provision. She served as chair for the DfE primary heads reference group for a number of years, worked with Dame Reena Keeble to redevelop the Arts Mark Award and in 2015 was awarded the OBE for services to education. Lauren is the Governor with responsibility for safeguarding.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Trustees
Laurence has spent the last 20 years working in senior leadership of independent schools, and latterly as Head at Frederick Hugh House School, London. He has specialisms in school improvement, leadership support and change management.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Trustees
- Vice Chair of the Fundraising Regulator
Margaret joined the governing body in September 2020. Born, and brought up a Catholic, in Manchester, she was educated at Loreto Convent in Moss Side. She read law at Durham University and following qualification as a solicitor, spent 22 years as a competition and commercial partner, and head of department, at City law firm, Travers Smith LLP. Since stepping down as a partner at the end of 2012, she has been volunteering in the charitable sector. She is currently a trustee and Vice Chair of Sue Ryder, and a trustee of Great Britain Wheelchair Rugby and of the Royal Voluntary Service.
Margaret is also Vice Chair of the Fundraising Regulator, the regulator of charitable fundraising in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Job Titles:
- Chairman of the Board of Trustees
- Chairman of Trustees
A Governor since 2013, Anne studied Chinese & Linguistics at Leeds University before joining HM's Overseas Civil Service. Anne served as Administrative Officer in Hong Kong between 1981 and 1997 where she developed policies on, amongst other areas, Education, the Environment and Disability Discrimination. Anne lives in Bath and is currently the Chair of the Board of Directors of the Museum of East Asian Art in Bath.
Anne's two children were educated at The Paragon School, with one going onto Prior Park College. Anne was Chair of the Prior Park College Parents' Association for six years. In her spare time Anne enjoys walking, swimming, reading and cooking.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Trustees
- Chairman of Local Board
- Chairman of the Advisory Committee for the Paragon )
Jane joined the Governing Board in 2016 following a 30-year career as teacher and teacher trainer in the field of Teaching English as a Foreign Language, both overseas (Greece, Egypt and France) and in the UK. Latterly, she was a lecturer at the University of Bath, specialising in English for Academic Purposes and Employability Skills. Currently, she teaches on communication skills courses for Chinese interpreters and translators. Her three children attended Prior Park College. Jane lives in a village near Keynsham and in her spare time, she is a Church Warden, loves playing tennis, gardening and walking with her husband and dog in the local countryside.
Job Titles:
- Admissions and Marketing Manager
Nic studied Business Studies at the University of West London. There followed a 30 year career in international banking working in London, Paris and Tokyo where he specialised in private equity and leveraged finance,
In the last few years he has gained both executive and non-executive board expertise whilst working for multiple local and national charities and voluntary organisations. He is currently the Chair of Governors at Cirencester Primary School.
An avid follower of rugby (he is a Twickenham Stadium Tour Guide!) he enjoyed sailing and retains a love of watching cricket and divides his time between Mortlake and Cirencester.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Trustees
Rev Rawlinson is the University Chaplain, University of Bath. He qualified in Medicine from Cambridge (Emmanuel College and Addenbrooke's Hospital) in 1980. After surgical training, and whilst working in A&E at the BRI, he trained in WEMTC, Bristol, to be ordained into self-supporting ministry in 1999. He continued working as priest and "ordained doctor" as an A&E consultant, and then at Dorothy House Hospice as a specialist doctor. From 2011-2016 he was Director of Student Affairs at the Medical School in Bristol and in September 2016 he became a stipendiary ministry, working in the same location - outside church. He began as chaplain and team leader in the University of Bath. After over 30 years at All Saints Church, Weston, he and his wife Pat moved to worship at Bath Abbey in 2019. He and Pat have two daughters, Claire and Anna-Fleur, one son-in-law and two grandchildren. Anna-Fleur joined Prior Park College in the 6th form - an experience that was to be a life foundation for her.
Simon is currently Headmaster of Chafyn Grove, an independent, coeducational boarding, prep school in Salisbury. He was educated at Stonyhurst and Cambridge. After a gap year as a Platoon Commander in the Royal Green Jackets, he taught at Dulwich College Preparatory School. He then spent a year in up-country Kenya at Pembroke House before moving to St. John's Beaumont Prep School in Windsor as Housemaster, then Deputy Head. In 2010 he took over the Headship of Moreton Hall in Suffolk, before moving to Chafyn Grove in September 2016.
Job Titles:
- Vice Chair of the Board of Trustees
A Governor since 2019, Tony was educated at Prior Park College (1972-1977) before moving onto study mathematics at Queens' College, Cambridge. After over 25 years' experience in investment banking in the City, he spent eight years as Finance Director in the oil sector. He is now Director and owner of a financial and investor relations consultancy, Caros Consulting Limited. Tony is also Senior Independent Director and Chairman of the Audit Committee of JKX Oil & Gas plc.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Trustees
Victoria has worked for over 25 years in education. She has been a primary teacher, a governor of two schools, MD of an EdTech business, worked for AQA Education and is now a freelance consultant and project manager. Victoria loves a challenge and was a member of the first all-female expedition to the North Pole. Since then, she has been back to the Arctic twice, run multiple marathons and has climbed Kilimanjaro. She is a motivational speaker and uses her adventure experiences to run resilience workshops for schools and businesses with a message of ‘Why not, what's the worst that can happen?'
Victoria is very involved in the life of Langridge Church and is currently a member of the PCC. Her son is currently in his final year at Prior Park College (2023) having joined the Paragon nursery at the age of three.