The Board of Governors
About the Governing Board
The board of governors comprises volunteers who serve as governors of the School, trustees of the Charity and non-executive directors of the not-for-profit, limited company. Those who serve as governors come from a range of professional backgrounds and experience so that they may provide oversight and strategic direction. The full governing body meets formally at least four times a year, and governors are invited to attend other School occasions.
In addition to attending and participating in meetings of the full governing body, governors are expected to be active within one or more of the governing board’s sub-committees, which meet separately as appropriate for each committee’s objectives. Governors act as ambassadors and advocates for the School, and must act independently in accordance with Charity law. For this reason, it is extremely unusual for the parent of a pupil currently on-roll to be appointed to serve on the board of governors.
However, parents are encouraged to contact the Headmaster or the Board directly with recommendations for suitable candidates to serve on the board who are not parents of current pupils on the School's roll. The School also values highly the expertise and experience of governors who have previously been parents of pupils in the school, and welcomes their applications which are considered on the basis of skills offered to the Board.
The governors are responsible for the appointment of the Headmaster, and for monitoring and supporting his performance and the quality of all aspects of the School's provision. As trustees of the Charity, the governors are responsible for the Charity’s assets.
Mr Glenn Handley MBA Chair of Governors
Glenn Handley is the Founder of SecFin Solutions, a consultancy that adeptly navigates the intricate corridors of Securities Finance, Repo, Securities Lending, and associated sectors. Glenn’s 33 years of rich experience have been crystallised from pivotal roles at large global banks, including HSBC where he was a Managing Director and Global Head of G10 Rates Cash Financing Solutions. He was a founding member of the Bank of England Working Group on Sterling Risk-Free Reference Rates which selected SONIA as the sterling risk-free interest rate benchmark. Glenn co-chaired the UK Money Market Code Sub Committee and represented HSBC on several London Clearing House Committees. His ongoing commitment to diversity and mentorship is evident through initiatives to enhance committee diversity and dedicated mentorship roles at organisations like the International Capital Markets Association. He is also an Expert Witness in the world of Securities Financing.
Glenn combines this wealth of expertise with a dedicated service as the Chair of Governors at More House School. A father of four and ex-parent, he is deeply embedded in community activities, such as Dorking Rugby Club and his village’s annual Classic Car Show Committee. Glenn, an alumnus of Bayes Business School with an Executive MBA, also successfully completed the London Business School’s Leading Businesses and Functions programme in 2021. His firm, SecFin Solutions, stands at the forefront of providing tailored, insightful strategies, ensuring each client is meticulously guided through the ever-evolving landscape of the financial industry.
Committees: Finance and General Purposes; Governance and Nominations; Safeguarding and Welfare
Mr Andy Routley BSC Hons and Cert Ed Deputy Chair of Governors
Andy Routley has a portfolio career primarily as a Company Chairman and Advisor to businesses of different sizes and organisations. He is Executive Chairman Big Spoon Brands and has been Chairman of Absolute Collagen, a private equity backed Health & Wellness business. He is also a Director and Trustee of Lads Need Dads, a charity offering support for teenage boys in need of positive male role models. Having graduated from Loughborough University in 1988, Andy joined Mars as a graduate trainee and then spent the next 25 years in increasingly senior sales and marketing leadership roles in Unilever & SAB Miller until becoming Managing Director for Church & Dwight in the UK and then served a four-year term as Managing Director/CEO DB (Heineken) New Zealand and Australia where he led a branded business plus a hospitality joint venture. He then became Managing Director Digital Commerce Europe at Heineken Europe. Andy is married with three children – one of whom has just left More House - and lives in Surrey.
Committees: Chair of Finance and General Purposes
Dr Mounir Atassi
Dr Mounir Atassi is a dedicated school governor with a strong background in healthcare innovation, sustainability, and business leadership. Holding qualifications in both dentistry and business management, Mounir combines scientific expertise with strategic acumen. He has extensive experience teaching dentistry, contributing to innovative healthcare solutions, and leading teams to develop sustainable products. Passionate about creating better opportunities for students and staff, Mounir is committed to helping the school thrive through thoughtful governance and a focus on well-being and educational excellence.
Committees: Teaching, Learning and Therapy
Mrs Helen Bell BA (Hons) ACA
Helen’s career is in Finance and Business. Having qualified as a Chartered Accountant with KPMG, Helen joined Newton Investment Management as a Global Analyst, covering the Consumer Goods sector. Towards the end of her 13 years at the company, Helen focussed on investment projects and team management, supporting the Chief Investment Officer.
Helen took a career break in 2016 to focus on her family. After a time, she began working with a start-up business, Rosalena Skincare, and jointly led on its growth and development into a niche, premium skincare brand. The business was sold last year, allowing Helen more time to pursue her long-held ambition to be a Governor at More House as well as think about her next entrepreneurial challenges.
Helen has two children, one of whom is currently at More House, and lives in Surrey. She firmly believes that More House is an exceptional and unique school, helping boys and their families in so many ways and, above all, enabling them to believe that anything, and everything, is possible.
Committee: Finance & General Purposes
Mrs Charlotte Burnell
Charlotte Burnell is a special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) advocate, supporting families to secure the right educational provision for children and young people with SEND since 2015.
Starting originally as a trained volunteer at SEND charity SOS!SEN, where she still volunteers today, she created EHCP Advocacy in early 2023, helping parents through the SEND and Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) processes and to understand their child’s entitlement to support in education under current legislation.
Her background spans over 35 years of senior communication and consulting roles in the public service, defence, technology and real estate sectors for companies such as Serco Group plc, BAE Systems plc, Cushman and Wakefield, Virtual Clarity, (now part of DXC Technology), Idox plc and Claris (formerly part of Apple Computers). She has experience in marketing and corporate communications within international, complex and regulatory environments, and for organisations undergoing transformational change.
She is a parent of a former pupil at More House School.
Committees: Safeguarding and Welfare, and Teaching, Learning and Therapy
Mr Paul Coby
Paul Coby is Group Chief Information Officer (CIO) in charge of digital technology at Persimmon Homes and has been CIO at British Airways, John Lewis Partnership and Johnson Matthey. He has been a non-executive Director on several companies including Virgin Money and was Chair of SITA which provides IT services to the world’s airlines and airports.
Paul has championed how businesses use technology to support their customers and workforce in a world where business models are being transformed by the web, data, social media and AI. He was a chair of the eSkills CIO panel which developed new practical degree courses in technology and set up computer clubs for girls to encourage schoolgirls to develop their skills in IT. He is passionate about technology innovation and set up JLAB, the John Lewis tech innovation laboratory, to work with start-ups in the UK in applying innovative digital solutions to shopping online and in stores.
Paul is a father of three, his son having attended and greatly benefitted from More House’s teaching and support. Paul studied history at Cambridge and has a lifelong interest in history and archaeology. He has recently published a book on ‘Forts and Roman Strategy’ and is writing another one about the Roman invasions of Britain. Paul and his wife Sally share a love of travel and world music, and Paul continues to work on a model railway which will never be finished!
Committees: Finance and General Purposes and Chair of Governance and Nominations
Fr Nick Gosnell SRN BTh(Hons) MA(Ed) MA(CL)
Fr Nick Gosnell joined the Governing Body in 2022. He is a Catholic priest of the Archdiocese of Westminster. After joining the Royal Navy and qualifying as a State Registered Nurse he saw service in the Falklands Conflict before leaving the Armed Forces to train for the Anglican ministry. He married Alison in 1981 (who died of a terminal illness in December 2021) and they have two married sons with, currently, one granddaughter. Following the family’s conversion to Roman Catholicism in 1997 he was sent by Cardinal Basil Hume to work as a Regular Army Chaplain and served in many areas around the world before becoming Vicar General of the Bishopric of the Forces and Dean of the Military Cathedral in Aldershot in 2018. He has a Bachelor of Theology Degree, a Master of Arts in Education and a Master of Arts in Canon Law, and further to his time as Head of Divinity at St John’s School, Leatherhead, he has been an examiner for GCSE and A Level Religious Studies with EDEXCEL.
Committees: Teaching, Learning and Therapy
Mr Jack Malden BA
Jack is a Teacher of Economics, Head of Cricket and Assistant Houseparent at Lord Wandsworth College, where he is a member of the safeguarding team and involved heavily in the boarding and co-curricular provision, coaching rugby, hockey and cricket. Jack studied economics at university where he was president of the golf society. He regularly writes for a national economics educational publication and is undertaking a diploma in boarding management with the Boarding Schools Association. Away from work, he is a keen cricketer, captaining Odiham and Greywell cricket club.
Committees: Chair of Safeguarding and Welfare Committee; Safeguarding Governor
Ms Louise Lovett
Louise is a Marketing Director who specialises in content creation, social media management and copywriting for luxury brands across a range of industries, working with clients to create an individual and aspirational look, voice and online presence to drive interest, engagement and sales.
She is also a fully qualified teacher who has taught English at prestigious secondary schools such as Guildford High School and Surbiton High School, where she was Deputy Head of English, as well as Hall Grove School, where she was Head of English.
Louise is parent to a current More House pupil who has, and continues to, benefit from the truly transformative effect of the school and she has taken on the role of Governor so that she can support the wider More House community.
Committees: Chair of Teaching, Learning and Therapy; Pupil Premium Governor
Mr David Poole
David is an experienced Board & Executive Director for estates and infrastructure portfolios.
David’s 30-year career has spanned private sector companies, two Civil Service departments and two arm’s-length government bodies. David has extensive experience in the construction and maintenance of quality, safe, and cost-effective estates and infrastructure. His experience also includes purchasing, commercial management, and business improvement in several private sector businesses across aerospace, automotive and FMCG packaging sectors.
Outside of work David has four grown-up children and one grandchild living around the UK. He is a keen road cyclist and has completed many long-distance rides and organised charity rides to raise money for Parkinson’s UK and Stroke Association. David is a regular skier and mountain walker, a qualified yacht day skipper, a rugby coach, a Warwickshire County Cricket member, and owns a VW Campervan with his wife Stephanie.
Committees: Finance and General Purposes; Health & Safety Governor
Ms Alison Reynolds BSc (Hons), CChem MRSC, CSci, PCQI
Alison is the quality manager of a local biotechnology firm. She has a degree in chemistry and has worked in the field of science for over 30 years, with employers including Glaxo, Kodak, Johnson & Johnson and Wyeth Pharmaceuticals. She moved from lab work to quality assurance in the early 2000s whilst working in a unit manufacturing and packaging drugs for clinical trials, and subsequently returned to the clinical diagnostics industry. In her current position she is involved with most aspects of her employer's business and she still carries out practical lab work from time to time. Alison holds memberships of The Royal Society of Chemistry and the Chartered Quality Institute and has studied biological and social sciences at undergraduate level with the Open University.
Alison has two children, one of whom recently left More House School Sixth form having been supported by an EHCP. During his time at the school she was secretary and a trustee of the Friends of MHS. She was a committee member and trustee of her local Scouts group for many years and a committee member of the local swimming club for four years with responsibility for accreditation with Swim England.
Committees: Safeguarding and Welfare; Residential Governor
Ms Kyla de Sousa BA (Hons) QTS and PGCert
Kyla de Sousa is Assistant Head and SENCo at St Joseph’s Specialist Trust, an independent, non-maintained special school and college on the outskirts of Surrey. She has an undergraduate degree in film studies, achieved QTS with South Farnham SCITT and is now in the final year of her MA in Educational Leadership at UCL. She developed her career in education over 8 years, starting as a teaching assistant and working her way to teacher, literacy lead and then onto the senior leadership team.
Committees: Safeguarding and Welfare
Mr Graham Spawforth MA MEd PGCE
Graham is Headmaster of Ditcham Park School a co-educational Independent School in Hampshire. Prior to taking up the Headship of Ditcham Park School in 2017, Graham worked at Reed’s School, Surrey, as Deputy Head and spent six years as a Governor of the local maintained secondary school. Graham spent twelve years teaching GCSE and A level History and coaching rugby at Monmouth School, Wales, where he was promoted to the Senior Leadership Team as Head of Sixth Form. He was educated at Edinburgh University where he was awarded a Blue for rugby and graduated with a MA Honours in Modern History. After graduating, Graham spent six years as a British Army Officer serving with the King’s Own Scottish Borderers, seeing active service in Northern Ireland and during the Gulf War.
