Governors

Dr 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 works in the Operations Group where she heads the Department of Health, Safety & Good Research Practice/Quality Assurance and is also the Institute’s Designated Safeguarding Lead and Biosafety Officer.

Mr 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, Mr Godwood was a governor at Long Road and at the Pilgrim Pathways hospital school. Mr Godwood’s three children all attended Sawston VC.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Ms Thomas was appointed as a parent governor in November 2022. She has three children at SVC. Ms Thomas 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. Ms Thomas 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.