About our Governors

Mark Foster - Chairman of Governors and Member

I have been privileged to be the Chair of Peaslake School since 1994, overseeing its time as Charity School and the move to become a Free School in 2013. I have had a career as a Management Consultant and have held senior global leadership roles at Accenture and IBM. I am passionate about early learning and believe deeply in children being able to start their education close to the communities that they are a part of. I am also Chair of Chichester Festival Theatre and aside from theatre my interests include photography, running, 7-a-side football and travel.

Tom Southee - Safeguarding & Curriculum Governor

I joined the governing team at Peaslake Free School as the Safeguarding Governor.I also sit on the Curriculum Committee. I have been a teacher for 14 years, starting as an English teacher, then subsequently taking on the roles of Head of Boarding, Head of English, Head of Safeguarding and I am now Deputy Head at the Duke of Kent School. I strongly believe that the pastoral care of the children should be at the forefront of their education and that learning happens best when the children are happy and understood. My include playing and following football, listening to and collecting records, reading historical fiction and travelling with my wonderful family.

Emily Riley - Fundraising & Parent Liaison (Parent Governor)

I have been a parent governor since 2022. I have a background in Primary and Early Years Education. My interests include music and enjoying the outdoors, both of which drew my husband and I to Peaslake Free School & Nursery for our children.

Hayley Van Leeuwen - Marketing

I have been a governor of Peaslake School since 2019. I first joined as a parent governor and stayed on when my son left the school in July 2021. I have worked in marketing roles for the last 25 years in PLCs, government and start-ups. When not doing my day job or being a governor, I like to try to stay fit, love to travel with my family and be a mum!

David Newman - Vice Chairman of Governors and Responsible Officer

I’ve been involved with Peaslake School, initially as a Parent Trustee, since 1999 and as a Governor of the Free School since its inception in 2013. I oversee the school’s finances and the reporting of them to the ESFA. My career was a 21 year stint as a derivatives trader at JP Morgan, so I like to think I know something about money! My passion, though, is fly fishing which has taken me to beautiful places all over the world.

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