About 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 OF KING’S TAUNTON
BENJAMIN EVANS
Head of King’s College
Benjamin Evans was appointed Headmaster of King’s in September 2026. He was educated at St Paul’s school in London and then Bedford school, where his father was headmaster. Benjamin attended Durham and Cambridge universities, receiving his undergraduate degree in single honours chemistry. Teaching and leadership positions followed at Haberdashers Aske’s, Shrewsbury, Oundle, and Wellington (in the UK), and Prince Alfred College in Adelaide, the latter three schools taking overall responsibility for the academic life of the school.
Benjamin is a fellow of the Royal Society of chemistry, with intellectual passions across the subject range. He has delivered courses in wine appreciation, art, poetry, music, and the savage beauty of American football. He lives by T H White’s line, spoken by Merlin in The Once and Future King: the best thing for being sad, is to learn something. He asserts that appreciating the beauty of our world, and the creativity of our species, is central to leading a joyful life. The power of high expectations for all and unconditional positive regard for every pupil are central to his philosophy of education.
He believes strongly in the culture of care and kindness at King’s and aims to develop further the academic pace and purpose at the College, whilst championing the warmth of a tight community. He understands the significant benefits and reassurance to parents offered by a ‘through school’ and wishes to ensure the seamless transition in all areas, from King’s Prep to the College. It is his aim for King’s to provide the best educational experience in the Southwest.
Positive, personable, with an irreverent streak, Benjamin knows that modern headship requires one to be approachable to all, as keen to listen and respond as one is to articulate a vision. Married to Victoria, whom he has known since university days. They share interests in music, theatre, literature, running, cricket and wine.
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: clerk@kings-taunton.co.uk
Jolyon 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.
Jolyon’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.
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 AND RISK, 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 ccavaghan-pack@kings-taunton.co.uk
FINANCE AND ESTATES (CHAIR), REMUNERATION
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 (CHAIR), FINANCE AND ESTATES, REMUNERATION, BOARDING GOVERNOR
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.
REMUNERATION (CHAIR), 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, APPOINTMENTS
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 AND RISK LEAD GOVERNOR, 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.
COMPLIANCE AND RISK (LEAD), FINANCE AND ESTATES
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, STAFF LIAISON GOVERNOR
Mark is an Honorary Assistant Bishop for the Church of England in Somerset and Devon. Born and brought up in Malpas, Cheshire, Mark was educated at Shrewsbury School, Durham University (Anthropology and English) and Trinity College, Bristol (Theology).
Over 39 years in ordained ministry, he has lived and worked as a parish priest in urban and rural Cheshire, on the Somerset Levels and Dartmoor in Devon; he has also served as Canon Missioner at Exeter Cathedral and as Bishop of Shrewsbury in Shropshire. During this time, he has had experience of being a governor at several schools and colleges.
He is left handed and his interests cover sport, fly fishing, rural affairs, butterflies, the arts and reading.
VICE-CUSTOS, EDUCATION AND PASTORAL, COMPLIANCE AND RISK, REMUNERATION, APPOINTMENTS, 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 Benjamin Evans
Headmaster
BSc Hons – University of Durham
Mrs Astra Baker
Director of Marketing
BA Hons – Nottingham Trent University
Mr Oliver Ellsworth
Head of Sixth Form
BA Hons – Cardiff University, MEd – Buckingham University
Mr Jonty LAWFORD
Senior Deputy Head
BA Hons – University of Birmingham
Mrs Emma Gregory
Assistant Head (Common Room) MA – Oxford University
Mr Philip LEWIS
Assistant Head (Co-Curricular)
BSc Hons – Loughborough University
Mrs Karen MCSWIGGAN
Deputy Head (Pastoral)
BA Hons – Reading University
Mr Jonathan DREW
Bursar
ACA, BA Economic University of Cambridge
Mr Darren POTTER
Director of Operations
Mrs Heidi BERRY
Headteacher
DSL
Mrs Astra Baker
Director of Marketing
BA Hons – Nottingham Trent University
Mr Jonathan DREW
Bursar
ACA, BA Economic University of Cambridge
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 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 Darren POTTER
Director of Operations
