Governing Body

The Governing Body comprises 15:             

1 Headteacher

3 Members

5 Foundation Governors

4 Elected Parent Governors

2 Staff Governors

Click here to see the Four Governors Sub Committees

    Chair of Governors - Paul Gray CB
    Paul Gray joined the Governing Body in 1992, initially as a Parent Governor when his 2 sons attended Newport, and has been Chair since 2008. He was formerly Executive Chairman of HM Revenue and Customs.  He now coaches senior business leaders and serves on the Council of Essex University.



    Responsible Officer   - Peter Selway FREng
    An engineer, a large part of Peter’s career was spent in the management of research and development, with a focus on lasers for optical fibre communications. Now mainly retired, he works part time at Imperial College, and for a high-tech start-up company.  Invited to become a governor after his son left the school in 1990, Peter accepted on the basis that he wanted to ‘put something back’.  Peter is Chairman of the Finance Committee.


     Vice Chairman of Governors, Chairman of the Curriculum Committee and Chairman of the Admissions Committee
    -  Anson Game
     I have been a governor in one capacity or another since  becoming an elected parent governor in 1995 when son Henry was a pupil and was followed by Thomas.  I have lived in or outside Saffron Walden since 1979 and commute into the City where I continue to work full time in the insurance sector as a claims director and solicitor.  I am Chair of both the Curriculum Committee and Admissions Committee.


    Foundation Governor and Chairman of Pupil and Community Committee
    -  Gordon Brown
    I have been associated with NFGS for over 15 years.  My three children have been through the school and are now studying medicine, architecture and mathematics.  I have been a Governor for 10 years and was Chairman of the NPA for 9 years.  Currently serve on the Finance committee and chair the Pupil and Community committee.  Background – owned and operated a construction and engineering group of companies and now involved in business consultancy and professional photography.


    Chair of the Trustees and Member of the Admission Committee - Richard Vallance
    Richard Vallance was born on 26 January 1947 in Wells, Somerset.  He attended Kings School, Bruton in Somerset. He has practised as a solicitor in London specialising in Litigation and is a Partner in Field Fisher Waterhouse. Richard lives locally.  His 2 sons attended Newport Free Grammar School.  He was a Foundation Governor between 1994 and 2001 and has been a Community Governor and a Trustee of the school since October 2008.  He has particular responsibility for Special Educational Needs.



    Chairman of the Finance Committee - Peter Milledge
    A former pupil of the school (1966-73), Peter is a barrister and a legal adviser to the House of Lords.  He is married with two adult sons and lives in Clavering.  He has been a Authority governor since April 2008 and a member of the Finance Committee since 2009. 





    Parent Governor - Hilary Binns  
    I became a Parent Governor in 2009.  I have 3 daughters at the school in years 8, 9 and 11, and wanted to become more involved with the school. I work part-time as a GP in Saffron Walden.  I have two dogs and my hobbies include playing bridge and tennis.


    Dr Helen Abrahams
    Dr Andrew Bell
    Mr Stephen Fanthorpe
    Mr Charles Gilbank
    Mrs Helen Sears
    Mr Matthew Gibson


    Teacher Governor - Hannah Bibby



    Miss Penelope Jones (staff)