The Governing Board

Sarah Bakhtiari
Chair of Governors

Appointed by: Governing body
Term of office: 29 January 2024 – 28 January 2028

My first involvement with Dorothy Stringer was as a trainee teacher and some twenty five years later, I hope to be in a position to give back to the school which supported me in the earliest stage of my professional journey.  My experience as a headteacher equips me with the practical skills to do this in a meaningful way.

I aspire to the very best for every young person in our school community and understand that in order to achieve this we need to work together.  By setting clear strategic intentions, using data to inform decision-making, conducting regular evaluation and review, and fostering a collaborative and inclusive approach, we can ensure the best possible outcomes for our young people. Through supporting the strong leadership and through a commitment to excellence, we can maintain and develop a school environment that nurtures and inspires for the benefit of pupils, staff and the local community.

Matt Hillier,
Headteacher
Clare Doran
Clerk to Governors

I qualified as a solicitor in 2009 and specialised in litigation, before moving into the education sector in 2017. I currently work at a private school in Shoreham as their Compliance Manager and in 2025 joined Dorothy Stringer as the Clerk to the Governing Body.

My responsibility is to ensure the efficient functioning of the Governing Body by providing:

  • Administrative and organisational support.
  • Guidance to ensure that the Governing Body works in compliance with the appropriate legal and regulatory framework, and understands the potential consequences for non compliance.
  • Advice on procedural matters relating to the operation of the board.
  • Designing structures and procedures for the sound governance of the school.

To contact Governors email – clerk@dorothy-stringer.co.uk

Mick Baker,
Co-opted governor

Appointed by: Governing body
Term of office: 1 July 2018 – 20 June 2026

Retired. Previously Head of Lower School at Dorothy Stringer School then Deputy Head of a comprehensive school in Worthing (30 years)

I have been a Governor at Dorothy Stringer for a little over 10 years and have been a Governor at two other schools.

My two sons both attended Dorothy Stringer.  I am also a Trustee of the school’s outdoor centre at Dolawen in Wales.

I would hope to support the school in maintaining its excellent standards.

Rob Bradshaw,
Co-opted governor

Appointed by: Governing body
Term of office: 29 January 2024 – 28 January 2028

I have spent my working life in different countries and cultures, ranging from Papua New Guinea to Indonesia and Italy. My roles varied from entry level sales roles through management to board leadership. In recent years, prompted by a lifelong interest in education, I have been teaching business and “Strategic HR” at universities in Asia. I have been on school boards previously, and to better understand how education is delivered, I studied part time for a postgraduate certificate in education.  I am a Fellow of UK based CIPD, and continue to consult for companies and a charity here in the UK and in the Philippines, where we lived for a number of years. I hold a couple of board positions and am a Rotarian. I have two children, one at university and one doing A levels.  

I hope I can combine experience from my working life with a passion for education; to help the board and the leadership team fulfil the vision of the school and facilitate excellent outcomes for our students. 

Alice Duvernois,
Parent governor

Elected by: Parents
Term of office: 16 March 2026 – 15 March 2030

I am a Parent Governor at Dorothy Stringer School and have a son in Year 9. I am a veterinary surgeon with extensive experience managing hospitals in both the private and charity sectors. I currently work for the veterinary profession’s regulator, where I lead on governance, quality standards and inspections.

I bring expertise in strategic oversight, quality assurance and organisational leadership to the governing body. As both a professional and a parent, I am particularly interested in strengthening communication between school and families, supporting high-quality sports provision, and contributing to the school’s long-term strategic development.

Matt Elliott,
Parent governor

Elected by: Parents
Term of office: 11 May 2026 – 10 May 2028

I am delighted to be joining the governor’s team at Dorothy Stringer as a parent governor.

After graduating from Nottingham Trent University in 1997, I joined Royal Mail as a graduate trainee. I subsequently worked for the company for some twenty-two years, across a wide range of both frontline management and supporting roles, most latterly in a project manager role.

I had always harboured a passion for teaching, and in 2017 took the opportunity of voluntary redundancy to pursue a teaching career. I completed a PGCE at Brighton University in 2019 and am currently a Year four teacher at a local primary school.

My wife and I have lived in Brighton for over thirty years, and with two daughters (one currently at Stringer, the other at Brighton Met. College), life in our house is never dull!

I am looking forward to the opportunity to support the vision and future direction of the school.

Eleanor Fagan,
Co-opted governor

Elected by: Governing body
Term of office: 11 March 2024 – 10 March 2028

My professional background is in primary education, having worked as a class teacher and Assistant Head in inner London schools. I am committed to issues of social justice and equity in education and am currently a PhD candidate and researcher at University College London (UCL). My research focuses on how social, structural, and policy factors shape educational experiences and outcomes.

Alongside my academic work, I am particularly interested in how feminist approaches to knowledge, pedagogy, and leadership can contribute to more equitable education systems. This perspective informs both my research and my approach to school governance.

I strongly believe that high‑quality education is a once‑in‑a‑lifetime opportunity and a vital foundation for positive life outcomes. I am therefore delighted to support the leadership of Dorothy Stringer School in its work to ensure all students are able to thrive.

Emma Hill,
Parent governor

Elected by: Parents
Term of office: 18 November 2024 – 17 November 2028

My career, over decades, has been in managing both talent and business internationally, in the creative and entertainment sector; driving innovation within it and developing aspirational, high-calibre, culture-based brands.

During this time, I have devised and implemented various Diversity, Equity & Inclusion initiatives. I’ve a great interest in neuroinclusion and how intentional integration can foster future-positive outcomes for all.

I have twin sons, one of whom is at Dorothy Stringer and the other in a nearby school, which gives me broad experience of our local school life. I’m proud to serve as Parent Governor and hope to contribute towards a thriving school culture.

Matt Nott
Matt Nott,
Staff governor

Elected by: Staff
Term of office: 6 January 2025 – 5 January 2029

I am delighted to be a Staff Governor at Dorothy Stringer High School. I joined the school in 2018 and since then have been working as a teacher in the Maths Department. Having worked at the school for more than six years, I am very familiar with how the school operates and the challenges we face.

Prior to becoming a teacher, I spent over thirty years in industry, including  directorship of an international environmental business. Over the course of my engineering career, I developed expertise in leadership, organisational development, sales and marketing, and finance. I also previously served as a Co-opted Governor of Downs Junior School.

I have lived locally in Brighton since the early 1990s with my wife and son (who has now flown the nest). When I’m not working, I enjoy running, skiing, and baking.

I look forward to using my knowledge of the school, transferable skills gained in industry and prior experience as a school governor to help the Governing Board and the school’s leadership team continue to make the school the best it can be for students, parents/carers and staff.

Eugenie Teasley
Eugenie Teasley
Co-opted Governor

Elected by: Governing body
Term of office:  13 May 2024 – 12 May 2028

I am thrilled to be a Co-opted Governor for Dorothy Stringer School. I currently work as the Head of Impact at Amazon. Prior to this, I worked at Uber, where I was the Head of Cities in the UK, before leading its international Social Impact team. I had a very different career for 15 years before I went into tech: I worked in education and non-profits, including teaching at a secondary school in London, working for an education non-profit in the US, then founding and running a youth charity of my own before launching a philanthropic foundation here in the UK. Creating equal opportunities for everyone to flourish is something that constantly drives me, and I bring that—as well as my varied experience in business, tech, education and charity—to the Governing Board. I’ve lived in Brighton for over 15 years, with my husband, our two sons (one of whom is at Stringer) and our dog. When I’m not working, I’m probably running (slowly), playing Catan or visiting other corners of the world.

Jess Verdugo web
Jessica Verdugo,
Co-opted governor

Elected by: Governing body
Term of office:  14 July 2025 – 13 July 2029

My career so far has focused on environmental and social sustainability at multinational companies including Amazon and Depop. Through various projects, I have driven meaningful change and worked to create more diverse, equal and inclusive workplaces. I have also volunteered on various education and community garden initiatives, driven by a belief in giving back to the community. I care about levelling the playing field and removing barriers that prevent young people from reaching their potential.

My motivation for joining the governing body stems from a desire to support the next generation and empower every student at Dorothy Stringer to grow and thrive. With a background in psychology from university, I bring analytical insights and understanding of human behaviour to governance. I am excited to work alongside the leadership team and fellow governors, to contribute in creating an environment where all students feel supported and valued.

Neal Young,
Co-opted governor

Elected by: Governing body
Term of office: 2 February 2026 – 1 February 2030

I started my work life in catering operations running Hotels before moving into Learning & Development and then Human Resources (HR). Since then, I have held a variety of senior HR roles having completed an MA in Strategic HR and became a Fellow of the CIPD (Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development).

During this time I implemented many highly successful mergers & aquisitions, leadership & high potential development programmes and culture change & employee engagement initiatives, winning several major National Awards. These included a National Training Award, and a regular place in the Sunday Times list of ‘Top 20 Best Large Companies to Work For’. In 2009 I decided to move into the HR Consultancy and Executive Coaching world with a passionate belief to demonstrate how HR can add ‘real’ value to any organisation or enterprise.

I am currently a Trustee of two large Pension Plans and Chair of Carers Support West Sussex charity. I am passionate about helping young people and students to be aware of and to develop their personal skills to become well-rounded individuals and am a Mentor for students at Brighton University.

I have four grand-children and maintain a keen interest in making animations, rugby and cycling. My intention is to bring all my knowledge, skills and experience to help and support both the leadership team and students.