Governors
For governance and financial information please click the link at the top of the page for the Auriga Academy Trust.
Jo Dixon - Co-Chair
Co-opted Governor
I have been a governor at Clarendon since 2000 after having my arm twisted while my daughter was at the school! It is undeniably difficult having a child with learning difficulties but over the years I have seen the difference it makes when others take the time to get to really know them and are prepared to believe in them and support them to achieve. That is what Clarendon is about and I am keen to see that vision become ever more a reality.
I am excited by the advantages that joint working through the Auriga Academy Trust can bring to the school and to vulnerable pupils more widely. I am Vice Chair of the Trustee Board and looking forward to seeing the Clarendon passion for equipping young people with learning disabilities for a life included in and contributing to their communities being realised more widely.
I have previously also been both a parent and special school representative on a number of borough and charity boards seeking to improve SEND provision locally. I also work as a volunteer with my local church. I used to work in Clinical Research and Science Writing. I relax with music, walking and swimming and am a keen supporter of the Harlequins rugby team.
Appointed by the Local Governing Board
Term of Office: 26/01/2017 - 26/01/2025
Kalliopi Selioti - Co-Chair
Co-opted Governor
Kalli joined the governing body in 2022. She is a Business Psychologist and has also studied Disaster Medicine & Crisis Management. Kalli has worked in academia, local government and voluntary sectors. She is currently supporting research excellence at Kingston University. She looks forward to contributing to Clarendon’s vision and mission so that it remains the outstanding school it is.
Appointed by the Local Governing Board
Term of Office: 22/03/2022 - 21/03/2026
Keith Tysoe - Vice Chair
Co-opted Governor
I have worked in education for over 30 years both in mainstream and special schools. Currently I work as an adviser for an education service covering three inner London boroughs. I work with a range of primary and secondary schools on all aspects of school improvement. In my work I have particular responsibility for the oversight of special educational needs and disabilities provision across the three boroughs. Previously I worked as an education adviser for the London Borough of Richmond so I have a good understanding of the educational provision in the Richmond area. During my career I have taught and worked as a senior leader in a wide range of educational settings including the management of a centre for children with special educational needs in Malaysia. My wide experience brings professional knowledge and expertise that I hope will be of benefit to both the governing body and pupils at Clarendon School.
Appointed by the Local Governing Board
Term of Office: 31/07/2015 - 31/07/2023
Kelly Faulkner
Parent Governor
Kelly is a parent of 3 children attending schools in the Borough of Richmond including her eldest daughter at Clarendon Secondary School. Her professional career began at UNICEF in New York, before relocating to Europe and moving into international product management and marketing in the telecommunications industry. She has an MBA from the London Business School and now works in property management. After the diagnosis at birth of her first child, her family started their journey into the world of special needs and all the joys and challenges that involves. She feels honoured to be a Parent Governor at Clarendon and to have the opportunity to contribute to the vital work of the Auriga Academy Trust.
Appointed by Parents
Term of Office: 29/04/2022 - 28/04/2026
Bharat Gopalan
Co-opted Governor
Bharat is a qualified Chartered Accountant with the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales and holds a Masters from the University of Reading. He has extensive Financial Services experience and is currently a Finance Director with Deutsche Bank in London.
Appointed by the Local Governing Board
Term of Office: 06/07/2021 - 05/07/2025
Lavinia Groves
Co-opted Governor
Lavinia is the Head of Global Regulatory Engagement Standards within Independent Compliance Risk Management. Lavinia is a member of the Advisory Board of Lift As You Climb UK – a non-profit organisation set up to celebrate, share and learn from women at various stages in their lives and career – passing wisdom across industry, across generations and across experience.
She is married with a son and daughter, loves reading and travelling. Lavinia has been a mentor for several years and continues to support several mentees.
Appointed by the Local Governing Board
Term of Office: 27/09/2022 - 26/09/2026
Lindsay Patience
Co-opted Governor
After completing my degree in Economics and Management at Jesus College, Oxford I signed up for the TeachFirst programme. I taught Economics, Business, Law, Accounting and IT in two large London compressive schools for 10 years. Both schools had specialist SEN provision, one for Visual Impairment and one for Behavioural, Emotional and Social Difficulties. I held various leadership positions including Assistant Headteacher, Director of Learning, Head of Enterprise, Head of Year and Head of Sixth Form.
After having my first child in 2016, I stepped down from school leadership and am now a part time classroom teacher at a leading independent school. My commitment to state education, and in particular to addressing educational disadvantage, has not diminished though. I am the cofounder of a social enterprise called Flexible Teacher Talent which promotes and supports flexible working in the education sector.
I am proud and privileged to be a Governor at Clarendon.
Appointed by the Local Governing Board
Term of Office: 21/01/2019 - 21/01/2023
Jane Sherlock
Parent Governor
Jane is a special parent, with a degree in Psychology. Most of her 25 years working experience is with tier one investment banks, running global change programs in IT; process policy change, legal requirements, governance and regulatory change. She loves reading, yoga and getting creative with her daughter.
Appointed by the Local Governing Board
Term of Office: 22/03/2022 - 21/03/2026
Michael Sinanan
Staff Governor
Michael is an Assistant Headteacher at Clarendon Secondary Centre who has over 37 years experience as an educator. He has enjoyed working with a wide range of students from postgraduate research level through to secondary students with special educational needs, including those with SEMH and those in challenging and disadvantaged circumstances.
Michael has worked as a teacher trainer, educational researcher and professionally as an opera singer. He has a background in maths and science and favours analytical approaches, creative thinking and decision-making based on research and evidence. Michael supports values of the enlightenment and is a member of the British Humanist Society.
Appointed by the Local Governing Board
Term of Office: 22/03/2022 - 21/03/2026
John Kipps - Headteacher
I trained as a Primary teacher and have worked in Richmond since 1989. Since joining Clarendon in 1993 I have co-ordinated a number of subjects (Art, Drama, Music, Science, Design and Technology) and held a variety of roles (classteacher, KS3 team leader and Deputy Head) before becoming Headteacher in 2006. Since then the school has taken on the management of the Gateway Centre for pupils with Autism Spectrum Conditions. I am proud to be part of such a dedicated, caring and forward-looking staff team, and of the many and varied achievements of our pupils.
I have two grown-up daughters, both of whom attended Richmond schools and my interests include travel, acting, singing, gardening, cooking and tending my allotment.
Kwan Ku (stepped down)
Co-opted Governor
Appointed by the Local Governing Board
Term of Office: 05/07/2022 - 04/07/2026
Stepped down: 08/11/2022
Roberta Borsotti (stepped down)
Co-opted Governor
Appointed by the Local Governing Board
Term of Office: 23/09/2020 - 22/09/2024
Stepped down: 29/09/2022
Nick Travers (stepped down)
Co-opted Governor
Appointed by the Local Governing Board
Term of Office: 17/12/2019 - 16/12/2023
Stepped Down: 08/11/2021
John Collins (stepped down)
Staff Governor
Appointed by the Local Governing Board
Term of Office: 23/09/2020 - 22/09/2024
Stepped Down: 15/09/2021
Nandita Sinha (stepped down)
Parent Governor
Appointed by the Local Governing Board
Term of Office: 28/11/2019 - 27/11/2023
Stepped Down: 21/02/2022
Greg Ross-Sampson (stepped down)
Parent Governor
Appointed by the Local Governing Board
Term of Office: 21/01/2019 - 21/01/2023
Stepped Down: 08/02/2022
Primesh Kalia - Chair (stepped down)
LA Governor
Address - c/o Clarendon School, Egerton Rd, Twickenham TW2 7SL
Appointed by the Auriga Academy Trust
Term of Office: 30/11/2019 - 30/11/2023
Stepped Down: 22/07/2022