Jon White / Headteacher

Appointed to the role of Headteacher at St Vincent de Paul School in 2017, I am delighted to be able to continue to serve the Parishes of Stevenage and the Diocese of Westminster in providing the best possible Catholic education that can be offered for our children. My role on the Governing Body is to provide Governors with effective, timely and accurate information and advice and to work with them to strategically plan for the future of our school. I sit on each of the sub committees and I am held to account for the work of the school, its standards and its Catholic mission. Married to Nicole (also a teacher in Stevenage), I have three children all attending local Catholic schools.

Alex Whitty / Deputy Headteacher

I was delighted to be appointed as Deputy Head Teacher of St Vincent de Paul School in April 2022. I have been fortunate enough to have spent the past 22 years as an Assistant Head Teacher and class teacher in two local catholic schools. I have a son and a daughter who both attend The Saint John Henry Newman school. I am committed to providing excellence in Catholic Education, ensuring children leave school with faith and a life-long love of learning.  I am very much looking forward to working with the governors, staff, parents and pupils of St Vincent de Paul School.

Nathan Barry / Co-opted Governor

I moved to Hertfordshire from the North West in 2014. I am a Mathematics teacher and Learning Co-ordinator at The John Henry Newman School. My passion for education has been key to my interest in being a Governor at St Vincent de Paul. 

I will use my experience as a teacher to support the Teaching and Learning and Safeguarding sub committees alongside the other governors. I am delighted to be part of this school community and look forward to sharing the school's vision and mission statement throughout my time on the Governing body.

Bernie Bullock / Parent Governor

I am Bernadette Bullock. I have always lived in Stevenage, attending St Margaret Clitherow School and the John Henry Newman School. After my A-Levels I studied for my Theology degree at St Mary’s College in Twickenham. My life journey took me back to the John Henry Newman School where I trained to become a teacher and I have taught Religious Education there since 2003.
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I wanted to become a governor as 2 of my children attend this school and I wanted to work in partnership with the Headteacher and Senior Leadership team, in addition to the other governors, to help raise standards and improve outcomes for all children at the St Vincent De Paul School. I am a member of the Teaching and Learning committee which I hope benefits from my experience as a teacher.

Damon Carr / co-opted Governor

I am married and have three children, who all attend St Vincent de Paul school. I have worked as a civil servant for 15 years during which time I have witnessed how education directly impacts a person. I wanted to become a parent governor as I believe I can help and support our school and community. I look forward to working in partnership with Mr White and the governing board with the overall aim of the maintaining the schools mission statement. 

Geraldine Cartwright / Foundation Governor

My name is Geraldine Cartwright and I was appointed as a Foundation Governor in May 2014.
I serve the community of St Vincent de Paul School as a governor because I have close links with both the school and the parish. As the retired Headteacher of a Catholic school, I uphold the values of Catholic education and work with the leadership team to provide the best quality of education for all pupils.
I have 4 adult children who have all benefitted from Catholic schools and 7 grandchildren who are either attending a Catholic school or who, hopefully, will do so in the future.

Simon Crump / Staff Governor

Since joining the school in September 2018, I have worked as a class teacher in Year 6. As a staff member at the school, I am committed to ensuring that every child receives the very best education and reaches their full potential during their time at St Vincent de Paul School. I am proud to represent the members of staff on the governing body, and I can ably offer a staff viewpoint and perspective to discussions. Having a child in the school myself, I am a further part of the community and am dedicated in seeing the St Vincent de Paul School thrive.

Mary Hewitson / Foundation Governor

I have a long connection with St Vincent de Paul School as I was the Deputy Headteacher from 1996-1998. I left St Vincent's to become a Headteacher of another Catholic primary school and continued this role until 2013. Since then I have been, once again, closely involved with life at this wonderful school.
I am married with four children who like me have benefitted enormously from Catholic education. Being a governor is a small way of giving service to our Catholic community and giving thanks for all that the community has given to myself and my family.

Charli Lahiff / Co-opted Governor

Within my role as a Health Visitor for the NHS, I support families to promote the health and wellbeing of children. My experience, particularly in regard to working with vulnerable families and reducing inequalities, will help me to support the Safeguarding sub-committee. I am passionate about enabling children to reach their full potential, which I hope will enhance my contribution as a School Governor. I have always lived locally and attended the John Henry Newman school, where I met my husband and where our daughter now attends. We also have 2 sons; one who attends St Vincent de Paul and one who will hopefully do so once he reaches school age! I attend mass at St Joseph’s Church. 

Siobhan Morgan / Parent Governor

A former civil servant I worked for the Home Office for 11 years formulating government policy and legislation. As a Classics graduate from King’s College London I was able to study theology, ethics and philosophy as part of the Associateship of King’s College (the original qualification awarded by the university).  
I am married with three children, two of whom attend St. Vincent de Paul School and my family attends St. Joseph’s Church. I live locally but grew up in North London attending my local Convent School. I feel very privileged to have enjoyed a Catholic education, and am very grateful that my children are able to experience this too.

Kunle Anjorin / Parent Governor

An IT Consulting Professional with a life-long passion for learner-centred education. As a Parent Governor with External Quality Assurance experience, I’m committed to supporting St Vincent de Paul School community in deepening its quality of education, enriching the diversity of thought and strengthening a vibrant and inclusive community while upholding the School ethos. I am married to Abigail (an Educational Coach and former Head Teacher). We have 3 children attending Catholic schools.

Rob Neave / Foundation Governor

My name is Rob Neave. I grew up in Stevenage but made the short move to Knebworth where I have lived for the past 6 years. I am recently married and my wife and I regularly attend mass locally at St. Thomas More Catholic Church. I also support the Parish on their Finance Committee. I trained as a Sports Physiotherapist 11 years ago but for the past 9 years I have worked in various management roles in the NHS ranging from business development to programme management and strategy. This is my first role as a School Governor and I choose to do this as I feel passionately about giving back and supporting the Catholic community. I hope the skills and experience I have will serve St Vincent de Paul's well as we strive to provide the best possible Catholic education for our children.

Sajan Sebastian / Foundation Governor

I have lived in Stevenage for the past 12 years with my family and attend St Joseph’s Church. I have two children, both attend St Vincent de Paul school. I trained as a Marine ecologist and have served both in Civil Service and private sector environmental consultancy for the past 15 years. This is my first role as a School Governor. I chose to do this as I feel passionate about giving back and supporting our community. I wish all the children in St Vincent de Paul a bright future.

Rakhee Shah / Co-opted Governor

I was delighted to join the Board of Governors in 2019.  I have two children of school age and have worked in education for over 23 years.  I was educated in London and graduated from University of Westminster with a degree in Biological Science.  My first teaching appointment was at Enfield College where I taught Information Technology to students of widely differing abilities and ages.  I am now a full-time lecturer at North Hertfordshire College where I am responsible for IT students, English & Maths.  Like many parents I spend a great deal of my time taking my children to various sporting and social activities.  In my spare time I enjoy going walking with my kids and dancing. 

Valerie Hargrave / Associate Governor

I have been lucky enough to be part of this school for many years. I am a former pupil of Saint John Southworth, the name of this school before its amalgamation with Pope Pius. I have been a parent of the school and all three of my children attended St Vincent de Paul, with my eldest, a pupil here when the school formed in 1990. My faith is very important to me and working in a Catholic school allows me daily opportunity to share my beliefs.

My employment here has changed considerably over the years, starting as a Midday Supervisor, and then a Nursery Nurse, before qualifying as a class teacher and since 2017, I have been Assistant Head to the Early Years and Key Stage One. Every position I have enjoyed and getting to be part of so many children’s lives, their families and their education is a real pleasure. As a governor I am involved with the Teaching and Learning Committee.

Nicole White / Associate Governor

Bio to follow






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Rhian Richards / Associate Governor

I have been within the St Vincent De Paul School Community for over ten years. I have three children, one who is currently at St John Henry Newman and two who are at St Vincent De Paul.
I have worked within the NHS in various roles for the last fifteen years and I hope I will be able to contribute effectively to the governing body using my skill set.
I look forward to working alongside the school, fellow governors and parents in helping to drive improvement and in turn have better outcomes for our school and pupils.

Paul Volske / Foundation Governor

My name is Paul Volske. I grew up in Stevenage and am an old pupil of the Blessed John Southworth School - the precursor to St Vincent's - before going to St Michael's; originally in Hitchin before its own move to Stevenage. Some of you will recall that St Michael's merged with St. Angela's to form the current John Henry Newman School. I am married to a (recently retired) midwife and we have one daughter. I retired from commercial life during 2018 after 43 years working for a family owned private bank. Retirement has given me the opportunity to join the Governing Board and I hope to be able to contribute to the on-going development of the school and its pupils

Fr Nigel Woollen / Foundation Governor

I'm originally from Barnet and was fortunate to attend good Catholic schools (Sacred Heart,Whetstone and Bishop Douglass, East Finchley). After studying maths at Leeds University and working in the Post Office in London, I moved to France and was ordained a priest in the church of St John Vianney (Curé of Ars) in 1996. Following various ministries in France and Italy, I served in Knock Shrine in Ireland for 15 years, before returning to London in 2018. I'm now a priest of Westminster diocese, and very happy to be based at St Joseph's Church, next door to St Vincent de Paul School, and to witness the close bonds between school and parish which are so mutually enriching.

Gloria Enock / Foundation Governor

I moved to Stevenage in 2017 and my children attend St. Vincent De Paul School. I am delighted to serve as a foundation governor of this great school. I attend StJoseph’s Catholic Church where I assist with the liturgy and also volunteer with the First Holy Communion Team in preparing the children for their First Holy Communion. St Vincent De Paul School has made very positive impact on the Catholic faith and academic wellbeing of my kids. I look forward to working with the Headteacher and Governing body to help preserve the Catholic ethos of the school while delivering exceptional academic experience and training for every child.

Vacancy / Clerk to the Governors

To be appointed