
Leadership
Our leadership team is dedicated to ensuring the best possible experience for our pupils.
- Jump to:
- Meet the Heads
- Governors
- Senior Management
MEET THE HEADS
MICHAEL SLOAN
Head of King’s College
Michael was appointed Head of King’s in September 2022, following eight highly successful years at Brighton College, one of the UK’s leading independent schools, where he was Deputy Headmaster. Michael has served as a governor on several prep school governing boards and is an Inspector for the Independent Schools Inspectorate.
Born in Northern Ireland, Michael was a pupil at Methodist College Belfast and studied Ancient History at Newcastle University, before attending Sandhurst and serving six years as an infantry officer with The Rifles. During his time in the British Army, he deployed on several operational tours to Afghanistan, Iraq, and Kosovo.
Following his military service, Michael trained as a teacher at Bristol University and began his teaching career at Emanuel School in London. He continues to teach History to Year 9 at King’s.
Michael is married to Hannah, and they have four young sons: Rory, Finley, Milo, and Henry. The family live on-site at King’s and are a key part of the school community. Michael is an enthusiastic cook, an avid reader, and a passionate supporter of both Manchester United and the Ulster Rugby team.

HEIDI BERRY
Head of King’s College Prep
Heidi has been appointed Head of King’s College Prep from September 2025, bringing with her over 14 years of leadership experience at Sherborne Prep. Her career is supported by a master’s degree, an MBA in senior leadership, and her current role as a school inspector. She joins King’s from Sherborne Preparatory School in Qatar, where she has been Headteacher since 2023.
Educated in Jersey, Heidi developed an early love for music, particularly violin and baroque repertoire. She went on to study at the Birmingham Conservatoire before completing her PGCE at Nottingham Trent University. Her teaching career began in the Midlands, laying the foundations for what has become a distinguished path in education.
Appointed Head of Pre-Prep at Sherborne in 2010 Heidi played a pivotal role in driving change and embedding the school’s vision and mission across the wider Sherborne Schools Group. In 2022, she moved to Qatar as Deputy Head before being promoted to Headteacher in 2023. During her time overseas, she inspired staff and pupils alike, provided strategic leadership, and even learned Arabic — further broadening her international outlook.
Heidi is married to Nick, a GP and keen triathlete, and together they have three grown-up sons: Jordan, Daniel, and Sam. A passionate musician, she continues to sing and perform regularly in ensembles across the South West.
Heidi’s breadth of experience, her deep commitment to education, and her ability to lead with warmth and vision make her ideally placed to guide King’s College Prep into its next exciting chapter.

GOVERNORS
Our Council brings together a wealth of experience from a wide range of disciplines. As the Trustees of our charity, they use their expertise to safeguard the best interests of the College, its property, and its finances.
Governors may be contacted via the Clerk to the Governors, by writing: King’s College, South Road, Taunton, TA1 3LA , or by email: [email protected]
Jol has been a Governor at Kings since 2019. He is a great-great grandson of the School’s founder, Nathaniel. Born in Cornwall and schooled at Lancing College, he gained a BSc from Exeter University and more recently an MSc in Leadership from Cranfield.
He left the Royal Navy in 2025 after a 34-year career spanning helicopter operations, education, strategic engagement and project delivery. Highlights include a stint on the Royal Yacht, command of Britannia Royal Naval College and delivery of a multi-billion-pound portfolio of Government change programmes.
Jol’s Boardroom experience includes Trustee of UK Armed Forces Winter Sports and Chairman of the Royal Navy Winter Sports Association. He acceded to the role of Custos in July 2025.

EDUCATION AND PASTORAL
Rosie has been ordained for seven years, having earned a degree in Ministry & Mission from Durham University, along with an undergraduate degree in Philosophy from Sheffield University.
Rosie has served in various roles, including as an RS teacher and as a volunteer in numerous church families. During her curacy, Rosie pioneered a GP Chaplaincy service and has also worked as a Chaplain at Brighton College. Currently, she is the College Chaplain at Cheltenham Ladies’ College, where she finds joy in guiding and supporting both students and staff.
Rosie is married to Pete, and they have three children who are on their way to flying the nest.

FINANCE AND ESTATES
Max attended King’s (1989-1994) and subsequently completed a Masters Degree in Engineering at Durham University.
His early career was spent at Unilever and Mars, in the UK, Germany and India. He qualified as a Chartered Accountant in 2004 and since 2013 has been a Finance Director at Dobbies Garden Centres, Tesco and latterly Screwfix.
He is currently Managing Director, UK and Ireland at Screwfix.
Outside of work, Max enjoys travelling, cooking and the outdoors.

EDUCATION AND PASTORAL, COMPLIANCE, NOMINATED SAFEGUARDING GOVERNOR
Charis Cavaghan-Pack obtained a B.ED (Hons) at Cambridge University in 1974 and taught English and RE in the maintained sector before starting a family. She became a magistrate on the Sedgemoor bench in 1997 and served on the Bench Training and Development Committee for 11 years, and also on the Advisory Committee for nine years.
She is a Chair in both the Adult and Youth courts.
Charis has five children, three of whom were at King’s, and is married to Michael, whose last job before retirement was Director of Corporate Services at the Hydrographic Office. There are ever-increasing numbers of grandchildren, four of whom are now happily at King’s College Prep.
Charis is a communicant member of the Church of England. She enjoys reading and politics and playing bridge. Charis can be contacted in her role as Nominated Safeguarding Governor on [email protected]

FINANCE AND ESTATES
Since 2022 Nick has led the £6 billion Avon Pension Fund, which serves c.150,000 local government workers across Bristol, Bath and surrounding areas.
Nick was previously Chief Investment Officer of Aegon UK from 2013-2021, focused on managing workplace pensions. From 2001-2013 he was Marketing Director for wealth and pensions provider Quilter. Nick is passionate about responsible investment and champions local investment across the South West region.
Nick is an Old Aluredian and attended King’s College from 1978-1983, before going on to study Philosophy, Politics and Economics at Oxford University. Nick also gained a Masters in Business Administration from Columbia University, New York, in 1997.

APPOINTMENTS (CHAIR), EDUCATION AND PASTORAL
Marcus was educated at Bloxham School and during his career has spent 19 years as an Independent Schools’ Inspector. Before his recent retirement, Marcus was the Headmaster of the Downs Preparatory School in Bristol. His interests include reading, classic cars, windsurfing and house renovation.

VICE-CUSTOS, EDUCATION AND PASTORAL (CHAIR), REMUNERATION (CHAIR), FINANCE AND ESTATES, APPOINTMENTS
Educated at Merchant Taylors’ School (Northwood) and Trinity Hall Cambridge, Christopher was then for two years an International Banker in Chile. he returned to Cambridge to take a Post Graduate Certificate in Education and in 1972 joined the staff of Radley College, holding the post of Assistant Master teaching History and Political Thought to A Level. He was also a Housemaster and Master I/c Cricket.
At this time, he became an examiner in History for the O&C Board. He became Headmaster of Kelly College in 1985, until moving to the post of Headmaster of Sedbergh School in April 1995. From 1995-2000 he held the post of Chairman of the HMC Sports Sub-Committee and was appointed as member of the full HMC Committee from 1998-2003. He held the post of Chairman of the HMC North East Division in 2002.
He retired as Headmaster of Sedbergh in August 2010. He is also Lay Chair of the SW Pembrokeshire Local Ministry Area (Church of Wales). He is currently researching the Life and Times of Revd William Tuckwell, HM Taunton College School 1864-1877 (the precursor of King’s).

FINANCE AND ESTATES, COMPLIANCE
After being educated at Cheltenham College, and reading Law at Lincoln College Oxford, John’s career was as a solicitor in London, and more recently in the South West.
In London he was a partner with Denton Hall (now Dentons LLP) from 1980 to 1995 (including 4 years in Hong Kong as Managing Partner of their Hong Kong office), before moving with his family to Somerset, where he was a partner with Bond Dickinson LLP in Bristol until 2013, and then a consultant, before retirement in 2022.
John specialised in planning and environmental law and advised on a wide range of large projects in the fields of ports, airports, waste to energy, oil and gas, transport and, latterly, offshore wind energy, including appearing as an advocate at planning inquiries and infrastructure project hearings.
His interests include the countryside, walking, gardening, tennis, skiing, choral singing and the arts.

FINANCE AND ESTATES
John was born in Devon and studied Mathematical Engineering at Loughborough University. He worked in the IT industry for over 40 years, most recently for CGI, a Canadian based global IT services organisation.
He has been responsible for the delivery of various complex IT solutions including leading the team that developed and implemented the central data services system that underpins the GB smart metering solution.
John is married with four children all of whom attended King’s College Taunton. He is an avid sports fan, particularly rugby and cricket.

FINANCE AND ESTATES (CHAIR)
After being educated at Winchester College and reading History at New College, Oxford, Roger had a 40-year career in banking, which started in New York in 1980 with JP Morgan and thereafter with Cazenove & Co (later JP Morgan Cazenove), Canaccord Genuity and Peel Hunt.
The majority of his time was spent in London with Cazenove & Co. where he was a partner in the corporate finance department, advising companies in the consumer sector.
Now retired from the City, Roger is a non-executive director of the Lindsell Train Investment Trust, Chairman of the Trustees of the Imperial War Graves Endowment Fund and a Trustee of the Hestercombe Gardens Trust.
His interests are the countryside, the arts, reading and sport.

FINANCE AND ESTATES, COMPLIANCE, HEALTH AND SAFETY GOVERNOR
Will was born and brought up on a farm in Leicestershire and was educated at Repton in Derbyshire, then at the Royal Agricultural College and Reading University. He has been involved in property all his working life and has lived in Somerset for the past 20 years after a number of years working and living in London.
Will is a fully qualified Chartered Surveyor and after running offices and teams for a number of international property firms he now runs his own business specialising in the sale and management of high value residential country property, estates and farms.

FINANCE AND ESTATES, COMPLIANCE
Helene comes from a family of OAs, her father, brother and uncle having attended King’s. She is also, reportedly, the first daughter of an OA to attend King’s (from 1978-1980). Helene was on the OA committee for many years.
After a law degree at Cambridge, Helene worked mainly in-house as counsel in various city financial institutions; primarily in wealth management and private banking. Helene is currently working as a legal advisor in the public sector.

EDUCATION AND PASTORAL
A graduate of Durham University, Nigel trained for ministry at Theological college in Oxford. Ordained in 1976, he served in parishes in the North East of England and for five years in Papua New Guinea.
In 1998 he became a residentiary canon of Durham Cathedral. In 2000 he was consecrated bishop of Stockport, subsequently becoming bishop of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich in 2007. In 2013 he became bishop at Lambeth in support of the Archbishop of Canterbury at the same time he was bishop to the Forces and bishop for the Falkland Islands.
In retirement he continues to be involved in ministry in local parishes and as an Honorary Assistant Bishop in the diocese of Bath and Wells. During his career he has been a governor of both state and independent schools, including a time on the School Council of a Woodard School in the North East. He is married to Carolyne and they have three children and eight grandchildren.

EDUCATION AND PASTORAL, FILTERING AND MONITORING GOVERNOR
Rebecca is a current serving police officer and has had a fulfilling career across two police forces, Avon and Somerset Constabulary and the Metropolitan Police Service. She joined the Metropolitan Police Service in 2002, during that time experienced a varied and wide-ranging career.
She has carried numerous roles across policing directorates gaining varied experience of frontline operational roles, strategic planning, safeguarding and multi-agency engagement. Rebecca has vast experience of safeguarding, particularly that of children, young people and vulnerable people.
She has over 12 years managerial experience and believes in visible and approachable leadership and leading by example. In 2019 Rebecca returned to Somerset and since then has been working in Avon and Somerset Constabulary. Rebecca has strong ties to the school.
Rebecca has a keen interest in sport, particularly cricket and rugby.

SENIOR MANAGEMENT
Mr Michael SLOAN
Headmaster
BA Hons – Newcastle University
Mrs Astra Baker
Director of Marketing
BA Hons – Nottingham Trent University
Mrs Lisa Cashmore
Assistant Head (Planning and Communication)
BA Hons – Swansea University
Mrs Emma CRAWFORD
Director of Admissions
BA Hons – University of Warwick
Mr Oliver Ellsworth
Head of Sixth Form
BA Hons – Cardiff University, MEd – Buckingham University
Mr Jonathan LAWFORD
Deputy Head (Academic)
BA Hons – University of Birmingham
Mrs Emma Gregory
Assistant Head (Common Room) MA – Oxford University
Mr Dafydd Jones
Head of Boarding
BSc Hons – Cardiff University
Mr Philip LEWIS
Assistant Head (Co-Curricular)
BSc Hons – Loughborough University
Mrs Karen MCSWIGGAN
Deputy Head (Pastoral)
BA Hons – Reading University
Dr Katherine RICHARD
Assistant Head (Teaching and Learning)
MPhys – Oxford University – DPhil – Oxford University
Mr Phillip ROTHWELL
Director of Development
BA Hons – MBA – University of Durham
Mr Jonathan DREW
Interim Bursar
(from 1 September 2025)
Mrs Astra Baker
Director of Marketing
BA Hons – Nottingham Trent University
Mrs Heidi BERRY
Headteacher
DSL
Mrs Emma CRAWFORD
Director of Admissions
BA Hons – University of Warwick
Mr Alistair HALLS
Assistant Head Co-curricular
BA Hons – Oxford Brookes University
Mrs Anna HARDY
Head of Boarding
BSc Hons – University College Worcester
Mrs Claire LUCKHURST
Head of Pre-Prep and Deputy DSL
BEd Hons – University of Plymouth
Mr Phillip ROTHWELL
Director of Development
BA Hons – MBA – University of Durham
Mr Stephen WATSON
Deputy Head (Pastoral) DSL and English, History, Games Teacher
BA Hons, BSc – University of Wellington, NZ
Mr Alistair WILKINSON
Deputy Head Academic and Geography and Games Teacher
BA Hons – University College London
Mr Jonathan DREW
Interim Bursar
(from 1 September 2025)
