Governors

Paula Gooder, Chair of Governors and Canon Chancellor of St Paul's Cathedral

Paula Gooder is a celebrated speaker and writer on the Bible, particularly on the New Testament. She seeks to communicate the best of biblical scholarship in as accessible a way as possible. Paula has worked for the Bible Society as their Theologian in Residence and for the Birmingham Diocese as their Director of Mission Learning and Development.  As Chancellor of St Paul’s Cathedral, she oversees the Cathedral’s education programmes, including Schools and Families and the St Paul’s Institute (for adult education). 

A member of the General Synod of the Church of England (2005-2015) and a member of the Women in Episcopacy drafting group and steering committee (2006-2014), Paula is passionate about ecumenism and has been a  member of the Anglican Roman Catholic International Commission since 2011. 

Previously a member of the Finance Committee and Chair of the Girls’ Voices Programme, Paula is our Chair of Governors and can be contacted on chair@spcs.london.sch.uk

Andrew Tremlett, Vice Chair of Governors and Dean of St Paul’s Cathedral *

The Very Rev Andrew Tremlett, is the Vice Chair of Governors. He joined the Cathedral in September 2022, and was previously the Dean of Durham Cathedral. He has extensive experience in supporting the work of schools, and in Cathedral foundations, St Paul’s being his fifth Cathedral.

Paula Jefferson, Lead Governor for safeguarding

Paula has been a solicitor for 30 years and in the past 20 years has worked with a wide variety of organisations, including education, faith and charities, supporting them in connection with safeguarding and child protection, particularly following disclosure of abuse. She is a partner at the law firm Clyde & Co LLP as well as being a non-executive director at CHPK, a multidisciplinary, professional building consultancy. She is an active mentor and an advocate for equality and diversity.

Paula is our Lead Safeguarding Governor and serves on our Education Committee. She also attends our Online Safety Committee (previously Filtering and Monitoring Committee). 

Gavin Ralston

Gavin is a former lay member of the Cathedral Chapter; his two younger children attended the school between 1998 and 2009. He has been a Governor since 2013, and more recently became chair of the Finance and General Purposes Committee, which looks after the commercial and financial aspects of the school. His day job, not far from the School, is at Schroder Investment Management, where he is head of the Strategic Client Group.

He is still involved at the Cathedral as chair of the Finance, Audit and Risk Committee.

Simon Robson Brown

Simon Robson Brown has 23 years of investment and equity research experience with leading financial institutions and fund managers based in the City of London. In his current role, since February 2022, he is the Head of European Listed Real Estate and Portfolio Manager for European listed real estate strategies for a major international investment management platform.

Previously Mr. Robson Brown was a Principal and Portfolio Manager at CBRE Investment Management and its predecessor firms, and worked in various real estate research and analyst positions at UBS and Citigroup. He is a Board member of the European Public Real Estate Association (EPRA) and also serves on the EPRA Reporting & Accounting Committee. He is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England & Wales, and has a MA from St John’s College, Cambridge.

Simon is a member of the Finance and Resources Committee and serves as our Lead Governor for Health and Safety.

Andrew De Silva

Andrew joined the governing body in 2022 and brings with him a wealth of experience in the fields of Education and Choral Music. As a singer, Andrew was most recently a Bass Lay Clerk in the Choir at Winchester Cathedral, and continues singing regularly both in cathedrals and as a soloist. Andrew’s educational roles span both the state and independent sectors, with headships in each.

Andrew was a Boarder and Chorister himself at Peterborough and was formerly Head of St Edmund’s Junior School, Canterbury, which at that time educated the Choristers of Canterbury Cathedral. With a wealth of experience gained in state and boarding schools, he has been Head of the Oratory Prep School since September 2022.

Andrew specialises in Teaching and Learning, Curriculum Design and Assessment and has recently completed his MSc in Educational Leadership with a focus on School Improvement in both the State and Independent sectors.

Andrew is Chair of our Curriculum and Standards Committee

Rev'd Canon Dr Catherine Okoronkwo

The Canon Steward is responsible for the stewardship of people and resources at St Paul’s and is Safeguarding Lead at the Cathedral. Catherine was formerly Bishop’s Advisor on Racial Justice and Vicar of All Saints and St Barnabas, Swindon, where she worked closely with the Bishop of Bristol to address the Church’s past relationship with the slave trade, challenge racism within the Church, and support and develop Black and minority ethnic clergy.
Having grown up in the Middle East, Catherine studied in the US and UK before working as an English teacher for almost a decade. She has published numerous works of fiction and academic works, in which she explores the experiences of Black African and Black British women and their relationship with the Church and society.
Catherine serves on our Curriculum & Standards and Finance & Resources Committees.

Edward Wild

Edward Wild read Theology at Keble College, Oxford and subsequently taught Religious Studies and Politics and worked for national charities. He has advised a wide range of charities, schools and membership bodies on senior and board appointments since 2004. He has been the Managing Director of Wild Search, a recruitment company,  since 2010.

Edward is a trustee of the Royal School of Church Music, Chair of the Nominations Committee of St Edmundsbury Cathedral and a Council member of the Suffolk Agricultural Association. 

Rev'd Philip Banks

Canon Philip oversees the liturgy and music at St Paul’s Cathedral, having joined the team in October from  St Edmundsbury Cathedral in Suffolk where he was  Residentiary Canon and Precentor for 12 years. He is Chair of the National Precentors’ Network and has led and overseen the establishment of girl choristers, a graduate and post-graduate organ scholar programme and the Cathedral’s ‘Singing in Schools’ initiative.
Canon Philip has been ordained for 30 years; before ordination Philip had a career as a Chartered Surveyor. He is Chair of the Girls’ Voices Project and serves on our Curriculum & Standards and Finance & Resources Committees.

Susan Wessels

Susan has been Second Master (Deputy Head)  of Marlborough since September 2022.
Educated in her native South Africa, she studied Sport & Exercise Technology before later completing her MA in Educational Leadership and Management. Prior to her teaching career, Susan was an international sportswoman. She played 148 times for the South Africa women’s hockey team and has competed at the highest level, including at two Olympic Games, the second at Athens in 2004 as South Africa’s Captain.
Her teaching career began in 2004 at The King’s School, Canterbury, and, during her eight years there, she was a Housemistress, taught Physical Education and Geography and was Head of Girls’ Games. Susan moved to Framlingham College in 2011 as Senior Deputy Head.
Susan sits on our Curriculum and Standards Committee.

Oversight of the school is delegated by the Cathedral to a board of governors, led by an independent Chair. The Dean of St Paul’s Cathedral, The Very Reverend Andrew Tremlett is Vice Chair and two of the governing body are members of the Cathedral Chapter. The Chair of Governors is Dr Paula Gooder.

The Chair can be contacted at:
bursar@spcs.london.sch.uk or by writing to:

Clerk to Governing Body
St Paul’s Cathedral School
2 New Change
London
EC4M 9AD