Governors

Robert-Jan Temmink (Chair)

Robert joined the governing body in 2020. After a year as a lay-clerk in Tewkesbury Abbey, he read law at Trinity College, Cambridge, where he was also a choral scholar. After singing with a number of other college choirs in Cambridge and Oxford he was appointed as one of the men of the Temple Church in London until his choral retirement in 2017. He continues to sing as a deputy lay clerk in Winchester Cathedral whenever he can. Robert is a fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators and practices in commercial and chancery litigation and international arbitration all over the world from his base at Quadrant Chambers in London.

Robert has a keen interest in education and social mobility. He was a governor of Merchant Taylors’ School and Merchant Taylors’ Prep School, Northwood for 10 years. He is a current governor of Sherborne School, Dorset. Having been turned down in 2010 for the bass role in the King’s Singers he has nonetheless retained his friendship with, and admiration for, the group and is a board member of the King’s Singers’ UK and Global Foundations. Robert is chair of the Temple Music Trust and is actively engaged with a number of significant musical and educational charities.

Andrew Tremlett, Dean of St Paul’s Cathedral * (vice chair)

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 Gooder (Chair Designate)

Paula will take over as Chair of Governors in September 2025 and is working closely with the current Chair, Robert Temmink, and Head, on handover.

The Chancellor has responsibility for growing and leading the Cathedral’s expanding theological and learning programme, which is a major part of the Christian mission and outreach of the Cathedral. Paula is one of today’s best known New Testament theologians, a scholar and teacher and is a Licensed Lay Reader in the Church of England. She was previously Director of Mission Learning and Development at the Diocese of Birmingham and Theologian in Residence at the Bible Society.

Ailsa Anderson-Cole

Ailsa is a communications professional with a career encompassing roles at the most senior level including Press Secretary to the Minister for the Armed Forces, Chief Press Officer to the Cabinet Office and Communications and Press Secretary to Her Late Majesty, Queen Elizabeth.
Ailsa is our link Governor for the Pre-prep (including Early Years) and supports us in our marketing work.

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

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

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 Mr Robert-Jan Temmink KC.

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