Welcome From Chair Of Governors

After graduating in mathematics from Trinity College, Cambridge in 1975, my career was mainly in life insurance mangement. I was Chief Actuary at Royal Sun Alliance and a Vice-President of the Institute of Actuaries. I retired from full-time work in 2017 and am currently Chair of the Supervisory Board of the Royal National Pension Fund for Nurses. 

In the 1990s, I was a parent governor at Holbrook Primary School in Horsham, where I have lived since 1978, apart from some years working in Cape Town and Liverpool.

I am married with two adult sons and a grandson. In later life, I gained master's degrees in Genealogy (Strathclyde) and English Local History (Oxford) and was a volunteer adviser for Citizens' Advice. I am currently carrying out research into and writing about trade and finance in Elizabethan Sussex. I am a committee member of the West Sussex Archives Society and also a volunteer poetry reader for the National Trust at Bateman's, the former home of Rudyard Kipling.

After graduating from the University of Bristol, I became Head of Classics at Aldro School in Godalming. Since then, I have worked at Christ’s Hospital, where I taught classics and was Head of Years 10 & 11. I currently teach at RGS Guildford.

I joined Muntham House School as a Governor in 2019, serving on the Care & Welfare Committee.

I spent my working life in two careers: 25 years marketing at Sun Alliance Insurance Group and 20 years building and running a Mail-Order company in Horsham, which my wife and I founded. I retired in 2017, leaving our company in my son's hands, and it continues to expand.

I was a Fellow of the Chartered Insurance Institute by examination and have a Bachelor of Arts degree from the Open University. However, my practical experience managing all aspects of a business is most helpful in my role as Governor of Muntham House. I serve on the Finance, Estates, and Personnel committees.

In my spare time, I enjoy singing and have done so in several choirs for most of my life. I am a committee member of Christ’s Hospital Choral Society. I am also a keen genealogist and enjoy walking, cycling, and swimming.

I have previously been a parent governor at Heamoor Primary in Penzance and William Penn in Coolham, but unfortunately, employment circumstances have meant these have been short-lived. My professional career started as the Director of Sport at Chichester University then into secondary school teaching (Science and Chemistry), to professional rugby as firstly a forwards coach and then six years as the Director of Rugby, and then back into teaching. I have taught at Christ’s Hospital since September 2016 becoming a houseparent in September 2018. I thoroughly enjoy the houseparent role and see this as a key learning experience supporting my ambition of progressing into an SLT position. I married in 2010, and we have three children.

Always keen to challenge myself and to advance my knowledge hence why I have three separate MSc degrees and a very understanding wife!

The majority of my working life was spent at Sun Alliance Insurance Group, mainly in systems development, but in the latter stages as Manager, UK Operations for direct business. Taking advantage of the merger with the Royal Group, I left work for a year backpacking around Australia and New Zealand. Diving the Barrier reef and some rock climbing sorties. Returning to the UK, Harvey Jones Consulting Ltd. was established with a business plan to “meet new people, do new things, and have fun.” Various contracts were tackled, including the restructuring of a “committee” run by a charity to a modern business run by a management board. Alongside the consulting, I was able to indulge in a passion for the outdoors, climbing and trekking, perhaps the highlight of which was the 3 first ascents at over 6000 meters in the Pamir Mountains of Tajikistan.

My career started with an apprenticeship with a flight simulator company, which allowed me to obtain a degree in mechanical engineering (BEng Hons). I then undertook a PGCE in Design Technology, which led me into my teaching career in 1995. My teaching experience has been spent for nearly 30 years in Education. This has included working as head of department in a mainstream school in prior posts, Teaching Design Technology, Engineering, and Motorcycle Mechanics.

I have worked at Muntham House School for nearly 15 years and have enjoyed every minute. I have many years of experience with a wide range of pupils in these settings and am able to share my knowledge and expertise with my colleagues. I have demonstrated a strong knowledge of education practice and maintain high standards of teaching and learning.

My Hobbies outside of school include Jet skiing and Motorcycling, and I am currently renovating my house in my spare time.

I started working at Muntham in January 1980 and retired from teaching at Muntham in September 2011. I spent all my teaching career working with a variety of children with extreme special needs, mostly helping them manage their behavioural difficulties. I started teaching years 7/8 and was the first occupant of the log cabin, teaching primary children 7/11 years. I was supported by the school to achieve an Advanced Diploma in Education and a MEd in 2001.

I was involved in the school's extraneous duties programme, which meant I had the privilege of working with the pupils in a social context outside the classroom evenings and weekend programmes, not to mention the many trips to Lincolnshire, Wales and Devon. This was both fun and developed ongoing working relationships with my wonderful classes.

During my last ten years in school, I was involved in outreach to local primary schools, supporting both staff and pupils. I have also developed and supported INSET and staff training programmes.

Three years after retiring, the school management supported me in continuing staff training and support, which enabled me to relax and leave behind a wonderful experience of living and working at Muntham.