Our Governing Body play a vital role in the life of our schools bringing wide expertise from across The Yorkshire community.

Chair of Governors

Mr Martin Shevill, BEd MSc FCCT

Martin is a former teacher, Headteacher and CEO of a multi-academy trust based in Lancashire, Yorkshire and the Northeast. During his teaching career he has been involved in a number of national curriculum development projects and was the co-author of a series of geography text books. Martin spent a short period as a Lecturer in Education at the University of Sheffield before moving to deputy headship and later headship of secondary schools in West
Yorkshire.

In addition to extensive school governance experience, Martin has worked on a number of national education committees and boards including for the Department for Education. He is currently the Senior Education Adviser for National Teacher Accreditation.

Martin lives in Sheffield with his wife and has a grown up son.

Correspondence to: Governors’ Office, Green House, Northgate, Wakefield, WF1 3UF.  Email: wgsfoffice@wgsf.net

Appointed: 2021

Committee Membership: All

Deputy Chair of Governors

Mrs Helen Massey, BSc (Hons), MRICS Cert Mgmt

Helen joined the Governing Body in 2017 and became Deputy Chair of Governors in 2021.
After studying a BSc in Estates Management at Northumbria University and a Management Degree with the Open University, Helen qualified as a Chartered Surveyor. She began her working life in commercial and residential construction working for The Miller Group. Moving on to form her own holiday rental business, she has previously served as a Parish Councillor and was advisor to the RICS on planning policy. She was the driving force and lead for Yorkshire’s first Neighbourhood plan – a democratic planning policy document which was subsequently adopted by Wakefield Council.

Helen attended WGHS and her 2 children are pupils at the school. She is currently running the Clayton Hospital project and other Estates matters and oversees the running of the Foundations Almshouses.

Appointed: 2017

Committee Membership: All, Land and Buildings (Chair)

Co-opted Governors

Mr Samuel Butterworth, MBA, PG Dip, F IDM, FCIM, CMktr

Sam is a Chartered Marketer, specialising in Strategy, Brand, Communication and Development. He holds the position of Chief Marketing Officer and Portfolio Marketing Director for several companies, with turnovers, ranging from £15m to over £500m. He previously attended Wakefield Grammar School Foundation as a pupil at both QEGS Junior and Senior Schools. He has since worked in the marketing industry for over 20 years, encompassing roles in education, technology, law, consumer finance, construction, private equity and the third sector. In his spare time, Sam is involved in professional mentoring and school governance. He is a registered mentor with the Chartered Institute of Marketing and a Local Review Board Governor for The Rodillian Multi Academy Trust. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Data & Marketing, a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Marketing and a Member of the National Governance Association. Sam chairs the Strategy Committee, and serves on the Finance Committee, Land & Buildings Committee and the QEGS General Education Committee.

Appointed: 2019

Committee Membership: Strategy (Chair), QEGS Governor Education, Finance, Land and Buildings

Mr Simon Chamberlain, MSc BA (Hons) ACIArb

Bio COMING SOON…

Appointed: 2012

Committee Membership: TBC

Mrs Frances Galbraith, MCIPD

Fran is a WGHS alumni class of ’95, where she went on to study Physiology and Pharmacology at the University of the West of England, Bristol. Since gaining her BSc Hons degree, and subsequently becoming a Chartered Member of the CIPD, Fran’s career consists of over 25 years in HR gaining experience across a range of industries, working globally and internationally across various geographies including the USA, Canada, APAC, the UAE and Europe. A specialist in Talent (Learning, Development and Resourcing), she also has significant experience across HR generalist aspects, including areas of Reward, HR shared services, Organisation Design and Change Management.

Currently Group Talent & Development Director for Klöckner Pentaplast (kp), a plastics
manufacturer, who innovate, design and manufacture for sustainable solutions that package
and protect products in daily situations around the globe. Fran has a global responsibility for all learning and development aspects, with her remit including engagement and wellbeing initiatives for 31 plants in 18 countries and over 5,000 employees. Fran now lives back in Wakefield, with her husband and young family.

Appointed: 2019

Committee Membership: Risk and Compliance, WGPPS Governor Education, (Deputy Safeguarding Governor)

Mrs Caroline Harrison, BA FCA

Caroline Harrison is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England & Wales, with over 27 years experience of working in the Arts and Third Sector.

Her achievements have been recognised with the award for Yorkshire Finance Director of the Year 2013 (Turnover <£35m), Best Director (Not for Profit) at the Yorkshire Business Leaders Awards 2017 and Yorkshire Woman of the Year 2017 at the Barclays Celebrating Women in Business Awards.

Appointed: 2018

Committee Membership: Finance (Chair), Investment, WGHS Governor Education

Mr Jonathan Jeffries

Jonathan is a Solicitor and formerly a Financial Services Partner at international law firm Pinsent Masons for over 30 years.

Jonathan now has his own consultancy company advising in the health, motor and medical sectors. He is also a non executive director of a Media Company.

He is married with 3 adult children. Keeps fit through road and mountain biking, HIT training and skiing.

Appointed: 2019

Committee Membership: Strategy, Investment, Finance, WGPPS Governor Education

Dr. S Khan, BDS (Edin.) M.Clin.Dent. (Lond.)

Dr Sharif Khan is Company Director of Rockingham House Cosmetic & Implant Dentistry Ltd, a referral based private dental practice located in the Wakefield district.

Sharif was educated at a comprehensive school in Barnsley, followed by his dental qualification from Edinburgh University in 1992. His interest in advanced restorative techniques led him to King’s College, London, where he completed four years of post-graduate studies, culminating in the award of a Master of Clinical Dentistry Degree.

In his clinical role, Sharif focuses exclusively on complex cases, mainly on referral from other dentists. He has a particular interest in full mouth reconstruction using dynamic navigated implant surgery. He frequently shares his knowledge through lectures and presentations.

In his role as Company Director, Sharif exhibits a diverse range of business skills. He oversees marketing, strategic planning, legal compliance, and financial matters, all while offering mentoring and leadership to a team of highly skilled professionals.

These dual roles require a unique blend of business acumen and clinical expertise.

Sharif and his wife, Farah, reside in Wakefield with their three children. They have a strong connection to the Foundation, with their two eldest having completed their schooling, and the youngest currently at QEGS.

Appointed: 2021

Committee Membership: Strategy, QEGS Governor Education

Mr Jonathan Lewis, BA, MA, MBA, FCA.

Jonathan is a QEGS alumni, leaving in 2003 to study finance and economics at Manchester Business School, where he received an MA and MBA. He began his career in London in PwC’s corporate finance team, where he also qualified as a Chartered Accountant. He then moved to Singapore where he spent five years as the Managing Director and Chief Financial Officer of a multi-billion dollar investment fund. He is currently a Partner and the Chief Investment Officer at Olympia Capital Partners, an investment and advisory firm, and now lives back in Yorkshire with his wife and young family.

Appointed: 2021

Committee Membership: Investment (Chair), Finance, Fundraising, QEGS Governor Education

Mr Alistair McKinlay, BA (Hons) DipLaw, PGDip

Alistair has been a Governor at WGSF since 2018, although his connections with the Foundation began when he was a pupil at QEGS from 1979-1990.

Alistair is a Partner in the Residential Property department at Ridley & Hall Solicitors, where he specialises in all types of property related matters, with a particular focus on acting for clients buying and selling properties. His clients range from individuals to commercial investors and he manages and leads a team acting for clients across the country.

As a former QEGS pupil, Alistair is an ‘Old Savilian’ and is also a Past-President of the Old Savilians’ Club. His daughters both attended WGHS so he has many connections with both schools and has found being a Governor has allowed him to give back something to the Foundation.

Outside of work he sings in a local community choir and whenever possible he likes to spend time at the East Yorkshire coast with his family and their loveable and energetic springer spaniels.

Appointed: 2018

Committee Membership: QEGS Governor Education (Chair), Risk and Compliance, Land and Buildings, Strategy

Mrs Kathryn Morgan, MBA

Kathryn is a Wakefield resident and mum to twin boys who attend QEGS. In addition to her role as Governor at the foundation, she is also Chair of Theatre Royal Wakefield, taking a keen interest in the youth and local community projects undertaken by the theatre beyond their stage productions. In her day job Kathryn is the Managing Director for Lowell Financial and is a non-executive director for the trade body Credit Services Association. Kathryn has a long and broad career in senior positions within the financial services industry, including Nat West and Virgin Money. She specialises in Strategy planning and execution; change management; risk (including regulatory) and; business improvement.

Appointed: 2021

Committee Membership: Fundraising (Chair), Finance, QEGS Governor Education

Miss Elizabeth Peckett, MA MRICS

Elizabeth is a WGHS alumni. After her A-Levels in 2003 she studied French and Management at Sheffield University, followed by a Masters degree in Commercial Property. She spent nine years at Cushman & Wakefield’s London office, where she qualified as a Chartered Surveyor and became a Partner of the firm. Elizabeth is now Head of Asset Management at Allied London. She loves music, art and sport, and regularly attends extra-curricular events at the schools.

Appointed: 2018

Committee Membership: Land and Buildings, Strategy, WGHS Governor Education

Mrs Penelope Plumpton, ​BA (Hons) PGCE

Bio coming soon…

Appointed: 2015

Committee Membership: WGPPS Governor Education (Chair), Strategy, Risk and Compliance, (Safeguarding Governor)