Governors at Kings’
TOM DIERCKX – CHAIR OF GOVERNORS
Tom has lived in Winchester with his wife Suzy since 2006. He has 3 children of which the eldest is currently at Kings and with 2 to follow.
Tom is a Member of the Institute of Chartered Surveyors.over 20 years of Real Estate experience holding directorships in global real estate consultancies for the past 12 years. Covering property management, internal process reviews, facilities management with a keen interest in sustainability.
Outside work Tom enjoys cycling and football: coaching, refereeing but mainly cheering. Tom has been an active member of Winchester Round Table for over 16 years raising funds for local Charities. He is also a Trustee for the Winchester Round Table and is currently Treasurer for 41 Club.
DR JAMES ADAMS – HEADTEACHER
James joined Kings in January 2021, having been a senior leader in Poole and Somerset. He began his teaching career at the Thomas Hardye School in Dorset, teaching Geography. He has a passion for the outdoors as a teacher and from a personal perspective, living in the New Forest and enjoying endurance events. James is a Founding Fellow of the Chartered College of Teaching.
RUPERT NEVILLE – VICE CHAIR OF GOVERNORS
Rupert joined the board of governors in November 2024. He and his wife have lived in Winchester and the surrounding area for the past 20+ years. He coached rugby at Winchester Rugby Football Club, for 10 years, where both his sons played. Both are now at university. As a coach his passion was always to bring the best out of the B team players.
He has a career that spans over 12 years in the Army and 30 years in Financial Services. As a senior manager, in the Wealth Management sector, he has been responsible for managing large teams of relationship managers, overseeing a number of complex mergers along with the supervision and development of staff.
He is also a trustee and Chief Investment Officer for the Green Howards Trust, in Richmond, North Yorkshire, and an ambassador for Bhubesi Pride, a charity that helps with the education and development of children in Malawi, through a series of community building programmes.
LOUISE HUTTON – CO-OPTED
Louise is a co-opted Governor and Deputy Headteacher at Kings’ School. Having been a Senior Leader at 2 previous schools, she currently leads on Academic Excellence. Louise is an RE teacher and has written Making Every RE Lesson Count as part of the popular Making Every Lesson Count series. She is currently completing her Masters in Educational Leadership and Management.
CAROLINA REYES PRIETO – CO-OPTED
Carolina joined the governing body in 2023. She has lived with her family in Colden Common since 2021, after moving from London to enjoy life in the country side, she has one son at Kings and another at the local primary school.
Carolina holds an MA in Marketing and has worked in the Telco and Marketing industry for 15+ years, currently working for VirginMedia O2. Carolina has great experience in project management, team management, data management and is a keen advocate on team’s wellbeing, training and mentoring.
Carolina enjoys cycling and walks with the family in beautiful Hampshire. She is keen to share her knowledge and experience with the governing body to support the school to achieve its vision successfully.
MARTIN RATCLIFFE- CO-OPTED
Martin is a passionate advocate for education and believes that every child deserves a quality education that prepares them for success in life. He has been a parent of two children at Kings’ and has been impressed with the school’s commitment to academic excellence, its focus on social-emotional learning, and its culture.
Martin comes to Kings’ with previous experience of being a parent Governor and a strong advocacy for diversity and inclusion. He believes that all children, regardless of their background, should have the opportunity to succeed. Martin will work with the Kings’ school community to ensure that all students feel safe, supported, and challenged.
Martin is excited about the opportunity to serve as a governor at Kings’ where he believes that his skills and experience will be a valuable asset to the governing body. He is committed to working with the other governors to ensure that Kings’ is a school where all children can thrive.
HELEN BROCKLEHURST – CO-OPTED
Helen joined the governing body in 2025, having had one child go through Kings’, one child at Kings’ and one due to start. She has lived in Winchester since 2002 and has been a governor at a Kings’ feeder primary school since 2018.
She is an advocate of the benefits of children reading for pleasure having spent her career working in book publishing. For the last six years she has run her own publishing consultancy business, specialising in strategy and business change. She holds an MA in English Literature, an MSc in Psychology and has worked as an Associate Lecturer on the Oxford International Centre for Publishing’s postgraduate degree programme.
CHRISTOPHER WESTWOOD – CO-OPTED
Chris became a co-opted Governor in 2025 and has lived in Winchester since 1997, when he relocated to begin his career at IBM. Over nearly three decades with the company, he has held various roles across technology, with a focus on leadership and team coaching. Passionate about empowering individuals to reach their potential, Chris sees his role as a Governor as an opportunity to make a positive impact on a wider community.
He has one daughter who currently attends Kings School. Prior to his current position, Chris served as a co-opted Governor at a local primary school for seven years, where he contributed to many aspects of the strategy of the school.
An avid runner, Chris has completed several long-distance races. He also volunteers as a Technical Track Official for the Winchester and District Athletics Club
SARAH HENSTOCK-TURNER – CO-OPTED
Sarah joined the governing body in January 2025. She has lived with her family in Winchester since 2014 and has two children currently at Kings’.
Sarah is a barrister, specialising in family law with a particular emphasis on children and child protection.
Sarah welcomes the opportunity to serve as a governor and is committed to ensuring that Kings’ is a school where all children have the opportunity to succeed in a safe and supported environment.
Away from work and governance, Sarah enjoys running and is known to participate in half marathons as well as supporting her children with their love of football.
Des Mhere – CHAIR OF Resources COMMITTEE & Parent Governor
Des joined the Governing Body in 2023. He has lived with his family in Winchester since 2015 and has two children currently at Kings’.
Des possesses a Masters in Financial Management and an MBA. Has served for nearly 20 years as an officer in the British Army and has a wealth of experience leading Finance and People operational teams in Europe, Middle East, Africa, Asia and the Americas in addition to a stint as a strategic financial planner in the Army’s Headquarters.
He will fully utilise his knowledge, skills and experience to contribute to the success of Kings’ and its pupils.
DAVID COHEN – LOCAL AUTHORITY GOVERNOR
Dave joined the Governing body as as the Local Education Authority Governor in 2023. He is a university teacher, a mathematician and a software engineer and worked as a university teacher at London University for more than 30 years, teaching robotics and software Engineering.
He is passionate about teaching and learning and believes that every child must be given the support to achieve their full potential at Kings. He has won many teaching prizes, and was a finalist in the Times Higher best university teacher (open to all subjects) a few years ago.
He enjoys giving talks and practical maths and computing sessions in schools, and science festivals.
His son went to Kings and moved on to Peter Symonds in 2016.
ROSE FAULKNER – STAFF GOVERNOR
Rose trained to be a teacher in 2014 after completing an undergraduate degree in Biomedical Sciences at Kings’ College London. She has working at Kings’ School as Head of Science since January 2024 and has loved working at such a fantastic school, where students have so many opportunities.
During her teaching career, Rose has held many roles, such as IIT mentor, deputy in Science and STEM coordinator and has thoroughly enjoyed the opportunities to grow. Rose also completed her Master’s degree in Education studies; she is passionate about life long learning!
In her spare time, Rose loves spending time outdoors!
Rose is taking on her first governing role in 2025 and looks forward to making a difference and delivering excellence.
EMMA CAIN – CLERK TO THE GOVERNORS
Emma Cain has over 30 years’ experience working in international development and human rights with non-governmental organisations on programme management, policy development, and evaluation, always with a focus on empowerment of the most excluded in society. She is now keen to use her skills and experience in her local community, and is excited to take on this role supporting the Governors at Kings School, where her youngest daughter has just completed her GCSEs.
NEMISHA PATEL OWEN – CO-OPTED
Nemisha joined the governing body in January 2026. She has lived in Winchester since 2006 with her husband Steve, and their two children — a daughter at Kings and a son to join in due course.
Passionate about growth and wellbeing, Nemisha’s purpose is to guide people to live their true self while doing what they love. She has over 18 years’ experience with NATS, the UK’s air traffic control provider, and has run her own successful coaching business since 2019. Through mindset coaching, meditation, yoga, and personal development — and via her online platform, YogaLife with Nemisha — she helps high-achievers think clearer, feel calmer, and grow from the inside out.
Alongside her work, Nemisha enjoys daily fitness, yoga, meditation, walks in nature, and spending quality time with her family. She is vegan and enjoys healthy home cooking. She is committed to bringing her experience in leadership, coaching, and wellbeing to the governing body, supporting Kings School in fostering an environment where staff and pupils can thrive as their whole selves.
JULIE GALE – CO-OPTED
Julie has recently moved from Derbyshire to Winchester with her husband. She has two grown up children.
Julie is a retired teacher of Mathematics, having worked both in the state and independent sector. During her teaching career, Julie held various positions including Head of Year.
She is a keen swimmer and also enjoys yoga, running and skiing.
Julie is excited about the opportunity to serve as a governor and share her experience and skills.
LAURA BARKER – CO-OPTED
