Trustee Profiles

Lorraine joined the Governing Board as a parent governor in 2008 when her eldest child started at Denefield and has been chair since 2009. Lorraine is a member of the Resources and Standards committees. Outside of Denefield, Lorraine has been a Chair of Governors for a variety of primary schools and has served as a member of an Interim Executive Board. Currently, she is Chair of Governors at The Hill Primary School, Caversham and Clerk to Governors, Ridgeway Primary School, Reading. Lorraine also undertakes specialist governance work on behalf of Local Authorities, such as conducting external reviews of governance, safeguarding reviews and ad hoc investigations.

She is also a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants for England and Wales and worked for PWC Reading as a Corporate Tax manager before having children.

Appointed 13/07/2020, term of office 12/07/2024. 

Steve became a Governor in January 2016. He lives in Tilehurst. Steve is a University Professor and is Head of the School of Archaeology, Geography and Environmental Science at the University of Reading. He is a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society and a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy.

Steve is passionate about strengthening links between universities and schools. He has previous experience as a Trustee of a local education charity and works closely with schools across Reading, especially to support teaching in Geography.

Appointed 09/01/2020, term of office 27/01/2024

Sarah joined Denefield School Trust Board initially as a Parent Governor in 2006 and has been Vice-Chair since then. She is a member of the Trust Board’s Standards and Resources Committees, as well as acting as H&S Governor on the H&S Monitoring Group.

Outside of Denefield her past experience includes clerking for Primaries and Special Schools and being a member of an Interim Executive Board. She served as Chair of Governors for a time in a large Reading town centre Primary. Sarah provides governance support in her role as Governor Services Officer at Brighter Futures for Children in Reading, where she works closely to train and provide advice, guidance and support to Clerks, Chairs and Governors.

Appointed 13/02/19, term of office 12/02/2023.

Mr Towill has been appointed a Trustee by virtue of his being Headteacher at Denefield. 

He took up his position in September 2019 having worked at a senior leader level in two previous schools, including as both Deputy Headteacher and Associate Headteacher.

Rupert is Deputy Head Co-Curricular and a Teacher of Geography at Pangbourne College. He has a BSc (Hons) Geography and Movement Studies from the University of Surrey and a PGCE Physical Education from Brunel University London.

Rupert is a member of the Standards Committee as well as the Trust Board. 

Appointed 23/03/20, term of office 22/03/2024 

Katie became a trustee in September 2019. She has been an Advanced Skills Teacher, a Specialist Leader of Education and is currently the Headteacher at Downsway Primary School, in Tilehurst.

Katie is passionate about ensuring children within our local community receive the very best education possible. Katie is a member of the Standards Committee as well as the Full Trustee Board.

Appointed 25/09/19, term of office 24/09/23

Adam is currently a software engineer working for Cisco on global phone systems. He initially trained as a Research Scientist publishing widely on Computer Networks, Systems and Security whilst at University College London. He completed his PhD in mobile networks at UCL in 2012.

Adam has one son at Denefield. As a trustee he takes a particular interest in policies and procedures and compliance issues.

Appointed 24/10/2019, term of office 23/10/2023

Stephen is a Forensic Scientist responsible for managing a laboratory that undertakes the analysis of samples to support the sports, employment, police, MOD and courts sectors. Professionally Stephen is responsible for the budgetary, health and safety and quality considerations for a scientific site.

Stephen has one child at Denefield, is currently also a trustee for a children’s charity and has coached under 11s football.

Appointed 18/12/2020, term of office 17/12/2024.

Trev has recently retired after working for the NHS (Commissioning) and Berkshire’s Local Authorities (Social Services and Public Health) for 37 years. He was Chair of Governor’s for a Reading Secondary School for 10 years and has also been a Governor at a Primary School. Trev is passionate about diversity (he actively volunteers for AKT) and equality, about social education as much as academic education and ensuring that Denefield enables each young person fulfils their potential as they wish.

Appointed 25/05/22, term of office 25/05/26