Our Board of Directors are appointed by Dorset Council. They are the proprietor of, and hold responsibility for, the whole of the Coombe House.
We’re proud to have the support of a dedicated team of directors who respect the values of Coombe House and share our goals for every student.
We want our directors to be actively involved in many aspects of school life and meet regularly to support our vision and champion our successes.
Ian has a long and distinguished career in both educational leadership and management and work in the legal sphere.
Ian has a long and distinguished career in both educational leadership and management and work in the legal sphere.
He is an experienced chair of a range of organisations including a further education college, a local authority trading company and Notting Hill Carnival. His experience in education is extensive, including being a teacher in a special school, a local authority director of education and group CEO of a large academy trust; he brings a wealth of knowledge and detail to his role as chair of the Dorset Centre of Excellence. Ian is a barrister and holds a range of legal and professional regulatory roles including being a Commissioner for the Criminal Cases Review Commission, an employment judge and judge of the first tier tribunal.
In his spare time he is chair of the Ebony Steel Band, an acclaimed and award winning steel band providing performances, workshops and classes, locally, nationally and internationally, awarded the Queens Award for Voluntary Service for its work with young people.
Contact details:
Email: reception@coombehouse.org.uk
Phone: 01747 449 844
Address: Coombe House School, Donhead St Mary, Salisbury Road, Shaftesbury, Wiltshire SP7 9LP
Diane spent most of her working life in further and higher education.
Diane spent most of her working life in further and higher education.
She was previously Principal & Chief Executive of Bournemouth & Poole College where she led her college to develop a curriculum that better met local skills needs and to improve the quality of student outcomes. She is passionate about providing all young people with opportunities to fulfil their potential whatever their starting point and is a strong advocate for high quality education as a route to future individual success and wide economic prosperity.
A qualified Chartered Management Accountant, Diane has worked as the Executive lead for Finance in a number of educational institutions. She also holds a Masters Degree in Business Administration from Manchester University.
Diane is the Senior Independent Member on the Board of Falmouth University and Chairs their Audit and Risk Committee. She also sits on the Board of the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra and is the Chair of their Finance & Resources Committee. As a Director of Coombe House School, she Chairs the Finance, Audit and Risk Committee.
Stuart is a Chartered Surveyor, who has specialised in all aspects of property development for over 30 years, with experience in both the residential and commercial property sectors.
Stuart is a Chartered Surveyor, who has specialised in all aspects of property development for over 30 years, with experience in both the residential and commercial property sectors.
Stuart is a Chartered Surveyor, who has specialised in all aspects of property development for over 30 years, with experience in both the residential and commercial property sectors. Stuart is a Fellow of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors. He has also established a track record in dealing with property in the Education Sector, with a client base including schools, academy trusts and the HE/FE sector. In addition to his main job, Stuart has been a Governor of Bournemouth University since 2016.
Susan is a Trustee and an international education adviser. She was previously a founding member and CEO of The Spencer Academies Trust, the lead for Trust Peer Reviews for Challenge Partners, a successful national network of schools and trusts, and an Ofsted inspector.
Susan is a Trustee and an international education adviser. She was previously a founding member and CEO of The Spencer Academies Trust, the lead for Trust Peer Reviews for Challenge Partners, a successful national network of schools and trusts, and an Ofsted inspector.
Susan has presented at national and international conferences. She retains her passion for education and system leadership as a director on two Boards. She impacts widely on system leadership and school improvement by supporting and advising Trusts in the UK and Schole’s group of schools in Uganda.
Her enterprising style has brought many accolades. A Damehood was the ultimate recognition for her leadership and services to education in the Queen’s honours list, 2016.
Katie has been working for over twenty years at the forefront of educational leadership. Initially at The Institute of Education, responsible for the engagement strategy of The London Leadership Strategy, part of the The London Challenge.
Katie has been working for over twenty years at the forefront of educational leadership. Initially at The Institute of Education, responsible for the engagement strategy of The London Leadership Strategy, part of the The London Challenge.
Katie has taught in mainstream and the SEN sector, having been a leader in both primary and secondary schools, notably at Dame Alice Owen’s School, named The Sunday Times Secondary School of the Decade, where she acquired more knowledge of teacher development through her postgraduate research in Teacher Development at The University of Cambridge. Following this and having been part of three Outstanding Ofsted inspections, Katie worked at County level as a School Improvement Lead.
With a passion for helping more schools, Katie authored ‘The Way to Outstanding’ school improvement programme. Katie is focused on ensuring success for all students regardless of background or previous levels of performance. As a Company Director of Tutor Interact, she led the delivery of holistic tutoring programmes for hundreds of students to overcome barriers to learning with transformational results. Katie has also led and been part of new school bids for academy trusts and an international schools group; understanding both the state and private sector.
Outside education Katie has been an ambassador for The Sick Children’s Trust and on the Board of her local country parks charity providing accessible play equipment for all. Katie has fought for equality for children of all abilities throughout her career and brings this passion to her role at Coombe House.
Lesley set up the DPCC a voluntary forum and registered charity after moving to Dorset with her two sons who have special educational needs.
Lesley set up the DPCC a voluntary forum and registered charity after moving to Dorset with her two sons who have special educational needs.
Lesley is passionate about making positive changes for children and young people with disabilities in Dorset by giving a voice to families. She has worked closely with Dorset Council and the Dorset Clinical Commissioning Group to share the issues relating to the SEND community living in Dorset and to ensure the services meet the needs of disabled children and families locally.
Lesley represents families and also facilitates networking of volunteers through participation events, steering groups/boards, working groups and co-production events.
Lesley is also an Expert by Experience Ambassador for NHS, Cygnet Healthcare, delivering staff training and a carers network across the country for family and carers who have a loved one in any of their hospitals or care homes.
Hilary has a wide range of commercial leadership experience from further education, local authority and charity sectors.
Hilary has a wide range of commercial leadership experience from further education, local authority and charity sectors.
Within that time, Hilary has led organisational change programmes, and outsourcing/insourcing operating models and the creation of several company governance framework’s following the implementation of several trading vehicles.
Hilary has a strong governance background having been secretary of a national association and board observer.
Frances was Lead Member for Children’s Services in Somerset for ten years up to May 2022, through a long period of improvement. She is chair of governors of a federation of small rural schools, and is their SEND and Children Looked After governor.
Frances was Lead Member for Children’s Services in Somerset for ten years up to May 2022, through a long period of improvement. She is chair of governors of a federation of small rural schools, and is their SEND and Children Looked After governor.
She represents Exmoor on Somerset Council and is currently opposition spokesperson for Children and Education, as well as being a trustee for a number of local charities all with a purpose of enabling young people in the area to achieve their potential and be the best they can be, no matter what challenges they may face.
She has had a varied career from making pottery through magazine publishing to software development and is passionate about valuing equally all the different skills, aptitudes and aspirations that young people may have and supporting them to reach their goals.
Anil is a former barrister specialising in public and private Children Act, Family and Matrimonial Finance law, with an expertise advocating on behalf of unaccompanied minors fleeing persecution.
Anil is a former barrister specialising in public and private Children Act, Family and Matrimonial Finance law, with an expertise advocating on behalf of unaccompanied minors fleeing persecution.
His entrepreneurial career includes being the founder and CEO of Starbucks Coffee’s first global franchise, an organisation employing more than 2,000 team members across 107 sites.
In a voluntary capacity, Anil has been a carer for children with life limiting conditions at Naomi House Hospice, supported adults towards the end of their lives at Oakhaven Hospice, and with his wife has been a respite foster carer. He has been a mentor to children in care and an independent member of Swindon Council’s fostering panel.
As a Non-Executive Director, Anil sits on the Boards of Croydon NHS Trust, Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust and a local authority owned social care company.
Anil is Daddy to two boys and lives in Brighton.
