STAFF & GOVERNORS

Ms Clare Stansfield 
Senior Deputy Head – Teaching & Learning

Clare Stansfield studied History and Politics at Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford, before completing a Master’s in History of Art at the Courtauld Institute of Art. She has taught History, Politics and History of Art, and has held roles including Head of Department, Oxbridge Lead and International Baccalaureate Coordinator. Since joining FHS as Head of Politics, Clare has taken on several senior responsibilities, including Director of Sixth Form, and was appointed to her current role in 2025. She also brings extensive experience in safeguarding and student wellbeing as a Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead (DDSL).

Clare is committed to cultivating an ambitious, intellectually rigorous and supportive learning environment in which every student is known and able to flourish. Her work centres on compassionate leadership, inclusive pedagogy and the development of confident, critically engaged learners. Beyond school, she enjoys visiting art galleries and historic sites.

Mrs Sarah Pittaway
Senior Deputy Head Pastoral, Trust Safeguarding Lead

Sarah joined as Deputy Head Pastoral and Designated Safeguarding Lead in February 2022.

Previously Head of Secondary at an all-through maintained Church of England school, Sarah worked as a Senior Leader and Designated Safeguarding Lead in three large maintained London schools before joining Francis Holland.

Sarah holds a BA (Hons) in English from the University of Reading; a PGCE from King’s College London and has completed the National Professional Qualification for Headship. Sarah is Chair of Governors at an alternative provision school for pupils in need of support accessing mainstream education. Sarah is an ISI Associate Inspector and believes that excellent pastoral care is at the heart of a thriving school community.

Outside school, Sarah is a sometimes frazzled mother of 5 wonderful children/young adults while caring for 4 young cats and a lively labrador.

Mr Max Devenport
Deputy Head Academic

Max Devenport is Deputy Head Academic at Francis Holland School, Sloane Square, with strategic responsibility for curriculum, assessment (including external examinations), timetabling, reporting, academic standards and outcomes across Key Stages 3 to 5.

Max has held leadership roles internationally in Brazil and Malaysia as Head of Mathematics and previously spent six years as Director of Digital Learning at Latymer Upper School, where he led on whole-school digital strategy,  remote learning during COVID-19 and articulated the school’s response to AI.

Max is passionate about creating dynamic curricula that challenge and inspire the modern student. When he can, he still loves being in the classroom and in particular enjoys championing mathematics as a subject for all.

Outside school, Max enjoys mountain climbing, trekking, art and puzzling.

Ms Jordana Berk
Deputy Head (Co-Curricular & Operations)

Jordana Berk joined the school as Deputy Head Co-Curricular & Operations in January 2026.

Previously Deputy Head Academic at Old Palace of John Whitgift School, she led wholeschool academic improvement, strengthened outcomes, and oversaw the quality of teaching and learning.

Before this, Jordana was Assistant Head Staff Development and worked as a Director of Drama for over twelve years across the state and independent sectors, most recently holding the role at Whitgift School.

Jordana holds an MA in Education and the National Professional Qualification in Senior Leadership. Originally from Chicago, she benefited from a Liberal Arts education and completed her BA at Beloit College, where she studied Theatre Direction, Russian Language, and History.

Jordana believes that co-curricular life is essential to educating the whole child—promoting academic success, wellbeing, and the development of the skills pupils need for their futures.

Outside school, Jordana enjoys reading and runs a local book club. She also loves travelling with her family.

Mrs Caroline Wilkes
Director of Futures and Innovation

Caroline Wilkes taught at South Hampstead and Putney High and Kew House. She holds an MSc from LSE, an MA in Modern History from Cambridge and a PGCE from the Open University. Before she became a teacher, she worked in event management and for several charities.

Caroline joined Francis Holland in September 2019 as Head of Futures and has since moved on to the leadership team as Director of Futures & Innovation.

Caroline introduced the TEDx event to Francis Holland and we have now held five TEDx events at school. She leads the Sixth Form Westmacott Programme which included the introduction of Model United Nations and a school radio station and has developed our relationships with international universities in the US, Canada and Europe to the extent that now at least a quarter of the sixth form apply to international universities. She also teaches Politics A level.

Caroline believes that the skills that the girls learn outside lessons – service, teamwork, communication, leadership and a growth mindset – are essential to a successful life and spends a lot of her time nurturing these among the students.

In her spare time she enjoys Pilates, going to the theatre and spending time with her family.

Miss Stephanie Lamb
COO

Stephanie is a former Tax Partner at EY, with over 25 years of experience in the professional services sector. She is a qualified Chartered Accountant and Chartered Tax Advisor. Over the course of her 16-year tenure as Partner, Stephanie undertook a variety of senior leadership roles in parallel with her client service responsibilities, including serving as a member of EY’s Global Tax Executive, the body responsible for setting the strategic direction of the global tax practice.

Passionate about the transformative power of education to enable individuals to achieve their ambitions, Stephanie brings extensive expertise in leadership, communication, operational transformation, and delivery excellence. She is committed to applying this experience to ensure the continued sustainability and growth of the Francis Holland Schools Trust and, in so doing, supporting and enabling the next generation for success.

Mrs Vanessa McKinley
Director of External Relations

Vanessa heads up marketing, communications and admissions across the Francis Holland Schools Trust and is a member of the Francis Holland Schools Trust Executive Committee. Vanessa was a school Governor for nine years in the maintained sector, chairing the Curriculum Committee and has three grown-up children. She joined the independent sector in 2008 following a career in various marketing and advertising agencies where she handled a variety of B2B and B2C clients in retail, financial and FMCG at Board level. Her favourite was Bombay Sapphire gin – so much so that she named her cockapoo Bombay Saffy! She graduated with a BA in Business Studies and started a graduate scheme in accountancy until she got lured into London agency life. Vanessa is passionate about education and believes genuine emotional connections are key to the power of telling compelling brand stories. She is ably supported by effective in-house marketing and admissions teams who are united in their focus and able to operate at the fast pace of our busy schools.

Mr Tom Robertson
Director of Development

As Director of Development, Tom leads on fundraising and engagement strategies. Tom has over 15 years’ experience in the independent school sector, previously heading up development for the Alpha Plus Group, working with 12 independent schools and three sixth form colleges in the UK and overseas and before that at Bradfield College, Berkshire. Passionate about widening access to independent education, since joining the Trust in 2021 Tom has launched endowment campaigns for transformational bursaries at both Francis Holland Regent’s Park and Francis Holland Sloane Square. He also serves as a Governor of Elstree School in Berkshire. Outside work, Tom enjoys walking, travelling, and playing real tennis.

Mr Matt Britland
Director of Technology

With over 20 years’ experience in education, Matt has worked across both the maintained and independent sectors. His journey in independent education began in 2010 at Kingston Grammar School, followed by roles at The Lady Eleanor Holles School in 2014 and Alleyn’s School in 2018. In 2023, he joined the Francis Holland Schools Trust, continuing his commitment to excellence in teaching and learning and the implementation of technology across all parts of school life. Matt is passionate about the transformative role of technology in education and its potential to empower all staff and students. Beyond the classroom, he has a keen interest in collecting trainers and vinyl records. Music is a significant part of Matt’s life and he enjoys mixing and producing music in his spare time, blending creativity with technical skill. His diverse interests reflect a lifelong love of learning, innovation, and culture.

Mr Ben Taylor
Director of HR

Ben holds a BA in Management and Human Resources from the University of Hull and is a Chartered Member of the CIPD. He joined the FHS community in September 2023, and has 7 years’ experience in the education sector, prior to which he held roles in local government, travel leisure and tourism. His aim is to provide efficient and effective HR systems and processes to support our colleagues to achieve their very best. Ben enjoys travelling and was fortunate enough to be able to travel the world with work in one of his previous roles, theatre and dining out.