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)
I currently serve as Chair of the Local Governing Body for Warden Park Secondary Academy and have over ten years of school governance experience across primary and secondary phases. 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. In April 2016, I was appointed by the Department for Education as a National Leader of Governance, a role which involves supporting Chairs of Governors in other schools and carrying out external reviews of governance. This role was part of the Government’s drive to give schools a central role in developing a self-improving and sustainable school led system.
As well as experience running a small business, 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.
Kevin Dean (Staff-nominated Governor)
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 4 different state schools in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight and in Essex and have been fortunate to have had the opportunity to take on a range of roles from Year Leader, Head of Science and working within SLT teams where I focused on teaching and learning and leading 6th form teams. Most recently I have had two years working abroad in Romania, where I got to work with students in Bucharest who were learning through an English curriculum.
I have been lucky enough to have worked alongside some outstanding colleagues and to have taught wonderful students. I am so pleased to now live and work in beautiful Sussex, which is where my two children live and work, and to be part of the Warden Park team. Having taught for a very long time and gained a wide range of experience it is only right that I apply them to help support a school that is a happy place to work in and which strives so hard to support student development.
Kirsty James
I joined Warden Park Secondary’s Governing Board in the Summer of 2024, bringing my experience as governor at Northlands Wood Primary Academy. I have a daughter currently at Warden Park, and my son has moved on from Warden Park to college to study A Levels.
I have had a varied career in public service - in academia, central and local government, and as a school senior leader. I have a PhD in History, am a qualified teacher and SENCO. I currently work in West Sussex’s Autism and Social Communication Team as an Advisory Teacher. In this role I am fortunate to work alongside many primary and secondary schools across West Sussex.
As governor, I promote high standards and seek to enable opportunity and inclusion for all at Warden Park Secondary.
Sarmad Hashemi
Robbie Gregorowski (Parent/Carer-nominated governor)
I have had a 20 year career working in climate change and international development, including running my own company. My clients include the UK government (FCDO), the World Bank, the Rockefeller Foundation, and multiple UN agencies. We work on, and contribute to addressing the most pressing global challenges — climate change, environment and biodiversity loss, poverty and inequality.
I have a deep personal and professional interest in evidence-informed, collaborative decision making which I am now applying to the role of governor. I am an expert in using evidence to inform learning and action on complex challenges. Through my work I frequently design and contribute to processes to help people apply their experience and insights to ‘make sense’ of complex problems.
I have a son at Warden Park.
Tom Hosking
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.
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 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.
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.
I have 2 young children (one currently at Warden Park) and we are lucky enough to live in Cuckfield.
I am keen to see young people achieve their ambitions and go on to do great things and appreciate the opportunity to input into their learning journey.
Gabrielle Stewart
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 then adjusted my psychology experience to financial crime, I set up and managed a business for a number of years specialising in deception and insurance fraud. I now enjoy being a Foster Mum (to a student of WPSA) and am a photographer, which has always been my passion. I also work with West Sussex County Council in supporting and training Foster Carers in Therapeutic Parenting.
Whilst my career choices have been a little varied, they have all focused on people, efficiency, being curious and listening. I hope to bring these skills to WPSA in my governor role and support the academy to be the best it can be for its many students.
Rob Stoneley (Vice Chair)
I retired from Warden Park Secondary Academy in August 2018 having spent my entire teaching career, 38 years, at the school. I started in September 1980 teaching history primarily and some PE. I have a lot of experience in all school and educational matters having served as a Curriculum Leader, Head of Pastoral Care, Senior Teacher, Assistant Head Teacher, Deputy Head Teacher and Head of School. I am well known and respected within the local community having taught and worked with in excess of 12000 students.
It is an honour for me to maintain my association with the Academy and Sussex Learning Trust in the role of Governor.
Retirement has given me the opportunity and time to pursue my hobbies and interests. I play golf regularly. I have 3 lovely grandchildren. I own a touring caravan and enjoy weekends away with my wife throughout the year in addition to foreign travel.
Edward Upsdell
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 client management via sales, product development and governance and am a Chartered Fellow of the Institute of Securities and Investments. I am also a Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society having recently 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 sat the International Baccalaureate at school and am thus firmly, from first hand experience, bought into the benefits of a broad and rounded education.
I have three daughters; two currently at Warden Park whilst the eldest has moved on to college.
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)
Biography to follow.
Dan Wynne Willson (Headteacher)
Biography to follow.
SUSSEX LEARNING TRUST VIDEO LIBRARY
If you have visited this page, you are probably interested to hear more about the workings of Sussex Learning Trust? What our values are that drive our work, how we organise ourselves to deliver the best for the children and to see and hear what some of our staff have to say about the Trust in which they work and serve the children.
Hopefully the video library will provide such information.
We suggest you start with 'Introducing SLT' but otherwise feel free to view those videos that are of most interest to you.
If you are still left with questions please do not hesitate to contact jmorris@sussexlearningtrust.co.uk.
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: click here
Contact the Chair of the Local Governing Body: click here
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