Meet the Governors

Cedric, a Chartered Accountant, has expansive experience in education leadership, finance, investment and software development. He leads a leading network of privately-owned nurseries: Little Ashford, where for two decades it has incredibly shaped the minds of and graduated approximately 10,000 children. With this successful record, Little Ashford gained international recognition for its excellence in early years education, featured in Forbes Magazine, CNN, and other leading platforms. Cedric recently co-founded Minitime Kids Group, a UK-based education advisory firm. It recently deepened its expertise in SAAS and mobile apps for the UK’s early years/nursery sector. He is actively involved in various boards, including SOAS, University of London, Aurora Orchestra, London Bubble Theatre, Edulution, Learning with Parents and the Watts Gallery Trust.

Cedric kicked off his professional career at Deloitte. His subsequent private equity experience contributed significantly in the delivery of complex and impactful projects, globally. His diverse roles extend to serving as a director on the boards of organisations such as listed Transaction Capital and South African Ballet (later renamed Joburg Ballet, for a decade as its Chair).

A bi-lingual global citizen who has lived and worked on multiple continents, Cedric, a Chevening Scholar educated locally at Oxford and Edinburgh Universities, is father to daughters who are educated in the UK’s private sector.

chair@daneshillschool.com

Ian began his career in the City in investment banking, and following this, moved into the education sector to teach. His roles have included housemaster, senior tutor, deputy head, and Headmaster at various schools including Millfield, Wellingborough and Llandovery College. 

Following his role as Head of Llandovery, he became CEO of Gabbitas Education, worldwide educational consultants. Since 2017, he has been executive Chair of Haileybury schools in Kazakhstan and continues to consult on various overseas projects for UK independent schools. He is also a contributor to numerous publications such as The Times, The Daily Telegraph, schools’ magazines, and the Huffington Post where he offers his views and expertise on education. 

Claudette Charles is a seasoned professional committed to nurturing inclusive and safe learning environments within the educational landscape. With over ten years of dedicated service as a safeguarding Social Worker and Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) Trainer, she brings a wealth of expertise in promoting diversity, fostering inclusion, and advocating for social justice.

Claudette was educated at James Allen’s Girls’ School and The London School of Economics. She also studied at Royal Holloway where she obtained a Masters in Social Work before embarking on her social work career with a learning disabilities service in West London.

Claudette enjoys watching football, is a keen Arsenal supporter and also enjoys baking.

Originating from the Swansea Valley, Gareth gained personal experience of an independent school when educated at Llandovery College.

Following an initial degree in Human Resource Management, he completed his PGCE in Primary Education at Aberystwyth University and a Masters in Educational Leadership and School Improvement at Cambridge University.

Throughout his career, he has worked in independent prep schools across the home counties. Now in his second Headship, he has been a Headmaster since 2008. Gareth is a trained ISI team and compliance inspector and an active member of IAPS, currently as District Representative for North London and a member of both the Board and Membership Committee. He is also a trustee of the IAPS charity, iTrust and a Governor of a Secondary Academy in Buckinghamshire where his daughters attend.

He is married to Lisa and has three daughters and a Sproodle called Humphrey, all of whom keep him busy.

Gareth loves watching and playing sport, enjoying rugby, football, cricket and golf when time permits. As an ardent follower of Swansea City, the Ospreys and Welsh rugby, he appreciates that life has its ups and downs.

Alex Hutchinson has been Headmistress at James Allen’s Girls’ School since September 2020. With over twenty years of academic and pastoral experience, gained at leading girls’ schools, both day and boarding, Alex’s previous roles include Head of Woldingham School, Head of Sixth Form at both Wimbledon High School and Central Newcastle High School, and Head of Science at St Mary’s School, Ascot.

Alex was educated at Wisbech Grammar School and gained a degree in Chemistry from Oxford University. During her time at Oxford, she was awarded an Open Exhibition as well as four Hockey Blues and two Cricket Half Blues. She subsequently obtained her PGCE at the University of Bristol and began her teaching career at Clifton College. Alex continues to take an active interest in sport, playing for a local hockey team, and also enjoys walking and cycling.

Tim Jones was appointed as a Governor of Danes Hill School and a Trustee of the Vernon Educational Trust on 13 November 2014.

Tim has more than 30 years’ experience as a corporate lawyer with Freshfields Brockhaus Deringer in the UK and Spain, eventually becoming the London Managing Partner.  On retiring from Freshfields he joined England Rugby 2015 as their general counsel.

Tim is chair of the children’ sport charity Access Sport and of the homelessness charity Connection at St Martins. He is a trustee of Safer London and a director of the Sport and Recreation Alliance.

Tim played rugby to a high level, representing Oxford University, London Welsh, Wales B and Barbarians. Tim is married to Finola and has three sons, the youngest, Conor was a pupil at Danes Hill from 2000 to 2006.

Lindsay graduated from Oxford University with a degree in Biochemistry before starting her career with Dixons Stores group, focusing on marketing. Since 2000, Lindsay has owned and worked as Managing Director at Hunter-Miller, an established executive search firm specialising in the customer-facing disciplines. Clients span from FTSE 350s, PE/VC-backed enterprises and start-ups. She focuses on international multi-sector executive search, assessment, and structural intelligence and advisory services. Lindsay will support the Trust in a Governor capacity, helping set direction for Communications and Marketing. Lindsay is a mother to four children, two daughters and two sons and is a former parent at Danes Hill School.  

In October 2023, Inderjit assumed a role on the Governing Board. Originally from Leicester, he relocated to London in January 2005 before becoming a resident of Oxshott Village in August 2015. Previously, he served as a Governor at a specialised SEND school in Surrey, where his son currently attends and thrives under the effective teaching methods for individuals on the autism spectrum.

Possessing over 25 years of experience as a Chartered Management Accountant (ACMA / CGMA), Inderjit is a seasoned Finance, Transformation and Programme Director having worked across various sectors, including Technology (Xerox), Automotive (Volvo and Ford), Energy (British Gas and SSE), and Business Services (Mitie). Recently, he transitioned to the Corporate Law industry (DLA Piper). Throughout his career, he has developed expertise in Financial Strategy and Management, Business Control, and Risk Management. A notable specialisation of his involves overseeing and successfully implementing large-scale complex projects. He is adept at revitalising underperforming business functions or projects, showcasing leadership in managing diverse cross-functional teams to deliver value.

Inderjit resides with his partner, teenage son, and parents. His interests include spending quality time with family, traveling, cooking, cycling, and indulging in musical theatre. Among his various passions, sports hold a special place in his heart.

John joined the Governing Body at the end of 2022, after a career of almost four decades as a financial analyst and manager of international research businesses, including at a rating agency, the investment bank Lehman Brothers and the corporate bond research firm CreditSights.

He was educated at Canford School in Dorset and Queens’ College, Cambridge, where a degree in Modern Languages (French and German) included a year teaching English as an assistant at a secondary school in France and developed a lifelong interest in other language studies.

John lives in Wimbledon and is married, with two adult sons. Retirement from full-time work at the end of 2019 has given him more time to enjoy travel and some long-distance walking.

Dan Tiller joined the Governing Body in 2022. He has a background in policing, having retired from the Metropolitan Police in 2017 after completing 30 years-service. Dan performed a variety of roles but majored on planning and running firearms operations within the UK, finishing as Specialist Firearms Training Director. He ran training programmes in the UK and overseas, including the US, Singapore, Israel and Europe as well as protection operations for VIP visits from President Obama and the Pope. He was instrumental in planning for the successful 2012 London Olympic Games and has 9 commendations for bravery, leadership and professionalism.

Dan holds a Master of Science degree in Policing, Leadership and Management.

Dan now runs a successful consultancy that provides security advice and training and is contracted to major companies as a Strategic Advisor and Project Manager, roles that have seen him work mainly in the UK, British Virgin Islands and the Middle East in recent years. He is still involved in policing as an advisor for training infrastructure.

Dan has lived locally for 40 years and has a wife and 2 grown-up children. He spends spare time with his family, walking Ozzie the dog and playing golf at his home club of Effingham.