Please meet our wonderful governors below.
Catherine Gibaud
Chair of Governors
Daniel Pegley
Co-opted Governor
Emily Simpson-Horne
Ex-Officio
Jane Bellamy-Cooper
Parent Governor
Laura Kelly
Parent Governor Primary Phase
Keith Whitehead
Co-opted Governor
Tony Jordan
Vice Chair of Governors
Theo Zimbler
Staff Governor
Rachel Higginson
Co-opted Governor
Ross Morshead
Co-Opted Governor
Onboarding
Trust Appointed Governor
Catherine Gibaud
Chair of Governors
Catherine is the Link Governor for Safeguarding
Catherine Gibaud is a Barrister and KC, practising at Gray’s Inn, London and specialising in commercial litigation. Catherine was recently appointed as a part-time Deputy District Judge in Civil and Family law.
Ms Gibaud has previously been a Governor of a federation of schools in the maintained sector and currently serves as a Governor of Exeter School and City Junior School in London. Married to a barrister, she has three children. The family are based in Devon, near Exeter.
Daniel Pegley
Co-opted Governor
Bio coming soon
Emily Simpson-Horne
Ex-Officio
Coming soon.
Jane Bellamy-Cooper
Parent Governor
Jane is the Link Governor for Careers
Coming soon
Laura Kelly
Parent Governor Primary Phase
Bio Coming Soon
Keith Whitehead
Co-opted Governor
Keith Whitehead is an experienced educational leader, mathematician, and engineer with a career spanning education, consultancy, defence, and major infrastructure programmes. He currently teaches Mathematics at Exeter School, having previously served as Head of STEM and Director of Vocational Qualifications, where he established and developed a range of STEM subjects and led the strategic development of vocational education. Before moving into education, Keith served for 26 years as an Army officer. He then worked in industry in engineering, information systems, consultancy, and programme leadership before moving into the education sector. His work included leading capability development for battlefield information infrastructure, managing a major IT transformation programme for Transport for London, and working as a principal consultant delivering organisational and technological change. Within education, Keith has held senior leadership responsibilities including restructuring co-curricular provision, introducing new academic pathways, and developing partnerships to broaden opportunities for pupils. He is particularly interested in STEM education, technical and vocational learning, and preparing young people for the rapidly changing demands of the modern workplace
Tony Jordan
Vice Chair of Governors
Tony is the Link Governor for Attendance and Health & Safety
I was educated in Devon and have worked mainly in the South West, chiefly in education administration for Local Education Authorities and Children’s Services Authorities. I am employed as a business manager at a secondary school in a coastal town in Devon. After over 35 years involvement in education, my professional career is winding down now but my passion for education is undimmed. In my spare time I enjoy tinkering around with bicycles and sometimes even riding them. I am very excited to be appointed as a school governor to continue my work in education.
Theo Zimbler
Staff Governor
I am the Pupil Empowerment Lead and Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead.
My role as staff governor is to ensure that the voice of our passionate team is heard. My role at Matford Brook Academy allows me to communicate with every member of our team, therefore allowing me to hear every member of the Matford Brook Team.
Rachel Higginson
Co-opted Governor
Rachel is the Link Governor for SEND
Rachel Higginson is an education consultant and a keynote speaker and has been in education for 25 years.
She is the Primary Adviser for Uffculme Academy Trust, a collaborator for the education platform Myatt & Co and is the Education Consultant for the children’s publisher, Redan.
Rachel designed the ‘Finding my Voice’ project based in Devon. This supports young people to physically and metaphorically ‘find their voice’.
Rachel works in schools to help facilitate school growth with specialisms in transformative conversation, curriculum design, oracy and personal development.
Ross Morshead
Co-Opted Governor
I am the Director of Curriculum Development at Exeter College, where I support the design and quality of our educational offer and ensure it meets the needs of our local community. I also serve as a trustee on the board of Exeter City Community Trust. Having been educated in Devon and now living locally in Exeter, I am passionate about contributing to the educational and social development of our region.
Onboarding
Trust Appointed Governor
A Trust link governor is currently onboarding. Name, photo and bio will be shared once this process is complete.