Governors

Mrs Clapp has been a parent governor since December 2020 and has a son in Year 9 and a daughter in Year 7. She qualified as a solicitor in 2004, working in the commercial property sector with firms in London and Cambridge. She has been a trustee of John Huntingdon’s Charity since 2008; chair of Jigsaw Preschool since 2011; as well as being a teaching assistant for 7 years. She read Natural Sciences (Pathology) at St Catharine’s College, Cambridge before her studies took her to the College of Law in London.

Mr Russell began his teaching career in Suffolk in 1996, following teacher training at the University of Nottingham.  Prior to this, he studied at universities in Stirling, Kansas (USA) and London, achieving his Masters in 1994.  He joined Sawston Village College as Assistant Headteacher in 2005, having previously been Head of Communications and Media at Sharnbook Upper in Bedfordshire and then Head of English at Impington Village College and Sixth Form Centre in Cambridgeshire.  Promoted to Deputy Headteacher in 2010 and seconded to Bottisham Village College as Acting Principal in 2016, he became Principal of the school in 2018.

Professor Kerr was appointed as a Trust Governor in May 2020 and has two daughters attending Sawston Village College.  Dr Kerr is a Reader in International Relations and Contemporary War in the Department of War Studies at King’s College London, where she is also Director for Students and Culture. Her research is in the area of post-conflict/transitional justice and memory, art and reconciliation, and war crimes.  She has many years’ experience as a university teacher, research supervisor, mentor and personal tutor.  She grew up in Cambridge and attended Impington Village College and Hills Road Sixth Form College.

Mr Sausman has been a Parent Governor since May 2017.  He was appointed a Trust Governor in May 2021.  He is an economist by training, and has held Director-level positions in the Office of Gas and Electricity Markets (Ofgem), and the Australian Energy Market Commission. Since 2013 he has run his own economic consulting firm, specialising in energy markets and regulation. He has three children, all current or former pupils at Sawston Village College. A product of (and a strong advocate for) state schools, he has degrees in Economics from St John’s College, Cambridge and the University of Essex. He is also an FA-qualified football coach, and a team manager at Harston Youth Football Club.

Dr P Schoenfelder was appointed as a Trust Governor in January 2022 and has one daughter attending the College. She is Co-Chair of Governors at Babraham Primary School, where she has previously been a co-opted governor since 2013 and has two younger children who attend the school. Dr Schoenfelder is a research scientist by training and after completing her doctoral studies at Girton College, Cambridge and postdoctoral work, she transitioned from benchwork to support research operations at the Babraham Institute. She currently works in the Operations Group in the Department of Health, Safety & Good Research Practice and is also the Institute’s Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead and Deputy Biosafety Officer.

Isabel Thomas was appointed as a parent governor in November 2022. She has children in Year 9 and Year 8 at SVC, with a third due to join Year 7 in September 2023. Isabel is a science writer, children’s author, and STEM education/outreach consultant. She studied Human Sciences at the University of Oxford and has an MPhil in Education Research from the University of Cambridge, where her research focused on improving access and aspiration in STEM education. Isabel chairs the Children’s Writers and Illustrators Group of the Society of Authors and has previously served as a parent governor and Chair of Governors at Stapleford Community Primary School.

Mr Sutton completed a Physical Education and Geography degree at St John’s College in York before completing a PGCE at Homerton College Cambridge in 1998.  He began his teaching career at Chesterton Community College before moving to Sawston Village College in September 2000 as a PE and Geography teacher.  Mr Sutton gained promotion to Head of PE in 2006 and then completed a number of Acting Roles for the Senior Leadership Team until 2020 when he was appointed Assistant Principal.

Ms Abbs has worked in education for over 25 years. She has a background in SEND, behaviour and safeguarding. During her 12 years at Sawston Village College, where she was initially employed as a pastoral lead and eventually became the College’s Director of Welfare and Inclusion, she was a Designated Safeguarding Lead.  In addition to her role(s) at the College, she was also the Anglian Learning Safeguarding Systems Lead.  Ms Abbs left the College in August 2021 to work for the Local Authority as an Education Safeguarding Advisor.

Mrs Reed was appointed as a Trust Governor for Sawston Village College in September 2021.  Before retirement Mrs Reed was a qualified Social Worker, employed in London as a Mental Health Specialist, then in Cambridge as a Child and Family Specialist. Her last years before retirement were spent as Manager for Homestart, Cambridge and District.  Mrs Reed is a member of The Arts Society, serving on its committee for several years as Young Arts representative.  She was also Chair of Governors at The Fields Nursery School for 8 years, prior to federation early in 2021.

Mrs Stanton is a long-standing Governor at Sawston Village College and Gt & Lt Shelford VA Primary School.  She is retired but has experience of: teaching (KS3-KS5 Maths), administration (including finance), school governance (primary and secondary), LA Advisory Governor scheme, Diocesan Board of Education, LA CYP Committee, LA Admissions Forum, church and community organisations.

John Godwood moved to Sawston in 1982 to take up the post of Head of Maths at Netherhall School, where he was subsequently promoted to Deputy Head and Interim Headteacher. After leaving Netherhall in 1999 he became a lead Ofsted inspector and from 2007 to 2013 was the manager of the Cambridge Area Partnership, which promotes collaboration between all the secondary schools and post-16 colleges in Cambridge, South Cambs and East Cambs. Prior to joining Sawston’s Local Governing Body, John has been a governor at Long Road and at the Pilgrim Pathways hospital school. John’s three children all attended Sawston VC.