CNHS Governors' Profile 

Central Newcastle High School, along with other members of the Girls' Day School Trust, is administered by the Council of the Trust.  Our own Local Governing Body is appointed by the Council. All of our members take an active interest in the day to day life of the School.

Chairman: Mrs Michaela Martin BA
Vice Chairman: Mrs Susan Brown
Dr Sue Beverton BA, MA, PhD
Professor Cheryl Buckley BA, MLitt, PhD
Mr Simon Clugston
Mr Martyn Collins, BSc
Mr Jeremy Freedman BA
Mrs Diane Packham BA, MEd, MSc
Mrs Jane Tarr BA

Michaela Martin

A non practising solicitor who has also worked in the charities sector, Michaela has been involved with Central High initially as a parent and now as a Governor since 2000.  She became Chairman in September 2006 and sits on a number of boards of other organisations and charities in the North East.

Susan Brown

Susan has worked in journalism, public relations and marketing for many organisations in the private and public sector in the region and is currently Director of Communications and Corporate Affairs at Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust.  She is also Chair of Bede's World Board of Trustees.  Her daughter left Central in 2009 to train at the Italia Conti Academy of Performing Arts in London and has a place at Manchester University to read Drama in September 2010.

Sue Beverton

Sue is Undergraduate Divisional Director within the School of Education at Durham University where she lectures on a range of undergraduate and postgraduate courses.  Her specialist areas are the teaching and management of change in education.

Cheryl Buckley

Cheryl is a Professor in Design History and Associate Dean for Research and Consultancy in the School of Arts and Social Sciences at Northumbria University.   She is also Chair of the Design History Society and Visiting Professor at the Smithsonian Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum and Parsons School of Design in New York where each spring she teaches an intensive MA module.

Simon Clugston

Educated at the Royal Academy of Music and previously a professional cellist with the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, Simon is Performance Programme Director (Classical) at The Sage Gateshead.  He brings extensive knowledge of and contacts in the world of music education.

Martyn Collins

Father of a Junior School pupil, Martyn is a Chartered Surveyor and a Partner within Knight Frank's Newcastle office where he is responsible for the investment and commercial valuation service lines. Martyn is also a member of the RICST Arbitration Panel.

Jeremy Freedman

Jeremy is a barrister, Assistant Recorder and joint head of Park Lane Plowden Chambers where he specialises in clinical negligence. Jeremy's daughter completed her A Levels at Central Newcastle High School in 2009 and is now studying History at University.

Diane Packham

Diane Packham has worked as a teacher and an educational psychologist in London and the North East. She has recently been the Lord Mayor of Newcastle.  In addition to her civic duties she enjoyed raising funds for a wide range of local causes including the restoration of the Renwick War Memorial.  

Jane Tarr

An old girl and philosophy graduate of Kings College, London, Jane is currently a Senior Investment Officer with Social Investment Business involved in third sector finance. Her previous experience includes a number of roles within the arts in the North East and she chaired our Annual Fund committee. She is also Chair of Them Wifies, a womens community arts organisation and Treasurer of Open Claps Theatre Company.

To contact our Chair of Governors please write to:

Mrs Michaela Martin
Chair of Governors
Central Newcastle High School GDST
Eskdale Terrace
Jesmond
Newcastle upon Tyne
NE2 4DS