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 Jeremy Freedman BA
Mrs Margaret Houston BA
Mrs Diane Packham BA, MEd, MSc
Professor Trevor Page MA, PhD
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

A journalist, with extensive experience in marketing and public relations across a wide spectrum, both public and private sector, Susan is currently Head of Corporate Communications at Sunderland City Council and has a daughter in Senior School.

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.

Jeremy Freedman

Father of a current Senior School pupil, Jeremy is a barrister, Assistant Recorder and joint head of Park Lane Plowden Chambers where he specialises in clinical negligence.

Margaret Houston

Formerly Headmistress of another Girls' Day School Trust, Sheffield High, Margaret is a member of the Council of the Trust and is their representative on our Governing Body.  Margaret provides a very valuable link between Trust and our School.

Diane Packham

Diane Packham has worked as a teacher and an educational psychologist in London
and the North East.  Last year she was 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.  

Trevor Page

Pro Vice Chancellor (External Affairs and Research Liaison) at the University of Newcastle, Trevor also holds the Cookson Group chair of Materials Engineering in the School of Chemical Engineering and Advanced Materials within the University.

Jane Tarr

An old girl and philosophy graduate of King's College, London, Jane is extensively involved in drama and the arts in the North East having previously worked as General Manager of the Live Theatre, Newcastle.  She is currently Manager of the Sponsors Club for Arts and Business and chairs our School's Annual Fund Committee.