Leadership & Governance

An exceptional school requires leadership that is constantly in pursuit of progress and excellence. 

Senior Leadership Team

Our Senior Leadership Team is responsible for the effective day to day running of the school. Each  member of the team has specific responsibilities within the overall management of the school:

• Mr Cliff Canning, Headmaster
• Mr José Picardo, Deputy Head
• Mrs Leah Goodey, Deputy Head Pastoral
• Miss Sheina Wright, Head of Prep School
• Mr Rob Clare, Director of Studies
• Mrs Rebecca Clayton, Assistant Head Co-curricular
• Mrs Elaine Morgan, Assistant Head Outreach
• Mrs Claire Brighton, Bursar
• Mrs Charlotte Welland, Director of Marketing, Admissions & Communications

Governors

Our Local Governing Body acts as our critical friend and trusted advisor to the Senior Leadership Team. Members draw on their significant experience in finance and law, education, commerce and media, and benefit from the guidance of its Chair.

Governors meet four times each academic year to review Embley’s strategic plans, consider everyday life at the school, and discuss other pressing matters as they arise. Members of the Leadership Team often join these meetings to update on key areas of the school’s development. Our governors are: 

• Dr Lesley Black, Chair
• Mrs Rachel Brooks
• Mr Richard Butler
• Mrs Kay Smith

Clerk to the Governing Body - Mrs Claire Brighton

Governance of United Learning schools

Embley is a part of United Learning. United Learning comprises: UCST (Registered in England No: 2780748. Charity No. 1016538) and ULT (Registered in England No. 4439859. An Exempt Charity). Companies limited by guarantee. VAT number 834 8515 12.

The registered address is: United Learning, Worldwide House, Thorpe Wood, Peterborough, PE3 6SB.

The legal governing body for Embley is the United Church Schools Trust (United Learning). The Trust is the body ultimately responsible for the proper operation of the School. If you wish to speak to United Learning regarding any matter, please visit their website.

United Learning trustees hold the ultimate responsibility for the governance of each school within the Group. The Department for Education’s governance handbook 2019 identifies the essentials of effective governance as follows:

• Ensuring clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction;
• Holding the executive leaders to account for the educational performance of the organisation and its pupils, and the effective and efficient performance management of staff; and
• Overseeing the financial performance of the organisation and making sure its money is well spent.

United Learning’s trustees delegate certain key roles and responsibilities to the school’s Local Governing Body (LGB) and these are set out clearly in our Scheme of Delegation which can be seen on the United Learning website.

Embley’s Ex-Officio Members

• Mr Cliff Canning, Headmaster, Embley
• Mrs Fiona Boulton OBE, Head of Independent Schools, United Learning
• Mrs Louise Johnston, Chief Financial Officer, United Learning