Grafham Grange Governors

Sue Mellor (Chair)

Ray Winn (Vice Chair)

Ray Winn was head teacher of a special residential school (EBD) for 23 years, with qualifications in education and psychology.

He is now retired from education but works for the Care Standards Tribunal and is actively involved as a magistrate in West Sussex (Deputy Chairman of Northern Division). He is trained as an appraiser of CST members and magistrates.

He is now Vice Chairman of GGSET Directors, Vice Chairman of Grafham Grange School Governors and Governor of Brantridge.

Ian G. McCready (Principal)

Ian has worked in Special Education since 1978, starting his career as an R.C.O. in an Observation and Assessment Centre in Fife. He then moved to a Residential School in Yorkshire working as a Teacher for 4 years. After this he went to Longlands College in Middlesbrough where he worked as Lecturer in Communication - teaching YTS students and Unemployed adults. He soon returned to his first vocation of SEBD young people and moved to a residential school in Fife where he was a Teacher, a Senior Teacher and then a Principal Teacher.

In 1991 he got his first Headship in a Special School in Bathgate, West Lothian where he remained for 6 years. After this he became Principal of Eden Grove School, Appleby in Cumbria (Part of the Priory Group) and brought the school from almost Special Measures to “a very good school". In 2003 he was offered the position of Network Manager for Priory looking after 5 schools - this he did for a year.

He was then asked by Cheshire to Head a Day Special School in difficulties which he did for 2.5 years. Returning to Scotland he became Head of a SEBD school in Ardrossan, Ayrshire. He was then offered the post of Operations Manager for Educare - a post which involved managing the Teaching Services for up to 6 schools spread across the Midlands / Leicestershire.

In addition, he also has experience as an SEBD Consultant and Trainer. Ian has worked in Special Education (Day and Residential), for 31 years, at every level. He is passionate about giving SEBD Young People Life Chances and Opportunities to compete at a National Level and believes in offering a service for both Staff and Young People that is 2nd to none.

His qualifications include: Cert. Ed, M.A.ed, B.A. and an Advanced Diploma in Special Needs in Education.

Lynda MacDermott

Lynda MacDermott is a linguist and founder partner of an internet-based translation and internet web marketing company. Communication, by a variety of media, has been an all pervasive thread throughout her career. At first this was in the field of education where her main interest was the development of teaching expertise.

After leaving teaching in 1997, she became editor of an on-line language learning service and subsequently manager of an international market research centre.

She has considerable experience of selecting and managing personnel from a wide array of cultures in her present and previous roles in international communications. Within wider society, she plays a leading role with a variety of campaigning groups.

She became a Director of Grafham Grange Educational Trust in 2000 and is a Governor both of Grafham Grange and Brantridge schools.

John Page

John Page was, for 40 years, in the shipping industry with over 20 years' experience as a Director of a Greek shipping company, responsible for the chartering of dry cargo vessels and tankers.

After retiring in 1999 he is mainly active in charity work. He has been a Governor and Director of GGSET since 2000.

Sue Tresman (CEO)

Formerly Director of the Retention Programme at the Open University and Education Director, then Chief Executive Officer at the British Dyslexia Association, Susan Tresman is the Chief Executive of Grafham Grange Special Educational Trust.

A Fellow of the HESDA Top Management Programme specialising in Leadership for Effective Change, and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, Susan holds the position of Visiting Professor in Inclusive Learning at the University of Sunderland 2005 - 2010. Previously she held Visiting Chairs in South Africa and Romania promoting access to learning for disadvantaged learners.

Passionate about empowering those with additional needs to realise their full potential, Susan is qualified in the teaching of Learners with Special Needs and holds a PGCE from the University of Cambridge. Her first degree was from Sheffield and her PhD from University of London; Kings College. Susan is a co-opted member of the Council for the National Association for Special Schools.

Peter French

Marita King (Parent Governor)

Andy Raynsford

Andrew Maurice Raynsford is 51 years old and was born in Surbiton, Surrey. At that time, Andrew's father was in the army and as a child Andrew moved about a lot to places like Honk Kong, Aden, Singapore, and Germany. In 1969 his father left the army after 20 years service and Andrew's family settled down in Walton-on-Thames, Surrey.

Andrew's family consisted of his older sister, younger brother and two half sisters. Andrew received a state education and finished school in 1973. In 1974 he joined the army enlisting into the Parachute Regiment; for the next 30+ years he had four cap badges. Andrew has also served in the Royal Signals, Royal Engineers (EOD) bomb disposal and AGC (MGS). He finally left military service in 2006, having achieved a the rank in H.M Forces of warrant officer class 2 (RQMS). In 2008 Andrew applied to become an adult instructor with Surrey ACF in Cranleigh.

Andrew is married to Becky and has three children: Sammmy (20), Chelsie (13) and Josef (12). Both Chelsie and Josef go to Glebelands School in Cranleigh where the family have lived for 2 years. When Andrew left the army in 2006 he worked in building maintenance. In September 2008 Andrew was made redundant and at this time took up youth work with Surrey ACF. His hobbies are fishing and sub-aqua; Andrew is a dive leader and open water instructor with BSAC.

Han Wachtel - Staff Governor

Bob Owen - Staff Governor

Alan Tomlinson (Head of Children's Services)

Trevor Adams

Trevor Adams has represented the Chartered Institute of Architectural Technologists as an 'expert advisor' for the past two years at the Grand Designs Live Exhibition at the Excel centre in London. He has also provided the service of panel member as an Examining Assessor this year for applicants who wish to become members of the Chartered Institute of Architectural Technologists. Trevor hobbies and interests include: Writing and recording music. Lead vocalist and bass player for a local band called The Point, specialising in rock and pop music covers. Watching and (whenever possible) playing football. A keen Nottingham Forest supporter, watching comedy programmes, films and documentaries, collecting first edition books, cooking, gardening, drinking beer and sleeping (in that order). Adams Associates Practice was established in 1993; provides a full range of architectural services from project inception to construction completion. Project types include new build residential; extensions/refurbishments/commercial/hotels/schools. Adams Associates have received two design awards from Waverley Borough Council in 2007 in both New Buildings category and Sustainable Design & Construction category. They have also won a Civic Design Award from The Godalming Trust in 2008. Adams Associates have also had one of their new houses featured on the Channel 4 television programme Grand Designs in 2007.

Brantridge Governors

Lloyd Richards (Chair)

Lloyd Richards is a Chartered Banker of over 30 years experience within the NatWest/RBS Group. His career focus has been on people and change management, having spent 20 years in HR management and the balance of his career in leading national change programmes covering systems, performance and behavioural issues.

Lloyd is highly community service oriented and has been actively involved in charitable activities for a quarter of a century, culminating in joining Brantridge School as a Governor in 2000 and becoming a Director of Grafham Grange Special Education Trust in 2002.

He holds two other Directorships.

Pete Miles (Vice Chair)

Tamsin Blythe (Head Teacher )

Tamsin Blythe is the Acting Head Teacher at Brantridge School. She brings with her a wealth of experience to the post, having previously been Deputy Head Teacher at Cornerstones Independent School. Tamsin (Tammy) is highly experienced in the management of staff, communication strategies, school development and management of challenging pupils.

Tammy holds a B.Ed from The University of Northumbria at Newcastle in Primary Education with Qualified teacher status. She has completed the learning schools programme, various management and equality/diversity courses and holds an advanced child protection qualification.

She is currently engaged in working towards her NPQH and in her spare time enjoys spending time with her family, eating out, travel, music, cinema and theatre.

Paul Kenny

Paul Kenny is currently a director of the IT management group at British Telecom where he has worked for 27 years. During his career Paul has been responsible for the development and implementation of some of the major computer systems that underpin BT service and products. He is currently working on BT's 21st Century Network project, which will bring about the replacement of the UK telephone Network.

Paul is married with four grown-up children. He came to the trust via his role as a Governor at Brantridge School, where he was deeply involved with the transfer of the school from Greenwich LEA to the Trust.

Peter Samuels

Richard Fihosy

Tony Lees

Tony Lees was head teacher of a special residential school (MLD/EBD) for 25 years and worked for the ILEA and Tower Hamlets. Until recently he was a long serving magistrate with the Sussex Magistracy and has maintained close contact with special education in both training and school governor capacities.

He is extensively involved in charitable concerns and is Chairman of an East Sussex hospice as well as holding a Paul Harris Fellowship in Rotary. Tony is a director with GGSET and a governor to Brantridge School.

Kathy McNicol

Phil Peterson

Sandra Norkett (Staff Governor)

Sue Tresman (CEO)

Daphne Anthony (DL)

Helen Ralston

Helen Ralston has had a varied background in electronics/telecoms and charities, with over 20 years experience in finance, communications, mergers and acquisitions and strategy. After qualifying as an accountant in Glasgow she became a corporate treasurer and gained an MBA from Cranfield. Formerly a senior manager in an international quoted company and chair of its pension fund, she then transferred into the voluntary sector as Chief Executive of a major national fundraising charity. She is now involved as a trustee of charities involved in health, mental health and social care. She joined Brantridge School as a Governor in 2008 and became a Director of Grafham Grange Special Educational Trust in 2009.