At SWPS, our dedicated staff and Board of Governors work together to create an inspiring and supportive learning environment. Our experienced educators, passionate leaders, and committed governors ensure that every student thrives academically and personally. Learn more about the people who shape the vision and success of our school.
Senior Leadership Team
Ms D Picton
Head, MA (Oxon)
Dr S Berryman
Senior Deputy Head, Staff, Co-curricular and compliance, PhD, MMus
Mr A Durand-Deslongrais
Director of Finance & Operations, DChA MSc
Mr P Forrest-Biggs
Academic Deputy Head, BA MA QTS
Mrs H O'Connor
Pastoral Deputy Head, Designated Safeguarding Lead, BA (Hons) PGCE
Mrs S Sergeant
Director of Marketing & Admissions, BA (Hons)
Board of Governors
Mrs Melanie Duke
Mrs Melanie Duke BA | Chair of the Board of Governors | Chair of the Governance Committee | Member of the Finance & Investment Committee. Melanie is a former SWPS parent whose daughter went on to study French & Linguistics at Oxford. Her background is in sales and marketing within both the media and education sectors and for the last 12 years she and her husband have run their own marketing consultancy in the pharmaceutical industry. Melanie joined the Board in 2017 and was formerly Chair of the Marketing Committee.
Mrs Helen Archibald
Mrs Helen Archibald LLB | Chair of the Estates Committee | Health & Safety Governor | Vice-Chair of the Board of Governors | Member of the Finance & Investment Committee. Helen is the parent of a former SWPS student and joined the Governing Body in 2013. She is a commercial property lawyer and has practised in Surrey for over 35 years. As well as being a former managing partner, she currently sits on the board of a top 100 regional law firm and is also responsible for risk and compliance.
Mr Nicholas Dent
Mr Nicholas Dent B.Sc. FCA | Chair of the Finance & Investment Committee. Nick lives in Staines and is a chartered accountant working in the City. His daughters attended the school before progressing to Cambridge and Bristol universities.
Mr Samy Etienne
Mr Samy Etienne | EDI Governor | Member of the Education Committee. Samy is the Deputy Head (Academic) at North London Collegiate School. He has held various leadership roles at King's College School Wimbledon and Surbiton High School. Samy holds an MSc in Learning and Teaching from the University of Oxford and is a Fellow of the Chartered College of Teaching and a Senior Examiner. He serves as Chair of the Curriculum Committee at Sutton Grammar School and has been a trustee of a Multi-Academy Trust. Samy is passionate about secondary curriculum development, innovation in teaching and learning, assessments, second language learning, and promoting diversity, equality, and inclusion.
Councillor Margaret Harnden
Councillor Margaret Harnden | Member of the Education Committee.
Ms Sara Jamison
Ms Sara Jamison BTEC HND | Member of the Finance & Investment Committee. Sara, a former SWPS student and Deputy Head Girl joined the Board of Governors in 2013. Her background is in sales and marketing prior to taking on a number of CEO roles in various sectors including food retail, cosmetics and weight management. A previous Chair of the Marketing Committee Sara is totally committed to working with the School to deliver the highest standards both in academia and pastoral care.
Mrs Kathryn Krynicki
Mrs Kathryn Krynicki BEd, MA, NPQH | SEND & Co-education Governor | Member of the Education Committee. Having worked in education for the last 26 years, Kathryn is an experienced school leader working across the 2-19 years phase. Kathryn is passionate about school improvement and works as a National Leader of Education. She works with a number of schools across the Surrey region and is keen to promote inclusion for all students. Kathryn lives with her family and in the local area and is a mother to two teenage children.
Mr Simon Nathan
Mr Simon Nathan | Sustainability Governor | Member of the Governance Committee | Member of the Finance & Investment Committee. Simon is Deputy Chief Executive & Head of Policy, Independent Schools Council (ISC). He leads the policy and political affairs team for the ISC – a trade association representing 1,400 independent schools. This includes managing ISC’s relationships with Ministers, civil servants and MPs on behalf of member schools. Prior to joining ISC Simon worked for trade bodies in construction and the education policy team at the Confederation of British Industry (CBI). He has a degree in economics and politics from Cambridge University and was previously a governor at Kingshott School.
Mr Chris Newell
Mr Chris Newell LLB | Safeguarding Governor | Member of the Governance Committee | Member of the Education Committee | Member of the Estates Committee. Chris is the father of a former SWPS student and joined the Governing Body in 2022. He is a retired barrister and civil servant and worked as Principal Legal Advisor to successive Directors of Public Prosecutions. Before becoming a Governor, he worked part-time as a Senior Invigilator at SWPS. He is married to Teresa Newell, a fellow Governor, and also serves as a Governor at Pyrford Primary School.
Mrs Teresa Newell
Mrs Teresa Newell FCIPD | Chair of the Education Committee | Member of the Governance Committee | Member of the Finance & Investment Committee. Teresa joined the Governing Body in 2022. She is an experienced public administrator and senior HR practitioner. She has worked in several Government Departments and is currently Head of HR at the British Academy. Her daughter is a former SWPS student.
Mrs Tracy Puttock
Mrs Tracy Puttock | Risk Management Governor | Member of the Governance Committee | Member of the Finance & Investment Committee | Member of the Estates Committee. Tracy has worked in the Financial Services Industry for over 35 years. For the last 20 years she has practised as a Risk and Governance Specialist running her own consultancy and working with Asset Managers, Banks, Private Wealth Managers and Insurance Companies to improve their risk management practices. She has two grown-up children who attended local schools in both the independent and state sectors. Tracy joined the Governing Body in 2024.
Ms Sophie Townsend
Ms Sophie Townsend BSc (Hons) MRICS | Member of the Estates Committee| As a qualified chartered surveyor Sophie has spent her career in the UK property sector with senior positions at M&G Real Estate, Hammerson PLC, Jones Lang LaSalle and Reset Asset Management. Her responsibilities have included the development, refurbishment and investment management of large retail estates whilst championing sustainable development. Now working part-time following parental leave, Sophie joined the Governing Board at the start of 2025.
Ms Sarah Whitlock (nee Walmsley)
Ms Sarah Whitlock (nee Walmsley) MPhys (Hons) | Digital Strategy | Member of the Education Committee | Member of the Estates Committee.
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Full Staff list
