Governors

Dukes Education

Dukes Education is a family of schools, teachers, learners and parents connected by our pursuit of an extraordinary life for every member of our community.

Our philosophy is to support each individual to live with purpose, to encourage a love of learning and to act as a team. All of this is underpinned by a quality standard that runs through everything we do.

We believe that education is a journey to be enjoyed and shared at every stage of life, unlocking possibilities for every student.

To learn more about the Dukes Education family, visit dukeseducation.com

Why Dukes?

• We are genuinely passionate about developing young people. We get them involved and learn from what they say to help us define how to continue to innovate;
• We think long term. All of our decision making is shaped by a goal to build schools that are not just excelling now but are set up for an extraordinary future;
• We operate a decentralised structure, enabling our teams to be autonomous, this hugely empowers the Head and staff. We bring together schools that are diverse but all represent outstanding examples of teaching and learning. We pride ourselves on retaining the distinctive culture of each school whilst providing an outstanding level of support;
• We heavily invest in staff training and development through programmes created by our own Dukes team – probably more than any group I know. In addition, we provide plenty of opportunities for peer group support.

Chair of Governors – Aatif Hassan

Aatif’s Background

I grew up in South West London and now live in Chiswick. I attended St James Independent School for boys, where I am now a charitable governor. At the time, the school was based in Belgravia (walking distance from Eaton House Belgravia) and moved to Pope’s Villa in Twickenham, which is now the home of Radnor House Twickenham (part of Dukes!).

As a bright dyslexic who loved sport, debating, drama and many of the co-curricular activities, I value the unique needs of each of our pupils. I personally needed a rich, nurturing, supportive yet academically-challenging and values-based school. Fortunately for me, with the support of my father who brought me up and my wonderful schooling, I was given the confidence to succeed, however I clearly remember the obstacles that I faced. Experiences with the British Army, sport, charities and work in the City gave me the clarity of purpose and resources to allow me to set up Dukes Education (and our sister company, Cavendish Education, which specialises in schooling for dyslexia and autism). I am lucky enough to say that I love what I do. I love working with young people and I want them to be the very best versions of themselves. I feel both proud and privileged to be part of the work we are doing at Dukes Education.

Governor – Suzie Longstaff

Suzie’s Background

Previously Headmistress of Putney High School, GDST, one of London’s top day schools, Suzie brings 25 years of experience as an education leader to Dukes Education.

Before moving into education, Suzie had a successful rowing career, including coxing the British Olympic VIII at the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games and the Cambridge University ‘Goldie’ boat in the 1997 and 1998 Boat Races.

With a degree in Economics from Durham, Suzie has qualifications in Mathematics from Cambridge and Computing from Oxford. Her teaching career spans single sex, co-educational, day and boarding schools including Shiplake College, Kingston Grammar School and Putney High School, GDST, where she was Director of Sixth Form and Deputy Head Academic before becoming Headmistress in 2014.

Suzie’s rich life experience informs her dynamic, forward-thinking attitude to what an outstanding education can be. She encourages students to be both innovative and intrepid in their learning in an approach she calls ‘modern scholarship’ which is about making learning challenging, fun and relevant, exploring everything from entrepreneurship and oracy to design thinking and AI.

Suzie values sport, co-curricular activities, and community involvement as key to a rounded education and crucial in promoting good wellbeing in her students. She is a born leader who has established Putney High as one of the UK’s leading schools: it was graded excellent with ‘exceptional’ achievement in its last ISI inspection, ranked 5^th for school sport nationally in 2020, shortlisted for the TES Independent Senior School of the Year 2022 and won a Gold Medal at RHS Chelsea Flower Show in 2021 for its ground-breaking research into the benefits of biophilia on wellbeing and academic performance.

With her deep understanding of the London market, Suzie was named as one of the i25 innovators and influencers in education in 2019.

Designated Safeguarding Governor – Rachael Friend

Rachael’s Background

With over 14 years of experience in education and safeguarding, Rachael brings a deep commitment to ensuring the safety and wellbeing of children and young people.

Rachael began her career as a PA to the MD of a Toy Company before taking time out to raise her daughter. Driven by a passion to make a difference, she began working in a women’s refuge where she was privileged to work with women who showed strength and courage at the most difficult times. She developed a strong foundation in supporting vulnerable families, building relationships with children and working with a multitude of agencies to achieve the best outcomes.

This led Rachael into education, where she began her career as a Designated Safeguarding Lead in a primary school. She studied alongside her role, earning a degree in Applied Education Studies from the University of Bedfordshire.

Rachael later moved into secondary education as a DSL and also served as the Senior DSL for a large multi academy trust, overseeing safeguarding in multiple schools.

Rachael is passionate about creating safe, supportive environments where every child can thrive and brings both strategic leadership and hands-on experience to her role as Head of Safeguarding at Dukes Education.

Additional Governors

Catherine Robertson