Introducing the leadership team at St Joseph’s College
Our senior leadership team
Principal
Mrs Danielle Clarke
I feel both proud and privileged to be the Principal of St Joseph’s College working alongside an outstanding staff and a community which focuses successfully on personalised academic achievement and the positive social, emotional, physical and intellectual development of children and young people.
Deputy Principal
Mr Sacha Cinnamond
I joined St Joseph’s in 2016 and have over 20 years of experience in teaching, including managing my own Sixth Form successfully for 12 years. I am a consultant to the Historical Association and work as a masterclass presenter for the Gabbitas Truman and Thring Foundation.
Head of Prep School
Mrs Amanda Childs
With 13 years of experience as a Prep Head, I am proud to have recently joined the St Jo’s team. My number one priority is to help the children love learning through offering them exciting experiences which will stay in their memories for a lifetime.
Vice Principal Pastoral
Mrs Georgina Rowlands
I am dedicated to creating a safe and supportive learning environment for students, fostering their personal and academic growth, and ensuring their well-being through a committed team of staff who promote an aspirational and inclusive school culture.
Vice Principal Co-curricular & Head of Arts
Mrs Victoria Harvey
I have over 23 years of experience teaching in both the maintained and independent sectors and continue to be passionate about developing young people’s lives through instilling a love for creativity at all levels.
Director of Sport
Mr Anthony O’Riordan
I joined the College in 2015 as Director of Rugby and teacher of Vocational BTEC Curriculum, later becoming Director of Sport & Business Development. I have overseen various sporting programmes and partnerships, including the successful introduction of male and female Football Academies at the College.
Director of Admissions, Marketing and Communications
Mrs Sarah Edwards
I joined the Senior Leadership Team at St Joseph’s College in September 2019 to provide strategic planning and leadership in College communications, marketing and pupil recruitment. I have over 20 years’ experience working with some incredible brands across a range of different markets and channels to create excellent communications and deliver targeted results. I work with the Admissions, Marketing and Communications team to create strong brand dialogue and oversee UK and international pupil enrolment.
Director of Finance
Mrs Julie Keech
Mrs Keech joined St Joseph’s in June 2022 as Director of Finance. A fellow of the Association of Chartered and Certified Accountants in England and Wales, she has over 20 years’ experience in both Financial and Commercial finance roles across businesses ranging from privately owned to listed and private equity backed companies.
Mrs Keech has worked in a variety of business sectors spanning healthcare, offshore renewable energy, subsea cabling and EV charging. She brings considerable experience in financial analysis, reporting and financial management.
Our Governors
Chair
Mr Perry Glading
After a number of years working in the UK Ports and Logistics sector at Main Board Executive level for Private and PLC listed organisations, including positions as Chief Operating Officer of Forth Ports Ltd and Managing Director of the Port of Tilbury London Ltd.
Perry stepped down from his Executive roles in 2017, currently he is the Vice Chair of the Dover Harbour Board and Senior Non-Executive Director. Director of the South East Local Enterprise Partnership, Non-Executive Director of High House Production Park, Purfleet, also advises a number of businesses through his consultancy business, Glading Consultancy Ltd and is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Transport.
A former St Jo’s parent, Perry’s youngest daughter left the College in 2019 after attending from Years 7 to Upper Sixth. He has been Chair since January 2018 and can be contacted at [email protected] or in writing to St Joseph’s College, Belstead Road, Ipswich IP2 9DR.
Vice Chair
Mr Richard Stace (LLB)
Richard is a solicitor, who has specialised in employment law for more than 30 years and has his own employment law firm. Richard has two sons who attended the College from Nursery to Upper Sixth. He has been a Governor at St Joseph’s College since December 2003.
Governor
Mr Chris Richardson-Smith
With a varied career as a Sales and Marketing Director in health & leisure, property services and independent education, Chris also runs his own consultancy, developing marketing strategies for public sector organisations. His work has
centred around building and nurturing high quality relationships and delivering tangible value.
Chris moved to Ipswich from Kent in 2010 and has two sons at St Joseph’s – both in the Prep School.
He has worked with Suffolk Chamber of Commerce and supported Suffolk Young Chamber.
Chris has been a Governor at St Joseph’s College since December 2021.
Member of sub-committees: Governors’ Finance Group & Governors’ Health, Safety & Environment Group
Mr Kevyn Connelly
Kevyn is a Chartered Internal Auditor with over 20 years’ experience in a variety of sectors. He is currently Head of Assurance and Risk for the Low Carbon Contracts Company. In his spare time, Kevyn is a member of Essex Scouts and a scuba diving instructor. He currently has one son in the Senior School and one son who has left St Joseph’s College and is at university in Falmouth. Kevyn has been a Governor at St Joseph’s College since May 2019.
Chair of sub-committee: Governors’ Building Group Member of sub-committee: Governors’ Health, Safety & Environment Group
Mr John Button
John is a quantity surveyor and project manager and now works part-time as a consultant with local practice Castons, having been a senior partner at the firm for over 20 years.
In his spare time, John enjoys playing golf and is a season ticket holder at Ipswich Town Football Club.
John is a former parent having put his two sons through the Senior School and has been a Governor at St Joseph’s College since October 2014.
Member of sub-committee: Governors’ Building Group
Mr Phil Dennis
Phil attended the College in the mid/late 1980s before studying Estate Management at the University of Greenwich. After a brief spell working for Adnams Brewery and marketing services companies in London, he was elected a Member of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors in 2005.
Phil specialises in commercial property and advises on agency disposal/acquisition, development consultancy and landlord and tenant issues across the Eastern Region. He is currently a Director of Savills based in their Chelmsford Office. Phil has been a Governor at St Joseph’s College since November 2014.
Member of sub-committee: Governors’ Safeguarding & Wellbeing Group
Mrs Emma Hardwick
As a dual-qualified nurse and midwife, Emma has worked in healthcare for 40 years. She has held senior clinical leadership posts for the past 20 years in acute hospitals in the East of England and London. Emma has experience as an
Executive Chief Nurse, Director of Infection Prevention and Control, and Board Safeguarding Lead.
Her current post is as Director of Midwifery at Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, leading women’s health service across two hospitals. Emma is a Quality Assurance chair for the National Screening Committee.
Emma has two grown-up children and lives in Cambridge. She has been a Governor at St Joseph’s College since February 2023.
Governor
Mr Patrick Lewis
Patrick was born and bred in Ipswich and has many years of experience in the business and people sector. He is still actively involved as Chair of the family business he set up in 2002 as well as other personal/ business interests in the sporting/events world.
Patrick is an ambassador for local commerce, charity and education, is a Patron of the Suffolk Chamber of Commerce and a strategic partner of Norfolk Chambers of Commerce.
He has been a Governor at St Joseph’s College since January 2023.
Chair of sub-committee: Governors’ Finance Group
Mr Christian Ross
Christian is a qualified accountant (FCCA) with over 20 years of experience in the industry, having spent 12 years in the fuel card sector and 11 years in manufacturing. For four years he was a Vice-President of Finance in Toronto.
Christian is currently the Chief Finance Officer for a local firm, Metro Supply Chain UK, based just outside Bury St Edmunds.
Christian attended St Joseph’s from 1983 to 1990. He has a keen interest in most sports and is involved with local charities.
He has been a Governor at St Joseph’s College since January 2021.
Chair of sub-committee: Governors’ Education & Curriculum Group
Mr Anthony Newman
After graduating from the London School of Economics in 1971, Tony joined St Joseph’s College in 1977 as an Economics teacher. He was appointed as Vice Principal in 1992 and was Joint Acting Principal from 2000 – 2001, before retiring
in 2006.
Tony was also an Independent School Inspector. He became a Governor at St Joseph’s in 2009. Tony is responsible to the Board for The Arts, Boarding and EYFS.
His daughter and son are former pupils of the College.
Member of sub-committee: Governors’ Finance Group
Mrs Julie Henkel
Julie is a Managing Director in the financial services industry with over 30 years’ experience working in global markets and wealth management banking operations. She has worked extensively overseas in Hong Kong, India and Japan. She works at Banque Nationale de Paris Paribas having previously worked at Credit Suisse and Deutsche Bank. Julie is a Non-Executive director (NED) of BNPP Trust Corp.
Julie has been publicly recognised and is a passionate advocate for diversity, equality and inclusion in the work place and beyond. Julie has studied legislation, needs and equality regarding special education needs relating to dyslexia and other SpLDs.
Julie has been a Governor at St Joseph’s College since January 2024 and has one son in the senior school.
Student Leaders
Head Boy
Mr George Moss
I have been at the college since nursery; I have always loved being involved in the arts and seriously loved coming to the rugby festival, cheering our boys on. For many years I have been involved in the musical and this year have been fortunate enough to be playing a principal role.Outside of school I am an avid sailor and enjoy competing at club level regularly. My favourite part of the college has to be the unique ability to create a family out of people from all over the world, with different interests and the endless opportunities that come with the mix of cultures.
Head Girl
Miss Olivia Pryke
I only recently joined the college last year, to begin my A-levels. However, it feels as if I have been part of this community for a lifetime because of the welcoming and nurturing environment. I am a very keen sportswoman, with netball being my main sport, which I thoroughly enjoy playing.
Deputy Head Boy
Mr Edward Patterson
I have been at the school most of my life, I love my rugby and I am privileged to represent the school in the 1st XV squad. I think St Jos is a great environment for young children all the way up to young adults and I have thoroughly enjoyed every moment at the school.
Deputy Head Girl
Miss Anna Simpson-Jacobs
My name is Anna Simpson-Jacobs, I have been a member of the College since nursery and have had the pleasure of growing up and furthering my education in this incredibly nurturing environment. I am currently studying English Literature, History and Drama at A-level and have taken on a principal role in this year’s college musical ‘Legally Blonde’.
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