GOVERNANCE
LOCAL GOVERNING BODY OF WARDEN PARK SECONDARY ACADEMY
INTRODUCTION
Warden Park Secondary Academy is for young people aged from 11-16 based in Cuckfield, West Sussex. The Academy operates as an independent school maintained by government funding. Parents do not pay fees.
MEET OUR GOVERNORS
Jonathan Ash-Edwards (Chair)
About Me: I have extensive school governance experience across primary and secondary phases, including experience as a Department for Education National Leader of Governance, supporting Chairs of Governors in other schools and carrying out external reviews of governance. As well as experience running small businesses, I was a Leader of Mid Sussex District Council, where I had responsibility for giving strategic direction and leadership to the local authority. My portfolio responsibilities included financial management, budget setting, performance management and estates. I am currently the Police & Crime Commisioner in Hertfordshire.
Why I Became a Governor: As a former Warden Park student, I know the academy well and am committed to ensuring students have the very best opportunities to succeed. I led the Board’s decision to convert Warden Park to academy status and establish Sussex Learning Trust. Since being Chair of Governors, governance has twice been rated as ‘Good’ or ‘Outstanding’ by Ofsted.
Kevin Dean (Staff-nominated Governor)
I lead as Link Governor on: Careers & Futures
About Me: I am a science teacher at Warden Park and also the staff-nominated Governor. Before joining the teaching profession, I was a research scientist working within the university sector, but left the lab to complete a PGCE in 1997 and I have been a teacher ever since. I have worked at four different state schools in Hampshire, the Isle of Wight and Essex, and have been fortunate to take on a range of roles including Year Leader, Head of Science and positions within Senior Leadership Teams where I focused on teaching and learning and leading Sixth Form teams.
Why I Became a Governor: I have been lucky enough to work alongside some outstanding colleagues and to have taught wonderful students. I am very pleased to now live and work in beautiful Sussex, where my two children live and work, and to be part of the Warden Park team. Having taught for many years and gained a wide range of experience, it feels important to apply this knowledge to help support a school that is a happy place to work and which strives so hard to support student development.
Kirsty James
I lead as Link Governor on: Behaviour & Attendance; Inclusion & SEND; Pupil Premium/Disadvantaged Students
About Me: I have built a varied career across public service, working in academia, central and local government and as a senior leader in schools. I hold a PhD in History and am a qualified teacher and SENCO. I currently work for West Sussex County Council as a SEND & Inclusion Adviser, where I have the privilege of supporting a wide range of primary, secondary and specialist schools across the county. This role allows me to champion inclusive practice, strengthen provision for children with additional needs and collaborate closely with school leaders to drive meaningful improvement.
Why I Became a Governor: I joined the Governing Body in 2024, bringing with me over a decade of experience as a governor at Northlands Wood Primary Academy. Both of my children have strong connections to Warden Park - my daughter is currently a student and my son attended until starting his A Levels. I am passionate about education and deeply committed to ensuring that every young person at Warden Park has the opportunity to thrive. As a governor, I champion high standards, inclusion and opportunity for all, and I’m proud to support a school community that aims to bring out the best in every student.
Sarmad Hashemi
Robbie Gregorowski (Parent/Carer-nominated governor)
I lead as Link Governor on: Enhancing parent & carer engagement; Project reviewing provision for High Prior Attaining students
About Me: I have spent the last two decades working at the intersection of climate change and international development, advising organisations such as the UN, the World Bank, and the Rockefeller Foundation on issues including biodiversity loss and global inequality. I am particularly interested in how groups make decisions under uncertainty, and specialise in “sense-making”: helping people use evidence and shared insights to navigate complex problems and turn them into clear, practical actions.
Why I Became a Governor: I believe effective governance depends on critical thinking and collaborative decision-making. I hope to use my experience in evidence-based approaches to support the leadership team and help ensure the academy makes the best possible decisions for its students. As a parent with a son at Warden Park, I am also personally invested in seeing the school thrive.
Tom Hosking
I lead as Link Governor on: English and Safeguarding
About Me: As a business coach I work with business owners and leaders in the local area to help them make their businesses even better than they already are. Prior to this I worked in the advertising, marketing and technology sector, in both large multinationals and local start ups.
Why I Became a Governor: I joined the local governing body at Warden Park Secondary as a parent governor in 2020. My two children have now left the school and I have stayed on the governing body as a Trust-appointed governor.
Nolan Mortimer
I lead as Link Governor on: English
About Me: I am a Partner in a national law firm where (amongst other things) I formulate strategy, approach things with a “can do” attitude and lead teams to success. Much of my recent work is operational and involves continually improving the business whilst trying to implement and drive change.
Why I Became a Governor: Throughout the many years I have lived in Mid-Sussex I have also been involved in the governance of local sporting clubs. In each of those roles I have sought to encourage participation in sports by young people, which I think is a hugely important part in building both confidence and life skills.
Gabrielle Stewart
I lead as Link Governor on: Inclusion & SEND; Pupil Premium/Disadvantaged Students
About Me: I began my professional journey as a Social Worker and throughout my career have remained particularly focused upon people and the psychology of human behaviour. Having adjusted my psychology experience to the investigation of financial crime, I set up and managed a business for a number of years specialising in deception and fraud. Following the sale of my business, I now enjoy being a Foster Mum to two boys, (one remains a student of WPSA, the other has left and attends college) a photographer, and trainer in Therapeutic Practice.
Why I Became a Governor: Through the governor lens of ‘critical friend’, I strive to support every student’s right to a happy and successful school experience and am focused upon every young person having the very best opportunity to succeed, regardless of background, academic ability or circumstance.
Rob Stoneley (Vice Chair)
I lead as Link Governor on: Behaviour & Attendance; Health & Safety; Mental Health
About Me: I retired in 2018 having spent my entire 38 years’ teaching career at Warden Park Secondary Academy. I have extensive experience in all school and educational matters having primarily taught history and PE but then serving as a senior teacher, Curriculum Leader, Head of Pastoral Care, Assistant Head Teacher, Deputy Head Teacher and Head of School. I am well-known within the local community, having taught and worked with in excess of 12,000 students. Retirement has given me the time to pursue my hobbies and interests. I play golf regularly, travel, and spend time with my grandchildren.
Why I Became a Governor: Warden Park has been such an integral part of my life, and on retirement I was keen to maintain a close link with and continue to support the academy. I was initially appointed as a Member of the Trust and then subsequently invited to join the Governing Body, where I currently hold the position of Vice Chair. Having this opportunity to continue supporting the academy with my knowledge and experience has been very important and rewarding for me.
Edward Upsdell
I lead as Link Governor on: Science
About Me: I have had a 30-year career in investment management covering the full spectrum of buy-side and sell-side activities, from money management through to client management via sales, product development and governance, and I am a Chartered Fellow of the Institute of Securities and Investments. I am also a Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society, having obtained a PhD in Astrophysics where I studied the X-ray characteristics of galaxy clusters in order to constrain our understanding of the origins of the Universe. I had the good fortune of an international upbringing and education, and am therefore firmly, from first-hand experience, bought into the benefits of a broad and rounded education.
Why I Became a Governor: I have three daughters, who all attended Warden Park. As a governor, I will always strive to ensure Warden Park offers our students the very best of opportunities.
Josephine Notaras (Parent/Carer-nominated governor)
I lead as Link Governor on: EDI; Engagement with Parents & Carers
About Me: I joined the school as a parent governor in summer 2025, building on six years’ experience as a primary school governor. I am also a parent of four children, three currently at the school and one who left last summer to study A levels. Professionally, I have worked in the finance sector for 25 years and currently lead a team at a UN-focused sustainable finance organisation in London. Having grown up in Cuckfield, I also bring strong local knowledge through my children’s activities and my involvement in setting up a community sustainability group.
Why I Became a Governor: I was fortunate to receive an excellent education, including undergraduate and postgraduate study, and I understand how transformative high-quality education can be. As a governor, I value the opportunity to support the academy’s direction, help achieve positive outcomes for students, and represent the views of parents and carers.
Richard Stevens
About Me: I have extensive experience in child safeguarding and have served as a governor for both primary and secondary schools. I am a Trustee of Sussex Learning Trust and currently sit on the local governing body at Northlands Wood Primary Academy. My additional experience includes managing teams and projects, working collaboratively across multiple agencies, and leading health and safety management and improvement initiatives.
Dan Wynne Willson (Headteacher)
Ex officio role to the governing Body. The Headteacher sits on the Governing Body by virtue of their position and attends all Warden Park Secondary Academy Governing Body meetings.
SUSSEX LEARNING TRUST
If you have visited this page, you are likely interested in learning more about how Sussex Learning Trust operates. This includes the values that guide our work, how we are organised to deliver the best outcomes for children, and what our staff have to say about working within the Trust and serving its pupils and students.
If you are still left with questions please do not hesitate to contact us.
Register of Interests for WPSA Senior Leadership Team
MINUTES OF MEETINGS: COPIES OF MINUTES OF LOCAL GOVERNING MEETINGS ARE AVAILABLE ON REQUEST FROM THE CLERK TO THE LOCAL GOVERNING BODY
For enquiries or matters to be directed to the Local Governing Body of Warden Park Secondary Academy, please contact the Clerk.
Contact the Clerk or Chair of the Local Governing Body: clerk@sussexlearningtrust.co.uk
Warden Park Secondary Academy is part of Sussex Learning Trust. The constitutional documents of Sussex Learning Trust, including the Articles of Association, Scheme of Delegation and Annual Report and Accounts, are available to view on the Sussex Learning Trust website click here