Meet our Governors

Stuart Field Co-opted Governor (Co-Chair of Governing Body)

Appointed by: The Governing Body
Term of office expiry: 29th October 2026

I joined the Governing Body in October 2018 and sit on the Standards, Teaching and Learning Committee.

Living locally, I believe schools to be a cornerstone of any community. I believe passionately that children deserve the best education regardless of background or family circumstances and that this should be delivered in a safe and nurturing environment.

Having worked in the City for the past 20 years, I hope to use my professional experience to assist the school continue its great work.  

 

Rob Chidley Parent Governor ( Co-Chair of Governing Body)

Appointed by: Parents of the School                                                                             Term of Office expiry: 3rd October 2025                         

I became Parent Governor in October 2021 and have a daughter in Year 1 who joined the school for Reception. In choosing the school for our daughter, my wife and I were sold on the aspirational Hillcross vision for the students, which extends beyond the classroom. In our short time at the school, we have already seen the positive impact this has had on our daughter, not least while the school has simultaneously been navigating the COVID pandemic, both practically and pastorally.

I am a partner in a City law firm and have lived in London for over 15 years, although originally from Yorkshire. I work in private M&A and debt finance and have experience advising and assisting corporate boards in managing businesses from a variety of sectors, both solvently and in distressed situations. I deal with people and paper on a day-to-day basis and consider this good grounding for assisting the board of governors and the teaching staff at Hillcross with their endeavours for developing the school. I regularly work alongside my firm’s Charities team, procuring finance for assisted living villages, schools and hospitals and understand what is required of charities in managing their duties. I am also currently co-Chair of my firm’s Diversity & Inclusion Strategy Group and am actively involved in various initiatives across the firm. D&I is applicable across all environments and I look forward to helping the school imbed a progressive agenda in this regard.

I have a vested interest in ensuring that the school continues to progress and thrive, and I hope to become a valued member of the governing board during my tenure and to proactively use my experiences to benefit and promote the school, its pupils and staff.

 

Caroline Harold Co-opted Governor (Co-Vice-Chair of Governing Body and Chair of Personnel Committee)

Appointed by: The Governing Body
Term of office expiry: 29th October 2026    

I joined the governing body in 2018 and am a member of the Personnel Committee.

My grandson is a pupil at the school and I have been impressed by the high level of care and unfailing level of commitment to his wellbeing and that of all the other children in the school.

I am a Barrister and Senior Lawyer presently working within the Civil Service and have worked for a number of Government Departments.  I have extensive  experience in employment and commercial law together with a keen interest in public and regulatory law, and alongside this I have a good deal of experience in terms of delivery from the operational perspective, specifically of organisation and people-centred change.

I am a strong proponent of life-long learning and continuous development and consider the education and development of future generations to be of immense importance and I wish to support the school in its efforts to help every child achieve their full potential.

I have a broad range of skills and experience that enable me to act as a critical friend to the school, and I am happy for those skills to be used in any way that may be of assistance either to meet strategic and business planning objectives or to further the educational and pastoral aims of the school.

 

Tony Williams Co-opted Governor (Co-Vice-Chair of Governing Body)

Appointed by: The Governing Body
Term of office expiry: 29th October 2026

It is thanks to my grandson Jude that I am now a Governor at Hillcross School joining in November 2018. Picking Jude up from school has given me the opportunity to view the school from both the inside and the outside. What I have seen in terms of quality of education, an ethos of inclusivity and fun and a caring approach in all matters has given me an appetite to be part of the Hillcross School future journey. I feel privileged that I have been given that opportunity.

In respect of my school experience, I am also a Governor at Dysart School (which specialises in children with autism), have been a Board Trustee for the Radius Trust (managed three schools focussed on special educational needs) and was Deputy Chair of Governors at my children’s primary school (Malden Manor) for six years.

My background and work experience is a mixture of public, private and not for profit sectors. I have worked as the Director of HR Services in the Home Office, a consultant for Insight HR Consultancy (I now run my own consultancy Tony Williams Associates) and the Executive Director of People at the Orbit Group Housing Association. I have also set up Project4Africa which focuses on raising funds to Make a difference to the lives of children (we have built a school and maternity unit in Malawi).

What has always driven me is an interest in people and making a difference to their lives. My key skills focus on coaching and mentoring, strategic planning, transforming organisations and people engagement.

In my Governor’s role at Hillcross I am a member of the Business Committee and the Childrens Champion lead. 

 

Cassie Bossman  Co-opted Governor 

Appointed by: The Governing Body
Term of office expiry: 31st August 2026

I joined the governing body at Hillcross Primary School in September 2022.

I am a Financial Advisor and I have worked in Banking and Finance for over 15 years. My experience is in Relationship management and offering bespoke financial advice. In the last 5 years I changed careers and moved into Education where I gained qualification and experience as a Teacher. I am now entering the research space by pursuing Doctoral studies in Education. I am a lifelong learner, and I am very passionate about Education and believe that it is a key to the beginnings of self discovery for all children. I live locally, and I am really excited about this opportunity. I look forward to using my skills and abilities to serve my community and make a positive impact in the lives of the children at Hillcross Primary School.

 

Sharon Furlong-Beaumont Co-opted Governor (Chair of Business Committee)         

 Appointed by: The Governing Body
Term of office expiry: 18th October 2027

I joined the Governing body in October 2015, and I am the SEN and the Eco Governor. I am the chair of the Business Committee and previously served as the Vice-Chair of the Standards, Teaching and Learning Committee. 

I am a finance professional and I work full-time as a Product Manager in a global Corporate and Investment Bank.  In my role I work closely with legal and risk teams on regular basis. 

I am a qualified chartered accountant with experience in business assurance and auditing.  I also have significant recruitment and training experience. 

I bring my genuine interest in education, my financial background and my risk and control awareness to the Governing Body. I am committed to ensuring that the children educated at Hillcross school continue to be offered the best learning opportunities possible.

 

Peter Thomas Co-opted Governor (Chair of STL Committee)              

Appointed by: the Governing Body 
Term of Office Expiry: 6th December 2024

I joined the governing body in December 2020 as a member of the Standards, Teaching & Learning Committee.

I have a strong interest in education and its life enhancing outcomes in the lives of children and young adults. I have previously been a Local Authority appointed Governor at Hillcross and a Governor and Director at St. Mary’s University Twickenham.

I am a retired international banker who has worked in Asia Pacific, the Middle East and the United Kingdom largely in client coverage, credit risk, corporate restructuring and project management roles in Corporate, Institutional and Investment Banking.

I am currently a member of St George’s Healthcare NHS Trust and a Magistrate.

I hope that my professional experience and previous knowledge of Hillcross will enable me to contribute to the Governing Body.Local Authority Governor

Kate Billingham-Wilson Parent Governor

 Appointed by: Parents of the School                                         Term of Office expiry:  3rd February 2024

I became a Parent Governor in February 2020, my two girls currently attend Hillcross School having both started in nursery. In that time I have been able to see the great community atmosphere that Hillcross has and the nurturing environment that it provides to allow children to learn and develop.

I am a senior charity fundraiser and have worked in the sector for over 20 years, latterly managing teams that raise substantial figures each year (circa £3million+ pa). Working in this area has given me valuable and extensive experience of budget planning and management and the financial constraints that organisations (including schools) have to work within and the adaptability required to do so. It has also given me the experience of the statutory requirements that charities need adhere to when helping vulnerable adults and children and the empathy required to work with diverse community groups. I hope that my considerable professional experience has given me a good understanding of these areas which I would be able to bring to the role of parent governor. 

As a governor I aim to support the school’s senior staff to continue to meet the challenges of running a large primary school, offering constructive challenge where necessary, as well as enabling teachers to express their concerns, as well as provide a positive impact as a parent governor to the benefit of pupils, parents, teachers and support staff.  

Carolyn Hillis Co-opted Governor 

Appointed by: the Governing Body 
Term of Office Expiry: 31st August 2026

I am an HR professional currently working as a Senior HR Business Analyst & Projects Manager.

Professionally, my passion is around continuous improvement, and my career has focussed on transformation programmes, emphasising simplification and harmonisation of processes, policies, and technology, all within the HR function.

In this world where we can find ourselves overwhelmed with options, I’m passionate about ensuring children are aware of the opportunities available to them, and they have the courage and self-belief to be able to achieve their goals. 

Dr Clare Owen Co-opted Governor 

Appointed by: The Governing Body
Term of Office expiry: 16th January 2026

I am very happy to be joining the governing body of Hillcross.      I wholeheartedly believe in the importance of ensuring all children have the opportunity to equity in educational excellence, as well as supporting the school to continue developing and celebrating their pupils and achievements.  I support the idea of a holistic approach to school life and an enriching curriculum which recognises and nurtures individual strengths and passions, so children have the confidence to enjoy learning.

I am a teacher and education consultant with more than twenty years’ experience.  Much of my work has been supporting children and young people with additional needs.  I am committed to helping improve their outcomes both academically and pastorally, and carry out research into how we might best achieve this.  I hope I can support the governing body as it provides both vision and accountability.

Please see the document below for full membership details, declarations of interest and attendance records of our current governing body. 

Staff Governor - Claire Bright

Appointed by: The Staff Body

Term of Office expiry: 31st October 2027

 

 

Local Authority Governor - Vacancy 

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Hillcross Primary School, Ashridge Way, Morden, Surrey, SM4 4EE

020 8542 6936

info@hillcross.merton.sch.uk