Leadership

AMBER WAITE , THE PRINCIPAL

Amber was appointed as Principal of STAEG in May 2024, following five years as Head of STAHS. Educated in Texas, after earning undergraduate and graduate degrees in Mathematics, Chemistry, Geological Sciences and Chemical Physics, she embarked on a ten-year career as a biogeochemical oceanographer. After many happy years working everywhere from the Gulf of Mexico to the South Pacific, Amber decided it was time for a change and re-trained as a teacher. She taught for three years in the US before undertaking a third career as a civil servant.

Amber moved to the UK in 2008, and whilst she enjoyed the policy and communications work she did at Defra, she missed the fun and satisfaction of working with young people and returned to teaching. She has taught at Headington, Abingdon and Ashford Schools, and was Deputy Head at St Dunstan’s College before taking up her role as Head of STAHS. Amber is also a member of the HMC Board of Directors as Treasurer, having previously sat on their Finance, Audit and Risk Committee, and is a governor for an independent girls’ school in Hampshire.

Amber is an enthusiastic supporter of Oxford United, and when she isn’t at the Kassam (or Wembley!) cheering on the Yellows, she will likely be thinking and/or talking about them.

MIKE LEWIS MBE, Chief Operating Officer 

After reading Aeronautics & Astronautics at Southampton, Mike went to the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, commissioning into the Royal Engineers. He served for 22 years in the British Army in a variety of increasingly senior roles, in the UK and abroad. Mike then brought his experience to the education sector as Director of Operations for the Haberdashers’ Elstree Schools and more recently to NHS England. For the past seven years he has been a trustee of Watford Grammar School for Girls, where he is currently Vice-Chair.  

Married to Victoria, a professional classical musician, and with three adult children, Mike’s interests include snowboarding (when ageing knee joints permit), sea kayaking around the southern coastline and along the River Thames and he is a weekend rugby first aider.    

ANN MASSEY, Head of STAHS Senior

Ann Massey was appointed Head of STAHS Senior in April 2025.

Prior to STAHS, Ann was Deputy Head Pastoral at Eltham College in South London for eight years and spent 16 years at James Allen’s Girls’ School as a Teacher of History and Politics, Assistant Head of Section, SENCO, and Head of Lower School.

Ann grew up in a village in the Welsh valleys near Port Talbot, after which in her words, she ‘landed at Oxford with a bump’. She holds a BA(Hons) and an MA (Oxon) in Modern history from St Anne’s College, Oxford and an MEd in Leadership and Management.

Ann is married to John, Detective Chief Superintendent of Cambridgeshire Constabulary, and has two young adult children, Isabel and Matthew.

MIKE BRYANT, HEAD OF STAHS PREP

Head of STAHS Prep since September 2023, Mike attended the Skinners’ School in Tunbridge Wells before studying French and German with stints in both countries. He subsequently trained as a primary school teacher and completed a master’s in Education, punctuated by playing as an overseas cricketer in Australia. In 2023 he was awarded a fellowship of the Chartered College of Teaching.  

Mike’s teaching career has predominantly been in London, in both the state and independent sector. Before joining STAHS as Head of Prep, he was Deputy Head Academic at both St Dunstan’s College Junior School and, most recently, Newton Prep School in Battersea.  

When Mike is not talking about teaching and learning, you will find him either on the cricket field, or at the London Stadium supporting West Ham. Both have taught him valuable life lessons on the importance of being resilient and maintaining perspective. 

LOUISE MARTIN, HEAD OF STORMONT SCHOOL

After completing a BEd Hons with Music degree Louise spent the first decade of her career working in a local primary school, where she became acting Deputy Headteacher. She moved to the independent sector in 2012 and in 2018 became Deputy Head at Stormont School, before being made head in 2020. 

In a matter of weeks after her appointment the pandemic hit. Louise found herself navigating uncharted waters, steering the school through lockdowns, remote learning, and social distancing. Despite endless challenges and the total disruption of normal school life,  Louise kept spirits up and the children engaged, organising virtual talent shows and online quizzes alongside delivering lessons in as many innovative ways as possible.

Thankfully Stormont has returned to normality, as has her role at the school. Louise continues her passion for music and sport, and is often to be found on the tennis courts.

KIRSTY EDDISON, GROUP DESIGNATED SAFEGUARDING LEAD

In 2016 Kirsty was appointed at STAHS as the Director of Sport, in 2020 was promoted to Assistant Head Operations and in 2023 was appointed as Deputy Head Pastoral.  

Kirsty gained a First in Sport at the University of Birmingham, where she captained their Lacrosse Team to the final of the British Universities and Colleges Sport Championship. She has represented both England U21 and Senior England in the sport, and coached at junior county, regional and England level. Having retired from competitive Lacrosse Kirsty now competes in Hyrox competitions, a combination of running and weight training.  

After completing a PGCE and a Masters of Education, Kirsty began her teaching career at Wycombe Abbey School. In 2015 she led the school to victory at the U19 National Lacrosse Championships, and was awarded Coach of the Year. 

Kirsty volunteers for the homelessness charity Shelter, and enjoys spending her school holidays exploring new countries.   

SIAN HOGGETT, Director of Marketing, Admissions and Engagement

Having read History and Politics at the University of York, Sian began her career in the education sector, holding roles with King’s College London, University College London and London Business School, before moving to the British Museum where she worked for over a decade, leading the British Museum Friends and overseeing Marketing, Regular giving and Ticketing. Sian is a Trustee of York Archaeology and has previously served on the advisory board of the United World College of the Atlantic, which Sian attended on a scholarship from the Isle of Man Government.

Sian and her family live in Harpenden. Sian is an avid skier and reader, aiming (and sometimes succeeding!) to read 100 books a year.

ALISON ARNOLD, CHAIR

Alison has extensive business experience. Educated at UMIST and the London Business School, she enjoyed a successful career marketing leading consumer brands at large multinational companies such as Procter & Gamble, Kraft Foods and PepsiCo both in the UK and internationally. In 2012 Alison moved into the education sector, working with international schools’ groups in UAE and the Middle East leading their global marketing and admissions teams. She consistently increased student numbers and was recognised by Forbes Middle East as one of the region’s top 50 marketing and communications people.

After 17 years living and working abroad, Alison returned with her family to the UK in 2020 to join Orbital Education as Group Director of Marketing and Admissions. She recently joined BIMM, a university for the creative industries, as Chief Commercial Officer.

CAROL JEWELL, VICE CHAIR

Carol was Head of Old Palace of John Whitgift School Croydon, having held several leadership roles at the school over a period of 22 years.  After reading music at St Andrews University and completing a PGCE at Trinity College Cambridge, Carol began teaching in 1982 and taught in a variety of positions across the UK before becoming Head at Old Palace in 2011.

Carol was awarded her National Professional Qualification for Headship by the National College for School Leadership and a further award in School Business Management.  Volunteering, Carol continues her commitment to instilling a broader values-based education in young people, supporting families with young children by working with the charity Home Start. Carol enjoys singing as an adult chorister at Croydon Minster.

HÉLÈNE BASTIEN

Hélène is Deputy Chief Commercial Officer for Howden Capital, Advisory & Placement focusing on business growth and responsible for setting commercial strategy and objectives. 

Hélène is an alumna of STAHS.  After a degree in Criminology and Social Policy at the University of Manchester, Hélène took a graduate Diploma in Law with BPP, followed by a Bar Vocational Course at City, University of London.  She is a member of the Chartered Insurance Institute. 

Prior to her current position, Hélène was an Executive Director for Howdens Mergers and Acquisitions, advising on transactional risks across a broad range of sectors and jurisdictions. 

MARIA CARRADICE

Maria is a qualified accountant, tax and treasury adviser and sits on the Finance Committee. She has a first-class honours degree in Chemistry, an MA in Modern Languages, a PhD in Nanotechnology from Cambridge University and is a member of the Chartered Institute of Taxation. She is also a member of the British Venture Capital Association’s Tax and Environmental, Social and Governance Committees.

As a portfolio director at a leading private equity firm, Maria works alongside companies to improve and streamline their operations, particularly in areas such as tax and finance. Maria has also worked for both Deloitte and Arthur Andersen in their private equity and international M&A groups.

A passionate advocate for lifelong learning, she currently has a daughter at STAHS Prep School.

CRAIG CLEAVER

Craig was educated at the University of Stellenbosch in South Africa. He then read law at Brasenose College, Oxford as a Rhodes Scholar. He spent his career at the City law firm Slaughter and May as a corporate lawyer and retired as a senior partner in 2022. Craig then spent a year as an independent non executive director at Zurich Insurance. Craig’s daughter completed her schooling at STAHS.

BJORN HOBART

Bjorn became a governor in 2023 and is a member of the estates committee to which he brings 20 years’ experience as a chartered surveyor in commercial real estate. He is currently Chief Investment Officer of a FTSE 250 listed company specialising in Logistics investment and development.  

Bjorn was educated at Watford Grammar School for Boys and studied Geography followed by a Master’s in Property Valuation and Law.  

HENRIETTA HODGKISS

Henrietta is Director of Operations at a small recruitment firm specialising in the recruitment of corporate governance professionals.

A STAHS alumna, Henrietta read history at The University of Nottingham. Her career started working in corporate governance before moving into recruitment. Her current role encompasses operations, HR and finance matters and, following the company’s move to employee ownership, Henrietta is also a Trustee.

Henrietta was keen to broaden her governance experience and in 2023 she joined the board of governors at Stormont School, joining the governors of STAEG following the merger of STAHS and Stormont School.

CHRIS MURRAY

Chris began his professional life in financial services marketing, and has spent the majority of his career focused on sports sponsorship, primarily within motorsport. He was Marketing Director of the Williams Formula One team before establishing his own consultancy advising brands and rights holders across the sports and entertainment sectors.  

Chris has a daughter at the Prep School and became a Governor in 2020. He chairs the Strategy Committee and sits on the Estates Committee.   

BOB TATTAR

After an undergraduate degree in Computer Science and Mathematics Bob qualified as a Chartered Accountant and has worked as a finance professional in a number of sectors, including Telecoms, Consultancy, Property Investment & Development and lately in Cell & Gene Therapies. 

Bob has served on the board of a housing association and the Luton & Dunstable Hospital, and is actively involved with his micro financing charity RojiRoti. He sits on the Finance Committee.