Governors

Jean Walker – Chair

Jean Walker worked for 39 years in the education sector and recently retired from her last teaching post as a Deputy Head at St Mary’s Shaftesbury. She was also the designated safeguarding lead, developed a wealth of experience in leading on Safeguarding matters in school and will provide additional support to the Lead Safeguarding Governor. Her academic and pastoral expertise has been developed through a variety of management positions, in both the state and independent sector and from teaching across all age ranges, in Preparatory and Senior schools. Jean is also an experienced ISI Inspector and has a wealth of experience across all aspects of education. Jean joined the board March 2018.

Email: jwalker@sunninghill.dorset.sch.uk

Duncan Perks – Vice Chair 

Joined the Board in March 2013. Duncan has a MSc in Economics and is a qualified accountant. Having set up and run his own Dorchester-based practice for about 20 years, he then became a partner in Old Mill Accountants for many years and is now an Independent Tax Consultant. Duncan sits on the Finance Committee.

Dr Hay-Ming Blunt – Safeguarding

Hay-Ming is a local GP Partner and GP Trainer at Fordington Surgery, Dorchester and joined the board in March 2020.  He qualified from Guys and St Thomas Medical School in 2003 and after initially training in Orthopaedics, switched to Primary Care, becoming a GP in 2011.  He undertakes a number of additional roles, acting as Clinical Lead for the Urgent Care Service for West Dorset, Clinical Lead for the Enhanced Health in Care Homes for Dorset CCG, and also as a Governing GP for the CCG.

Andrew Boggis

Andrew is a retired headteacher of a large independent day school in London. He joined the Board in March 2020. He is a former Chair of the HMC (Headmasters’ & Headmistresses’ Conference) and a past Master of the Skinners’ Livery Company in London. He has been a governor of several state maintained and independent schools.

David Brugge

David joined the Board in March 2019 and is the Chair of the Estates, Risk and Compliance Committee. He is the Director of Christmas and Brugge Ltd, a local firm of Chartered Surveyors, and has worked in Dorchester for over 30 years dealing with all aspects of property for the local community.

Kaye Chittenden

Kaye joined the board in March 2021 having worked for 35 years at the Thomas Hardye school in Dorchester. She recently retired from her role as Assistant Head teacher with a responsibility for Pastoral care, Safeguarding and Well-being for staff and students. She has a breadth of knowledge in governance and experience from working with a local learning centre and the Studio school. She is also a Member of the Wessex Multi Academy Trust. Kaye will sit on the Education Committee.

Sarah Downey

Sarah Downey joined the Board in 2021.  She studied for a  BA in Classics and Archaeology and a Masters in Archive Administration at London University in the 1980s. She then worked as an Archivist in London and Dorset before taking time out to raise five sons.  She currently acts as Company Secretary for the printing business that she and her husband set up in 1991. Sarah sits on the Finance and Business Committee.

Chris Keenan

Chris joined the Board in March 2019 and sits on the Finance & Business Committee. He is a Partner at Humphries Kirk LLP and heads the firms Court of Protection team specialising in issues of vulnerable adult mental incapacity. He qualified as a Solicitor in September 2007 and initially worked in Devon before moving to Humphries Kirk in 2011.

Revd Keith Magee

Keith has been a priest in the Church of England for over 20 years and, since November 2020, has been Team Rector of Dorchester and the Winterbournes Team Ministry with particular responsibility for St Peter’s Church. Prior to moving to Dorset, Keith had also been a priest in Leicester and Chelmsford. He has experience of being a school chaplain as well as being a governor in both independent and state schools. Before ordination Keith worked as a secondary school teacher.

Ben Wadey

Ben joined the Board in June 2021 and sits on the Finance & Business Committee. He studied a BA in Politics and International Relations at the University of Kent before becoming an accountant. He qualified as a chartered accountant in 2018 and is a manager at CB Reid Ltd, a local firm of accountants where he works with owner managed companies, individuals, and charities.