Governors
The Governing Body of The Judd School
The Judd School is a Voluntary Aided School supported by The Skinners’ Company www.skinners.org.uk. The Company appoints the majority of the Governing Body, which also comprises elected Parent Governors, elected Staff Governors, Associate Governors and the Headteacher. Current members of the Governing Body are profiled below.
Should you wish to contact the Governing Body please email the Clerk to Governors at education@skinners.org.uk.
Foundation Governors
Mr Hugo Brown - Chairman of Governors
Hugo Brown, a former member of the Judd Governing Body, has returned after an absence of slightly over 4 years during which time he pursued a career in Local Politics at home in North Oxfordshire. Having decided not to seek re-election for a 3rd term, he is delighted to return to the world of Education as a Foundation Governor of Judd, sitting on the Education and Finance & General Purposes Committees.
After leaving Westminster School, Hugo graduated from the University of Buckingham with a Degree in Economics which he put to good use during a career in Reinsurance spanning the City, Bermuda and Switzerland.
Hugo now divides his time (i) running his family’s Investment Company, (ii) as an active Liveryman of the Skinners’ Company, sitting on the Finance and the Philanthropy & Development Committees, (iii) as a member of the Finance & Audit Committee of the Foundling Museum, (iv) and still maintaining an active interest in political intrigues in Oxfordshire.
Hugo is married to Emma with whom he has 3 children.
Governor Meeting attendance 2023/24 - 7/8
Declared Business & Financial Interests - Run a Family Investment Company, Synergy Holdings Ltd, It is possible the school could engage with a company in which Synergy owns shares. I also own a share portfolio in my own name. I am a member of the Finance & Audit Committee of the Foundling Museum which has an educational element
Term - 1/9/24-31/8/29
Mr Jeremy Cronk
Jeremy Cronk is a Foundation Governor (and SEND link governor) who grew up and attended school in Tonbridge. He read History at the University of Edinburgh, and spent an exchange year at McGill University, Montreal. After university and law school, he worked as a solicitor in London and Tokyo, before joining SSE, the energy company. Jeremy now lives back in Tonbridge with his wife, Louise, and two young children. He enjoys swimming, dog walks with the family, and stand-up comedy.
Governor Meeting attendance 2023/24 - 4/6
Declared Business & Financial Interests - None
Term - 1/9/20-31/8/28
Mr Roper Peckham-Cooper
Roper Peckham-Cooper is a Foundation Governor and member of the Education Committee. He is an Old Juddian leaving Judd in 2008. Roper is now part of the Livery of the Skinners' Company in London and is a new member of the governing body.
Roper studied Politics at Exeter University. Since leaving Exeter, Roper has been working in the world of consulting and now supports business leaders with executive coaching.
Governor Meeting attendance 2023/24 - 5/6
Declared Business & Financial Interests - None
Term - 1/9/22-31/8/26
Dr Luke Rajah - Chair of the Education Committee
Luke Rajah is an Old Juddian (1998-2005) and is a Foundation Governor (having completed an apprenticeship with the Skinners' company after leaving school).
After leaving The Judd School, Luke read Natural Sciences at the University of Cambridge, where he also completed a PhD in Biophysics. He then joined the Boston Consulting Group as a strategy consultant, and now works as an investment director for Ombu Group, a venture capital firm.
Governor Meeting attendance 2023/24 - 6/6
Declared Business & Financial Interests - None
Term - 1/9/17-31/8/25
Miss Zillah Anderson
Zillah Anderson is a Foundation Governor and member of the Education Committee. She is part of the Livery of the Skinners' Company in London and is a new member of the governing body.
Having studied Economics and Management at the University of Oxford, Zillah qualified as a chartered accountant and chartered management consultant at PwC. Her professional career is focused on public sector service reform as part of UK Government (Department of Health & Social Care) and management consulting organisations.
With a passion for sport and the positive impact of team sport on personal development, Zillah plays, coaches, and sits on the management committee of London based netball club, Cumberland.
Governor Meeting attendance 2023/24 - 5/5
Declared Business & Financial Interests - None
Term - 1/9/23-31/8/27
Mr Thomas Dempster
Thomas is part of the Livery of the Skinners' Company and is a new member of the governing body.
Thomas studied European Politics at King’s College, London, after which he worked for some years as a researcher to a Member of Parliament. He currently works in business development for a fund manager, specialising in private asset strategies.
He lives in Sussex with his wife and young son.
Governor Meeting attendance 2024/25 -
Declared Business & Financial Interests -
Term - 1/9/24-31/8/28
Dr Alex Day
Alex is an old Juddian (1990-1995) and is a Foundation Governor. After leaving The Judd School, he studied at St George’s Hospital Medical School, London and qualified as a Doctor with a double Distinction and 1st Class BSc (Hons). Alex completed his surgical training at Moorfields Eye Hospital, and accomplished a PhD at University College London and later became an Honorary Associate Professor at the UCL Institute of Ophthalmology.
Alex is now one of the leading cataract and laser eye surgeons at Moorfields Eye Hospital, renowned for his laser vision correction and cataract surgery expertise.
He enjoys running, weightlifting, travelling, and listening to classical music. Alex is a Liveryman of The Worshipful Company of Skinners’ and The Worshipful Company of Spectacle Makers.
Governor Meeting attendance 2023/24 - 3/5
Declared Business & Financial Interests - None
Term - 1/9/23-31/8/27
Mr Ben Thompson
I have lived in and around Tunbridge Wells most of my life. I have five sons. The younger three being Judd boys - Zachary, Samuel and Daniel. For myself, I attended Canford School and graduated in Music from Durham University. My wife Rachel teaches at St Ronan’s School in Hawkhurst, as assistant deputy head of pastoral care.
I have more than thirty years’ experience in marketing and communications, working in the UK and the USA and specialising in the financial and professional services sectors most recently working with companies in renewable energy and natural capital, which are making a positive environmental impact.
Since 2015, I have been a member of the school’s Development Fundraising Committee and am heartened by the amount of support and parental engagement fostered by the school. I encouraged my boys to make the most of the outstanding opportunities and facilities offered by Judd, which they did.
In my spare time I play squash, tennis, golf, the piano and am a keen sailor.
Governor Meeting attendance 2023/24 - 6/6
Declared Business & Financial Interests - None
Term - 1/9/21 to 31/8/25
Mr Philip Greatrex
Phil Greatrex is a former pupil of Judd (1967-74). He was a player for, and treasurer of, the Old Juddian rugby club for over 10 years and more recently treasurer of the Old Juddian Society for 25 years, where he is still a main committee member. Phil, a chartered accountant by training, is senior partner at CW Energy LLP where he has worked for over 25 years providing taxation services predominantly to the oil and gas sector in the UK.
Phil has lived with his family in the Tunbridge Wells area since finishing his degree and has always maintained a strong interest in, and links with the school, culminating with his recent appointment as an associate Governor of the school.
Governor Meeting attendance 2023/24 - 6/6
Declared Business & Financial Interests - Director and shareholder of PPJ Oiltax Consultants Ltd and a partner in CW Energy LLP
Term - 1/9/23-31/8/27
Local Authority Governor
Mrs Alex Akrimi
Alex Akrimi lives with her family in Tunbridge Wells and has spent the last 16 years in Education working in Further Education as a teacher and senior leader and more recently for an awarding organisation as Head of Standards. Alex was appointed to the Judd governing body in March 2018 as an Associate Governor, and is a member of the Education Committee.
Governor Meeting attendance 2023/24 - 5/6
Declared Business & Financial Interests - None
Term - 1/9/22-20/5/28
Elected Parent Governors
Vacancy
Mrs Donna Western
Donna has enjoyed a wide-ranging career spanning finance, start-up, technology and biotech across the US and UK and is currently at the Bank of England. Fast-paced technology-led environments have intensified her interest in how schools prepare students to thrive in an ever-changing world moving at unprecedented pace. Donna is a local Sea Scout leader and lives in Tonbridge with her husband, Mark, and two sons. She has been involved with the Judd School since 2019 and looks forward to continuing an active role in the school’s life.
Governor Meeting attendance 2023/24 - 6/6
Declared Business & Financial Interests - None
Term - 9/7/21-8/7/2025
Elected Staff Governor
Mrs Robyn Emmerson
Robyn Emmerson
Robyn Emmerson is an Old Juddian (2003-2005) and was a colours student. After leaving the Judd School she went on to read Law at Oxford Brookes university and then completed a business focussed LPC at BPP Law School in London. She went on to be a litigation and arbitration paralegal for a US law firm and then moved to the Financial Reporting Council to their in-house legal team. In 2016 she decided to change careers and trained as a teacher of geography at UCL. After starting her new teaching career at Pimlico Academy in London she moved back to the local area with her husband and young family, and is now Second in Department within Geography at the Judd School.
Governor Meeting attendance 2024/25 -
Declared Business & Financial Interests : None
Term - 1/9/24-31/8/28
Previous Governors
Governors who have stepped down within the last 12 months
| Name | Governor | Term of Office |
| Mr Malcolm Goddard | Parent | 8/1/24 - 1/10/24 |
| Mr Charles Doyle | Chairman | 1/9/19-31/08/24 |
| Mr Bill Webb | Foundation | 1/9/21-31/8/24 |
| Mr Simon Pearce | Staff | 17/12/20-1/9/24 |
| Mr Scott Henderson | Parent | 18/12/19-18/12/23 |
| Mr John Costello | Associate | 1/8/19-31/8/23 |
| Mrs Lucinda Ball | Foundation | 1/9/17-31/8/25 |
| Mr Ed Ethelston | Foundation | 1/9/22-31/8/26 |