Governing Body and Leadership Team

The Maynard School is very fortunate in having a dedicated team of Governors providing an invaluable pool of expertise and experience that helps the Head to run, develop and ensure the long-term future of the School.

Unusually for many independent schools, the majority of Maynard Governors live locally and take an active personal interest in the school and its pupils. Some Governors are appointed by outside agencies: the St John’s Hospital Educational Foundation, Devon County Council, Exeter City Council and the University of Exeter.

We also have co-opted Governors, Parent and Staff Governors. Governors also attend a great many school functions and run very successful annual development days for both Governors and senior staff. The Governors are appointed as trustees of The Maynard School and have responsibility to the Charity Commission to ensure it is run efficiently and complies with all legal and health and safety requirements.

Leadership Team

Liz Gregory, Head

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Liz joined The Maynard community as Head in September 2022 having been previously at Haberdashers’ Monmouth Schools. She has thoroughly enjoyed joining our vibrant community, fully embracing the magic of the Maynard. She has a passion for evidence informed education and, as Trustee and Fellow of the Chartered College of Education, she is committed to ensuring our pedagogy is supported by the latest research. As Head she has the privilege of overseeing our whole school, ensuring both Junior and Senior Schools are cohesive and unified under her watch.
 
She keeps up her middle distance running, loves time on her bike and is always happy when with her two cats.
 

Caroline Leigh, Senior Deputy Head

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Caroline is a passionate Dance and PE teacher, and before completing her PGCE and MEd at the University of Exeter, read Sports Science at The University of Birmingham. Her teaching career spans over 25 years in both state and independent schools, co-ed and single sex.
 
Before relocating back to the South-West, Caroline held numerous senior leadership positions, progressing from Director of Performing and Visual Arts to Assistant Head Academic, Assistant Head Teaching and Learning/Teacher Training, before joining The Maynard School as a Senior Leader for Co-curricular and Pastoral in 2018 and transitioning to Senior Deputy Head in 2026. She is passionate about all-round, holistic education, female leadership and ensuring that all pupils are known as individuals to equip them with the skills and knowledge they need to succeed whilst at The Maynard School and beyond.
 

Tom Hibberd, Director of Sixth Form

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Tom joined The Maynard School as Director of Sixth Form in September 2014, a role he was especially pleased to gain as his second daughter was born that February! Both girls are now flourishing at the school, whilst his wife, Ellie, has found a home as head of the employment team at Stephens Scown, a stone’s throw away in Southernhay.
 
Tom is profoundly aware of the benefits of a first-class education, having graduated with a master’s degree from Cambridge University in theology. During his time at The Maynard, the Sixth Form has grown, settling at around a 100 every year; the perfect number to maintain a diverse and vibrant academic and co-curricular programme, whilst allowing for the bespoke pastoral and university application support that are central to the school’s ethos.
 
Tom has also run Model United Nations, sung with the staff choir and run a World Challenge expedition to Borneo. One of Tom’s key aims for all students is that they are courageous and that they seek opportunities, be it performing at elite levels or just taking themselves out of their comfort zone to explore something new. Leading by example, and with no acting pedigree, he has been cajoled by Mrs Bellamy into the role of Scrooge in the staff panto, performed as a dancing pope in Sister Act, as a jilted lover in Legally Blonde and donned some interesting outfits for charity ‘fashion’ events.
 
Away from school, Tom enjoys time with family and friends, making music, cooking, travel, walking and watching cricket and rugby.

Sarah Lavis, Head of Junior School

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After gaining her Bachelor of Education honours degree in Drama and the Expressive Arts at Rolle Faculty of Education with the University of Plymouth, Sarah began her teaching career in North West London. She served the communities of Harrow, Hillingdon and finally Hertfordshire, teaching and leading across Key Stages 1 and 2 for 12 years before returning to Exeter with her husband and two children. 
 
Once back in Devon, Sarah taught and led at a large, maintained city primary school. The school’s improvement journey was well documented with it achieving an ‘Outstanding’ Ofsted grade at its last inspection. Sarah also holds the National Award for leading in Special Educational Needs and gained her professional qualification for headship in 2016 with the Church of England through Liverpool Hope University.
 
Sarah is passionate about Primary education, ensuring that children gain strong foundations across the curriculum whilst nurturing their love of learning, developing compassion for others and encouraging a strong belief in themselves.
 

Dr Phil Rudling, Director of Studies

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Phil trained as a Physics teacher after graduating in Natural Sciences from Cambridge. After teaching for a few years in a state school up north, he moved to Exeter to do a PhD in Psychology, and early on was offered the chance to give a short talk at the Maynard School. By happy coincidence, this then led to Phil teaching Psychology here for the past 25 years! Equally, his background in data and computing modelling is invaluable in the role of Director of Studies which includes timetabling and tracking student progress.
 
Phil has a passion for the outdoors and has been involved with the running of Duke of Edinburgh expeditions, Ten Tors and overseas trips over the years and he now coordinates the planning and risk assessments of all school trips. Out of school, he can usually be found out on a bike, up a hill or somewhere on the coastal path.
 

Rachael Board, Marketing & Communications Manager

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Rachael absolutely loves the creative challenge of her role and relishes every opportunity to launch innovative marketing initiatives or organise new events either for the benefit of the students, such as the Biz Whizz Careers Club and Sixth Form Leavers’ Ball, or for prospective and current parents. As an Old Maynardian who spent a very happy couple of years in the Sixth Form, she can also draw on the added benefit of having three daughters who have been “beautifully educated” at the School – this insider-knowledge and student viewpoint has been invaluable in unearthing the ‘true’ Maynard character, something that Rachael is super keen to showcase because where else has such a truly unique, fun and caring community?
 
A former sports journalist & PR specialist, Rachael is proud to have completed a circumnavigation after blagging herself onto the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race as the official race journalist, a steep learning curve culminating in her becoming the longest standing watch leader of the race despite often being the only female onboard. Filing copy to national newspapers in a raging storm, on very little sleep and with a decidedly unreliable internet connection, all to strict deadlines, was in itself a test of endurance and extreme patience!
 
Another career highlight was founding and organising the return of the world-famous Isle of Wight Festival as part of her role as the island’s Events Manager, overthrowing a government act in the process, and creating a much-needed tourism boost during the off-peak season. The lessons learned from spearheading such an iconic festival have been totally invaluable in her role as the Marketing Manager at The Maynard. Constantly exploring unchartered marketing territories within the education sector, coupled with the ability to always think big, is something of her hallmark!
 

Lorraine Beechener, School Business Manager

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Lorraine Beechener joined The Maynard in October 2021, after six years in the state sector. Prior to this, Lorraine ran her own accountancy, payroll and bookkeeping business in Exeter with many small to medium-sized businesses. Lorraine gained a wealth of finance, accountancy and business experience across a wide and varied range of businesses including car dealership, sports retail and life insurance. She is AAT qualified and holds accreditation with the Institute of Certified Bookkeepers.  
 
She has also gained good insight and background knowledge of the education system thanks to 17 years as a School Governor in Exeter, including Chair of Finance for several years. Lorraine has three children and four grandchildren who all live locally which keeps her busy. Lorraine and her husband have successfully puppy raised five puppies for Guide Dogs and is very proud of this achievement, and hears regularly from the Guide Dog owners. 
 

Correspondence

The Chair of Governors may be contacted in writing at the following address:

Mr C Gatherer
Chair of Governors
The Maynard School
Denmark Road
Exeter
EX1 1SJ

The Head may be contacted in writing at the following address:

Mrs Liz Gregory
The Maynard School
Denmark Road
Exeter
EX1 1SJ

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